Posted on 07/21/2008 9:43:08 AM PDT by delacoert
In January, Focus on the Family’s James Dobson ruled out voting for John McCain, if he won the Republican nomination. “Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances,” Dobson said in a statement. In February, just as McCain was wrapping up the GOP nod, Dobson reiterated that McCain was unacceptable.
As recently as April, Dobson told the WSJ, “I have seen no evidence that Sen. McCain is successfully unifying the Republican Party or drawing conservatives into his fold. To the contrary, he seems intent on driving them away.” Dobson added that McCain has “written off” social conservatives.
And yet, Dobson has suddenly discovered that his hatred of McCain is not as intense as his hatred of Barack Obama.
“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.” … 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.”
Dobson recognizes that he’s done a 180-degree turn here, and told the AP, “If that is a flip-flop, then so be it.”
Now, it’s tempting to just dismiss this as yet another unprincipled religious-right leader, doing what these clowns always do — shill for the Republican Party.
But I have to admit, Dobson’s reversal actually surprises me. In fact, from a political perspective, Dobson isn’t doing himself any favors here.
As a matter of course, we see ideological heavyweights, from both sides of the aisle, denounce a presidential candidate in the primaries, only to see everyone close ranks once there’s an official nominee. Grudges are put aside for the sake of political expediency — partisans invariably hate the other party’s candidate more than their own.
But as a rule, that’s now how Dobson has operated.
In general, there are two types of religious right leaders: partisans and ideologues. Dobson, who’s far more interested in issues than party, is definitely part of the latter.
TV preachers like Pat Robertson are just as extreme in their beliefs as Dobson, but at their core, they’re just Republicans who think it’s fun to get invited to sit at the big kids’ table. Robertson has always gone out of his way to help Republican candidates, even those he disagrees with on important issues, to help advance the party’s broader agenda. In the Christian Coalition’s infamous voter guides, for example, Robertson would promote GOP moderates by skipping over issues that might anger the religious right’s rank and file. It’s always been more important to Robertson to elect Republicans than it was to achieve ideological purity.
Dobson’s different, or at least, he was. In 1996, for example, the Bob Dole/Jack Kemp ticket wasn’t doing much to electrify the far-right GOP base. Robertson was touting the ticket on his 700 Club program and Ralph Reed was hobnobbing on the floor at the Republican National Convention. What about Dobson? He not only steered clear of Dole/Kemp, he publicly announced that he didn’t even vote for the Republican ticket, opting instead for the radical Constitution Party.
Robertson sees his GOP allies as his buddies at the country club who invite him to cool parties; Dobson sees his GOP allies as a means to a right-wing end. Robertson wants a seat at the table; Dobson wants to own the table and will let Republicans sit at it if it suits his interests.
Given this, Dobson is acting out of character here. He hates McCain, and always has. In 2000, Dobson even went after McCain’s history of adultery, publicly accusing McCain of having a moral character “reminiscent” of Bill Clinton’s — possibly the ultimate insult in conservative circles.
And yet, here we are, just 106 days until the election, and Dobson is not only giving up on his commitment, he’s doing so for nothing. In fact, Dobson is proving himself to be a surprisingly cheap date — McCain can ignore Dobson, Dobson’s issues, and Dobson’s movement, but when push comes to shove, even after Dobson vowed never to support McCain “under any circumstances,” Dobson is still prepared to hold his nose and support the Republican nominee.
For the religious right, this should be a fairly depressing development, and a sign that the movement’s influence is seriously on the wane. In this election cycle, the religious right has been completely irrelevant, and the movement hasn’t been able to call any of the shots. They couldn’t stop the candidate they hate from getting the nomination, and without him so much as lifting a finger, they rallied behind him anyway.
Dobson maintains clout based on fear — it’s his supporters who provide the GOP with foot-soldiers. If Dobson is prepared to back McCain now, without McCain doing anything to earn his support, the fear factor is gone, and the religious right movement starts to look like a paper tiger.
They couldn’t stop the candidate they hate from getting the nomination,
McCain is truly lucky to be running against a Black Liberation Marxist Socialist.
BS, Dobson has clout because he is right on many issues and many of those views on issues are shared by his listeners. Dobson flipped like many others, because people are beginning to realize how dangerous Obama is to this country. Not just morally, but physically and financially.
Enough of this crap.
