Dobson Shifts Positions, May Endorse McCain

By Eric Gorski|Associated Press Writer

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Conservative Christian leader James Dobson has softened his stance against Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, saying he could reverse his position and endorse the Arizona senator despite serious misgivings.

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(Photo: AP Images /Carolyn Kaster)
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., waves as he boards his campaign plane at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., Sunday, July 20, 2008.

"I never thought I would hear myself saying this," Dobson said in a radio broadcast to air Monday. "... While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might."

Dobson and other evangelical leaders unimpressed by McCain increasingly are taking a lesser-of-two-evils approach to the 2008 race. Dobson and his guest, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler, spend most of the pretaped Focus on the Family radio program criticizing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, getting to McCain at the very end.

In an advance copy provided to The Associated Press, Dobson said that while neither candidate is consistent with his views, McCain's positions are closer by a wide margin.

"There's nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context," Dobson said in a statement to the AP. "Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain."

Earlier, Dobson had said he could not in good conscience vote for McCain, citing the candidate's support for embryonic stem cell research and opposition to a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, as well as concerns about McCain's temper and foul language.

Dobson said on the radio program he must consider McCain's record against abortion rights and support for smaller government, and added McCain "seems to understand the Muslim threat." He also indicated McCain's choice of a running mate will be a factor.

Of his new position, Dobson said in the statement to the AP, "If that is a flip-flop, then so be it."

Both the Obama and McCain campaigns declined comment Sunday.

Dobson is considered a powerful voice in conservative evangelical Christianity; his radio broadcast reaches 1.5 million U.S. listeners daily. Critics argue his influence is waning, pointing to a younger generation of leaders pushing to broaden the movement's agenda.

Last month, Dobson accused Obama, in a 2006 speech on faith and politics, of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.

Obama replied that Dobson was "making stuff up" and portrayed his speech as an attempt by people of faith, like himself, to "try to translate some of our concerns in a universal language so that we can have an open and vigorous debate rather than having religion divide us."

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BobTX »

Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:40 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

How could Dobson endorse him when he cheated on his first wife and then filed for a marriage to one of his mistresses while he was still married to his first wife. She had waited faithfully for him through the entire time he was a POW, and look what kind of faithfulness he showed her in return. Not good Christian example for anyone.
farout63 »

Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:55 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

As a Christian, I can not in good conscience support abortion. So it has become not an issue of who to vote for,but rather is is the party that stands against abortion.
Neither Obama or McCain represent good examples of what I consider being the best America has to offer. McCain at age 71 is a problem for me, and his anger. Obama brings me great fear for his world views. I believe that there are many who are filled with hate for blacks, and Obama has a huge risk and I pray he is well aware of the potential that his life might become in serious danger.
Our country is in serious danger. We have killed more babies than Hitler killed people in his ovens of death. With our destructive weather, bad economy, and the USA has turned away form basic Biblical teachings of marriage, the hording of so many rich, and a nation that spends more money on sexual lustful movies than on food for the poor, judgement may well be at hand. Christians we need to take a stand not for a person but for a cause.
alex12 »

Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:50 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

With all that said I want to remind everyone that the last time the church became to involved in politics the Catholic Church was not a very holy church. Government is a place of power that the people of the world desire and mixing that with the Church causes the people of the world to desire high positions in the Church. If anyone remembers the Medici family in Italy. They caused wars using the church for the sake of getting rich. Their family slogan is Money to get power, and power to guard the money. Or the French monarch that used the church as a puppet to become rich and to have control over people. The last example is the Spanish inquisition. Lets not allow history to repeat itself.
alex12 »

Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:49 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

I have to start by saying first of all Dr. Dobson really deserves our respect because it does take a lot of faith and courage to stand in front as a Christian leader. Not only that his ministry work has led many people to Christ and that can not be ignored. Yet I have to say I do not agree with the course of action of getting involved in politics as a Christian leader is a wise decision. I really do respect the notion of separation of church and state. Not because I think that Gay marriage and abortion supporters should just be allowed to do what ever they want or that I am passive. Quite the contrary I am actually very against those things. Yet the reason I support separation of church and state is because we lose our focus as Christians. Jesus came not to get rid of the law but to teach us to live in a way that our actions fulfill the law. When we have a heart of love for the Lord our instinct is to make him happy and in the process we fulfill the law. So my point is we can not CHANGE america through the law. It won't work and it never did if you really look at the old testament and even look at the jews in the New Testament. To be perfectly honest if we spent more time evangelizing and saving lives for Christ America would actually change to the way that it should be. Rather time is wasted in courts and trying to force lifestyles on to others. The lifestyle that we live as Christians may be the right one but no one converts by force. They convert by their own free will when they feel they are receiving what they need to fill the hole that is in their life. The numbers on church growth and the number of missionaries that are in the US are very revealing. Church attendance is down and so are the number of missionaries we are sending out. Even the Southern Baptist Convention noted that attendance was not where they wished it would be. These are numbers we should be waking up to. God Bless Dr. Dobson for his ministry work but I must say to Christians please do not lost your focus on saving lives through the Gospel and not losing time in the courts. Although I must say the type laws we must fight are the fairness doctrine and any other legislation that restricts the preaching of the Gospel. That is actually our most impeding threat in the courts and one that we should really be worried about.
JHS »

Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:45 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

Focus on the Family is having financial trouble right now, so this does not surprise me, the whole Obama thing was nothing more than to raise money for his organzation. Dobson who built his "christian" empire on the back Jesus is showing the signs of a aging out of touch organzation.
DannyPoo »

Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:21 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Stanjz, you said "My parents divorced and I have many friends who had the same problem. Adultery is the biggest threat to marriage and the cause for many families to break up, it has nothing to do with gays, but Dobson needs to unite against a common enemy, so he attacks gays. "

There are many things you don't knw about Dobson. Dobson has not ignored these other important issues. He talks about divorce/adultery and a plethora of other things that are hurting families/marriage far more than he talks about Homosexuality.
stanjz »

Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:24 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

Dr Dobsons said "Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation." Barack Obama is a devoted father and husband. Senator McCain divorced his first wife, not due to infidelity, but due to her appearance getting worse from a car accident. How can he claim Barack is a worse influence? My parents divorced and I have many friends who had the same problem. Adultery is the biggest threat to marriage and the cause for many families to break up, it has nothing to do with gays, but Dobson needs to unite against a common enemy, so he attacks gays.
hlerwin »

Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:43 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"That is IF the Almighty decides to even let us continue to exist. I wouldn't if I were Him."

I - along with many others, I'm sure - are glad you aren't him. You are more judgmental than God is.

America will continue to be great - and a beacon for the world. My people have been on top in this country since colonial times. Nowadays, everybody has a chance to get to the place they choose. For many Americans, the times have never been better. Don't just look at all the bad news. There's plenty of good news these days, too.
lossnerp »

Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:12 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

helrwin
Just what in America are you hoping will pass away?

What should American turn into? Hasn't it been the greatest nation on the earth for the last 200+ years? Hasn't it been the country that people risked their lives getting to it shores? Hasn't it been the country that has aided victims of war, hunger, and disasters everywhere in the world? Hasn't it been the leader in advancements in technology and medicine? I see this country as going in just the opposite direction. It has become morally decadent, and no nation that loses its moral compass has ever stayed great. It is made of a citizens. When those citizens lack moral standards, the county will lack moral standards. Then we will be like all those other corrupt countries run by corrupt governments. That is IF the Almighty decides to even let us continue to exist. I wouldn't if I were Him.
wrhalver »

Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:45 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

The fact is that there is no alternative to McCain for conservative Christians and Dr. Dobson knows this. Christians don't have their own Party.

I think Dobson just really wants McCain to dig deep inside his soul and pull out his "heart" and show it to the American people.

I do not agree with everything that comes from Dobson and Mohler, but I do believe strongly in their ministries.
hlerwin »

Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:02 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 6

I saw Dr. Dobson on TV today. What a worn-out looking old school marm! He belongs to an America that is passing away. Obama is from an America that is just beginning to turn into what it should have been from the start. I am not very political, but I have high hopes for President Obama.
believer »

Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:56 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

Although I have a high regard for Dr. Dobson in the areas of marriage and the family with all do respect this is a no-brainer. Reality is, there is no third party candidate who stands a chance of winning. In fact the only thing that person would do is draw away votes from either McCain or Obama, perhaps enough to cause that person to lose the election, but not enough for him/her to win the election. But without the endorsements of people like Dobson, McCain is relatively dead in the water. If McCain wants to win he might think about encouraging liberals to vote for Ralph Nader instead of Obama.
msnchris70 »

Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:57 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

McCain recently prayed at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. I guarantee McCain will win.

Obama will lose and hopefully all the Liberals will leave the US and move to Canada to some ice flow.

Ok, I'm not a prophet but I'm just really hopefull McCain will win. I'm sure praying before the Blessed virgin Mary won't hurt his election with Hispanic voters.
DannyPoo »

Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:16 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Ironically, by Obama taking hard left stances on Abortion, the Bible, national security, Homosexuality, etc.

He is actually going to cause the conservative evangelical block of voters to rally around McCain, something most would not have done otherwise.

In otherwords, if by some chance Obama looses the 08 General election, it is going to be because he is too liberal, not because McCain is too conservative.

Who knows....McCain may actually have a shot at winning this election...

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