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Hey I am one of those social conservatives (been a big focus supporter for years). I think Dobson's reasoning was essentially "do not take us for granted", kinda of the way the Democrats take Jewish and Black votes for granted. I personally cannot stand Huckabee as a candidate. My first choice was Hunter, than Fred, now Romney. I will vote for McCain if he gets the nomination (holding my nose). The single biggest issue for me is the upholding of the constitution (i.e. supreme court justices). McCain Feingold is a travesty that Fred also supported. He was not the golden boy a lot of conservatives made him out to be.

Sideshow, I understand your sentiments, but understand, if the republicans expect the evangelicals to show up and vote and shut up (which I do not think you are saying), then it will be disaster for all conservatives (a lot of social conservatives will stay home). Dobson in my open went to far, (basically saying, if not my way, I with hold my endorsement (the same thing Rush is threatening)); but none of these candidates except Hunter are totally conservative. I will vote for any pubbie at this point because I do not want one more liberal justice. We can survive a McCain or Huckabee presidency, but our republic needs conservative justices to turn the tide. Sorry about the length.

open = opinion (sorry)

Hey I am one of those social conservatives (been a big focus supporter for years). I think Dobson's reasoning was essentially "do not take us for granted", kinda of the way the Democrats take Jewish and Black votes for granted. I personally cannot stand Huckabee as a candidate. My first choice was Hunter, than Fred, now Romney. I will vote for McCain if he gets the nomination (holding my nose). The single biggest issue for me is the upholding of the constitution (i.e. supreme court justices). McCain Feingold is a travesty that Fred also supported. He was not the golden boy a lot of conservatives made him out to be.

...if the republicans expect the evangelicals to show up and vote and shut up (which I do not think you are saying), then it will be disaster for all conservatives (a lot of social conservatives will stay home). Dobson in my opinion went too far, (basically saying, if not my way, I withhold my endorsement (the same thing Rush is threatening)); but none of these candidates except Hunter are totally conservative. I will vote for any pubbie at this point because I do not want one more liberal justice. We can survive a McCain or Huckabee presidency...

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Just to note, Fred repudiated his former support for McCain-Feingold from Day 1 of his presidential campaign - if not earlier. It represented a deviation from his core federalist principles.

No, conservatives and/or the GOP shouldn't take evangelicals for granted. But I don't think that it is too much to expect evangelical leaders to understand the political process and to learn to form winning conservative coalitions.

Dobson should have agreed with Thompson on all issues except:
1) Dobson's contention that Fred was not a "true" Christian, and
2) Dobson's belief that fealty to the Human Life Amendment is the ONLY way to attack Roe v. Wade.

Issue 1 made Dobson a religious bigot. Issue 2 is a losing political fight right now in this country.

As for McCain or Huckabee, I think both would be disasters for the country. A McCain nomination will forever split the Rpublican Party. And a Huckabee nomination would forever brand conservatism with a Theocracy scarlet T among non-evangelicals while Huckabee actually set the country on A European Social Democrat agenda. Further, on judicial appointments, I would be skeptical of a President McCain's appointments and doubtful that a President Huckabee's first choices (or second or third) would ever be confirmed.

Hunter is a protectionist, so even he has a chink in the conservative armor.