James Dobson endorses Rand Paul, apologizes for having previously backed his opponent

http://voices.washingtonpost.com ^ | May 3, 2010 | David Weigel

[Maelstorm]

Well, this is a twist. On April 26, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson endorsed Trey Grayson over Rand Paul in Kentucky's GOP primary for U.S. Senate.

What did that mean? Dobson had been convinced, by a fairly successful whisper campaign, that Rand Paul's libertarian approach to the abortion issue was more or less pro-choice. That's not what Paul has ever said, though; like his father he's anti-abortion rights but wants the issue decided in the states. And over the course of a week, the Paul campaign convinced Dobson on this point. Today, Dobson switched his endorsement. His statement:

Have you ever made an embarrassing mistake? I did just that last week. I was given misleading information about the candidacy of Dr. Rand Paul, who is running in the Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate. Senior members of the GOP told me Dr. Paul is pro-choice and that he opposes many conservative perspectives, so I endorsed his opponent.

But now I've received further information from OB/GYN's in Kentucky whom I trust, and from interviewing the candidate himself.

I now know that he is avidly pro life. He believes that life begins at conception.

He opposes earmarking and supports Israel. He identifies with the Tea Party movement and believes in home schooling. Sounds like my kind of man.

If I lived in Kentucky, I would vote for Dr. Rand Paul. Would you consider sending him to the U.S. Senate to shake things up in Washington?

And that text is now on the airwaves in Kentucky via Paul's new radio ad.

[Maelstorm]

I take this as a sign that finally conservatives are waking up. Many in the Republican leadership wants malleable candidates like Trey Grayson. They want to being able to win this next election and then retreated into the soft comforts of power in Washington and forget about cutting spending, cutting government, and fighting to turn back the transgressions of the left.

I don't agree with Rand Paul on everything but one thing I'm convinced of is that he will never betray us and he will articulate the principles of liberty over tyranny in ways that will make us proud and light the fires in the minds of the young in ways that so many on the right so entirely fail. We need fighters. We need those the leadership tells us could not win who are now winning. We need Toomey, we need Rubio, we need Paul, we need DeVore, we need Angle, we need the uncommon leaders who will step forward with pride in their beliefs founded in the constitution and respect for the sovereign citizen. If we keep electing members of the accepted political class we will never achieve anything but to slow the slide toward the abyss.

[Dan Nunn]

Many in the Republican leadership wants malleable candidates like Trey Grayson.

Nah, I just run like hell when I consider that this one apple didn't fall far from the Ru Paul tree. That scares the crud out of me.

[roses of sharon]

We are in the abyss, and the ballot box will not get us out.

Someday we all must face this fact.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I’ve gotta say, for whatever my other issues with Ron Paul might be, he has always been one of the most ardent and outspoken Pro Life voices out there. Hard to believe that his son would break from that for any reason.

[Buckeye McFrog]

We are in the abyss, and the ballot box will not get us out.

Someday we all must face this fact.

That moment may come next year when GOP majorities in both Houses start compromising with Obama.

[TheBigIf]

Rand Paul has already betrayed us with his “blame America” rhetoric that apologizes to terrorists. To promote the Paul agenda would be a National Security disaster.

[ansel12]

Get on it. Sell Trey Grayson to us.

Tell us why you support Trey Grayson for that Senate seat.

I have yet to see anyone directly attempting to sell Trey Grayson as the man for conservatives to get behind.

[RonPaulLives]

yoohoo! Bluegrass ping, please

[dmz]

I take this as a sign that finally conservatives are waking up.

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I take this as a sign that Mr. Dobson doesn’t do his own research on topics he supposedly cares about.

[Maelstorm]

I agree but most don’t right or left. That is why when one actually spends time researching things it is like a veil is removed. I didn’t come to identify as a conservative because of accident. I became one as many here did because they looked behind the veil. If more causal political types would they wouldn’t end up electing soft Republicans and liberals masquerading as centrists.