So much for Dobson's principles
By Steve Benen Sunday Jul 20, 2008 7:30amIn January, Focus on the Family's James Dobson announced, "Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances." Dobson issued another statement a month later, insisting he would not vote for McCain in the general election and would stay home if McCain is the GOP nominee.
“I never thought I would hear myself saying this,” Dobson said in a radio broadcast to be broadcast Monday. “… While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might.”
To continue … “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.”
To be sure, Dobson opposes Obama more than he supports McCain -- a common phenomenon on the right lately -- but this certainly doesn't make Dobson look like Mr. Principled.
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I can't believe he waited this long to change his mind...and men who leave their wives because they aren't pretty anymore must meet FOF standards for family values.
Swimming upstream in the GOP cesspool is hardly a real grasp at relevance, is it Dobson?
What the hell good comes out of, if people listen to the religious voice, only listening to the fascist Christian Right? If we're to listen to the religious voice, let's listen to all religions and the irreligious. Atheists, agnostics, ignostics, Vaisnaivists, Theravadin and Ibadi Muslims have just as much right to speak as an Evangelical stormtrooper like this bastard!
Those two pandering bastards deserve each other. Talk about hypocrites two of the best at it
Joe Liebeman will convince him that it would be the right thing to do.
I've always thought you can tell a lot about a man by the enemies he makes.
Good for Obama, I think.
Funny, I oppose McCain more than I support Obama.
But isn't that how it always seems to go?
“Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family...."
Barack is married to a woman, has two children and has never been divorced. What is there for Dobson to dislike?
All those undecided far right-wing, radical, religeous fundementalists are now "free" to vote for McSame !!
phew!, good to get TAHT out of the way.
The Exotic, yet bitter Chico Hussein Escuela @ 9:
I don't see why the votes of the religious of any stripe, or the irreligious of any stripe are, well, relevant? This is a secular nation, not the Republic of Gilead, and I wish the people you mentioned would learn it.
Dale @ 8:
(whispers)
he's black.
Why doesn't he just endorse the Constitution Party candidate and be done with it? That's the only party dedicated to bringing theocracy to America.
“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.”
"Hope" is a pretty radical idea for so-called Christians like Dobson. What a hypocrite!
Dale @ 8:
While McCain dumps his wife and leaves his children to marry a wealthy blonde who is 18 years his junior. Wow, those are some nice family values.
The religious right....
Schedule of new election year: Jan - July, "we don't like this candidate, he isn't one of us" "he won't make it a death penalty issue to have an abortion", yada yada yada all the BS nonsense they rail about (to sucker more money out of their followers)
August - November: "we cannot allow this anti-christ democrat to get into the white house", "our candidate is the only one who can defeat the abortionists"
Translation: Jan - July (no, I won't endorse you because you're not right wingnut crazy enough on the record to deserve six months of political contributions from my followers, I want their money as long as I can get it)
Aug - November: ok, ok....my meal ticket is at stake, you win...I'll endorse you, just don't forget who hand delivered you my legion of nitwits & nutjobs (comments from Ralph Reed, Abramoff, etc)
The Exotic, yet bitter Chico Hussein Escuela @ 11:
Oh yes. What was I thinking?
He made the same type of comment in 2006.::
"However, in 2006, Dobson said that, while "there is disillusionment out there with Republicans" and "that worries me greatly," he nonetheless suggested voters turn out and vote Republican in 2006. "My first inclination was to sit this one out," but according to The New York Times, Dobson then added that "he had changed his mind when he looked at who would become the leaders of Congressional committees if the Democrats took over."
That the guy has anyone who would listen to his hateful bigoted banter is a testimonial to just how large the Moron Factor is.
force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain.
Because only 2 people are running for president. It's thinking and defeatist endorsements like this one that keep third parties who actually hold American values from ever being successful.
...not mentioning any specific party, just supporting the concept of the third party.
Maybe he heard God telling him Mc Cain is his best bet to bomb those infidel bastards. Or are we the infidels? Gee, I get so confused...
War is Peace...
1984...
Momma!
Dobson's only hope is for the Rapture to take him off the hook. Of course, Lieberman might want to reconsider having supported Dobson in any way, and vice versa, should that occur.
The apocalypse will not be without a touch of irony.
