Hey, that's good enough for me.
I've been fervent in my posts about the uneasiness I feel when GOP candidates act as if they have to cozy up to religious folk. President Bush did it with Jerry Falwell and John McCain more recently is doing it with Southern Baptists. Republican candidates place an undeserved prestige on gaining the backing of people such as James Dobson and it doesn't gain them the support they would hope for. In fact, it may turn off conservative Democrats and cost them more votes then it gains.
Think about it, who will Dobson support as if it really matters? He won't support Giuliani so that leaves who, Sam Brownback or Mike Huckabee? He definitely won't support Mitt Romney. Essentially, Dobson has been neutralized and that means his power has dissipated. That can only be good for the party as we've seen those who preach have not always been the most godly of people anyway. I put Dobson on a par with other partisan groups who should have their power usurped such as MoveOn and NOW.
As a Neocon, I am a moderate on most social issues, the church is not supposed to play as large a part as the GOP has placed on it in recent years. For those who have made Neocon a curse, do a little research and see that most Neocons were liberals who changed affiliation because they think that democracy is the cornerstone to changing the world and despots and dictators are evil and should be exiled or forced out by whatever means necessary. That's a much-abridged description but take some time to look up what we think.
Dobson and his ideological brethren are fading and will continue to do so. The nation needs a leader who is not praised by those of Dobson's ilk and who will lead based on good moral tenets--whether religion-inspired or not. Let Dobson support Sam Brownback and I'll support Rudy Giuliani or Fred Thompson.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. I certainly have more respect for Thompson now (or at least as much respect as I can have for a politician), but this does not bode well for him, as the Republican base seems firmly grounded in religious dogma.
Seth at 11:23AM on Sep 21st 2007
2. Mitt Romney is the only true Conservative period.True conservative speaks up and speaks up louder and clear instead of whispering god knows what are they really saying.A true Conservative won't yield to money pressure or afraid of the public opinion instead say what is the right thing to do and need to be said.Some don't say much on the campaign trail but are filling up their political bags with irresponsible burdensome promises.That is why I strongly believe someone like Mitt Romney is the right candidate for the Presidents job.Others chooses to run quietly into the race but how do we really know what he's planning if become president,that's the death trap for the country if someone else decided to jump in the race this very late.Governor Romney really sound off the trumpet on many issues that really affect us as American while the rest just chase after fame,glory and money with no regards to moral issues.Governor Romney oppose Armadinejad of Iran from visiting Ground Zero just as he did with Khatami in Massechussets.He stood up for traditional marriage and immigration issues and announced it louder and clearer where he stand on these issues.He's not patting anybody in the back for the sake of winning he's stood up for what is best and what is right for the future of America.Vote Mitt Romney for President 2008.
KaM at 4:36PM on Sep 21st 2007
3. Dont worry about Fred. The ultra religious right does not make up the majority of the party unlike the far leftwing nuts that do make up the majority for the democrats. Thompson can appeal to all of us he is conservative enough for the party and he will speak to the rest of the country in a voice that even the dumbest of voters can understand. Fred is the best candidate on either side.
Jeremy Miller at 2:53PM on Sep 21st 2007
4. Why would anyone place any value on what a looney tune like James Dobson has to say? The man has lost his mind...he thinks Sponge Bob (a cartoon character and a sponge) are gay. Geez.
David S. at 3:22PM on Sep 21st 2007
5. Thanks to technology such as the internet some individuals use it to their advantage to manipulate voters of whom James Dobson will support and who he won't support.The truth is Americans will vote for the right and most qualify candidate it doesn't matter which church or religion he belongs to.American voters are very serious for a candidate with the right skills and experiences as a leader to preside over its affairs.I say Mitt Romney is the right candidate for President.
Kava at 6:31PM on Sep 21st 2007
6. " For those who have made Neocon a curse, do a little research and see that most Neocons were liberals who changed affiliation because they think that democracy is the cornerstone to changing the world and despots and dictators are evil and should be exiled or forced out by whatever means necessary."
Why Scotty....are you advocating insurrection here? You little radical you.
No wonder you don't have time to define what victory means in Iraq....you're plotting revolution.
