Obama dismisses Dobson criticism about Bible

Wednesday 25th June, 11:43 AM JST

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SuperLib at 09:16 PM JST - 25th June

I don't remember caring about what James Dobson said yesterday...so I'm not sure why I should start caring today. The fact that I'm even hearing a religious man talk about a Presidential candidate's view of the Bible is actually offensive to me. It's also offensive to listen to a candidate quote scripture if he's speaking in his official capacity.
SushiSake3 at 09:38 PM JST - 25th June

Superlib, you are as welcome to your apparently non-religious beliefs as I am to my Christian beliefs. I, too, think there is little place in politics for religion, and this election will I believe be the one where religion fails to play an important role.

Who can forget when JFK ran for president, people were spooked that he was - wait for it - Catholic.

It's pretty sad, too, to see posters like RedMeatKoolAid trying to pin - wait for it - the Muslim religion - on Obama (& italicizing his middle name
Betzee at 09:46 PM JST - 25th June

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

I recall reading about how the Bible was cited in defense of segregation. God meant for the races to live separately. Now we have issues related to same-sex couples with some prominent members of the religious right claiming 9/11 and Katrina were God's revenge against a country that tolerates homosexuality.

Somebody needs to stand up to these people rather than paying lip service to their ideas in order to get the backing of their faithful followers at the ballot box.
Betzee at 10:06 PM JST - 25th June

Dotson was the one who put together the program for the Reverend Tag Haggard to "go straight." He expressed disapproval of Mary Cheney's pregnancy and Obama might be wise to echo her response:

She said Mr. Dobson was entitled to his opinion, 'but he's not someone whose endorsement I have ever drastically sought.'"

And boy did she get slammed, and deservedly so, for wanting it both ways.

Like I said, good start, Mary. But what's with the "drastically"?

Could it be this: You sought endorsements from James Dobson and his organization Focus on the Family in the past—your father certainly has, and you worked on his campaigns—but now, to avoid tough questions, you want to qualify and minimize your past sucking up to the likes of Dobson by stating that you never sought his endorsement all that, you know, drastically or anything.

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=153145
usaexpat at 11:18 PM JST - 25th June

Dobson should be dismissed period. A true wacko religeous fascist and relic of the 80s culture wars. Whatever I think of Obama I have to give him props for challenging this hater.
RedMeatKoolAid at 11:40 PM JST - 25th June

Dobson, Rev Jeremiah Wright or Fr Pfleger - who is the biggest 'hater'?
adaydream at 12:32 AM JST - 26th June

Oh you love to keep posting that Obama is a Muslim crap. Makes the republicans feel good when they can keep a falsehood running on and on.

I can't wait for Lemming Day.

Those who believe and want the truth will vote for Obama.

Those people who love poassing on these stupid lies will vote republican.

Looks like we'll have Lemmings from all over and all parties. < :-)
RomeoRamenII at 01:55 AM JST - 26th June

“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology”

obama has awakened a sleeping giant. The Evangelical base will be energized because of this. Lord Soros' meat-puppet has only himself to blame for this one. Heh, democrat Lemming Day fast approaches.

RR
RomeoRamenII at 02:23 AM JST - 26th June

Those who believe and want the truth will vote for Obama.

Wait until David Freddoso’s book on your hero is released in early August. Heh, barack will be lucky to keep his Senate seat after it comes out.

RR
Betzee at 04:03 AM JST - 26th June

Dobson, Rev Jeremiah Wright or Fr Pfleger - who is the biggest 'hater'?

There's enough hatred to go around. The more interesting question is who has been able to leverage their views into policy? The Reverend Wright? I don't think so. By contrast, while Dobson may not have been part of GWB's weekly conference call with Christian leaders, the Reverend Ted Haggard certainly was. By politicizing sexuality in the terms advocated by this group, how many times has the Republican Party ended up with egg on its face in the past two years? Do the names Mark Foley and Larry Craig ring any bells? And that's only at the national level.

