Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > July > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US‘The other guy’s worse:’ A kind word, in a back-handed sort of way, from a top evangelical leader
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Conservative Christian leader James Dobson softened his stance against Republican presidential hopeful John McCain on Monday, saying he could reverse his position and endorse the Arizona senator despite the candidate’s support of embryonic stem cell research and opposition to a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
“Elections always involve imperfect candidates. You always have to choose between two flawed individuals,” Dobson said. “While I am not endorsing John McCain, the possibility is there that I might.”
The most positive thing that Dobson had to say about McCain was that the Arizona senator and he were on the same page when it came to the “Muslim threat.”
Dobson, founder of the Colorado-based Focus on the Family, made his comments in a 28-minute program posted on the Internet today. Click here to listen.
The program was financed by Focus on the Family’s political action organization, and recorded in a studio at Southern Baptist Convention headquarters in Nashville.
Appearing with Dobson was Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dobson acknowledged previous statements that he would not vote for McCain.
“I’ve expressed my strong disagreement with Senator McCain on three or four occasions which continue to be reported regularly in the news, as though it was said yesterday,” Dobson said. “My disagreement involved some issues that are now generally known. One being I criticize his continuing support for federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. That bothers me a lot. It leads to killing of babies, very tiny babies, but they are human beings, and cloning — and other things, [McCain’s] unwillingness to vote for the marriage protection amendment, and saying the states could protect the institution of marriage.”
That said, Dobson spoke of “the need to rethink some of my views regarding Senator McCain. And that thinking has taken place and continues to do so. This has been the most difficult moral dilemma for me…
But Dobson said McCain comes closer to his views than Obama “by a wide margin. There’s no doubt in my mind as to whose policy will result in more babies being killed….”
While Dobson spoke of Obama’s position on abortion, the evangelical leader gave more attention to the Democrat’s position on gay rights, accusing Obama of supporting “the full normalization of homosexuality.”
“It just takes my breath away that a presidential candidate could come along and be so far from the mainstream,” Dobson said.
Photo credit: Associated Press
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
Comments
By Truth Hurts
July 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Why would anyone give a rat’s fuzzy —- what this guy thinks? Seriously. Are people really so stupid they need this guy to tell them what to think and for whom to vote? What happened to applying one’s reading skills to gathering information from a variety of sources, analyzing the situation critically, and coming up with one’s own choice? Is that too much to ask from a modern American? If so, I weep for the future of America under the rule of the Talibaptists and Talibangicals.
By Will
July 21, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
“It just takes my breath away that a presidential candidate could come along and be so far from the mainstream,” Dobson said.
If Dobson’s brand of common sense-free Christianity ever becomes the mainstream, I’ll jump off a bridge.
By Aarona
July 21, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Dobson always talks about “the gay agenda” & the “gay lifestyle.” I am gay and have no idea what he is talking about. I go to work every day, church on Sunday, mow the lawn, do the laundry, go grocery shopping, have friends over for dinner, complain about gas prices. I guess he knows the gay lifestyle is no different than our next door neighbors Mary, Tom & their 3 kids.
His support for McCain locks in my vote for Obama.
By Copyleft
July 21, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
We all knew that the far-right nuts whining about how they’d “never vote for McCain” were lying…
But it’s surprising to see one openly admit it.
By Amen
July 21, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Meanwhile, the boy’s father has to do his part. He needs to mirror and affirm his son’s maleness. He can play rough-and-tumble games with his son, in ways that are decidedly different from the games he would play with a little girl. He can help his son learn to throw and catch a ball. He can teach him to pound a square wooden peg into a square hole in a pegboard. He can even take his son with him into the shower, where the boy cannot help but notice that Dad has a pe- nis, just like his, only bigger.
This people is what James Dobson and his Focus on the Family consider normal mainstream America on the subject of homosexuality. Why is it that the so-called liberal media never prints the crazy stuff this man teaches? Not once have I ever seen his views on gay homosexual child conversion published in the mainstream media. It takes my breath away.
I wonder if his attempt to convert Rev Haggard included a shower.
By Copyleft
July 21, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
How dare those conservatives vote for a candidate that may not be their favorite, but better than the alternative, in their minds. I cannot believe it. The only reason people support McCain is becasue they are racsit. I hate this country.
By common sense
July 21, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Amen, It is exactly that type manipulation of the truth is why you are considered a freak.
By BitterClinger
July 21, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Dr. Dobson is spot on. At fist I was ot excited by McCain, but he is far better thatn the leftist alternative. I cannot vote for a man that wants to place nicey-nice with muslims. I am still not convinced that Obama is even a Christian.
