James Dobson has a right to endorse whomever he wants for President. I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is Dr. Dobson pronouncing qualifications based on religion.
From US News and World Report:
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson appeared to throw cold water on a possible presidential bid by former Sen. Fred Thompson while praising former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also weighing a presidential run, in a phone interview Tuesday.
"Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for," Dobson said of Thompson. "[But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression," Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party's conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination.
I'll leave alone his support for Gingrich at the moment.
All of you who claim to be Christian, please show me the article and clause in the United States Constitution where there is a requirement for anyone to have any religion for any office. You can't! It's not there and there is a reason it is not there. That would be tantamount to a state religion and the First Amendment would then be contradictory.
Dobson is bordering on un-American behavior by using religion as a benchmark. He is wrong, very wrong.
I can understand that he would prefer a candidate have similar beliefs, but that should NEVER be the deciding factor.
He openly supports Net Gingrich and I gotta tell ya, That bothers me. I like Gingrich, but he is not the person to lead the party into the '08 election. Newt is an idea man. He is a thinker and planner. His personal life is almost as amoral as Clinton's!
I'm nominally LDS. I am not supporting Mitt Romney at the moment, although I prefer him over Rudy. At the moment, I'm considering Fred Thompson over any of them. I wouldn't vote for anyone just because they are LDS. It is just not the American way.
If Mitt gets the nomination or if Senator Thompson gets it, will Dobson support a Democrat?
There should NEVER be a religion test for public office. It is un-American!
VW
So, because Thompson doesn't talk openly about his faith, Dobson doesn't believe he's "Christian" enough to be president?
I don't care for these nationally known and powerful religious leaders who try to sway votes and hold politicians in the palm of their hands. You know what? I haven't found in the bible where Focus on the Family is Christian. If it is, somebody please give me chapter and verse.
So far, Thompson has my vote and support. BTW, I attend a Baptist Church.
Posted by: BobF | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 17:25
RU-DY! RU-DY! If I was Republican, that'd be my vote.
As for that religious boob suggesting a strongly religious President, sounds like extremism to me. Who's worse, this dude or the radical clerics in Iran???
Posted by: canuckistani | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 18:17
Canucki, as distasteful as I find Dr. Dobson's comments, he is not a butcher. He does not advocate the spread of Christianity by force and violence. So as repugnant as he aoppears to be, the radical clerics are much worse.
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 18:21
So far, Thompson has my vote and support
Amen brother Bob, Amen!
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 18:23
Dobson interviewed Ted Bundy right before he was executed and he was an idiot lappng up all the bullshit Bundy was saying - that porn turned him into a serial killer. After that I'd never take anything he has to say seriously.
Posted by: Kelly | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 10:16
Oh don't kid yourself VW. I bet if you asked Dr. Dobson he probably thinks U.S. soldiers are God's warriors bringing justice to the heathens in Iraq.
Posted by: canuckistani | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 18:18
Amen!
Posted by: beth | Friday, March 30, 2007 at 15:34
He probably thinks it, and all I would say to Dr. Dobson is this -
1) You assume far too much
2) Focus on your own damn family,
3) Leave the warfighting to the experts.
4) As noted, religious litmus tests for public office are un-Constitutional
5) You don't speak for as many Christians as you seem to think you do
Posted by: MOGS | Monday, April 09, 2007 at 08:02
All I have to say to that is Amen Brother MOGS.
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | Monday, April 09, 2007 at 15:33