What is the evidence, based on actual votes cast in Republican primaries, that actual "rank-and-file Republicans" HATE John McCain?
Admittedly, I live in New Hampshire, where John McCain beat W 2:1 in the 2000 primary, and where he is more popular than he is in Arizona.
But still - there is no evidence that rank-and -file Republicans "hate" him, and you know it.
Yep. Hillary would have blown away McCain's non-campaign. But reality on who Obama is, is sinking into the masses. Most McCain votes will be anti-Obama votes.
Given the author’s obvious disdain for Dobson and the “religious right”, I would take his analysis of the situation and his pronouncement of the death of the movement with a grain of salt. The author appears to be engaging in some wishful thinking here.
I'm afraid he is right. Because they continue to support liberal socialists without demanding anything in return, today's evangelicals and other "conservative" voters are full-on supporters of the march of liberal, anti-Christian humanism.
It would be nice to hear Dobson explain why he's not supporting the Constitution Party again. By doing so he helps either build a conservative alternative to the Democrat/Republicans or send a clear signal to the Republicans that they've lost their base and need to take concrete steps to pick it back up again. Chuck Baldwin would make a far better president than McCain or Obama (and it would be fun to watch the Democrat congress fume under the legislative impasse of all the vetos that would be issued. :-)
Dobson is getting very close to a major rebellion within the ranks of the Religious Right. He better be careful, because he does NOT speak for the rank and file. He is not a leader.
Someone should actually poll the millions of “Evangelicals” who voted for GWB in 2000 and 2004 and ask THEM how they feel about McCain. It would not be very favorable.
Exactly right. A look through my posting history will show a FERVENT refusal to accept McCain, on the belief that he represents the final nail in the coffin of a conservative GOP. I still believe that.
HOWEVER, I have also decided that this is not the year to take back the GOP, not when running against a man who is literally not qualified to lead a decent-sized city, much less lead the free world.
While McCain represents a loss of a conservative GOP, I have concluded that Obama may well represent the loss of our entire country, and that’s not hyperbole. So, I’ve changed my mind and will vote for McCain. Sounds like Dobson’s thought process was remarkably similar to mine.
MM
Enough of this crap.
I could bury you with voting records and polls showing you that McCain was not the first, second, or third choice of the overwhelming majority of rank-and-file Republicans.
Correction: Dobson IS an anal cavity!
Because it has become so clear how much damage an Obama presidency would do to this country, a lot of people have had to rethink their original plan not to vote for McCain. Some won’t, of course, but I certainly have.
Many "rank-and-file" republicans distrust (not "hate") McCain for many reasons -- Campaign Finance Reform, Gang of 14, Immigration Reform, Opposition to Bush Tax Cuts, Opposition to ANWR oil production, etc. just to name a few. The evidence based on actual votes cast in Republican primaries (a system that was brilliantly designed to give signficant early influence to the most liberal states with open primaries where democrats and independents can help select our candidate) is that there was no strong front-runner. It also showed that while Rudy G was considered by some to be the "most electable" GOP candidate he was overwhelmingly rejected by the GOP base, yet he and McCain were arm-in-arm when Rudy finally figured that out. What the actual primary voting showed was that in the absence of a solid conservative choice early on, you get stuck with a Bob Dole or a John McCain as the GOP nominee.
At least not for NCCUSA/WCC-member churchgoers.
I think Rush has done a disservice to Conservatives. His ranting has made alot of people think McCain is the devil which is ridiculous. Do I agree with him on everything NO. But he is much much better for the USA than Obama. If Conservatives do not rally behind him they are just their own worst enemies who rather be ditto heads than realistic about POLITICS> Liberals and leftists have always been better at seeing the BIG long term qoal and working for over a Century for their day to come. And they are winning BIG time cause ditto head like to pout instead of play the game of politics. Sad state of affairs.
“Hate” is a strong word. I don’t hate McCain, I just cannot be persuaded that he can be trusted. I also dislike his past efforts to undermine conservatism and open the borders to illegals. But “hate” is a strong word that I would not use.
His seminal radio program on homschooling started many on that wonderful track almost 25 years ago or so, and on and on.
Yes, he is a leader to his family, and in the country he loves. No shame in that.
I don’t particularly see Dobson’s decision as a flip-flop but rather that a proper Christian ethical response when faced with unpleasant alternatives—choose the one that will do the most good.
