DALLAS - John McCain still has an “evangelical problem.”
High-profile evangelical conservative James Dobson, who has already said he would not vote for McCain in November, said on Wednesday he saw no evidence the Arizona senator was wooing conservatives.
”I have seen no evidence that Sen. McCain is successfully unifying the Republican Party or drawing conservatives to his fold. To the contrary, he seems intent on driving them away,” Dobson, founder and chairman of the influential conservative advocacy group Focus on the Family, said in a statement published in The Wall Street Journal.
Dobson went on to reiterate the problems that he and many other religious conservatives have with McCain, including his failure to support a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
He also took issue with McCain’s speech in March to the World Affairs Council on Foreign Policy, in which he laid out his support for government action on climate change and criticized the U.S. military for its use of torture.
This highlights McCain’s continuing problem with white conservative evangelicals — a group that analysts say he must woo as they have become the most reliable bloc of Republican voters.
Photo Credit: Reuters/Rick Wilking (Copies of James Dobson biography)
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29 comments so far
I am a conservative evangelical. I am not sure when Dobson became the speaker for all of us, but he doesn’t speak for me. His speech against McCain makes me want to vote for him.
- Posted by Anon.Good- let the Evangelicals vote for Obama or Clinton!
I am a mazed at the whining that is coming from these knuckleheads- Dobson won’t vote Republican because the candidate isn’t conservative enough? REALLY?
sounds good, McCain will win anyway.
I would love to lock Dobson and Obama’s pastor (Wright) in a room together.
Two wackos from opposite ends of the spectrum….
The american people don’t want religous zealots, they are looking for centrists.
- Posted by Mike OsborneIt seems Dobson is more than a little egotistical to suggest he should be courted.
- Posted by carol callhounI find if refreshing that McCain is an honest politician, and it would be perhaps
dishonest if he did court the far right. McCain doesn’t pretend to be a far right
conservative, so why should the ‘far right’ be wooed? It’s nice to have an honest
politician for a change! Why is Dobson so special and why do we care what he thinks?
Does James Dobson expect the voters to believe that every conservative is against government action on climate change and the military should not be criticized for torture? I believe conservatives are better than that. Dobson is part of a dying class of cruel, radical conservatives. I would also hope that, one day, conservative Americans can realize that marriage contracts, even same-sex, do not have to meet their self-imposed religious standards.
- Posted by BobSo who is running the republican party? Dobson no?
- Posted by RyanIf Senator John McCain is wise and really is for the American people as I think he is he won’t be any “wooing” by Dobsons or other Christian Right leaders.
As a Christian who finds the strong arm tactics of James Dobson and other Christian Right leaders totally wrong and way out of bounds both as Americans and as Christians I want to say I hope that no candidate joins them in there long term agenda to chip away at what the founding fathers of our great land of freedom put in place, namely freedom of Religion and freedom from religion with a strong wall of separation between church and state!
- Posted by RogerIm not voting for McCain (im voting for obama) But McCain doesnt need to have an evangelical in his corner because if he wins the presidency, he will be serving people from all different faiths so he does not need Dobson’s help or endorsment….
- Posted by Oregon4ObamaJust for the record: We Evangelical Christians are anti-abortion and pro-marriage, but we are also anti-poverty, anti-torture, and pro-stewardship of the environment (which we refer to as God’s Creation).
There is no remaining candidate that scores 100% on all of our core issues, but I think Obama comes the closest.
- Posted by MikeDr. Dobson speaks only for trailer-trash Republicans. There are also Eisenhower Republicans and country club Republicans; most of them will vote for McCain.
- Posted by richard schumacherWhat’s his group called? Christians for Torture? Which Biblical book is that based on? And of course any real Christian must preach inaction against man made global warming. See the Book of Dobson. Apart from raking in dollars for con man preaching and living high on the hog, what do these people have to do with Christianity? Like most Jews, Christ was likely physically indistinguishable from Arabs. If he was alive today he might be at Guanatnamo being waterboarded, while Dobson was at the bank depositing money collected from gullible poor people. Jesus wept.