By BW
July 21, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Dobson’s endorsement will be helpful to McCain. I hope you libs don’t like it.
By Copyleft
July 21, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
More namejacking, I see—a sure sign of desperation when you can’t argue the facts.
Thanks for the support, right-wing loons!
By Amen
July 21, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Dobson”s endorsement will NOT be good for McCain. The religious right crowd will vote for McCain regardless of his endorsement.
McCain loses independent voters and conservatives po’ed that the Republican Party was hijacked by these religious nuts in the first place with a Dobson endorsement. Remember, it was these same nuts that McCain had an issue with in 2000. The truth is McCain can’t stand these religious wacko’s. He’s already distanced himself from Hagee, and his relationship with the late Jerry Falwell is well known.
Go ahead and vote for McCain those of you in the religious right, but do so knowing he can’t stand you, and that he’s using you. If McCain is elected President he’ll throw you under that bus of his first thing. Your heads will spin faster than Linda Blair’s did in the Exorcist. Better call a priest.
By old91A10
July 21, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
@CopyLeft 2:56 PM CL: “How dare those conservatives vote for a candidate that may not be their favorite…?”
The same way some Democrats will be holding their noses when voting for Obama.
CL: “The only reason people support McCain is becasue they are racsit.”
Some think McCain is the better candidate. I don’t care for either, but I am convinced that Obama has sold us out before his coronation, by undercutting The Constitution in a couple ways and betraying Progressive principles.
An Obama Presidency, with a Pelosi Congress and Reid Congress are far more dangerous than McCain, Pelosi, Reid.
Obama, et al. and Bush, et al. are destined for the same Hell.
By Victor
July 21, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
This man has made a FORTUNE in the religion industry and lives in a massive home in Tupelo, MS bought and paid for by his followers. His hypocrisy and vanity know no bounds. If McCain was smart he would distance himself from this self-appointed moral barometer and embrace those who practice REAL Christianity. Not some charlatan who dares to pretend he knows just what God thinks.
By Will Jones
July 21, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
The shower advice above is Dobson’s? It figures.
He sounds like a closet-queen. Bush is a closet-queen (Guckert), and Dobson supports Bush, and Dobson’s top assistant was a closet-queen, and “horrors”, Dobson “didn’t know it” and fired him.
Dobson looks, acts, sounds, and walks like a “duck,” he’s a “duck.”
The shower advice confirms it. Pervert “fathers” show their “nakedness” to their children. If Dobson advocates it support for homosexual draft-dodger Bush only corroborates the common sense that he’s a pervert.
Serve Truth and Justice…come out of the closet.
Dobson…like Bush and McCain…is Anti-Christ.
No “Man of G-d” does not know what’s going down in our society today. Dobson’s just another “garden variety” hypocrite serving Babylon.
http://www.theamericanfundament.blogspot.com
By old91A10
July 21, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
We failed to discuss one of the most important paragraphs, beginning with “I’ve expressed my strong disagreement with Senator McCain on three or four occasions….”
I’ll bet that the issues mentioned would have shown some unexpected schisms.
By old91A10
July 21, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Although McCain is not my first candidate of choice, and Obama doesn’t even make last, if these are really McCain’s positions, I am in agreement.
By Will Jones
July 21, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Anybody who supports McCain supports adultery, w*******, the Mafia, the killing of the sailors on the Forrestal, and “going far beyond name, rank, and serial number” when captured.
By Copyleft
July 21, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
I hate this country’s religious history as much as I hate America itself. The rest of the world knows that this is an awful country and so does Obama. Obama being elected will make me proud of this dirt-bag country for the first time. I hope that Obama changes the way the world sees us. I want us to be liked and so does Obama. Obama believes in hope and change. I believe that the rest of the world hopes that this country will change. Obama will bring us hope and change together at the same time. Obama is our only hope for change.
By gwarfan
July 21, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
Embryonic stem cell research is the work or techno satan.
By gwarfan
July 21, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
religious history? What are you talking about you nut case
By old91A10
July 21, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
@ Copyleft I am sure you’ll calm down a bit by the time you’re old enough to vote.
In the meantime, you might muse over some of Obama’s more recent betrayals of principles and promises: Retroactive FISA immunity, Faith based initiatives with public funding, Free trade is ‘a mistake’ or something of which he’s ‘always been a proponent of’, Iraq troop withdrawal, Impeachment and censure, Campaign and election financing reform, Universal healthcare for all ages, Single payer healthcare, Death penalty support, Class action fairness act, Will or will not listen to the commanders on the ground, Surge is not or is working (web site scrub and confused war-talk), Equivocating on marriage rights (part of relig. rt. catering), Obama doesn’t think that ‘mental distress’ qualifies as the health of the mother.