A few months ago I rashly swore I would never vote for McCain, but for the sake of my country and my son who serves in the Army in Korea, I am more than happy to vote for McCain rather than see Jimmy Carter version 2.0 get elected.
true
I like McCain.
Dobson is welcome to speak for himself and his own organization. He does NOT speak for the rank and file Evangelicals.
Unless everyone posting on FR these days hates Christians, why post this crap?
It’s not conservative and does not contain useful information.
All it does is beat Christians with a club.
Jim, I have voted pubbie all my life and most assuredly will this time too but I just do not like McCain. I will hold my nose and pull the lever for McCain.
I do not like his amnesty b.s. nor his constant attacks on G.W. Bush after Bush took the 2000 election instead of McCain.
McCain has shown himself to be a RINO in many many matters and nearly left the party to run with J. F=ing Kerry. But hey on the other hand he is better than the “magic Negro”.
A pitiful choice for president we are confronted with.
He pretty much does - unless you’re talking about the new media invented “evangelicals” who believe in global warming and abortion.
Agreed.
Wrong. If he endorses a liberal McCain, he does not speak for my church.
He shouldn’t speak for your church or you anyway. Make your own decisions.
Here are the ethical responses:
“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.”
- George Washington
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
- John Quincy Adams -
McCain 08 the only choice McCain 08
McCain 08 the only choice McCain 08
Exactly. That is what I mean, he cannot speak for everyone in the church. He should be looked at as maybe an influence, but not “THE LEADER”.
He is not speaking for a church. But the majority of real evangelicals will be influenced by him, unfortunately.
I’ll never vote for McCain.
Er, anti-McCain sentiment has bee all over these boards since, oh I dunno, forever? Conservatives have had a longstanding mistrust of the man for quite awhile now.
I have to admit I’m about there myself. After Obama’s mention of a National Police Force, a la the Nazi/Communist era, my hand is forced. Obama’s went from an incompetent boob to a very dangerous jackboot thug.
If Obama gets elected we very much risk a civil war.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that...
“I don’t particularly see Dobson’s decision as a flip-flop but...”
I guess it depends on how the definition of “flip-flop” flip flops. So CLinton-esque.
[He] told the AP, “If that is a flip-flop, then so be it.”
Id guess most conservative folks will be voting against Obama rather than for McCain. McCain has earned the distrust of the conservative base based upon his words and actions. There will be a lot of soul searching in the next few months.
Yes, Obama is the most dangerous candidate in my lifetime.
The question is not who’s best for the country at this point,
but how do we keep this dangerous man out of power?
Prayer and voting for McCain.
America's favorite passtime these days.
I'm still looking for those "Great Pagans of American History" statues.
He certainly doesn’t speak for me. I will never vote for McCain either.
I made my decision a few months ago when I re-registered as an Independent. I am totally fed up with the GOP. I also made my decision to never vote for McCain or any other politician that is willing to allow illegals amnesty.
When it comes to blame, Dobson needs go no farther than the nearest mirror. He did his best to torpedo someone a lot better than McCain, mostly in order to salve his wounded ego.
Thanks for all the “help” you gave Fred, Dobson.
I think a lot of people are in the same boat as Dobson... they weren’t hot on McCain, but considering the alternative...
I disagree.
I think that Dobson is beating himself to death with a 2 x 4. That is not to say that I'm at all happy that it is happening. IMO, he just shouldn't have spoken about his endorsements at all at this juncture.
I think the author makes a point worth noting, i.e., Dobson is perceived to be a spokesman for the religious right and his capitulation to the McCain candidacy makes the religious right look like a paper tiger.
Dobson's prior opposition to McCain was principled and respectable. His endorsement of Hackabee... lacked foresight. His self-admitted flip-flop on McCain is asinine.
Undoubtedly there are many Christian conservatives who will chose to hold their nose and vote for McCain in November. I'm not just holding my nose over having to vote for McCain, I'm holding my nose at Dobson.
Maybe you're right though. Maybe we should let Dobson and company continue to spread crap and just bleat in our little herd while walking behind.
I think Dobson either wants to be a player and a seat with the big boys, or McCain offered him something.
Or both.
BTW,
I laughed at the “radical Constitution party” line
We do have a radical Constitution: guaranteed freedoms and limited government. Give me radical every time
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