Focus on the Fallacies of James Dobson

For the past three decades, the religious right has largely been the public face of Christianity in America. Televangelists such as Rev. Jerry Falwell, James Dobson and Rev. Pat Robertson became household names by relentlessly presenting a rigid form of conservative theology. Their rise was aided by the emergence of talk radio and cable television -- which served as huge mega-phones -- and GOP leaders who blessed them as "the base."

In recent years, the moral authority of the right has been weakened by numerous political and sex scandals -- Sen. Larry Craig, Rev. Ted Haggard, Rep. Mark Foley and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, to name a few. Widespread disenchantment with George W. Bush, the right's one-time savior, has also damaged the conservative brand.

The right's relative decline has finally opened the door for mainstream religious leaders to challenge dogmatic interpretations of the Bible. Into this war over "The Word" stepped Barack Obama, a churchgoer who can communicate with religious voters in a way a politician like former Democratic nominee John Kerry never could. Obama's rare platform to present an alternative version of Christianity posed a direct threat to the religious right.

This explains the tirade by Focus on the Family's founder James Dobson, who attacked Obama for a speech he gave on religion, saying that Obama "distorted" the Bible. While the spotlight is on Obama's beliefs, the mainstream media has failed to examine the serial distortions of Dobson, who has long had a stormy relationship with the truth.

In the past two years, seven prominent scientists and authors have publicly upbraided the right wing leader for twisting or cherry picking their work.

The first researcher to step forward was New York University educational psychologist Carol Gilligan, PhD. She was upset when Dobson misused her research to claim in Time Magazine that Mary Cheney was wrong to have a child because she is a lesbian. In Sept., 2006, Gilligan responded by appearing in a video for the organization I founded, TruthWinsOut.org (TWO), and pointedly tells Dobson to "refrain from ever quoting me again."

"I was mortified to learn that you had distorted my work this week in a guest column you wrote in Time Magazine," wrote Gilligan in a letter addressed to Dobson. "What you wrote was not truthful."

Another researcher misquoted in the Time article was Dr. Kyle Pruett, a professor of child psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine. In Time, Dobson wrote:

"The fact remains that gender matters -- perhaps nowhere more than in regard to child rearing. The unique value of fathers has been explained by Dr. Kyle Pruett of Yale Medical School in his book Fatherneed: Why Father Care Is as Essential as Mother Care for Your Child. Pruett says dads are critically important simply because 'fathers do not mother.'

Dr. Pruett appeared in a TWO video and wrote a letter demanding that Dr. Dobson stop misrepresenting his research:

"There is nothing in my longitudinal research or any of my writings to support such conclusions," Pruett wrote in his letter to Dobson. "On page 134 of the book you cite in your piece, I wrote, 'What we do know is that there is no reason for concern about the development or psychological competence of children living with gay fathers. It is love that binds relationships, not sex.'"

The most recent scientist to claim Double-Talk Dobson distorted his work was University of Minnesota's Gary Remafedi, M.D., M.P.H. In a letter to Dobson, dated April 28, 2008, he wrote, "I want to draw your attention to a gross misrepresentation of our research at the website of 'Focus on the Family.'"

Other leading researchers who have taken issue with Dobson's use of their work include: Dr. Robert Spitzer, Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University; Angela Phillips, Professor, Goldsmiths College in London; Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, Associate Professor, school of nursing, University of British Columbia; and Dr. Judith Stacy, Professor of Sociology, New York University. (Videos and letters to Dobson can be viewed at www.RespectMyResearch.org)

If just one professor was outraged, it could be chalked up to a misunderstanding. If two had come forward, this could be a mere coincidence. Three complaints would look suspect, but still a possibility of an honest disagreement. But, when seven leading academics from three countries (The Untied States, Canada and the United Kingdom) have stepped out of the ivory tower to publicly give Dobson failing marks, it is clear that a disturbing and deliberate pattern of deception has emerged.

Dobson's frequent misquoting of the Bible is understandable because he is neither an ordained minister, nor a theologian. His well-documented fabrications on scientific matters, however, is inexcusable considering he began his career as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine. Dobson's pedigree underscores that he understands precisely what he is doing and suggests that these distortions are a premeditated attempt to twist science to conform to his conservative views.

It is time for the "liberal media" to stop treating Dobson as America's God-fearing grandfather. Until this powerful right wing leader addresses these credible accusations that he manipulated research, he should not be given a platform by the media. His weird views on homosexuality -- such as proclaiming that Sponge Bob Square Pants might be gay -- may be good for ratings. However, the media's first goal should always be accuracy -- and Dobson is incontrovertibly misapplying research to support his political views on homosexuality.

Dobson's irrational attacks on Obama reveal an angry religious right disgruntled over losing influence in a Republican party that nominated John McCain. In the coming months, this desperation will certainly fuel more wild charges and bizarre distortions of legitimate science. Based on his sordid record, when James Dobson cites research or statistics in this election cycle, news reporters have an obligation to check with the actual researchers who conducted the studies. It is time for the media to focus on the fallacies of James Dobson and refrain from mindlessly regurgitating his political science disguised as facts.