- Posted by distin99The headline is misleading. McCain does not have an evangelical problem. Conservative commentators have a problem with McCain because his candidacy highlights the fact that they do not represent evangelicals, nor the Republican party. I’m an evangelical christian and I just went back and re-read the speech Dobson refers to. I found it forward-thinking, compassionate, and a call to return to our core values as a country. I would be happy to see him become president.
- Posted by bill johnsonJames Dobson is a good man and his opinion is valued by myself.
Certainly everyone is entitled to their opinion. So go into the voting booth and vote you conscious. It is indeed your right.
Have at it!
Fact is there are few individuals fighting for the sanctity of the American family.
Almost 2 and 3 families end up in divorce. Most children in schools are raised by single un-wed mothers and are starved for genuine leadership, but sadly find none. Divorce is the single biggest factor in contributing to poverty in this nation. 1% of our entire population is incarcerated and in some communities the most thriving economy is the local prison. Fact is the American family and the American way of life is under attack!
We need honorable men like Dr. Dobson to stand up for what is right and protect families and if he does not supports a candidate will not support those values, then that is his right. Respect it!
There used to be a time in this nation when we respected authority and we supported presidents that did not espouse our ideals because it was the right thing to do.
This is a great nation and it affords us all many rights and freedoms. You want the right to revel in your sin and have politicians pass laws that make it convenient to partake in a particular lifestyle no matter how it affects future generations then have at it. You will get what you ask for.
Remember that a house divided will not stand. Grow a brain; don’t let the media continue to polarize you.
You want to live next to Charles Manson, well then go ahead. I’d rather live next to Ozzie and Harriet!
As for me, I say God Bless America and God Bless Godly men who will stand up to do the right thing even in the face of adversity. James Dobson, in my opinion, is one of those such men and we need more like him!
Mark
- Posted by MarkMcCain does not have an “Evangelical problem”, Dobson has a Republican problem. Dobson needs to form his own party, siphon votes from the Republican base, then we can all sit and watch them both lose.
Obama has far more appeal, can unite a much larger coalition of voters, and will be President after November 4.
Dobson will have to sit back and watch as Evangelical Christians are sidelined and ignored. They deserve no less.
- Posted by JeffreyLook, I’m sorry to all the evangelical Christians out there who are blanketed under trash like Dobson, Falwell, and the like, but these people are absolutely insane, and they make the rest of you look pretty crazy too. The segregationist ‘tyranny of the majority’ stuff they preach is so far from Christ’s message, I wonder if they’ve read even 4 pages of the Bible. I don’t understand why these people keep doing this; telling people who God would vote for and convincing them to do the same defeats the entire purpose of a free democracy, turning those very words into the kind of tagline that made karl rove and george w. such great successes in elections (despite massive failures in the White House). All we non-evangelicals want is to be left out of dobson’s religious utopia, because for some people, it’s not a utopia. Again, I’ll repeat, I’m HAPPY THAT NO CANDIDATES ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY THESE FAR RIGHT EVANGELICALS. That’s one incredible step forward for America, and kudos to John McCain if he sticks with his ideals and moves forward. I’ll reiterate once more: ALL people have the right to be free - not just some. and certainly not only people who a couple of crazy preachers deem ‘normal’.
- Posted by brett mDr. Dobson’s criticism of Senator McCain is misplaced and inappropriate. As an evangelical and a conservative, I’m disappointed to see Dr. Dobson choosing to assume that his leadership of Focus on the Family gives him a basis on which to make pronouncements as a spokesman for all evangelical conservatives. As others have noted, he doesn’t speak for me.
I find it the height of hubris to stand inside an ivory tower in Colorado Springs, to look at a man like Senator McCain and then make pronouncements like those above. Instead, Dr. Dobson should invite the Senator to be a guest on the radio program he hosts, put his questions to Mr. McCain directly, and listen thoughtfully to what he says. The Senator tends to be consistently direct and forthright. I doubt he’d behave in any different fashion with Dr. Dobson.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that invitation will ever be extended. The insular thinking at Focus on the Family will likely conclude that inviting Senator McCain for a conversation with Dr. Dobson on the radio broadcast will appear to be an endorsement of the Senator’s candidacy. That’s silliness, of course. But it is the likely objection that would be raised against the idea.
