June 28, 2008
Accountablity for Leaders on the Right
If Republicans are going to improve their standing in this election year and in the future, it would be immensely helpful if conservative leaders were not making themselves look silly with hyperbolic, exploitable attacks against the left.
James Dobson recently weighed in on Barack Obama's theology. Avowed conservative Evangelical Peter Wehner objects, with little joy in doing so.
I second Wehner's objection and applaud his articulate explanation of it.
James Dobson has been a tremendous leader in the Evangelical movement, providing spiritual and family guidance that has been invaluable to families across the country. But, his dalliances into the political realm are at times disturbingly tone deaf and not exceptionally well-informed. That is a significant concern given the attention his pronouncements receive from all sides.
Do his negatives outweigh his positives in politics? Probably not.
We should know this, however. There is much for which to criticize Barack Obama and his allies on the left. Given the stakes of a Presidential year, and this tricky one at that for the right, we need people bringing their "A" game if they're going to play ball.
Posted by Eric Earling at June 28, 2008
07:41 PM | Email This
1. This was discussed on Dr. Dobson's radio program this past week. One item rather humorous that he brought up was Obama's quote in the same above-referenced speech in which O says that people are "tired of hearing folks deliver more screed than sermon."
Dobson correctly pointed out that Obama totally failed to recognize his own pastor in that comment! Oh, the irony.
Obama will have trouble with evangelicals on many fronts: his 20-yr attendance at a church claiming to preach "black liberation theology." Problem is, there is no such thing in the Bible. We also learned this week that Obama carries a
monkey god" idol in his pocket and will soon be receiving a larger version of said idol from India. That won't play well with evangelicals, either.
I also heard audio this week of Michelle Obama harshly criticizing the national Defense of Marriage Act in front of a group of homosexual activists. She implied that DOMA is nothing Obama wants to see kept in place. That also will not go down well with evangelicals, most of whom are aware that homosexuality is referred to as an "abomination" in the Bible.
Add that to the fact that Obama, as Focus's Citizenlink website points out, "often stood alone as an Illinois lawmaker in opposition to protection for babies who survived abortion." BIG PROBLEM when Obama prefers to leave said children to die on a utility shelf--which is what was going on. How he can justify that with what he claims are christian beliefs is extremely hard to figure.
Then there are all his marxist leanings and influences and close marxist friends who are unrepentant bombers of government property and it just is waaay too much for anyone who's thinking to believe that this is someone who should get even one vote from serious evangelicals. Just far too much baggage on this one, people.
2. We've gotten to a point in this country, at least in the popular culture, where anything traditional, religious, or patriotic (by the old definitions) is just not "cool" anymore. Young people are brainwashed from early age by liberal teachers, media, and movie stars - that what made sense for 200 plus years, no longer makes any sense whatsoever. What worked then can't possibly work now. What the founding fathers of this country believed in - is no longer relevant. This is the result of the GOP and conservatives themselves letting go of our own values and belief in traditions in favor of trying to be popular. If we don't believe in it why should anyone else. Conservatives screwed it up, not the liberals. They did it to themselves by BECOMING too much like liberals. When the farthest thing to the right we can put up for President is John McCain, the future is bleak.
I think the country will have to see the libs fail again (as in the Carter Administration) before conservatism will again win the public debate. I wish this wasn't the case, but it is looking that way.
The first thing that needs to happen is a massive re-education of the electorate (like the left did) to explain to young people what socialism is, what it means, does, doesn't do, and the freedoms you give up to have it. The left has practically made a religion of their leftist, socialist, and "green" (code for enviro-socialistic) beliefs. The right needs to embark on a similar campaign to get THEIR message out. Prove beyond a doubt that the left is wrong and destined for failure. How? I don't know if it would work for the right, but the tactic of the left has been repeat the lie (like; "Dino Rossi eliminated health care for thousands of kids") until it is believed.
Maybe what the right needs to do is "repeat the truth, (however unpopular), until it is believed" or undeniably proven right. How hard can it be? The left has sold a complete LIE about just about everything. Why can't conservatives sell the TRUTH?
The left promises to re-install "the fairness doctrine". Ok, maybe Rush Limbaugh can get onto PBS. PBS has been putting out leftist crap for decades with no response from the right because they run PBS. Why can't we on the right demand equal time for anything on PBS and elsewhere that tells only the left side of the story? Or maybe Limbaugh should use some of his millions to produce a Michael Moore - style hit piece about Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, or Obama complete with visits with Canadian citizens denied health coverage until they die due to lack of resources, or mothers of live-born aborted kids several months later.
Conservatives need to get mean. Get tough. "Bring it" to the other side. Sitting around being good capitalists isn't going to cut it anymore. You don't hear the left backing down from ANY ISSUE or ANY TACTIC. Conservatives will have to use the tactics of the left - minus the lying and spin - to put the truth out and convince people. If the left can convince half the country 911 was done by the Bush Administration, why can't the right sell the truth?
3. Eric:
I too thought Dobson was out of his league on this matter. He accuses Obama of a “Fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution. “
Hummmmmmmmmmmm……. Let’s see. Who went to Harvard Law School and edited the Law Review? Obama – yes. Dobson – no.
Who taught Con Law at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country? Obama – yes. Dobson – hardly.
Point for Obama.
He accuses Obama of “misinterpreting the Bible”.
Well let’s see. What are Dobson’s academic credentials on this one……
Go ahead a remind me where he got his degree…..