The Reverend Wright scandal turned out to have a silver lining for Democrats in that it revealed the double standard under which the parties operated. If you are going to solicit support from those with non-mainstream views, you better be prepared to defend them. No longer will "I welcome his support but don't agree with everything he says" cut it (as John McCain learned from his short-lived relationship with Reverend Hagee.)

Dobson must have read the polls which place Obama 12-15 points ahead of McCain and gotten nervous. The thing is, I don't understand why the Christian right has reservations about McCain (making it unlikely they will turn out in droves to support him). He's anti-abortion and that's a sincere belief, one of the few in contrast to his ever lengthening laundry list of flip-flops.
SezWho2 at 06:30 AM JST - 26th June

RedMeatKoolAid,

The measure of a Christian has never been spiritual need. And even if it were you are hardly in a position to judge it.

I doubt if Lincoln today could be elected to any meaningful position were he not active in some faith-based movement. So you seem to be accusing Obama of taking good advice.

After the last 8 years, I'm all in favor of a president who knows good advice when he sees it.
Taka313 at 06:34 AM JST - 26th June

Superlib,

It's also offensive to listen to a candidate quote scripture if he's speaking in his official capacity.

I think it depends on the scripture. For example, if a candidate were to quote something that is applicable to all, like, "Judge not, lest ye be judged" or "yet he is is without sin cast the first stone," then I don't see a problem as it is a valuable lesson to anyone, and not just those of religious faith.

Taka
Betzee at 09:09 AM JST - 26th June

The problem for the Republican Party is that is is comprised of social conservatives who want to use the power of the government to regulate private behavior, tax-cutters, and neocons who favor a militaristic foreign policy.

And, after eight-years of this, we've ended up with one scandal after another where someone was revealed to be engaging in privately what they had denounced publicly, record deficits, and a war with no end in sight. Even a candidate much more adept than John McCain would have trouble holding this together.
Betzee at 09:57 AM JST - 27th June

The Evangelical base will be energized because of this.

Really? It doesn't appear to be the case particularly since Dobson indicates he plans to sit this one out.

"I don't know that McCain's campaign realizes they cannot win without evangelicals," David Domke, a professor of communication at the University of Washington who studies religion and politics, told the AP. "What you see with McCain is just a real struggle to find his footing with evangelicals."

Struggle may be putting it mildly, even though Thursday was hardly the first time McCain has tried to reach out to Christian conservatives during this election cycle. McCain has shown little enthusiasm for positions many Christian conservatives hold dear, such as bans on gay marriage and stem cell research. He also angered evangelicals by seeking endorsements from conservative preachers Rod Parsley and John Hagee, then disavowing them after their controversial sermons drew criticism to his campaign. On top of that, James Dobson, the influential Christian conservative, has also said he could not vote for McCain in good conscience.

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/
sdmsec at 02:35 PM JST - 27th June

The US Presidential election is about selecting a secular leader, not a religious one. I wish that both sides would keep religion out of it.

The fact that I'm even hearing a religious man talk about a Presidential candidate's view of the Bible is actually offensive to me. It's also offensive to listen to a candidate quote scripture if he's speaking in his official capacity.

I, too, think there is little place in politics for religion

While I can understand and respect your personal opinions, I don't think it's realistic to expect most other people to ignore religion when they consider which politician they'll vote for.

For many people religion is the basis for their ideals and values. These people expect that a politician's specific religion will give them at least an overview the values and ideals of that politician.

As a person who is quite religious myself I care about religion, but I'll admit that I think most politicians use religion when it's convenient. I also recognize that I could share the same goals with someone and completely disagree with them about the best way to accomplish those goals.

One thing I don't have a problem with though is a citizen voicing their opinion or concerns about a candidate - whether that citizen is a well-known religious leader, a talk-show host, a Hollywood celebrity, or a news analyst. I just take them all with a grain of salt.