Posted on 10/07/2005 1:34:08 PM PDT by hinterlander
WASHINGTON - An anguished James Dobson prayed Wednesday for a sign from God, telling his Christian radio listeners he was questioning his early endorsement of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers.
Dobson, founder of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, is one of the most prominent religious conservatives to back Miers, citing his trust in President Bush and a confidential briefing he received about her from the White House.
But in his regular radio broadcast Wednesday, Dobson prayed he was not making a mistake.
"Lord, you know I don't have the wisdom to make this decision," Dobson said. "You know that what I feel now and what I think is right may be dead wrong."
He added that he worried that his position "could do something to hurt the cause of Christ, and I'd rather sacrifice my life than do that."
Dobson's "agonized heart," as he called it, is a sign of continuing turmoil in the religious conservative movement over the selection of Miers, a longtime confidante of Bush who has never been a judge and therefore has no paper trail detailing her views.
Many evangelicals, including Dobson, see the pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as critical because O'Connor was viewed as a swing vote on contentious issues like abortion.
For more than 30 years, Dobson has waged a crusade to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. He said he believes Miers is against abortion, based on talks with her longtime friends and other information.
He also confirmed reports that he received a special briefing from Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove, but still will not discuss the talks in detail.
"When you know some of the things I know - that I probably shouldn't know - that take me in this direction, you'll know why I've said with fear and trepidation (that) I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice," Dobson said in a broadcast with co-host John Fuller.
"And John, if I have made a mistake here, I will never forget it. The blood of those babies who will die will be on my hands to a degree. Lord, if I am right, confirm it, and if I am wrong, chastise me and I will repent of it and come before these microphones."
In a press conference Tuesday, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Denver, demanded that the White House give senators whatever information it gave Dobson.
He's not the only one who wants to know the secret.
Dobson said his phone has been ringing off the hook from congressional allies and fellow conservatives seeking reassurance heading into Miers' upcoming confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Some are wary because Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, suggested her name to the president, and because of other hints that have emerged from her record.
Although she contributed funds to President Bush's election, she also has given to Democrats, including Al Gore in 1988.
When she ran for Dallas City Council in 1989, she signed a questionnaire for a gay rights group saying she supported equal civil rights for lesbians and gays. But she also said she was not seeking the group's endorsement and that she opposed a repeal of a law banning sodomy.
On Wednesday, conservative columnist George Will said if 100 capable legal analysts each listed 100 people worthy of being nominated, "Miers' name probably would not have appeared in any of the 10,000 places on those lists."
And the Web site of the Dobson- founded Family Research Council showed a question mark alongside Miers' picture.
Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers were taking a wait-and-see approach to Miers.
"I just don't know her," Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Wednesday. "I'm not going to jump out there and say this is a wonderful choice."
Dobson, who heads one of the largest Christian media empires, said he doesn't want to overestimate his own influence, although countless national media outlets already have quoted him as being in Miers' corner.
"No U.S. President has ever gone as far as Bush in favor of the Palistinians."
And no President has gone as far as Bush has in making progress to resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
"Most people do indeed go with proven winners to improve the odds - that is unless you know the dark horse is a sure thing ; )"
DARK HORSE: "Someone who shows a previously unknown accomplishment."
The term DARK HORSE originated from the practice of darkening hores that regularly won races (proven winners) to conceal their identity and increase the betting odds. IOW, Miers is no dark horse. She's an unknown nag.
Dobson is not a "preacher" or "Reverand" and doesn't pretend to be. He is a child psycologist.
Dobson is not a "preacher" or "Reverand" and doesn't pretend to be. He is a child psychologist.
Now, now, it's called "incrementalism," remember?
Get with the program -- only 45 to go -- yay, team!
Wait a minute, why does that goal post keep moving further away?
LOL -bump-
"And John, if I have made a mistake here, I will never forget it. The blood of those babies who will die will be on my hands to a degree. Lord, if I am right, confirm it, and if I am wrong, chastise me and I will repent of it and come before these microphones."
Doc should know that NO ONE can "Hurt The Cause of Christ"
Jesus is God...God the Son who is also ONE with the Father and the Holy Spirit...
No one can take away anyone who God has given into Christ's hands or 'mess up' their ultimate salvation...
God gives us our leaders...and when they promise certain things to be the truth...if they are not...and the leaders are shown to simply have lied for the sake of their own agenda or expediency...the sin is on them...not those good souls who believed them
This includes Doc Dobson...just like it does anyone else
If Harriet is not what she has been made out to be...then the nation is in big trouble as will be the Republican Party...with the voters and with God
She sounds as good to go as any other SCOTUS candidate out there...perhaps because of her lack of insider Beltway connections she is even a better suited to serve?
imo
Total BS...I heard Dobson. These people are out and out liars. We ought to think twice before we put on a show for them President Bush is President. I voted for him; I am going to trust this nomination period. I think Repubs/conservative should be quiet.
..I am saying he has no personal agenda to 'go into politics'....
..I also say he does very much care to enable good, Godly men and women into political positions who will support and protect family values.
I know where the term originated - I will agree that all the people who don't know she's a "dark horse" yet think she's an "unknown nag" - as soon as she shows a previously unknown accomplishment, you will know the truth too ; )
The below link is to the RNC website were they are sighting Dobson's endorsement for Miers. They may need to reconsider that.
http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=5824
Yeah right, we are so unhappy with President Bush's pick of ...whatever Miers is center right, far right - who knows so we are going to vote for a Dem so they can put more Breyers and Ginsbergs on the court. That makes sense (sarcasm).
It is good that we can all disagree and still be friends
What if they're both? (Dr. and Rev.)
"I will agree that all the people who don't know she's a "dark horse" yet think she's an "unknown nag" - as soon as she shows a previously unknown accomplishment, you will know the truth too ; )"
So no one knows she's a dark horse because she has no proven record (a prerequisite to being a dark horse), but when she finally shows us her "previously unknown accompoishment" then we'll know she is a dark horse. Hmmmm. I'm glad you made that clear.
I'll bet you're a fan of professor Irwin Corey http://www.irwincorey.org/routines.html
Two words: Rules change.
Eff the dems, and eff the RINO's, 51 is all we would need.
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