By old91A10
July 21, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
@ gwarfan 7:53 PM “work or techno satan”
Please edify. Is ‘techno satan’ a term I should know? Could you please tell me what your problems are with stem cell research?
By Sam1234
July 21, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
Obama is a sleeper muslim. I have no doubts about it. He leaves on his little vay cay, and the first thing he does is go and hob nob with a bunch of muslims. Sure he said he was visiting the troops, but he really wanted to do was kiss some muslim tookus. Obama should have his passport revoked while we have the chance.
By dpaul123
July 22, 2008 3:41 AM | Link to this
Ok. I am a Conservative Christian Republican, as in somebody who really liked Ronald Reagan, and even served this country under his command.
I respect McCain for being a former POW—my hat’s off to you sir.
However, I think McCain is a Liberal Democrat in sheep’s clothing, and I will not vote for him, no matter what Dobson thinks.
While I certainly agree that McCain might be the worst of two evils, why in the world do we want to vote for any evil?
I choose to vote for a true conservative, and that may be a third party candidate, or a write in vote.
I may not win with my vote, but I will vote for what I really believe.
There are many like me, who have been betrayed by the Republican party, and will absolutely not vote for that party again, until they manifest real change back to their core principles, that they have left behind.
By dpaul123
July 22, 2008 3:43 AM | Link to this
Ok. I am a Conservative Christian Republican, as in somebody who really liked Ronald Reagan, and even served this country under his command.
I respect McCain for being a former POW—my hat’s off to you sir.
However, I think McCain is a Liberal Democrat in sheep’s clothing, and I will not vote for him, no matter what Dobson thinks.
While I certainly agree that McCain might be the worst of two evils, why in the world do we want to vote for any evil?
I choose to vote for a true conservative, and that may be a third party candidate, or a write in vote.
I may not win with my vote, but I will vote for what I really believe.
There are many like me, who have been betrayed by the Republican party, and will absolutely not vote for that party again, until they manifest real change back to their core principles, that they have left behind.
By Dark Knight
July 22, 2008 7:42 AM | Link to this
The only vote for a conservative is Bob Barr, a vote for McCain is like a vote for McKinney, McSame.
By Copyleft
July 22, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this
Wow, the namejacker’s getting desperate! He must really be terrified that the correct, LIBERAL perspective is gaining dominance in this country again.
(snicker)
Keep it up, loser! You’re showing how frightened and hopeless the right wing has become!
By Copyleft
July 22, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
I hate it when I argue with my self. Years of my personal depression, that started when Gore lost in 2000, has taken its toll on me.
(mars bar)
By Andy Johnson
July 22, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
There are many issues this year as the new president for this country will be elected. My number 1 concern is that many are not doing a very good job at looking at the issues at hand. They are looking at the personalities. I personally do not care for either candidate. Neither one supports my personal ideals. I think many in the U.S. would agree with this statement. We need to look at which candidate will do the most for this country that will get us back to the original thoughts of those that founded this country and put their lives on the line. I find that McCain seems to be fairly settled on his positions and has experience in the government setting that Obama. I have observed that Obama seems to change his positions very often on different subjects. I am concerned that he wants to get cozy with some of the Islamic nations that are not in agreement with the policies of the United States. If one carefully looks at the stand of some of these who are radical in these nations would be very happy to see our form of government disappear for the face of the earth as well as our nation. Some of these leaders live deception as a way of life. I would encourage thse that read this to take a close look at their belief system to see if they personally would want to live under this life style. It is important that before one votes that they look carefully at each candidate and do not always believe what one reads in the average newspaper, journal or on the electronic media. Much of this information can be misleading as many are writing stories that will sell advertising. If a story does not look like it will sell advertising it is often left on the cutting floor!!!!
Many might disagree with Dr. Dobson and many on the fundamental right but one needs to seek out the truth. My question to each person reading this is truth and upon what do you base your position on truth.
By Bad Idea
July 22, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
Dobson is a kook and hypocrite. McCain is a known adulter, and his wife a drug addict. Wow, what good christian role models for families, (SARCASM INTENDED!).
By Sam1234
July 23, 2008 1:23 AM | Link to this
Dobson may be a hypocrite, but Obama is a sleeper Muslim. And his his wife is an anti-American loud mouth that is prone to popping off.