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."

___

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

Comments

[creekside]

Ok, so after the Easter Bunny lead the Smurfs through the rainy desert for 40 days and 40 nights he climbed up the mountain and Santa Clause presented him with the 10 ways to know if your man is cheating on you issue of Cosmo...
Come on people. war in Iraq,the broken economy, global warming, the end of fossil fuel we've got REAL issues to talk about.

[Trill]

Thank you Creekside!

[MajorKong]

Dobson is a major power broker in the GOP. The fact that Bush had to get his approval for his Supreme Court picks should tell you just how much of a "real issue" Dobson is. He has a larger following than Pat Robertson of Jerry Falwell ever had.

You should definitely fear this man.

[Nonamnesiac]

Obama is at the precise moment politically that Hillary was at in 2002 when she voted against the majority of Democrats in Congress, to send military members of my family and hundreds of thousands of other families into harm's way against the interests of the Untied States, desptie the overwhelming intelligence at the time that Saddam had no WMDs and was an enemy of al Qaeda. That vote is the reason Hillary was defeated for the nomination by a guy whose middle name is Hussein, despite the fact she had the party establishment and the Clinton machine behind her.

If he votes for the compromise and does not fully support the Feingold/Dodd filibuster of the FISA Bill, he will lose the election, as people will seem him as someone who lacks experience to be President AND who is not an agent of change. Progressives are watching Obama closely on this and on the war. If he wants to suffer what Hillary has suffered, then he will vote for the compromise. Why support an inexperienced purveyor of the corporations when voters can support an experienced purveyor of the coroporations?

The only reason to support the compromise, or to support immunity or the civil liberties infringements in the new FISA Bill, is because he is on the telecoms' payroll or his supporters are on the telecoms' payroll.

[justobserve]

' guy whose middle name is Hussein": sounds like a schoolyard taunt! So childish that it degrades the person who said it.

[MajorKong]

Schoolyard taunts are pretty much all they have left.

[allonfla]

I disagree.

Mainstream Americans- the ones that vote, the ones that don't obssess over every issue in this election, the ones that don't have time to write post after post after post - are not paying attention to what happens on the FISA bill.

There support of him does not ride on the FISA bill. They don't know about it, they don't seek information on it and they don't even know what FISA stands for. Doesn't make them less intelligent, but their priorities are elsewhere.

You don't have to be an expert or a pollster or a genuis to figure that out. Watch the news, look at the front headlines on any newspaper sold on the newsstand(on the street guys not online), barely or no news about FISA.

I'm not saying that the bill is not important, but it will NOT be the deciding factor in this campaign.

[MoeB]

I agree. I am upset at this whole FISA fiasco, but there are also OTHER issues that are a bit more important to me now, like the economy and getting our troops home from Iraq. Oh, and that little thing called global warming. IF McCain were winning, the FISA bill would be a little higher on my list. I don't think that if Obama gets elected, that he would just let this go. We all have to remember that he is not elected YET. We have to look at the bigger picture.

[Trill]

Nonamnesiac...when you want to make a point...make it shorter...and then proofread!

[NoLove4HillaryAnymore]

You bully conservatives...you don't own the evangelical movement or Christianity. In the name of Christ, all you have done is destroy this country and the world. Iraq is a good example. Prophises will come in their own time. You don't have to push your the end of the world because people like Dobson are going straight to hell.

[Faithtoo]

Ditto...I couldn't have said it any better.

[situationcritical]

Since there is no hell (there really isn't), perhaps we should prepare another place to send someone like Dobson.

[EuroRant1]

WAIT ... WAIT ... I AM CHANNELING A MESSAGE FROM "BEYOND"

WAIT ... YES ... HERE IT IS ...

GEORGE HAS A MESSAGE FOR MR DOBSON ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

[Fair]

AMEN

[Zogtastic]

I got to listen to Dobson on Hannity's radio show. I actually decided to turn it to his show because I bet myself eleventy billion dollars that the first word I heard would be either "Obama" or "radical"... I won.

It was perhaps the most incoherent rant I've heard and Sean just ate it up with no regard for understanding (like that's new).

They played the clip with Obama saying "whose Christianity will we use, James Dobson's or Al Sharptons?" and Dobson went on a rant about "what did I do to get attacked? I've never been associated with Al Sharpton!"

Wow... just wow... his comprehension level is all that I needed to know. See, Dobson, the fact that you and Al Sharpton have no associations is THE POINT! He's not saying you two are tied in together, he's saying that you two preach very different interpretations of the same Christianity. There was no attack, only distinction, but please, by all means, remain ignorantly paranoid. It really serves Obama's religious tolerance speech a lot more good to see the right-wing get bent out of shape over... tolerance (BLEH!). It makes for much amusement.

[LibDrummer]

Shawn Hannity makes me sqeamish about free speech laws.

[wolfgangmo]

He should make you squeamish about the lack of a fairness doctrine. Free speech, if we had it in the MSM and other media, would make idiots like those the fringe.

Free speech is muy importanto.

[NoLove4HillaryAnymore]

James Dobson has had many affairs in his church...just wait until they come out. The guy is a total cult.

[Fair]

Why doesn't someone expose him and send him packing like Haggard.

When will they be made public?

[KHAAANNN]

"packing" like Haggard,..............good one.

I'm sure he an Haggard have been "packing" the same people for years.

[Mabo]

Maybe there aren't any affairs...you re basing this on the comment of an anonymous blogger.

[Roxanna]

NoLove 4 Hillary Anymore

I hope the information you are saying about James Dobson and possible affairs will come forward. I see him as a control freak, repressive pervert who want to keep women Down Under his thumb.

If you listen to his ideology he is disgusting!

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

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

What'samatter, Jimmy? Ticked that someone else is horning in on your territory?

[SatinPanties]

The good ole reverend doesn't like competition... not even if it is his own perceived threat...

[uvymopkq]

OBAMA: Jeremiah Wright was a myth.

[Earl]

Somebody show me family values in the Bible. If you believe in Adam and Eve, then the next few generations must have been incestuous. Abraham is the most celebrated criminally insane person in history. Today he'd be in jail for child abuse. Lot gave his two daughters to an unruly mob to have their way with, and then the daughters came back to Lot to have sex with him! And even Jesus himself commanded us to give up our families to follow him.

[strick9]

Jesus was a 2008 year old hippie preaching peace and love, Dobson and the like worship those that murdered him, as they try to destroy everyone that disagrees with their point of view.

[3Gs]

"The words of the apostle Paul speak for me in saying that words spoken and deeds done without love amount to nothing."

Words of a very wise person.

Beware, Dobson, your soul is at stake.

[SEQUOIABISON]

We cannot allow these George W Bush type of phony religious fanatics control our political process again, not this time.

These hypocritical purveyors of morality have no humanitarian morals and wholeheartedly supported the abysmal Iraq war where our illustrative leader shocked and awed thousands of innocent civilians.

I never heard any objections or condemnation regarding the slaughter of so many people who had nothing whatsoever to do with 911, from Mr Dobson or his religious followers.

Where is the Christ-like attitude of these religious leaders who support the greedy avaricious policies of the Republicans?

[Falafel]

The real question is what's up with Dobson's hair? It looks like the humble, pious man of god is dyeing his hair. How funny and vain and sad. Is trying to get chicks? Would jesus approve?

[k6007]

I get the 'wide-stance' vibe from him, myself.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Or worse:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

"Family values" worthy of Caligula or David Koresh, but that's about it.

Yeeach.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[supergranny]

Dobson's battle cry of hate and punishment really attract angry people who need someone or some group to hate. Obama's short comments undermine that mindset, and ask that Dobsonites stop for a brief moment and think about their Bible. A firestorm results and Obama comes out the winner. I love it.

[obamasOHangel]

I would just like to know who appointed James Dobson as Senator Obama's official interpreter? In reading the website put up against him he repeated said, "I think that Obama is suggesting" or, "I believe that Obama is saying". Well James, if you're not IN Obama's head you cannot possibly determine what he's "suggesting" or "saying".

And now just like Reverend Wright and Father Pflegler, you've had your 15 minutes of media-political fame so go away.