"Remember, remember the 5th of November...."
Ventrue at 8:02PM on Sep 21st 2007
7. Jeremy - Do you actually believe that the Republican party is going anywhere without the evangelical vote? We're talking tens of millions of people. And exactly what is it people like Dr. Dobson believe, in terms of politics, that you think is so nutty?
Freedom of speech, liberty, the right to bear arms, fiscal restraint, limits on abortion (such as parental consent - what a concept) personal responsibility, free enterprise, the preservation of the family (something Dobson's been working on for decades), educational excellence and limited taxation. Yeah, I know. Wild, crazy stuff.
Dave at 11:11PM on Sep 21st 2007
8. Give us a break, Dave #7. To portray James Dobson as some voice of reason is ridiculous. This man has said vicious and inflammatory things about anyone who does not agree with his hard line philosophy of Christianity. If he is so great, why do many conservatives distance themselves from him?
If the likes of him or Pat Robertson ever had more political power, God help us all (which thankfully they never will). Both are totalitarians.
Hopefully the Republican party has come to its senses and will dump these two loons. At least Falwell is no longer around to spew his garbage.
David S. at 11:56PM on Sep 21st 2007
9. Dr James Dobson is a wonderful man and Religious leader,he's among all Religious Leaders throughout the land that are engage in a labor of love and spreading the word of God.
Kava at 1:57AM on Sep 22nd 2007
10. KAVA--Dr. Dobson is a liar, and he sure isn't a man of God. He teaches hate and most people that follow him don't even see it. Dr. Dobson will back Newt Gingrich, they think alike and believe that most of Americans are evil and need to be controlled.
Dancerpl2 at 3:03AM on Sep 22nd 2007
11. How many people on this blog have ever visited the Mormom Republic of Utah? Try to buy just a beer in an Applebee's, "Nope, sorry, you have to buy something to EAT with that alcohol!" The girls in titty bars have to wear PASTIES fercryinoutloud! Meanwhile, 12 year old girls are basically sold unwillingly into sham "marriages". Keep religion in church where it belongs, not in politics. To all you religious ones, remember, when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
victor58 at 10:42AM on Sep 22nd 2007
12. The first thing to look for when reading posts is what I call "name calling". If one finds any, and if one is at all serious about discussing issues, one immediately subtracts 50 points on the scale of of credibility, and 10 more for any other occurences. Such practice denotes "emotionalism" and not "reason". While such individuals are certainly free to "express" themselves, what such a practice also displays is nothing less than emotional and intellectual immaturity. Such is much more apropos to a spoiled and immature brat than it is to anyone claiming to be an adult. One cannot tell why such "name callers" behave as they do but they should remember the following: "T'is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt".
Robert I. Laitres at 1:50PM on Sep 22nd 2007
13. In one of the above posts we see James Dobson referred to as a "religious" person. I would beg to differ, any rational person has to. The individual is a politician "using" religion to his own purposes. If one were to properly characterize him in political terms, he is not a Republican, Democrat, conservative or liberal. He is a theocrat appealing only to those who, because of their religious beliefs, consider themselves superior. Being that they are "superior", they are then entitled to dominate others. When seeing such individuals strutting with a cross, they are not teaching any real form of Christianity (at least none which I would subscribe to) but rather trolling through society for some individual or group that they can crucify.
Robert I. Laitres at 1:49PM on Sep 22nd 2007
14. Dave the evangelicals wont come out to vote in the primary anyway. Even if Gulliani gets the nomination for the republicans the evagelical right will vote for him over Hillary. So it really doesnt matter who Dobson is for right now. Im confident Fred will do just fine without the support of the far right during the primary
Jeremy Miller at 5:38PM on Sep 23rd 2007
15. For those who have made Neocon a curse, do a little research and see that most Neocons were liberals who changed affiliation because they think that democracy is the cornerstone to changing the world and despots and dictators are evil and should be exiled or forced out by whatever means necessary.
There's enough BS in this one statement to fill up the Grand Canyon. Just in case you don't realize it, Democrats never were followers of Leo Strauss. Nor were most Republicans.
JollyRoger at 7:44PM on Sep 23rd 2007