Dobson Commends Palins For 'Living Out Pro-Life Values'

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson (an big supporter of the McCain-Palin ticket) released the following statement on Bristol Palin's pregnancy:

"In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of parents and children in the same situation the Palins are now facing. We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.

"Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I've been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I'm sure the Palins have.

"The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a 'hypocrite,' but all it really means is that she and her family are human. They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans."

Comments

[farseer]

I am a Christian who has supported Obama since after Iowa. I don't see why Huffpo, or Time magazine, is making a big dwal about Palin's daughter's pregnancy. Obama is right. It has nothing to do with the campaign. I do think it's commendable that the girl is having the baby instead of "terminating" the pregnancy (i.e. aborting the baby). I think Huffpo should lay off this topic and to dwell on it looks stupid. The girl and what she does has zero relevance to the campaign.

[blindjester]

Why did they hide the pregnancy until now?

Is that how loving parents treat a daughter? With shame?

[farseer]

Why should they publicize it? Is her pregancy your business or my business? According to Obama, it's no one's business outside of that family (and I agree). As for how loving parents treat a daughter who gets pregnant, one thing they don't do is publicize the pregnancy. If the girl wishes to publicize it herself it's her choice, she's free to do that. The only reason they did publicize it when they did, was to spike other rumors that were circulating.

[JackNasty]

Teen pregnancy is very relevant to the campaign. Sarah Palin has advocated excluding sex education and access to contraceptives for sexually active teenagers as a matter of public policy. Fundamentalist Christians who control the GOP have imposed this faith based ignorance on the nation

Teenage pregnancy is a serious public health issue. Having Ms. Palin's 17 year old daughter marry the man who impregnated her is not a solution to ignorance about sexuality. It certainly doesn't protect marriage. The only antidotes to the willful ignorance about sex imposed on public education by evangelical Christians like Ms. Palin and James Dobson are education about and access to contraception..

[BeltwayInsider]

Bristol’s pregnancy is completely relevant in this election.

If you are not aware of it, the federal government currently has a policy set up such that federal funding for sex education is available, but ONLY if the curriculum teaches an "abstinence only" program. Therefore, our tax dollars are being used to promote a failed policy, and at the same time, is discouraging programs that could be preventing teen pregnancies. I dug this article up on the fly; there are probably better ones out there:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/nyregion/21schools.html

[farseer]

A discussion of federal policies on sex education is relevant to the campaign. Bristol's personal situation has nothing to do with federal policies - she is free to do what she wishes regarding her pregancy, regardless of what federal policies are in effect and what her mother may or may not think about these issues.

[BeltwayInsider]

Any new ideas on how to prevent teen pregnancies, preacher man Dobson? Abstinence and prayer you say? Doesn't seem to be working. What do we do next? Accept it as the will of God? Bury our heads in the sand, and pray that the problem goes away? Sounds like more of the same.

What these conservative leaders, on both the political and religious sides (hard to tell them apart anymore) are doing is obscene. They're doing nothing less than promoting teen pregnancies through their naïve, failed policies.

[RRK70]

Sarah Palin and her family have every right to practice their faith however they wish. However, as a public official it has to be determined whether her views will affect the rights of others. Between Troopergate and my understanding of dominionist Christian doctrine, I have the feeling that her views WOULD affect her views on public policy.

[CassandraPriam]

Oh yes a perfect role model for my 12 year old daughter. NOT

[darker]

And NOT for mine, either!

Dobson, yet another lying and scheming millionaire "reverend" is after power and money 24/7 and
"any which way at all".

S. Palin 'Living Out Pro-Life Values'?
Yeah, those are SOME values, all right!
HER VALUES ARE A SCANDAL.

[Obama4Life]

John McCain's VP pick and this whole thing for republicans is a total disaster. I don't care how much they try to spin this and put on smiles for the media. All partisanship aside, John McCain deserves to have is butt kicked for this!

But at least this bodes will for Obama.

In all seriousness however, I think Sarah Palin needs to be home with her family and not out on t he campaign trail. She just had a baby that is now 4 months old (with down syndrome) and her 17 year old daughter (Also a child) is 5 months pregnant (and we all know Sarah Palin will have to take care of this child to, lets be real). This is INSANE, she needs to BE HOME! I don't know whats behind it, her lust for power or McCain forcing her to stay out on the trail.

Bottom line, this whole thing is a train wreck freak show. I feel sorry that the kids have now been dragged into this mess. Not to mention she is totally unqualified.

Someone please make it stop!

[ppp1604]

Simply more of the same from the Republicans. They speak with forked tongue.

If this happened to Obama, he would have been hounded to the end of time.

Republicans seem to have no Shame. NONE Like Palin's Experience. NONE

She had to recognize that this would eventually break. What kind of mother would put their child in this kind of situation for their own personal ambition? I have to question her mothering skills.

Where is the moral outrage from the good Christian Republicans?

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense, make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
— Jesus Christ, Matthew 23: 14-15

Dobson best be careful, because Jesus is watching.

[Ish11]

There is another roamer that she is Russian and was planted in AK by KGB. Do some research on that people and let us know.

[blindjester]

We'll let you be point-man on that, brainiac.

"rumor"

[BlackWidowPilot]

Dobson is the classic example of what Jesus warned all of us never to be:

"Be thou not as the hypocrites who love to pray 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 also falls down on another count with Our Lord and Savior:

"It is easier for a rope to pass through the eye of a needle, than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Further examples of Dobson's raging hypocrisy and dubious credentials are presented in the documentary BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. I highly recommend this documentary for anyone who wants to understand what the Scriptures really say about homosexuality, as opposed to what the likes of Dobson and his fellow travelers would have us believe.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[robXdion]

Modern day Pharisees.

[mabinog]

Please people this man is not clergy.

[soapington]

It must be reassuring for the Palin family to know they have the support and forgiveness of the Christian community, in the person of Frank Dobson.

Now, remind me, Mr. Dobson, what are the religious/clerical qualifications that entitle you to speak on behalf of Christians?

[helonias]

Why dosen't this clown go out and help the poor and the lesser among us like JC.

I mean Jesus Christ and Jimmy Carter.

[TLV]

Pro-Life is not a campaign to promote teen pregnancy.

[TLV]

It just looks that way!

[GAPRDDESC]

Palin's children and husband’s shortcomings have nothing to do with this public debate and while I am an Obama supporter it never ceases to amaze me how the so-called right-wing Christian feel free to cast stones of immorality and morality while they themselves, the one throwing the stones, are guilty of the same sins! Palin it is your own party who is playing dirty politics. Palin please tell you family to stand strong and know we (Democrats) love them, contrary to what they read in the newspaper. I may not vote with you or agree with your party of choice, but family is sacred! We all sin come short of the Glory of God, Republicans and Democrats alike, yet the right-wing Christians would have you believe that shortcomings are Democrat issues only. They built their whole party on calling Democrats immoral and Republicans moral to the point where millions really believe this lie. They demonize inner city children and do not pray for their well being. Democrats love God just as much as Republicans, yet the false rhetoric by people like James Dobson's Shepard who have been brainwashed into to believing that Democrats are immoral felt justified to pray destruction on his perceived enemies, which is not Biblical.

[cassidynj]

Why not "Lies we can believe in" as the new Republican Family Values Platform?

[elcojonu]

So the U.S. Evangelical Pope likes Sarah; what a surprise !

[helonias]

But when will the good rev get to adultery/divorce ala JM

Oh and my fave worshiping graven images.