Riverwood Presbyterian Church

Politics

Dobson’s Dilemma, or, Score One for Fred

by Clay Staggs

In my previous posts entitled Core Competency and Dobson on McCain, I’ve commented on Dr. James Dobson’s dalliances in Republican presidential primary politics, and found his comments on both occasions to be improper.

Recently, it was reported that Dobson, Tony Perkins, and several other politically active evangelicals got together and met to discuss what on earth they’re going to do about the GOP and 2008. Read all about it here, but I can save you the bother: they really hope Rudy’s not going to be the nominee, and they floated the threat of a third party candidate if he is. I’m sure that the man who helped break up the Gambino crime family when he was the US Attorney in Manhattan is REALLY scared.

Even though Dobson has backed down from the third party threat, the long and short of it is that Dobson is dissatisfied with the four major candidates on the GOP side (Rudy, Romney, Fred, & McCain). I suppose they aren’t Christian enough, or something.

Particularly mystifying to me has been Dobson’s hostility toward Fred, who, on the moral/social issues Dobson cares about so much, is the most closely aligned of the four with Dobson’s views. But no more. I think I understand now. On an interview on Fox last night, Fred was asked about Dobson, his attacks on Fred’s Christianity, and whether he (Fred) wants to talk to Dobson. Here’s what Fred said:

A gentleman who has never met me, who has never talked to me, I’ve never talked to him on the phone. I did have one of his aides call me up and kind of apologize, the first time he attacked me and said I wasn’t a Christian …

I don’t know the gentleman. I do know that I have a lot of people who are of strong faith and are involved in the same organizations that he is in, that I’ve met with, Jeri and I both have met with, and I like to think that we have some strong friendships and support there… .

I don’t particularly care to have a conversation with him. If he wants to call up and apologize again, that’s ok with me. But I’m not going to dance to anybody’s tune.

Ouch. Personally, I respect Fred for having said that. As for Dobson, his seat at the political power table will be gone after November 2008, and he’s hating it.