Wonder what skeletons Dobson has in his closet which enslave him to a candidate he can't tolerate? The mere threat imposed by Bush's illegal wiretapping of political foes and/msm journalists would have us believe that Dobson's choice in voting now for McSame stems from some personal fear of being outed about some kind of illegal/illicit activities. Wonder what it is?
As for anyone feeling compelled to vote for Grandpappy McSame, it can only be accomplished with a bag over the head, eyes closed, and another bag for them to barf in on their way out of the booth.
who the hell cares? who does charles manson endorse? why does it matter what crazy people think?
The level of involvement in religion varies in each person who chooses to be involved. This is not unlike the different levels of involvement people have with drugs. Having said that, Dobson's position in the religious community equates to your local Crack dealer's position in the world of drugs. Both of their products are poison to the mind too.
How did Americans elect a governor of it’s most populous state, and two presidents, without the press questioning any of the candidates aggressively about the Nazi links of their family patriarchs?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/20/191832/300/898/554378
....and no...I'm not referring to Arnold....the press did delve into his family's ties to Nazis, and reported frequently about what they found.
Let's face it: Every Repuke has enjoyed the capricious crime spree enabled by Bush and emboldened by a Repuke congress for 6 long years.....plenty of time to become corrupted. No doubt EVERY Republican in congress has shady at best/illegal at worst things they've engaged in "because they could". Essentially, every Repuke who is still hanging onto their old, corrupt party line is totally "complicit" and involved in shady activities and fear being outed by the GOP's illegal spy program. We've only touched the tip of a very dark, evil iceberg called the Bush Administration - with it's daily cavalcade of evil characters who lie in our faces, twist semantics, and should be in jail - right now. The election in November is not "just another election" to these enemies within - it's THE REST OF THEIR LIVES at stake here. Many of them would be in prison within a year of a Dem president and that includes people in the highest places of this current regime.
In other words McCain hasn't kissed Dobson's ass as sincerely as he would have liked him to, but it was a kiss never the less.
WOW! Now I know who to vote for because this fine, upstanding Christian leader said to do so. Now, can somebody please pass the the kool aid.
Dobson's overt "flip-flop" is obviously motivated by fear. Wonder what they have on him?
Obummer @ 22:
Good Point.
The whack jobs get the attention more than the sane.
An Average Joe @ 19:
We're infidels, they're heathens. Easy mistake. :D
The only principle this douche bag stands for is promoting ignorance among his organization's children. I couldn't care less if this jackass got hit by a bus.
His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain.”
Correct me if I am wrong, but Obama is still working on his first marriage, compared to McCain who left his first once-hottie-now-handicapped wife for a beer barons' daughter that was 17 years, younger than himself. Those GOPers sure now about values!
Such wisdom from the same person who said "SpongeBob Squarepants" and "TellyTubbies" were gay cartoons! This guy is a cartoon!
Dale @ 8:
He's a Democrat. No self-loathing evangelical will ever turn his back on the Republican party. That would require some higher level of thinking.
I certainly hope that the media puts Dobson under the same microscope as Rev. Wright. (I'm sorry... I can't even type that with a straight face.)
I thought these religious right nuts wanted Armageddon to come about sooner rather than later, and I thought they believed that the Democrats would be the mostly likely to destroy the world. Or maybe it's that they think the Democrats will destroy our society, but not bring about Armageddon?
Well, I guess there may be one thing we on the progressive left agree with the religious right on... The Republicans are the most likely to bring about Armageddon.
The difference is, we don't really want to see the world go up in flames. They welcome it... Sadomasochistic bastards that they are.
Uhhh....Dobson is a sideshow, as is Obama vs. McCain, and the distraction works well for the folks who present it.
I can't wait to see Barack elected president; that way when the white race is enslaved, this cracker will finally shut the hell up.
So herr Dobson ain't again' makin' a deal with the devil to vote for the lesser of two evils in his eyes?
how ethical ........
displaced @ 37:
13% of the population...enslave 77%? O.o Either that's a clumsy joke or somebody's not had their morning coffee.
Well he was bound to "change" his mind .... just as Hillary supporters are changing theirs.