Follow Wayne Besen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Truthwinout

Comments

[larry278]

How about the phallacy of Pastor Jim's fundie screeds? That may cause further incidents of back-sliding among men of the cloth. The life of a fundie preacher is difficult enough without throwing temptation in their way by using a sexist view of God's holy writ. Is Pastor Dobson(sin) adapting to play the role of a devil's advocate. RC's do that when they seek to determine if a person is worthy of sainthood. Playing the devil's advocate can put one's soul in peril.

[vipersdad]

Who has sent letters/emails or made phone calls to TIME?
sitting on today's "Quote of the day" on Time's homepage (http://www.time.com/time/quotes) is this:

"I'm tired of seeing Christians back down in fear of a lawsuit."

Lt. Gov. ANDRE BAUER,
on concerns that federal courts will stop the state's plan to issue the country's first-ever Christian license plates

Why is that "quote of the day?" Time must have looked at their readership and demographics and decided that they need to go Evangelical.

Without people like us yelling back, Time will pay attention to the wheel that squeaks loudest

The email address is: [e-mail]

Send them a letter..... do it now.

[CharlieMarlowe]

Thou shalt bear false witness for profit and political power

[Bibbo]

I'd like to see it made public the private lives of those who Dr. Dobson has had influence over and compare it as a whole to the effects his most vocal critics have had in thier inner circle of family,etc. You know much about the tree by the fruit it bears. I'm talking about an HONEST and FAIR comparison and not some lawyerly,slick political hatchet job that compares the worst of Dobson to the best of his critics (think Clinton political trash talk).THe man simply defends marriage as between a male and female and that such an arrangement has been shown to give the healthiest environment(on balance...ie not in dysfunctional hetero unions) for children.For this the gays hate him...they put thier wants before everything else. Can you say unbridled narcicissism?

[caseyblab]

Bibbo: Can you spell "unbridled narcissism"? The writer has correctly stated that Mr. Dobson has no theological creditials. We would love to see him leave Colorado- any takers?

[swift goat pet for truth]

Translation: The ends justifies the means. Any means.

[FreedomFries]

Some time ago I checked into his website and the occupations of the board members. The president or v.p. was a former Viet Nam bomber pilot who was then the V.P. of first strike ICBM missile division of one of the big military contractors. I wrote and asked how this fit with focusing on the family and the word of Jesus. No reply.
When these characters go on TV to promote their politics, the least we should expect is that they give the interviewer a copy of their stock portfolios.

[CharlieMarlowe]

Now that's a "nuclear" family

[Dave24]

"Focus On Your Own Damn Family"

[TonalCrow]

Doesn't lying about the contents of a researcher's work -- particularly to impugn another person -- violate the 9th Commandment: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor"?

[MPeter]

I think it does not only do so, it is also unethical. For the so-called religious man espousing high morals, it is especially shameful that Dr. Dobson excels in this kind of behavior. Reporters need to do research and to verify facts rather than looking for political scandals and engaging in political smears. It is not their job.

[starboymikey]

Doesn't lying about the contents of a researcher's work -- particularly to impugn another person -- violate the 9th Commandment: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor"?
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­___

You get an exemption for doing "the Lord's Work." It's called moral relativism, but only the religious right gets to use it. The rest of us must conform to a higher standard.

[swift goat pet for truth]

It is superceded by a greater commandment: Do as I say, not as I do.

[doug108]

Letters to the editor, blogging, etc., are the way to confront right wing lying and distortion. As the left gets its act together, the right will be less and less able to run fast and loose with the facts. They will, of course, attack the fact checkers. They have built a formidable attack machine. We need people who can stand with courage and integrity against it. Don't count on the MSM to transform itself into the kind of free press this country needs. It's going to be up to the people to rebuild and maintain this Democracy. No one in the plutocracy has a vested interest in true freedom for the masses.

[Budokan]

Anyone depending on the MSM to hold these lying Republicans to task is going to be waiting a LONG time. Ain't gonna happen. It's up to the American people to rise up and call these people for what they are: criminals and liars who have tried to destroy this nation and our Constitution.

[dadw5boys]

The Religious Freaks show their hate of losing control of the NEW CRUSADERS they have been creating in the military!!!!!!!

The want our Soldiers to take a HOLY WAR to the middle east!!!!!!!

THEY NEED TO GO!!! SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!!!!!!

[ShawnMichel]

Dobson knows exactly what he is doing, which makes his actions morally reprehensible, that is to say, evil.

That his sheeplike followers herd behind him in mindless obedience is also morally reprehensible, that is to say, evil.

That he has the size megaphone he has via radio and print media is morally reprehensible, that is to say, evil.

That we as a nation tolerate him and his sheep is morally reprehensible, that is to say, evil.

It is time to wake up, idiots. Because fascists like Dobson, like his herd-animal followers, are far closer to forcing their hateful dogma on all of us than you think. Look at Obama, kowtowing to this vile group. Look at the pledge on his part to further erode the necessary and essential barrier dividing church and state. Look. Wake up already!

Jesus.

[zendem1]

You're absolutely right. He knows exactly what he's doing. These guys like to present themselves as "good 'ole shucka doo kuntry preachers", when in reality they're nothing more than slick con artists.