Evangelical Leader Dobson May Back McCain
Conservative Christian leader James Dobson has softened his stance against Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, saying he could reverse his position and endorse the Arizona senator despite serious misgivings.
"I never thought I would hear myself saying this," Dobson said in a radio broadcast to air Monday. "... While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might."
Dobson and other evangelical leaders unimpressed by McCain increasingly are taking a lesser-of-two-evils approach to the 2008 race. Dobson and his guest, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler, spend most of the pretaped Focus on the Family radio program criticizing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, getting to McCain at the very end.
In an advance copy provided to The Associated Press, Dobson said that while neither candidate is consistent with his views, McCain's positions are closer by a wide margin.
"There's nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context," Dobson said in a statement to the AP. "Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain."
Earlier, Dobson had said he could not in good conscience vote for McCain, citing the candidate's support for embryonic stem cell research and opposition to a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, as well as concerns about McCain's temper and foul language.
Dobson said on the radio program he must consider McCain's record against abortion rights and support for smaller government, and added McCain "seems to understand the Muslim threat." He also indicated McCain's choice of a running mate will be a factor.
Of his new position, Dobson said in the statement to the AP, "If that is a flip-flop, then so be it."
Both the Obama and McCain campaigns declined comment Sunday.
Dobson is considered a powerful voice in conservative evangelical Christianity; his radio broadcast reaches 1.5 million U.S. listeners daily. Critics argue his influence is waning, pointing to a younger generation of leaders pushing to broaden the movement's agenda.
Last month, Dobson accused Obama, in a 2006 speech on faith and politics, of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
Obama replied that Dobson was "making stuff up" and portrayed his speech as an attempt by people of faith, like himself, to "try to translate some of our concerns in a universal language so that we can have an open and vigorous debate rather than having religion divide us."
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "I never thought I would hear myself saying this," Dobson said in a radio broadcast to air Monday. "... While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might."
Dobson and other evangelical leaders unimpressed by McCain increasingly are taking a lesser-of-two-evils approach to the 2008 race. Dobson and his guest, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler, spend most of the pretaped Focus on the Family radio program criticizing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, getting to McCain at the very end.
In an advance copy provided to The Associated Press, Dobson said that while neither candidate is consistent with his views, McCain's positions are closer by a wide margin.
"There's nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context," Dobson said in a statement to the AP. "Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain."
Earlier, Dobson had said he could not in good conscience vote for McCain, citing the candidate's support for embryonic stem cell research and opposition to a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, as well as concerns about McCain's temper and foul language.
Dobson said on the radio program he must consider McCain's record against abortion rights and support for smaller government, and added McCain "seems to understand the Muslim threat." He also indicated McCain's choice of a running mate will be a factor.
Of his new position, Dobson said in the statement to the AP, "If that is a flip-flop, then so be it."
Both the Obama and McCain campaigns declined comment Sunday.
Dobson is considered a powerful voice in conservative evangelical Christianity; his radio broadcast reaches 1.5 million U.S. listeners daily. Critics argue his influence is waning, pointing to a younger generation of leaders pushing to broaden the movement's agenda.
Last month, Dobson accused Obama, in a 2006 speech on faith and politics, of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
Obama replied that Dobson was "making stuff up" and portrayed his speech as an attempt by people of faith, like himself, to "try to translate some of our concerns in a universal language so that we can have an open and vigorous debate rather than having religion divide us."
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Posted by pr_boxer at 09:55 AM : Jul 22, 2008
Just working with facts. What racist views? Please list!
"I''''ll like to take a moment out of my busy day to say this. I think that Barack Obama has bisexual tendencies. His early cocain drug use. His attractive mother marrying an unattarctive black, who was mostly absent, man add up to a homosexually inclined Barack. God bless senator John McCain "
Chris you wasted your work break, that is absolutely the most illogical entry I''ve read in weeks. You should get back to work, you may be another of those losing your job due to the incompetent Bush Administration.
So why are so many on the right against Islam?
Posted by dadrees at 12:20 PM : Jul 21, 2008
I am not here to defend Dobson, but you made accusations of biblical distortions.
Can you give us a list and reference?
Simplistic, ignorant, and futile.
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Posted by DemWatcher at 10:31 PM : Jul 21, 2008
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Anything this fool says is wrong.
Posted by kansas1946 at 08:40 PM : Jul 21, 2008"
Typical Liberal tactic. If you can''t fight it, slander it. You convince yourself that someone is "nuts" and you believe it justifies anything you want to say, and makes anything they say wrong.
Simplistic, ignorant, and futile.
Making broad statements condemning all religion as vehicles of hate shows such a complete ignorance of reality that it is disturbing. Yes, there has been killing by religious groups in the name of a higher being, but the exact same can be said about all other groups that seek to have control over the masses.
Singling out religion as the only guilty party is simplistic and naive.
You conveniently failed to mention all the good that religious groups have done over the years. Feeding the poor and destitute, providing shelter to the cold and homeless, giving comfort to those that have suffered loss, etc.
If you want to talk about something, think out your argument first. The VAST majority of religious people do not condone the type of violence you proclaim they do. It is a small group of power-hungry fanatics that can convince their followers to do their bidding. It is not GOD that makes them do it, it is man.
No different than politicians, monarchs, kings, or dictators.