James#35
They only wabt it on their terms...when a Republican is president
Well, everyone else on the extreme right that opposed McCain now support him, so why should Dobson be any different...?
one way or another none of the bush administration will ever see the inside of a prison, if barack obummer or mccain win the presidency they will not be held responsible for thier crimes , nancy palosi will still be doing her stick, ried and the rest will still be enabaling the bush program, we will still be an occupation in iraq after either mccain or obummer takes office , we will still be in afganistan hunting ol bin ladden, the country will still be going down the crapper with high gas and fewer jobs, you will still be wondering why you voted for a guy who doesnt intend to restore your civil rights and the constitution, so enjoy the illusion and better find a nice bridge to live under because soon you wont ba able to afford heating or air conditioning your home or pay the morgage, let alone feed your family,
displaced @ 37:
Speaking as a cracker ..... lol, me too ;-)
For Dobson, it's all about whitey.
General_Rennenkampf @ 39:
Or too much.
And the reasoning is simple: if he doesn't endorse McCain, he becomes irrelevant, and there's nothing worse than that to Mr. Dobson.
c. atrox @ 44:
Ford? I didn't know Dobson liked the Yankees.
NO, for Dobson, its's all about MONEY!
Why doesn't Dobson vote for Bob Barr? Seems a better match than McCain and that way he can keep from looking foolish. Okay, nothing can keep him from looking foolish, but still...
For all these well known preachers, it's all about the money. They sell heaven insurance and the people who can least afford it, buy it. The preachers tell the people if they do what he says they'll all go to heaven. Of course when the time comes and they die, no one can prove or disprove that the preacher was right. On and on goes the cycle and on and on, in comes the money in the collection plate.
Keep in mind, the family who brought you Blackwater is one of Dobson's biggest financial supporters. Follow the money...
Who said "Democrats fall in love; Republicans fall in line?" With the merest handful of exceptions, it's ALWAYS about the economics and about controlling the uppity lower classes and minorities; religion is just the means to that end. I knew Dobson would come around; I doubt anybody is really surprised.
Is anyone ever going to inform Dobson that he doesn't know jack shit , let alone what's "best" for America and Americans ...........?
pissed off patricia @ 49:
For Dobson it is about access to power and even his delusions don't run to gettin' Barr into the white house.
He can't back the wrong horse in the party of criminally organized corruption and family values hypocrisy cause his ability to try blackmail with his "voters" would crash big time sorta like wall street is doin' right now.
Dobson has always been about the image much more then any reality backin' it.
Principle's GIVE ME A FREAKIN BREAK. This man, and I use that term lightly, has none.
Focus on the hypocrisy.
Focus on the flip flop.
Focus on the homophobia.
Focus on the warmongering.
Flip flopping Christ-o-fascist was against McCain before he was for him.
Clif @ 54:
Oh! If only his supporters were smart enough to see through this false prophet (profit?). Maybe then they'd dump him into the sea and actually support a REAL Christian family value supporter.
Not that I am condoning the inherent homophobia and bigotry that comes with being a modern "Christian Conservative", merely that I prefer when people have principles they believe deeply in, that they actually hold to them and not support hypocrites.
Hell, if we all did that, this would be a much different country and we would probably have at least 5-7 political parties. But no, we're ALL about lesser of two evils, even Dobson. Only for him, it's more about who will keep him floating on his pedestal of power, rather than who will best advocate his supposed principles and values.
As many on here have said, Obama is far closer to Dobson's stated "family values" than McCain. But Dobson proves it's about the politics, not the principles.
"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ..And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. ..But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:1-6 RSV
In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" (Matthew 15:1-9 RSV)
The vain, proud hypocrisy of the Dobsons of the world is exceeded only by their demagoguery, ideology, and selfservice.
Dobson's 'choice' was always a false one. he is not a man of principle, he's a man of political expediency. As so is John McCain, it's appropriate that Dobson will now be supporting McCain.
DAMN! There goes oBOMBalamadingdongs pandering efforts to the superstitionist RIGHTwing wackjob vote! I guess he hangs his hopes on the LEFTwing superstitionist wackjob vote now. Wright, Farrakhan, Flieger(or however the hell you spell this conmans name). Promise to increase the "faith based initiative" money even more, come on precious, you can do it! I mean, you ARE the messiah an all?...Ain'tcha?
he contridicts everything you beleive about marriage and family. really? so you don't believe in being faithful to your wife and being a good father who teaches his children about the importance of hard work and family?
