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

[Donnat]

Who would you expect an out-of-touch, lost-his-bearings, opportunistic, racist, religious hypocrite to endorse? Like attracts like.

[vallon]

I guess ol' Jimmy got his kick-back from the Republican Party-again.

[MissKaren]

Dobson couldn't even tromp Ted Bundy 72 hours before his execution and after 10 years in soliatary on Death Row so I consider his opinion irrelevant.

[Pragman]

"There's nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context."

That should read, "there's nothing dishonorable in a REPUBLICAN rethingking his or her positions...". When a Democrat does it, it's condemned as "flip-flopping".

[JohnFromCensornati]

And, when the "political context" *hasn't* changed, it's just another Republican lie.

[meanguy]

when a democrat does it, it's called 'refining his position'

[dayala]

who cares, he's as irrelevant as the rest of his ilk.

[Godfearing]

What a surprise that Dr. Dobson may endorse Senator John McCain! He can now join Sean Hannity,
Karl Rove, Rev. Moon, Dick Morris, Newt Gingrich and Fox News in their attempts to destroy the black Senator Obama and his wife, Michelle's credibility with false statements.

Undoubtedly, John McCain's record of wasting trillions of taxpayer dollars on defense contractors and lobbyists while on the U. S. Armed Service Committee will not attack enough voters.

Google.com tells the tale:

Godfearing Profiles

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20380-2004Aug20... (Pork Barrell Military Waste)

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/133654 (Jobs to Europe Airbus)

http://www.progressivemediausa.org/2008/05/19/johnmccains-lobbyists/ (Lobbyists list)

[Godfearing]

Previous comment contained three web addresses deleted or in error.

Pork Barrell Military Wast can be found on Google at "Don't Mind If I Do washingtonpost.comm) ."

For Jobs to Europe Google "John McCain and Airbus"

McCains Lobbyist list: http://www.progressivemediausa.org/2008/05/19/john-mccains-lobbyists/

Sorry for error!

[zendem1]

Who cares what this old toe-tapping n azi thinks?

[peter777]

Dobson needs to stick to family advice. No, on second thought, he needs to retire. He is so irrelevant. Both he and the head of the Southern Baptists need to re-read the Bible, especially the New Testament, without their religious trappings and prejudice. As a Christian, I resent their trying to speak for me.

[coollbreezz]

I'm sure that Dobson endorsement will help to legitimize McCain's divorce and abandonment of his first wife Carol. We now know what Dobson focus on the family is really about.
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/mccain-lied-about-his-divorce-and-remarriage

[Trittydi]

So who here didn't laugh out loud at this headline?

Dobson is no longer relevant - but someone forgot to tell him.
*

[RobtBrock]

Dobson is giving whores a bad name.

[Budokan]

So he's a hypocrite like all other right-wing numbskulls. Gotcha.

[jemiltd]

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."
Perhaps some light reading for Mr. Dobson so that he may be better inforned before making more hypocritical statements: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/e-joyce-moore/mccain-supportive-of-wome_b_113503.html

[TGCNY]

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."

Give me a break doesnt any one see something wrong with this quote by dobsdum. He doesnt have anything in common with a man who takes care of his family an puts good first

[wolf58]

just another reason not to vote for McCain. If the religious wack jobs like him then us sane people must say NO.

[JohnFromCensornati]

So, in other words, holier-than-thou Dob$on lied when he said he would not endorse MacThuselah.
Mohler is a lunatic.

[alicante]

Focus on th Fanatics

[alicante]

Focus on the Fanatics........his church