Obama: Dobson "Making Stuff Up"

LOS ANGELES — Barack Obama said Tuesday that evangelical leader James Dobson was "making stuff up" when he accused the presumed Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible.

Dobson used his Focus on the Family radio program to highlight excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal.

Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane before landing in Los Angeles, Obama said the speech made the argument that people of faith, like himself, "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."

Obama added, "I think you'll see that he was just making stuff up, maybe for his own purposes."

In his program, Dobson focused on examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy. For instance, Obama said Leviticus suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination. Obama also cited 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 in the speech.

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

Asked about Dobson's assessment, Obama said "somebody would be pretty hard-pressed to make that argument" that he was distorting the Bible.

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Obama supporters also responded to Dobson.

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, a Methodist pastor from Texas and longtime supporter of President Bush who has endorsed Obama, said Tuesday he belongs to a group of religious leaders who, working independently of Obama's campaign, launched a Web site to counter Dobson at . The site highlights statements from Obama and Dobson and asks visitors to compare them. http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com

Caldwell said he has great respect for Dobson's advocacy for families, but said the criticism of Obama was "a bit over the top" and "crossed the line."

"There has been a call for a higher level of politics and politicking," Caldwell said. "So to attack at this level is inappropriate and I think unacceptable and we at least want to hold everybody accountable."

Tom Minnery, a senior vice president at Focus on the Family, responded: "Without question, Dr. Dobson is speaking for millions of evangelicals because his understanding of the Bible is thoroughly evangelical."

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AP Religion Writer Eric Gorski in Denver contributed to this report.

Comments

[JJeff88]

Among those featured on a CNN panel to discuss Dobson and Obama was Tony Perkins.

When Andrew Cooper played a video clip of Obama stating that religious principles restated as moral beliefs had every place as part of political dialog so long as they were stated as moral principles rather than as part of a religious agenda. Sen. Obama also alluded to the desirability of our nation's diverse religious interests to coalesce around common moral principles.

Perkins was dismissive of this, preferring to hammer home the importance of the Christian right's obligation to fight to make their religious beliefs - most notably a ban on abortion - part of public policy.

In other words "Our way or the highway."

Politically, there's a flaw in Perkins' logic. Various religious groups place varying prioirities on a slew of moral and social issues, ranging from Right to Life to Population Control to the War on Aids to Feeding the Poor to Economic Justice to Promoting Celibacy to Opposing War etc.

Any intelligent voter would evaluate candidates based on sum total of their positions on this wide range of issues. But Perkins would rather have us ignore all the other issues "vote for the Republlcan" based soley on a single issue: Abortion Rights.

If Sen, Obama can make this point - that Perkins and Dobson are little more than religious "one trick ponies" - I believe he can win over a surprising number of faith-based voters.

[OlongapoEd]

"I thought being Christian was supposed to be about love and compassion­."

Never underestimate the number of people who flatter themselves that telling people they don't like they will suffer eternal punishment for not being Theologically Correct is an act of "love" and "compassion". Dobson and others of his ilk have done a great deal to corrupt the concepts of love and compassion.

[SILVANUS]

Ship Dobson's sorry butt to Iran since he wants theological rule so bad.

[osage]

Thoroughly evangelical means thoroughly extreme to more Americans than it means thoroughly righteous. Using a literal interpretation of the Bible to justify social and moral extremism is a means to an end. I have no problem with those who wish to lead their religious lives based on their religious values. And I am not opposed to the free expression of those values, but trying to force those values into the lives of those who are less thoroughly evangelical isn't spiritually enlightened, it's politically oppressive and mean-spiritied in way that is contrary to the harmony and charity of Christian teachings. Criticizing and condeming those who are less thoroughly evangelical isn't a Christian value I believe Christ would support. And using religion as a political weapon is a form of extremism that is currently being practiced in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and America. I for one, will stand against any thoroughly evangelical interpretation that justifies that.

[maxwellinformed]

James Dobson was "making stuff up". How much of religion is based on made up stuff anyway?

[ThunderclapNewman]

Pretty much all of it.

[vinny]

Dobson would be happier if he were living in some country like IRAN...

[mpgarr]

I say that anyone with an iota of intelligence and reason does not take Rev Dobson with any degree of seriousness--

That said--he will be featured tonight on FOX News on Hannity and Combs--enuff said!!!

[Scytherius]

He went after Dobson? Fantastic! I mean Dobson is an ignorant buffoon but no one ever seems to call him on it. Dobson's ignorance is easily revealed if people will but speak up.

[vinny]

criticizing obama about "his own confused theology" would be soooo ironic if it were funny... dobson is preoccupied, i.e. worships, the mesonic powers in washington d.c as plainly evident by speech and action...

[HatingTheGame]

Wait, I'm flipping through my good book here to find out where it says that its ok to shower with little boys, and perhaps diddle them from time to time... wait, here it is... um.... no, not that ... let's see....

Hmmm... someone help me out.

[elbzee]

I am SICK TO DEATH of religion's involvement in American politics. Were it not for evangelists I might even have religion. But, so much hypocracy, greed, and corruption have proven to me the evil that they are.

[editrix66]

Don't equate the national evangelists with real religion. If you want religion, you need to find what you need in your local area. Not all Christian denominations are bigoted, close-minded, or greedy.

[gladys46]

edit, ah, what may I ask is "real religion!!" ????

[peterdangit]

I really wish O would stay away from these religious debates; it really weakens his message...

[Krikkit]

He can't. Christians make up the majority of voters in this country. Besides, haven't we learned our lesson about ignoring smears from enemies through the 2000 and 2004 elections? ALL attacks have to be addressed and quickly or they fester -- especially whenFaux promotes them.

[euthman]

Obama directly taking on a religious figure over Biblical interpretation? Dude, I love this guy!

[AriochRIP]

When, oh when, will the American people grow up and elect an atheist President so we don't have to deal with ANY of this insanity any more?

[comacoma]

Actually, a Secular Humanist would be more acceptable to most people than an atheist... IMO.

[mfinley98]

All of our presdidents, including the current hyperpious one, have been virtual atheists. To "compromise" (which is the ideal of politics), is to set aside absolute values.

Viva hypocrisy -- it is not possible to live a pure and honest life and represent large numbers of people. One is forever breaking eggs.

[peterdangit]

That will be a much harder battle; it will take many many years :(

[Scytherius]

I'm not quite an atheist but I could NOT agree more!!! This country will keep falling into the black hole of the Dark Ages as long as it continues to embrace religion of any kind.

[gladys46]

These sort people are not going away ... they won't go away!! The Constitution gives the right to religion or NO RELIGION! Dobson ought to read that aloud!! O will not be the only potential president having to communicate with them! Be glad that O is not pandering ... he is attempting to "include" all people and ease "some" of the divisiveness!

Somebody once said that religion is the opiate of the masses! Many of these type people know that very well, note the mega-buildings, mega-bucks ... most are ah, incorporated!!

[Insideout143]

Let's put this in perspective. My beloved dad, who passed 3 and a half years ago, would be 81 years old if he were still with us. He knew more about computers than I do today. His computer crashed totally one time, after a power surge during a thunderstorm. He took it back to the store where he purchased it, and after a couple of weeks, they said they would have to return it to the manufacturer to be fixed, that they could not do it there. He said no way, he'd do it himself. Armed with a computer tech book about 4 inches thick, he took his computer home, and by golly, after his research into that thick book, he fixed it himself. This was my dad, who was pulled out of school in 8th grade to work in the shipyard to help support his family, of which he was one of 13 children. I understand there are still people out there who choose not to know much about computers, except what is required (like knowing how to work modern appliances, navigating computerized telephone "switchboards"), but for McCain to say he's "ready" and "qualified" to become president and defend our country, to have little to no knowledge of the workings computers, is not acceptable. Hackers attacking our government's systems every single day. With no understanding of computers, how can McCain be prepared to defend our nation??? Is this why he was also such a poor military student and pilot?

[Faithtoo]

I am also an evangelical and Dobson does not speak for me. He is not the last word on the Bible, anyone with a brain who has either read or heard the scriptures has as much right to comment on the Bible as he does. Being a minister does not make you an expert and besides if there was only one intrepretation of the Bible then we would all be living it the same way.

I have often found Dr. Dobson and his focus on the family program to be a bit intolerant ...especia­lly for "Christians" so I take much of what he says with a grain of salt.

If faith is the basis for Dr. Dobson's politial views I find it odd for him to criticize and single out the only Evangelical in the presidential race. Especially when the alternative either has no faith or is not a practicing Christian.

[JScott]

O shoulda said much of this in response.

[AngryMonkey]

I know a programmer that was in love with Dobson. Went to Colorado Springs when he was offered a job. He became very upset after working there for a while. Seems Dobson is just like the rest of us. Likes Money.
He has a bullet proof Mercedes and a private elevator to his office. I take any christian with a grain of salt.

[Pete Ross]

Why have Christians been distinguished above all people who have ever lived, for persecutions? Is it because it is the genius of their religion? No, its genius is the reverse. It is the refusing toleration to those of a different opinion which has produced all the bustles and wars on account of religion. —
Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Religion.