James Dobson Accuses Obama Of 'Distorting' Bible

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As Barack Obama broadens his outreach to evangelical voters, one of the movement's biggest names, James Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.

The criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the organization's headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.

The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.

"Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.

Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy _ chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application."

"Folks haven't been reading their Bibles," Obama said.

Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament.

"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology," Dobson said.

Story continues below

advertisement

"... He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."

Joshua DuBois, director of religious affairs for Obama's campaign, said in a statement that a full reading of Obama's speech shows he is committed to reaching out to people of faith and standing up for families. "Obama is proud to have the support of millions of Americans of faith and looks forward to working across religious lines to bring our country together," DuBois said.

Dobson reserved some of his harshest criticism for Obama's argument that the religiously motivated must frame debates over issues like abortion not just in their own religion's terms but in arguments accessible to all people.

He said Obama, who supports abortion rights, is trying to govern by the "lowest common denominator of morality," labeling it "a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution."

"Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?" Dobson said. "What he's trying to say here is unless everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe."

The program was paid for by a Focus on the Family affiliate whose donations are taxed, Dobson said, so it's legal for that group to get more involved in politics.

Last week, DuBois, a former Assemblies of God associate minister, called Minnery for what Minnery described as a cordial discussion. He would not go into detail, but said Dubois offered to visit the ministry in August when the Democratic National Convention is in Denver.

A possible Obama visit was not discussed, but Focus is open to one, Minnery said.

McCain also has not met with Dobson. A McCain campaign staffer offered Dobson a meeting with McCain recently in Denver, Minnery said. Dobson declined because he prefers that candidates visit the Focus on the Family campus to learn more about the organization, Minnery said.

Dobson has not backed off his statement that he could not in good conscience vote for McCain because of concerns over the Arizona senator's conservative credentials. Dobson has said he will vote in November but has suggested he might not vote for president.

Obama recently met in Chicago with religious leaders, including conservative evangelicals. His campaign also plans thousands of "American Values House Parties," where participants discuss Obama and religion, as well as a presence on Christian radio and blogs.

Comments

[JSquercia]

I am NOT one who reads the Bible so I could be wrong but isn't the Prohibition against Homosexuals from the OLD testament

[imalonghorn]

Well yes you would be wrong, because the New Testament teaches against being homosexual too.

[Rog49Thomas]

And where in the Gospels does our Lord say one word against homosexuals?

Perhaps you can find a passage in some other books but then those contain all sorts of wise teachings about the place of women in life and their responsibility for original sin.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Shorthorn,

if you actually put things in *context* of culture, history, and linguistics, you would not commit the sin of *bearing false witness* like the pharisee Dobson.

*Abomination* was the old Hebrew way of expressing 'not what we normally do." If you insist on following the Bible in a literal 21st century American English interpretation, then you should be *stoned* for entering a church after eating *shellfish,* as such is also declared an *abomination* before God.

I prefer Jesus' admonition to "Be thou not as the hypocrites, who love to be seen praying on the street corners and in the synagogues, that they may be seen by men, for I say unto you, they have their reward!"

Dobson is just such a hypocrite, as is his entire vaunted "party of Christian family values:"

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

Hypocrisy, thy name be GOP, thy name be James Dobson and all his vile ilk.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[brighterside]

Yes there are some passages in the new testament stating homosexual behavior. But why do we Christians single out homosexuals more so than other sins stated in the New Testament?

That passage in 1 Corinth v.9 states also that the greedy, the wicked, the liars, slanderers, the drunkards, thieves, and murderers, idolaters and adulterers, and male prostitutes, etc. will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

These passages says that homosexuality is bad but it doesn't single them out as one which we should persecute. We persecute homosexuals but how bout those who did other deeds such as adultery? Would it be ok for us to stone John McCain? Frankly I think homosexuals are being singled out for treatment that they don't deserve and those that go after them are the guilty ones.

[fivecard]

"A 'fruitcake interpretation' of the Constitution"? Obama used to be a Constitutional law professor, for crying out loud--at one of the most conservative law schools in the country. He knows more about the Constitution than Dobson ever will.

Let's face it: no candidate from either party is acceptable to Dobson. He's way out on the fringe and increasingly so.

[JAB20]

If you read the recent Pew poll, you know Dobson doesn't speak for nearly as many people as he claims to.

[2cntswrth]

As usual, people like Dobson believe that they are the ONLY ones with the truth and that God isn't inclusive. Therein lies the real distortions wrought by self-righteousness. By limiting God to only the literal Biblical exegesis of the far right wing, based upon their own social locations in life, they dismiss everyone else who's ideas and beliefs differ from theirs. It's religious bigotry at its worst ! And I think Obama was speaking about the inclusiveness of God (for those who believe in one). And he was speaking about the inclusiveness of our nation regardless of how we choose or not choose to believe and worship. But again, the mean spirited and exclusive or elite ideas of the far right conservatives insist that it is only them that have the correct interpretation about God, life, and subsequently how they should be in charge of running the country. Well...I don't think so. Not this time.