4. Dobson isn't running for office, but his remarks ring with truth, something the candidates could use a lot more of.
5. Dobson may have overextended himself, but even if he did - his comments seemed to be fitting. Obama showed his true colors by his self-righteous response "He is making stuff up about his interpretation of the bible".
Pinning down Sen. Obama on just about anything is like trying to nail Jello to a tree. Tim Russert would have held him to his statements that show that he loves to take both sides as much as he thinks he can get away with.
"Conservatives will have to use the tactics of the left - minus the lying and spin - to put the truth out and convince people. If the left can convince half the country 911 was done by the Bush Administration, why can't the right sell the truth?"
Estute observation. The left often loves to demagogue issues in an attempt to convince people. The demagogue-ing is their attempt to stifle debate by talking over the other sides attempt to rebut them - a more subtle example is Al Gore's quote re: Global warming. "The debate is over", when it was apparent that he did not want to debate anyone.
6. Bingo!!!!!
He's a graduate of the internationally renowned Point Loma Nazarene University.
In other words, a podunk, red-neck, bible thumping school of right wing wackos who have no more gravitas than the "Matchbook Cover School of Truck Driving".
Go for it James....
7. Tell us what the Bible and the US Constitution really mean James........
8. Unkl,
Dobson has a Ph.D from USC (not exactly a second rate school) - I'll grant that he doesn't have a legal degree but "Mr. Harvard Law" stated several months ago that he was certain that the DC gun ban was Constitutional...now he's backtracking and claiming that he has always supported "individual" gun rights. While I agree that Dobson doesn't always come across well, he is NOT running for office and he does have every right to point out the massive inconsistences in Barry O's statements, since the mainstream press seems unable to write a negative word about the man - no matter what he says or does!
9. Dobson is a psychologist. I think he has Obama figured out. When Obama starts talking about expelling all non-Christians from the USA, he is getting wacky.
10. ....and while Dobson doesn't have a law degree, as Suzi points out he does have a Phd and was Assoc. Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at USC School of Medicine for 14 years, which Witz doesn't seem to want to acknowledge. So while neither Dobson nor Obama have a seminary degrees, after hearing both of these guys Dobson seems to better understand what the Bible has to say about various issues. I about tossed my cookies when Barack Obama tried to justify homosexual marriage by referring to the Sermon on the Mount.
11. Unkl,
....and your degree is in what? and from where?
12. ...and George W Bush has a bachelor's degree from Yale and an MBA from Harvard so I'm sure you have nothing but wonderful things to say about him! I don't doubt Obama's "intelligence" - I just happen to doubt his commitment to "Christianity" as most Americans would define it - and I think that he is irritated that Dobson used his own words against him to demonstrate that fact. Again, I repeat, the media is in love with this man and they are not interested in reporting anything that would be detrimental to his coronation.
13. This tyrant has no sense of decency!
14. No doubt Obama's "christianity" is hued and shaped by his politics. It should be the other way around.
15. I have read many articles on this subject. The below link has the best and most balanced. Written by a Pastor
www.kansas.com/205/story/448527.html
16. I have read many articles on this subject. The below link has the best and most balanced. Written by a Pastor
www.kansas.com/205/story/448527.html
17. @15-16: Bravo. That's a good article. Much better than entertaining the absurd notion that Barack Obama is now a secret Hindu!
18. he taught Con Law......hardly think so! He was NOT a full-fledged professor. Just a senior lecturer on leave.
19. Since when did having a law degree from ANYWHERE qualify you to be beyond criticism? You Obama lemmings seem to think a Harvard degree is some kind of universal free pass on anything someone says. There are no free passes. There is only complete accountability when you run for President. You have to explain every damn word you say 100 times if necessary. Obama seems to think he can make stuff up on the fly and be unchallenged. Why is that? Is he using his race as a shield against criticism? He sure is. It worked like a magic charm against Hillary Clinton, the most formidable candidate in the race a year ago.
Dobson speaks the truth, that's why it upsets people. He is far more qualified on biblical matters than is Obama. He wasn't commenting on matters of law. When it comes to religion, many don't even consider "Black Theology" a religion, but more like a racial/political cult. Anyone who listened to Rev. Wright can see that if they choose to be objective about it.
20. Comments formerly at 20 & 21 deleted since they're from "Steve," aka "Conservative not Republican"...the one commenter I have ever banned.
He seems to be only slightly off his meds this time (a 1/2 dose perhaps?). And no, Steve, I play neither tennis nor golf...nor do I actually drink anymore. But, thanks for assuming.
21. After hearing Obama's anti-religious comments, Dobson did deserve to speak out. Unfortunately, Dobson is a conservative and speaks what he believes.
Obama is a nutcake or has fruitcake opinion of religion and the Constitution.
Witz, if everyone were like you, I would have gone to MIT, got a degree and everyone would believe what I said.
Unfortunately, my world is that you have to prove yourself and education is just for learning. The practice of what you learnt is the key. Now people listen because I have practiced my learning and am now an expert of my practice and not a phoney with papers.
22. Michelle, you were speaking as an evangelical, but leaving babies to die if they survive an abortion is not unique to evangelicals.
That is bad business all around.
23. Did Obama ever go before the Supreme court to fight a case?
Nope.
But wizzie thinks Obama is the smartest man of all. Didn't the dem's like wiz say the same thing about Clinton?