Dr. Dobson just handed Obama Victory

[powergirl]

I was thinking this too - luckily someone out there on Huffington post thought this too:

"Senator Obama just took another giant step toward winning the presidency. Actually, someone who considers himself a sworn enemy of Senator Obama took the step for him. Dr. Dobson of the Focus On the Family radio program (and evangelical media empire) has aired a program in which he attacks Senator Obama, the Senator's theology and his credentials as a Christian. With enemies like this Senator Obama doesn't need friends. No, I'm not talking about Dobson energizing liberal Democrats. I'm talking about Dobson energizing his fellow evangelicals to vote for Senator Obama."

(cut)

"Dobson is one of the Evangelical religious right old guard. He's to the right what Nader is to the left. Like the late Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and others Dobson has alienated as many evangelicals -- let alone moderate Christians -- as he's inspired. In fact, ever since he tried to get Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) fired last year Dobson has found himself painted into a reactionary corner. Many evangelicals still fear him and so won't denounce his posturing power-plays but they also despise him.

"Cizik is the future of evangelicalism. Dobson is the past. Cizik is a strong environmentalist advocate on the issue of global warming. Dobson tried to get the board of the National Association of Evangelicals to fire Cizik because of that fact. Dobson said that Cizik's environmental beliefs ran counter to what Dobson thought was in George Bush's best interests. He also said that the environment distracts from the favorite issues Dobson raises most of his funds on: abortion and gay bashing. But Dobson failed. The board of the NAE rejected Dobson's power play, for the same reason many evangelicals will reject his telling them how to vote this year. Dobson also failed in stopping John McCain (who failed to kiss Dobson's ass sufficiently) from becoming the Republican nominee.

(cut)
"Dobson is one of the Evangelical religious right old guard. He's to the right what Nader is to the left. Like the late Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and others Dobson has alienated as many evangelicals -- let alone moderate Christians -- as he's inspired. In fact, ever since he tried to get Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) fired last year Dobson has found himself painted into a reactionary corner. Many evangelicals still fear him and so won't denounce his posturing power-plays but they also despise him.

"Cizik is the future of evangelicalism. Dobson is the past. Cizik is a strong environmentalist advocate on the issue of global warming. Dobson tried to get the board of the National Association of Evangelicals to fire Cizik because of that fact. Dobson said that Cizik's environmental beliefs ran counter to what Dobson thought was in George Bush's best interests. He also said that the environment distracts from the favorite issues Dobson raises most of his funds on: abortion and gay bashing. But Dobson failed. The board of the NAE rejected Dobson's power play, for the same reason many evangelicals will reject his telling them how to vote this year. Dobson also failed in stopping John McCain (who failed to kiss Dobson's ass sufficiently) from becoming the Republican nominee."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/dr-dobson-has-just-handed_b_108989.html

[Seen the light]

1. I respectfully disagree

That old guard of evangelical Christians still has the Republican Party in a stranglehold. For example, my mother (a conservative evangelical Christian Republican), has been very lukewarm towards John McCain. However, she has an extremely deep admiration for Dobson and was "outraged" when she heard what Obama said about whose Christianity we should use. She finally told me she was voting for McCain after she read what Senator Obama had said.

Of course, that's just one person, but the article on HP is just the opinion of one person as well. :P

By the way, I don't necessarily think the Dobson thing will be a big deal, but it's certainly more of a negative than positive.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. I disagree. I don't think most Christians like being told if they are a good Christian or not

Those that do, weren't going to vote for BO anyway.

[Seen the light]

3. True, but it could motivate them to vote FOR McCain

Again, just basing this on my silly mother though.

[polmaven]

4. Exactly..

While they won't vote for Senator Obama, there was some speculation that they would stay home on election day because they aren't nuts about McCain either. This is the type of thing that could get them to vote FOR McCain to be SURE Obama isn't elected.

[jobycom]

5. He made a huge, classic mistake, and a little lesser mistake.

His huge mistake was in going the elitist route, stating that only trained professionals could really understand the Bible. Think of the insult anyone not already in his circle will feel about that. Christians know there are different brands of Christianity, and while each believes that they are right, they don't reject the others, or rather, they feel that all Christians share an identity no matter how far they differ.

What Dobson said, really, was that only his interpretation of Christianity had any merit. And in doing so, he attacked a presidential candidate who was being openly Christian--something Christians admire. That might rally Dobson's circle closer to him and make them cheer, but all the others are going to be uncomfortable, if not outright offended, by Dobson's arrogant presumption.

So while Dobson's close friends aren't going to vote for Obama over this, there will be some Christians who have felt drawn to the Republicans in the past, who are upset with the way things are going and are considering Obama--or at least listening--who turn on Dobson over this. They will feel that the leadership of the Christian right is failing them, while the Democratic nominee is reaching out to them. More than a few will reach for that extended hand.

Dobson's lesser mistake was looking nakedly political. A preacher who denounces or praises politicians or governments based on righteous religiosity is fine. He's a prophet, taking on power, trying to bring them to task for their sins. All religions have lore built around such champions. But when the preacher drops purely into the realm of politics, backing one side over another for obvious political reasons, that preacher loses his halo. It won't destroy him, but it may marginalize him.

A third thing--now that Dobson has broadcast Obama's Christian views across the nation, especially to his own southern, conservative audience, how are they going to keep implying his Muslim?

Dobson didn't come close to giving the election to Obama. So much will happen between now and November that it will be a different world then. What Dobson has done is weaken one line of attack against Obama, and more importantly, weaken his side's hold on a lot of people who are becoming tired of deficits, gas prices, and dead people who didn't have to do. Dobson put a whole lot of people into play that weren't in play last week. The guard is changing, and Dobson is making people happy to see it.

[Rob H.]

6. I tuned into the BOT radio network this morning

and after Obama's response to Dobson yesterday, wasn't the least bit surprised to find that ol' Jim has changed the subject in a big way. He didn't mention Obama at all--this morning it was some blather about addiction to technology. Hopefully he'll STFU for a while and give us all a break from his stupidity.

[powergirl]

7. OOPS - I posted the same text twice

A kind DUer pointed out the err of my ways! Too late to edit - so here are the other paragraphs I intended to post!

"As a result of his power grabs and bullying of other evangelicals, not to mention his telling people how to vote and pointing them to the failed W, Dobson & Co. have zero credibility with a growing number of otherwise conservative evangelicals who happen--this year--to be looking favorably at Senator Obama's holistic Christian-based world view. Unlike Dobson they like Obama's theology just fine.

"All that was missing to put the frosting on the Obama cake was for Dobson to attack him. For Obama to win all he needs to do is peel off a chunk of heretofore solid evangelical Republican votes. Dobson just handed Obama those votes."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/dr-dobson-has-just-handed_b_108989.html

[LittleClarkie]

8. I know a Fundamentalist, a woman who is trying to become a preacher

People like Robertson and Dobson make her teeth itch. She also has trouble with cult-like uber Conservative Christians who would have a problem with her, or any woman, pursuing a vocation in the church. Her brother is teaching at a church university of that nature, and she's afraid he'll turn against her if he starts to buy the crapola they dish out about how women should just bake and sew and shut the hell up.

I'm not sure Dobson's attack would make her more likely to vote for Obama, but it can't hurt.