[lornejl]

I have an Aunt who has been a nun for 60 years that is 100 percent anti repub, so religion is no excuse . Dob is a freak , pure and simple.

[devinsbuddy]

F*** James Dobson and the televangel horse he rode in on. Barack Obama is twice the moral person he can ever hope to be...

[tonyrich]

Why don't these eligious FREAKS go and do some good deeds with their time. The Bible is so distorted why bother reading it. It has been so plagerized for every weird group that only dumb sheep follow what it says.

[keclxivq]

distorting the Bible

You have to distort the bible. Otherwise you'd have to dismiss it entirely. And yes I have read it. There's a lot of scary stuff in there. I don't mean like sinning and such. I'm speaking of less mentioned words like owning people and burning bulls because the lord likes the smell. When you smite someone is that OK? I mean do I really have the right to judge. The bible says yes but Jesus said no. Can I really stone a sinner? The bible says yes but the law says no. I might have Christians on the jury. Would they understand? Why are the more religious people also the more pro death penalty? Why did George Bush let so many people die in Texas when he was governor? Is he really God and we haven't received the memo yet. He sure acts that way. Even now as President he reigns down bombs on people that are totally innocent. Innocent casualties of war I think is what he calls this.
I think it's called "pulpit bullying" where I come from. Wish I could smite him, yes I do.
I'm having a hard time with these expert born again bible thumpers. They seem to bend the truths (as I understand them) to what ever is needed by them at the time. This man has no right to give an opinion of what a politician is doing. make the jackass pay federal and state taxes starting today!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kasinca]

Dobson and all the others who spend their efforts on a couple of issues and ignore the fact that in a nutshell the Bible teaches to do unto others as you would have others do unto you and it teaches to help the needy over 2000 times. Dobson is old news and needs to go back to Sunday School.

[AnnaList]

Kasinca. In essence, you'v got it exactly right. Jesus said, when asked, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" Matt. Chp.22, verses 37-40, "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God,with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these TWO COMMANDMENTS hang ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. When Jesus says to "love," he does not mean it is necessary to embrace, or to have an emotional response to others. The "love" he refers to is "agape love," UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, which means, Romans Chp. 13, verse 10, "Love worketh no ill to its neighbor; therefore, LOVE is the FULFILLING of the law." So, not only is it that we should do no harm to others, but not to even wish harm come to others. Personally, I love the Word of God, reading the Bible. What pains me is that there has been such a failure on the part of the "church" to seek guidance from the Holy Sprit in order to make the gospel known in truth. Politics will and always has been an instrument used to further the self-serving ambitions of those who would be expected to follow the teacings of Jesus. Because they have failed in their Calling, doesn't mean that the Bible has no meaning. The Word of God is truly the "bread of life."

[go4thegold]

When you let nut cases like this fool Dobson have any voice, you start to hear the ignorance over and over again... With strick interpretation of the bible (old and new testaments) Dobson would be stoned as a heretic. He's actually much worse, but fortunately, we have a separation of church and state... Something simple like that eludes Dobson... and his listeners. D.

[usapatriot1973]

Wow, that is the pot calling the kettle "black". But being how this is Dobson, the chief hypocrite and pharisee of today, it is hardly surprising.

[ometep]

This is laughable. Dobson has made a career out of distorting biblical texts to advance his christo-fascist views. What isn't so funny is how the mainline media outlets turn to guys like Dobson as representative of "christian" views. Give me a break.

[Chas53]

Joe Klein said it best when he called Dobson an "oleaginous telecharlatan".
Dobson is a scam. Folks that give him dough are suckers; but let us not forget that there is one born every minute. For which, Saint James is eternally greatful.

[sophistwatch]

My favorites are the Bible thumpin hypocrites. I get a kick out of impostors like Dobson who go around spewing ignorance while they ignore the wisdom of their wise and learned leader.

[You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.] (Matthew 5:43)

Aside the from the polluted nonsense Dobson is spewing, the religious Right has the master piece of all master pieces of Biblical hypocrisies on the pro-life issue. A couple of Dobson quotes to set the stage for my point.

He said Obama, who supports abortion rights, is trying to govern by the "lowest common denominator of morality," labeling it "a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution". Dobson in quotes.

"Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?" Dobson said.

Now allow me sum up how the religious Right stands on this issue.

You - are not allowed to spare them the suffering that we are going to put them through when we feel it is in our best interest. Or, said another way, you don't have the right to terminate their lives, but we do in one of our BS wars.

Piss off Dobson and your like minded ilk.

[crank]

And Dobson has credibility - where?