Fall @ 14:
And the wars and killing too! Don't forget those GOP family values.
Stealing, lying and lawbreaking also. Those are GOP family values too. Hating, don't forget that GOP value. Nothing says Jesus and caring like some good ole' fashioned wingnut hatred. I mean really really hating people, the ones who are different than you; like gays and foreigners. GOP family value all the way.
johnnypunchclock @ 56:
Focus on the debt
Focus on the death
Focus on the destruction
Focus on the alienated allies
Focus on the emboldened enemies
Focus on the trampled constitution
Focus on the war profiteering
Focus on the gas prices
Focus on lie based trillion dollar war
Focus on a depleted military
Focus on a depleted national guard
Focus on Katrina
Focus on the cronyism
Focus on the courts stacked with unqualified conservative activist justices that throw elections
Focus on the record profits for big oil
Focus on the trashed environment
Focus on the GOP has made America economically, morally and militarily weaker
Focus on the divisive political strategies designed to divide Americans against one another
Focus on the foreclosures
Focus on the recession
Focus on the lies
Focus on the traitorous CIA agent outing
Focus on the politicizing of every goverment agency
Focus on Rove, Cheney and Chimp
Focus on the imcompetence
Focus on warrantless wiretappings
Focus on the corrupt Tom Delay congress for most of the past decade
Focus on the worst and most disasterous presidential administration in US history
Focus on the the GOP is the party of hate, intolerance, corruption, incompetence, division and religious extremism
Focus on the chickens now coming home to roost for all of the above
Focus on McSame is more of the same
Focus on as long as the GOP is in power America will never be safe
"Focus on the Family" is a distraction from "Focus on the Community"
"Focus on the Family" is designed to marginalize everyone who is not in a two-parent heterosexual nuclear family.
"Focus on the Family" is designed to cut the population into discrete economic units whose only ties are to other families, the church and the corporations - not to the community.
Obama IS a threat to this agenda, because his focus is all-inclusive - the widow, the orphan, the gays, the single parent family .. as well as those who are in heterosexual two-parent nuclear families.
McCain got into the Navy Academy because Daddy and Granddaddy were admirals. They kept him, even if he did end up at the bottom of the barrel, for the same reason. Republicans seem to go after candidates that barely make it and then build them up as heroes. Reagan was a dummy. Bushit a dummy. McCain a dummy. Cheney a sociopath. Dan Qualude a dummy. Democrats try to counter with a person of intelligence and character. They'd be better off with a dummy. The average American wants a dummy they could hang out with in a bar, not an example to admire. Dems need to stop beating themselves over the head and get Obama a REAL idiot as a VP candidate so the Average American can feel some comfortable with his campaign and then stop talking over their heads. The Average American wants a dummy that rides a Harley, not an intellectual that drives a Prius.
Larry King's people didn't give this airtime? I guess Dobson isn't as telegenic as Jesse Ventura. Really. Does Dobson honestly think the neocons give a rat's ass about his endorsement? Reaganites privately mocked the moral majority and this gang is no different.
Obummer @ 22:
That's right!!! Knobson is crazy..........and his tax exempt status should be revoked ASAP.
Obama's win will reduce Dobson's political influence ,White House connections and access.
He has nothing to gain by voting for Obama.
By voting for McCain..he might have a better chance,might not be as Bush and Reagan gave him.
Dobson left with no choice but to stick with McCain.
He was hoping Huckabee 'his man' will be the GOP nominee.
That's what's all about... POWER.
Ibost @ 48:
We have a winner! Dobson's been under a lot of pressure by his board to back the repub side of the ticket no matter what. We're seeing that Christian right block of voters break down; the repubs can't count on that to put them over the top in some key swing states anymore. If the dems win this is a group of people who stand to lose power - and possibly some money in taxes they can't hide in the church, if Obama has his way with his proposed tax plan.
Dobson can go ahead and give McCain his endorsement for all I care. It stands to McCain more harm than good right now, as Dobson has been losing followers steadily for the past year. At this point in time his endorsement of McCain may be enough to convince a few more undecided voters to back Obama.
american in holland @ 66:
Nope. But they did have Bobby Jindal on CNN this morning, much to my pre-coffee dismay. Is that close enough?
