Prominent Christian conservative Dr. James Dobson says he won’t support much-hyped Republican Fred Thompson because he thinks the presidential hopeful is too weak on key issues important to social conservatives.
In a private e-mail to supporters this week, Dobson criticized Thompson’s weak stance on the same-sex “marriage” issue. Thompson says he’s in favor of each state deciding their own legal definition of marriage and prohibiting states from imposing their marriage laws on other state.
Dobson and other Christian conservatives support a much stronger position, demanding a constitutional amendment that would bar gay “marriage” nationally.
“Isn’t Thompson the candidate who is opposed to the constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won’t talk at all about what he believes and can’t speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?” Dobson wrote, according to The Associated Press.
Dobson is the founder of the conservative Colorado-based ministry Focus on the Family whose radio programs reach millions of conservative Americans.
The influential Christian leader acknowledged that some of his fellow evangelicals are rallying behind Thompson. But he declared that Thompson does not have his support.
“He (Thompson) has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent ‘want to.’ And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians?” wrote Dobson.
“Not for me, my brothers. Not for me.”
Thompson, who stopped in Dallas Thursday, brushed off Dobson’s harsh criticisms.
“When someone who I never met or never had a conversation with says things, how do I know if I identify with that individual or not, or whether he has any basis for identifying with me?” said Thompson, according to the Dallas Morning News.
“It’s a free country. If this e-mail reflects his views, so be it,” said the presidential contender.
Thompson is also criticized for his seeming lack of commitment to Christianity. He said during a recent interview that he does not belong to a church where he lives in Virginia and does not attend church regularly.
Dobson has also said he won’t support New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani or Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Giuliani is seen as too liberal with his support of abortion and gay rights, while McCain has refused to support a constitutional amendment banning gay “marriage.”
Focus on the Family and other conservative Christian groups are sponsoring “The Washington Briefing 2007,” a values voters summit in October that will feature presidential hopefuls including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.).
Thompson has not decided whether he will participate in the gathering.
Comments
We are going at this all wrong. If we want a nation that is under God, then we need to change individuals. No matter who is President, he can't legislate morals or Christian values, that has to be done on a personal, individual basis, one soul at a time. The views of the secular world is partly our fault. The majority of the time, we don't condemn sin in love and look for a change. Instead, we say our convictions with such out right hate, no wonder we are loosing the battle. Jesus said unless our righteous exceeds that of the pharisee, we couldn't be a follower of him, We need to condemn sin, but love the sinner, and be willing to lay down our life if necessary, for them.
It is ridiculous to say that we need to analyze candidates available to us using scripture. Christian values dictate that we accept all, Constitutional values decree that we are not to meld church and state functions. Therefore, even if we were to contradict the Constitution and only think of misconstrued scripture while choosing candidates, we should not choose the candidates who will persecute and oppress certain groups. All of you who condemn Hillary and others are not acting as good Christians, where has the love gone? Why is it no longer possible for you to open up your hearts to any and all?
I am disgusted by the hatred seen here but I still will not condemn any of you to damnation. You still have the possibility to do good, love gays, and stop supporting hate-policy.
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DannyPoo. I appreciate your post below, and I agree with you.
What I am addressing is dgnymn's comment near the bottom that said: "Check out the Scriptures qualifications to hold public office."
Judging somebody's character "by scripture to a reasonable degree" is always a good idea for leaders in ANY situation (president, school board, team coach, etc.).
But claiming the scripture lists qualifications to hold public office is silly. Sure, there are the pastoral epistles for holding office as a pastor/deacon, but not president of a secular govt.
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After reading your post here, fleshing out what you mean from your prior one. I would agree with you in that respect.
I have to confess that this is a tough call for me.The reason is that no candidate that I know of shares all of my Christian beliefs.Then what happens? We start picking an issue that we want to emphasize, like a litmus test.I go to church with a guy who will not vote for anyone who is not pro-life.While I sympathize with this, I am also concerned when Christians "opt out" of the process altogether.I don't know what the answer is, other than telling my fellow Christians to pray about it and vote their conscience.If Thompson does not get the nomination, then so be it.However, if he is running against Hillary for President, you can bet he is getting my vote.Period!!!
DannyPoo. I appreciate your post below, and I agree with you.
What I am addressing is dgnymn's comment near the bottom that said: "Check out the Scriptures qualifications to hold public office."
Judging somebody's character "by scripture to a reasonable degree" is always a good idea for leaders in ANY situation (president, school board, team coach, etc.).
But claiming the scripture lists qualifications to hold public office is silly. Sure, there are the pastoral epistles for holding office as a pastor/deacon, but not president of a secular govt.
I should state, I do not have anything against Thompson, and from what I can tell. I would probably vote for him depending on the circumstances (his opposition)
Well wait, I'm not sure that's fair. Let me ask you a question, if we today had a choice between Hitler and Billy Graham who would you choose? This may seem like a simple question, but that is because there is a simple reason. We are aware that one of those two is not and has not lived up to certain moral principles. If we are Christians, where do we get thsoe moral principles? From scripture. Therefore we should judge candidates by scripture to a reasonable degree.
It was written below "Check out the Scriptures qualifications to hold public office. Thompson doesn't even come close!!!"
What scriptures qualifications to hold public office?
Is this in 2 Hesitations? 1 Hezekiah?
Show me, please. It aint there.
Sometimes...I wonder if our legistlators and executive office are not the major ways to effect policy in America. Eight years with a Republican president, who had 4 years of a Majority of Republicans in the House and Senate, none of these major issues for conservatives like myself have been pushed.
I am finding that conservative Legal groups like the ADF an ACLJ have done more to protect some of these important issues than legislators ever have. That isn't to say that I don't think we should support people whom we believe would make good legistlators, just yesterday I sent a contribution check to someone who is running for re-election in the Congress from an entirely different state than mine. So I am definately a believer in supporting good Candidates.
However, I think I am tired of putting all my eggs in the legistlative/executive basket, and am going to start financially supporting good non-profit legal groups and special interest groups that put pressure on our legistlators.
VOTE AGAINST THE MASONIC PRESELECTED NOMINEES!!! JAMES DOBSON IS CORRECT and the WINNER. RON PAUL IS THE MASONS WILD CARD WHO would rather split the vote as Ross Perot did in order to guarentee that Hillary gets elected. VOTE 4 Huckabee!!! HUCKABEE HUCKABEE HUCKABEE!!!!!!
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com/
So who does Dobson support? Does he support Rudy? the man who claims he won't force abortion or gay marrage on peole, but whos a major supporter of it? How about Ron Paul? The democrat in a republican costume, How about Mitt Romney? The GOPs verison of John Kerry. As far as Christians go. Dobson is a looser. He talks a good talk but does not walk a good walk.
C'mon, people!! What's all this nonsense about. Thompson IS NOT going to get the nomination. He is an empty suit and he IS weak on the issues. So you're going to vote for Thompson. GREAT. It's a free country, but what's the alternative. Just to vote for somebody so you won't get a Hillary Clinton IS NOT a reason to vote. We need to focus on the character, both moral and Biblical, of the candidate. Ron Paul STILL stands out as THE candidate - the BEST candidate in the field. Unfortunately, as Mr. Dobson says, there are a lot of Christians who've already sold out to the cultural and political mandate, and see Fred Thompson as the Great White Hope. Get a clue, Believers. Check out the Scriptures qualifications to hold public office. Thompson doesn't even come close!!!
Maybe so, but if Thompson gets the nomination, I'm going to vote for him.The alternative just isn't an option.