Dr. James Dobson, President of Focus on the Family, made the following statement today regarding the state of the election (Hat tip: World on the Web):
"I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems poised to select a nominee who did not support a Constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, voted for embryonic stem-cell research to kill nascent human beings, opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, has little regard for freedom of speech, organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters in judicial hearings, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language.
"I am convinced Sen. McCain is not a conservative, and in fact, has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are. He has sounded at times more like a member of the other party. McCain actually considered leaving the GOP caucus in 2001, and approached John Kerry about being Kerry’s running mate in 2004. McCain also said publicly that Hillary Clinton would make a good president. Given these and many other concerns, a spoonful of sugar does NOT make the medicine go down. I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience.
"But what a sad and melancholy decision this is for me and many other conservatives. Should Sen. McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime. I certainly can’t vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life. These decisions are my personal views and do not represent the organization with which I am affiliated. They do reflect my deeply held convictions about the institution of the family, about moral and spiritual beliefs, and about the welfare of our country."
While I respect Dr. Dobson, I believe he is wrong to simply sit out the election because of who is going to be the Republican nominee. I agree that Senator McCain is not my first, second or even third choice for President. But if he is the nominee in November, I’ll vote for him not because he holds the same positions that I do on most issues (he doesn’t) but that he is far better than anybody the Democrats nominate due to fundamental differences on big issues. I also believe that McCain’s moral character is superior to that of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. In the final analysis, character matters more than issues.
The Republican Party seems determined to abandon its conservative principles and focus on selecting a candidate who is most electable. Each party makes such a decision at its own peril. But the fact that one’s political party of preference is not selecting who you might be rooting for in the election as their nominee does not relieve you of the responsibility to exercise your right to vote. That right has been paid for with the blood of hundreds of thousands of Americans. I cannot imagine staying at home on Election Day because my candidate is not in the race. We each should vote regardless of what the results might be. It’s not only our right Americans but it is also our duty.
Hi DP:
I guess this kind of thing always amazes me. You wrote:
I also believe that McCain's moral character is superior to that of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. In the final analysis, character matters more than issues.
I don't see how you get this. McCain is no better than the typical politician as far as I can tell. Immigration is the perfect illustration. The press keeps calling McCain a maverick who tells you what he believes and sticks to his guns regardless of the way the political wind blows, but he's changed his mind on comprehensive immigration reform and the reason he gives is that the comprehensive reform isn't popular now. The same kind of pattern can be found on Bush' tax cuts, abortion and lots of other issues. If McCain were a real maverick he'd not switch his views just because it's needed to win the Republican primary. He was toast last summer BECAUSE he supported comprehensive immigration reform, and his comeback was fueled by his "changing his mind" on those unpopular among conservatives issues.
your friend
Keith
McCain is definitely as much of an opportunist as Obama or Clinton although I don't think he would go to the lengths that Clinton would to get elected. With Obama it's hard to really tell what he stands for or what kind of person he is. He's certainly a likeable candidate but beyond that it's difficult to tell little more about him. The one other thing I will say about McCain that does work in his favor is the courage that he displayed over the course of his military career was admirable. But he's definitely not my top choice.
I hope the religious right sits out this election. Good riddance.
right and duty as Americans, sure.
right and duty as disciples of Jesus, maybe not so much
Obama is a mass-hallucination, willed into existence by the desperate left.
HRC is, well, Clinton II(shiver).
McCain is a guy who can capture “moderates” and rouge lefties, but will fail to capture the conservative vote.
I hope militant gays sit out this election. Go picket Berkeley or something.
I am frankly amazed at the many conservatives who are making this obtuse stand.
I mean, sometimes you have to make a stand for the purity of principle, and of your party. Sometimes you have to send a message to leaders that they are way off the mark, in order to stop a slide away from foundational principles.
Last night I saw that the obnoxious Ann Coulter said she would *rather* vote for Hillary than McCain.
But McCain is not some evil leftist by ANY stretch of the imagination. What’s happening here is that conservatism, and evangelical conservatism, are in the grips of a non-compromising extremist ideology, one that fails to prioritize issues, and requires an all or nothing obedience to its wants.
I am sad to say that, just as the Democrat party has been unduly influence by pro-choice, pro-gay, and socialist extremists, the right is now truly fighting to stay free from the anti-immigrant, anti-stem-cell research (which is an extension of the pro-life assumption that personhood begins at conception) crazies.