To quoth Alice Cooper's School's Out
"We got no class...and we got no principles..."
Gretchen @ 69:
There, I fixed it for you.
Seems to me Dobson should be more concerned about his brethren in the Christian Evangelical ministry. Lots of them have turned out to be shysters, adulterers and downright rotten. Most of those who run mega-churches are only in it for the money: big collection plates = big honkin' churches, big mansions, big planes, etc.
It's all a racket. Too bad, because I really think Jesus had some good ideas.
Dobson's kabuki dance is over. Democrats could nominate Jesus Christ and Dobson would still support the political party that caters to his focus: personal political power and $.
ysbaddaden @ 72:
Thank you. :)
Obama does not need these religious wack jobs to win......
McCain does...
Amitola @ 73:
Three of Dobson's buddies are under federal investigation right now. A few weeks ago Ken Copeland refused to turn over tax records to investigators because "they belong to God". Like his private jet, I guess. One of Dobson's biggest concerns right now is to save his own ass if the investigations go wider. He has to find a candidate to throw some votes at and McCain is the most likely to protect that sack of shit if he wins in November.
does gay marriage, abortion and whatever other wedge issue Dobson can think of always trump healthcare, getting the economy working, getting out of war, etc....
I just don't understand these religious people.....
What have the Republicans done for Dobson since Regan on abortion, gays and these other so called religious issues... the Republicans have done absolutely nothing regarding these issues that Dobson supposively considers important... Abortion is still hear, gays have more rights.. etc. etc. etc..
so if the Republicans have done nothing then wouldn't it be better to vote for the party - Democrats - that want to fight poverty, bring social justice, end war.... etc, etc..... aren't these the principals that religious people should believe strong in.... ???
Good deal mr Dobson. Vote for the pro calling you wife a C**t, pro calling your wife a Trollop, pro- divorce your cripplled wife for a gazillionare bleached blonde beer heiress. That's why I love the repugs, true family values, every time.
bob dobbs @ 79:
What about the Sopranos?
It is all about the Supreme Court.... and Dobson's person power and influence....
Phillip @ 78:
Dobson knows the deal. It's all about MONEY. Which was pointed out above. His followers may be true believers in SOMETHING, but it is not in what Dobson believes in. He is just another snake oil salesman, same as politicians, using issues to enrich himself.
If abortion were overturned, what issue could he rally his troops around? The same thing with gay rights. Dobson doesn't want these issues decided, he wants them to continue. That way he can shill for more and more money, more and more donations for JEEEESUS.
The preacher dodge is one of the oldest dodges in history. It is only surpassed in history as a profession by the world's OLDEST profession.
bob dobbs @ 79:
http://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/pics2/logoart/dobbs3x45.GIF
http://www.miqel.com/images_1/myspace/nuwabu/audio-trauma-connie.jpg
Surprise! Surprise!
Obama, McCain to stump at Orange County mega church
If Obama can splinter the Evangelical Vote it could be just as decisive a move in American politics as the Republican's "Southern Strategy" that split the DixieCrats from the Democratic Party.
Go Obama Go!
Obama's got MUCH stronger Christian credentials than McCain.
Obama is not the "say-the-magic-words-and-go-to-heaven-and-to-hell-with-everyone-else" kind of "Christian" who is in the White House now.
He is my kind of Christian - the "Sermon-On-The-Mount" Christian: practice the Golden Rule, care for the weak, welcome the stranger.
Bob ain't working
Guess he found his slack.
Ultimately, Dobson's only metric for support is the "R" next to Sen. McCain's name. Who cares whether the man has lived his life in accordance with the principles of the FOF or not. Sort of like throwing the people in FOF under the bus, isn't it?
I can tolerate the christians so long as they don't try to convert me or flaunt their lifestyle. What they do in private is fine.
Dale @ 16:
And he has a funny middle name.
I could've called this one once McCain started winning the primaries. Dobson's got his panties in a bunch probably because he sees the tide coming for Obama, see the money Obama is generating compared to McCain, and is thinking any good words for McCain are better late than never.
MountainMan23 @ 84: