Dobson Flips, Says He Might Endorse McCain

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.

"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."

Comments

[Scarllatti]

For all I care, Dobbson can go endorse the devil.

[LeftLeanWing]

McCain now sees Dobson as a Power Ranger of Applicative Tolerance,

[MadJeffersonian]

Hey, Dobson will vote for McSame...if nothing else, to keep a black couple out of the White House.

[lthuedk 1]

Was there ever the slightest doubt? Fascism loves and needs the i4i. They are symbionts.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/t_equals.html

The Dobson - McBush tiff was a lover's quarrel.

[Aslanspal]

Has he gotten a face lift? it looks like a bunch of bees stung his face.

[Sandi7552]

Careful, your HYPOCRITE is showing! I love the smell of power trumps truth in the morning! Dobson is such a sell out, but like all the other right wing zealots, he will convince his minions that he is forced to the change by the Evil Left. The Evil Right has done more harm to this world that the Left could do if we ran the entire world for the next century and yet they continue to convince otherwise decent hard working people to believe in their message of hate (straight from the Bible no doubt) and vote against not only their own interests but the best interest of the Country they purport to love. That is a talent, but not one the Lord will reward!

[Jinxykb]

The only thing Dobson cares about is HIMSELF, and taking every opportunity to stand in front of a microphone and tell the world what they should think, feel, support and believe. If Dobson declines to support a presidential candidate then the press isn't going to be calling him for a sound bite. If James Dobson wasn't telling everyone how to live their lives he's curl up and die of depression.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

That ought to be the nail in McCains coffin.

Before everyone starts calling the Irreverend a flip-flopper, please remember there is precedent for such a thing. Think Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus.

[CtJean]

Gee, I was just going to say flip-flop, ok I won't say it.

But could I be the hammer for that nail - Huh? Huh?

[Mattjoe]

"distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview"

First of all James, the only distortion happening in America is the notion that the Conservative Right are peace loving, tolerant, non-violent forgiving folk.

That there, is the distortion.

If you want to find the worst sinners in the town, look no further than the front of the church.

[CtJean]

Spot On!

[nomobull]

this is why people that quote the bible don't impress me .the devil can quote the bible. actions are louder than words;especially when wrong or hurtful words are followed by like action.

[biglover]

He;s a racist. Of course he would vote for a man he despises but who happens to be the right color. What a bunch of hippocrits.

[Roxanna]

Dobson does more to threaten civilization with his archaic thinking.
He is a real snake in the grass.

[Scarllatti]

Dobson is our own Osama Bin Laden in a suit. Same, same religious extremist ideology.

[JohnJames]

So how can Dobson, in the name of family values, spurn a good family man ,Obama, and embrace McCain who commited adultery on his wheel-chair bound first wife after she had waited for him during his captivity and who clearly married the adulteress for her youth and vast fortune? Because "family values" has always been a huge con job. It has nothing to do with family (or fetuses) and everything to do with controlling women's sexuality by outlawing abortion (and one day, they hope, contraception as well) and shoving gay people back in the closet. Maybe the religious right is dying but I fear they could come roaring back if the next presidency (Mccain's or Obama's) is a failure and that's a real possibility given the deep deep hole Bush has dug for the country.

[JohnTalbutt]

Doesn't he first have to measure his Johnson - or was that Larry Craig?

[edwarvir]

On what family values would Dr. Dobson be endorsing Johnny War Note on.
How to throw your family under the bus and get away with it,?