Is it not good enough that McCain is FOR a strong military, has in general voted AGAINST taxes (recent debacle aside), AGAINST election money corruption (even though McCain-Feingold may have not been the best solution), and MOST IMPORTANTLY, PRO-LIFE?
Conservatives who sit home and let Hillary win will be guilty of sour grapes, pouting, and the death of countless more unborn because they failed to see what was important.
The amount of animus I’ve seen towards McCain is staggering in its level of self-righteous hatred.
“But McCain is not some evil leftist by ANY stretch of the imagination. What’s happening here is that conservatism, and evangelical conservatism, are in the grips of a non-compromising extremist ideology, one that fails to prioritize issues, and requires an all or nothing obedience to its wants.” ——-
i do not think anyone thinks he is evil. a vast egotist for sure, but not evil. i guess a fighter jock would have that type of personality.
what extremist ideology? no one is anti immigrant, it is a matter of ILLEGAL immigrants being rewarded for their activity and BigMac being in bed with the likes of Juan Hernandez and all that implies which gives us pause. he only relented on his stance on the “fence” when the citizens voiced their opinion. i doubt he will actually go through his supposed change of mind though, since he seemed inscensed that some one might think differently from he.
drifting left to win does not interest me. W has shown us that road. we do not want to retrace those steps.
“Conservatives who sit home and let Hillary win will be guilty of sour grapes, pouting, and the death of countless more unborn because they failed to see what was important.” ——-
guilty only if we are the ones holding the vaccuum sucking the brains from that little cranium. i think i read some where that each must carry their own load. its already murder, our political view one way or the other does not change that. he is too much of a compromiser in conservatives eyes, and we do not trust him.
now, if he asks someone conservative in leaning to run with him, it may be interesting. maybe. but thst will be tough to do.
I have always been a Romney supporter and will continue to support this great man. I am shocked that this site is endorsing Senator John McCain. McCain has alot of skeletons in his closet that majority of his voters dont even know about or understand.
1. The McCain-Snowe-Dorgan S. 2328, Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2004
2. Mccain-Feingold – The infamous assault on the First Amendment primarily and doggedly pursued by John McCain: Here is commentary from various angles.
3. Mccain-Kennedy – The Amnesty and Open Borders Act:
4. The Mccain-Edwards-Kennedy tort lawyers wet dream, otherwise known as “The Patient’s Bill of Rights.”
5. The Keating Five Corruption Scandal: Again, Mark Levin sums this one up:
6. McCain’s attack on swift boat vets
7. John McCain’s class warfare against “the rich” and the Bush tax cuts:
8. McCain’s “Gang of 14? betrayal of his party in favor of Democrat filibusters against GOP judicial nominations: Mark Levin and Andy McCarthy have the goods.
“I believe my party has gone astray. I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and in their philosophy.” (Sen. McCain)
“I believe Hillary would make a good President”(Sen. McCain)2004
Shall I go on..? there are many more skeletons we can dig out of his closet.
This November, the Democrats are going to have fun with McCain becaues there is so much crap that they can pull up on this guy. The Democrats will look at his history and ask themeleves where should we begin..?
His TV AD’s decieves people into thinking that he is a TRUE CONSREVATIVE. At the end of the POW TV ad it says in BIG BOLD WHITE LETTERS … A TRUE CONSERVATIVE! He flat out LIES…..! His voting record and history in the senate begs to differ with what that ad says. McCain is an EVIL MAN. I am not a Republican but a Independant Conservative……
I am disapointed in this site for supporting John McCain. When I go to vote this November, I will see on the ballot … A Democrat and a Democrat…… who am I going to vote for? Im going to vote third party or do a write in. I CANT VOTE FOR THIS MAN!
Good Morning Dr. Dobson
We need to pray. I believe its a mistake for Christians to a stand behind a political party without prayer. Neither party has done much to slow down or to stop abortion, same sex union, poverty, etc. We are quick to tell or advice other nations on what to do or not to do, an yet we do not do a good job taking care of business here in the U.S. God knows we have enough problems here. We can say all day long what we stand for, but at the end of the day its our action that counts. My prayer that as Christians we are not deceived by satan subtleness. We can not continue to fight spiritual battle with natural solutions. God Bless you.