The last thing that an organization like Focus on the Family can tolerate is the risk that the founder and spokesperson could be made to appear less than authoritative or, perhaps, even wrong. Unfortunately, I don’t expect to see Dr. Dobson demonstrate teachability, humility, or a willingness to acknowledge his own limited understanding. He’s not seeking to genuinely understand Senator McCain before passing summary judgment on insufficient evidence. That reflects badly not on the Senator, but on Dr. Dobson and those who are shaping his thinking within Focus on the Family.
- Posted by WayneAs an Christian who has voted for Republican candidates at least 80% of the time in the last 29 years. I think James Dobson actually has something useful to say about interpersonal relationships and raising children.
His positions on the environment, war/terrorism (and our response to it), poverty, societal responsibility for social ills, and capital punishment are not Biblically based. Many of Dr. Dobson’s positions are really conservative secular positions that have nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
- Posted by DavidA vote for Huckaster is a vote for McCain. Many conservatives have been saying all along, vote for Romney! A vote for Huck is a vote for McCain. Dobson, where were you when Romney needed you to rally the evangelicals? What comes around, goes around!
- Posted by SamuelDobsen says he wants to “unify”. How can a divisive, bigotted person unify anything except opposition.
- Posted by Mark A. RellaWhat else would Dobson say? “I’m for McCain” and lose any political clout that he has? He’s against any candidate until they follow his agenda 100%. Saying ‘he’s good enough’ is the surest way to become politically irrelevant.
- Posted by Mike“Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran”
- Posted by CardamarMcCain is a looney.
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.
- Posted by JosephBut when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2
[…] Dobson highlights McCain’s evangelical problem […]
- Posted by Пентагон рассекретил показания организатора терактов 11 сентябряAs an evangelical Christian, I respect Dr. Dobson for having contributed thoughtfully and helpfully — over a period of more than 30 years — to matters concerning American family life. But his political statements in this election year sound unconstructive and out of place.
- Posted by PaulJesus wept, indeed.
If McCain is elected and condemns this country to four more years of the Great Bush Stupidity then I truly fear that there will be no country left to mourn at the end of that time.
Come on, people, wake up! Is *anyone* out there (outside of the top 1% of the earning population, natch) better off than they were eight years ago? Better off in *any* way?
Nah, me either.
Heckva job, Dumbya, heckva job.
Carry on, McCain, carry on.
- Posted by KazzyAbsolutely correct - McCain will never get the votes of True Christians.
He only believes in war half way, in stoning gays half-way - not like our Bush
We need someone who enjoys stoning gays and bombing people and torture, just like Jesus did
- Posted by Patrick ONeillFor all who think John McCain is honest and a “straight-talker” just Google “Keating Five”. That John McCain is corrupt is shown by his actions during the “Keating Five” scandals. If you still want to vote for him so be it, but do not complain when the “corporate welfare” flows to those at the top who do not need it.
- Posted by m curreyBTW who cares what some religious person thinks about McCain? E.g. Dobson and his religion believe in talking snakes. Sorry, I do not take advice from people who as a core belief tell me I should believe in talking snakes, and BTW, please deposit a donation.
- Posted by m curreyI am a McCain supporter, and I hope he completely ignores Dobson. The best way to marginalize religious nutjobs like this would be for a Republican to win without catering to them.
- Posted by JeffThe GOP is trying to dump the evangelicals, trade them for another block of voters. Has something to do with an archaeological find proving the Bible is a hoax and other things as well like a little show of fake righteousness by GOP members.
McCain got the word but he’s desperate. And those rich evangelical super ministers are all dressed up with no candidate to spout their nonsense. Maybe there’s room for compromise? What with the D’s cutting each other’s throats…
- Posted by maui