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Well, I will admit that "scumbag" may not have been the best word choice, but it was the first one that came to mind to describe this man who I absolutely loathe. I think his view that homosexuality is a curable disease is absolutely despicable, among the many other problems I have with the extremely narrow-minded agenda he attempts to push upon the American people. However, my biggest problems are not with him specifically, but the whole "Christian Right" in general.

James Dobson, like many other "leaders" before him, are responsible for destroying the Republican Party. While it's true that the GOP has a solidified base of social "conservatives" (who are anything but), especially in the South, this has not come for free. Many traditional, small-government conservatives were very wary of the Christian Right from early on. Barry Goldwater, the man credited with sparking the modern conservative movement, was one of their most vocal opponents.

This coalition held together well throughout the 80's, as evidenced by Reagan's two landslide wins. However, as the Christian Right gained strength in the party, and the party gained strength in the South, many Republicans, especially in the Northeast, West Coast, and parts of the Midwest, jumped ship. Believe it or not, states like New Jersey, Illinois, and California were once considered locks for the Republican Party. Now they're solid blue states.

Far worse than the party's size shrinking, however, was its principles being compromised. Goldwater conservatives wrestled the party away from big-government liberals, advocating small government, free markets, and individual liberty. Now the party has been taken over by a different group of big-government liberals, only these ones have the audacity to call themselves conservative.

The very idea of using government to enforce morality is, at its very core, liberal. It is the view that more government power can provide the best solution a problem (which sometimes isn't really even a problem to begin with). This strategy of appealing to the lowest common denominator (also practiced by the Democrats with their class warfare rhetoric) caused the Republican Party to start be filled with social "conservatives" who have no interest in political and economic conservatism.

They may favor tax cuts, but they sure don't favor spending cuts. That's the heart of today's "conservative" - they want big government, they just don't want to pay for it. Many are downright hostile to the concept of free trade, and many love to scapegoat "big corporations" for their problems. So much for being the pro-business party.

This new Republican base, energized by leaders like James Dobson, has increasingly alienated more and more of the traditional Republican base. This is why the GOP is continuing to loose ground in the West, and will soon only be a viable party in the South and in the strip from North Dakota to Texas. To add insult to injury, this "base" is not even reliable. James Dobson has continually attempted to hold the Republican Party hostage, threatening to cut off support if all of his goals are not met. You can't meet him at 90%, let alone half-way - it's Dobson's way or the highway.

Republican Party leaders continue to cave to this bullying, thus making them less and less appealing to the general electorate. I believe that the 2006 elections were so bad for the GOP because they tried so hard to accommodate the James Dobsons of the country, and yet many evangelicals still sat the election out, because they felt as though the GOP didn't do enough for them. If the party ever gets to the point of completely, unequivocally supporting that type of agenda, then they will likely loose ALL other support.

I think the Republican Party needs to wake up to this and just finally cut these nutjobs loose once and for all, and let them start their own party. If not, then I think we will see the emergence of a new third party, which will slowly replace the Republicans as the other major party.

Republican Party leaders continue to cave to this bullying, thus making them less and less appealing to the general electorate.

No they caved to polling, spending and liberals to MAKE themselves more appealing.....and got their asses handed to them this past fall! I don't see how Dobson is "bullying" anyone! He won't support McCain, because McCain can't be trusted with anything he says or does.

You have hit the nail on the head. As an active member of the GOP in Texas, we are constantly being bullied, threatened by the social conservatives. They moan and bitch about Kay Bailey Hutchison and threaten to walk out if she is allowed to speak.

I loathe Dobson also ever since I heard him say, if the GOP does not pay attention to his agenday, "Then I am going to walk and take as many as I can with me." Disgusting and Armey was right when he called him a bulley.

You put together my thoughts exactly about the direction of the party. To me this was another mistake Reagan made--becoming to friendly with the Christian Right.