The signal went out October 22, 2008 on hundreds of Christian Radio Stations to over 7 million daily listeners: James Dobson’s phone interview with Sarah Palin. It was really a crystal clear endorsement of Palin. Sarah assures Dobson, "We're on the same team. I'm just trying to serve the Lord as you are."
Sorry Sarah, just being your kind of Christian is not a primary or good enough reason to be elected second-in-line to the American Presidency. Much more than religious conviction, it takes the kind of homework you have yet to do, to achieve the reguired level of preparedness and aptitude the position requires/demands.
More below the fold...
Kossacks, you owe it to yourselves to hear the two in the entire FoF audio, then you will know why the election is not over until it’s over and there is still room for surprises.
http://www.citizenlink.org/...
It’s all about dog whistles and prayer groups: culminating in get-out-the-vote. Dobson is hopeful of a miracle.
Sarah is Dobson's handmaiden to deliver the McCain ticket.
The Palin/Dobson interview is full of coos, chortle, chuckles, clucks and congratulations. No hard questions like: What is your message to young women like your daughter Bristol who are having premarital sex? What are you doing to get up to operating speed on international crises and affairs? Do you have an idea about how the financial meltdown can be reversed? Are you prepared to operate in the highly entrenched Capitol politics with all its compromise and its horse trading, reprisals and deal-cutting? How do you justify your $150K designer wardrobe as a typical hockey mom?
No. Dobson’s innocuous questions were all about Sarah’s state of mind and health and other lightweight queries: How is she holding up? Are you discouraged seeing the poll numbers? Do the kids travel with her during her 10-12 hour days? How about that boy Trig? Do you think that John McCain will stay on the wagon for Right to Life issues? Palin thinks McCain "also strongly supports those views" and "will implement it.(sic)"
How about some questions about Palin's record on things that don't seem to square with the "straight and narrow" such as Troopergate, her abuse of travel vouchers as governor, and her "stretching" of the truth on earmarks and the bridge-to-nowhere? Let Dobson's chosen hear her "god-honest" answers on these serious topics, pitched directly to the "blind-faith-faithful" whom Dobson is marshaling to her defense.
The real indicator of the pure Dobsonian joy has to do with Palin’s selection to VP candidate. Dobson is exhilarated, his real attraction to her has to do with her genuine Christianity, and her wholehearted subscription to his social agenda. Palin called herself a "hardcore Pro-Lifer" in the interview. That’s it. That’s exactly why Dobson, and the Council for National Policy vetted her and pushed her on the McCain ticket in Minneapolis.
This smooth talking, stroking supporter, Dr. Dobson is one tough cookie when he is astride an issue. He has threatened to bolt the Republican Party. He has said that gays pose a threat to the survival of the human race. He has labeled political enemies, the enemies of God. He made a vow earlier this year not to support McCain for president, and must be remembered as a principal in the slash and smear job done on McCain in 2000 in South Carolina. With Palin he is all sweetness and light.
During the summation of the interview, James Dobson and Thomas Minnery, his bulldog political operative, there are twitters and hums between the two men about how Palin is being subjected to the most terrible personal attacks. And the two agree, with unexamined judgment, that the heavy criticism centers on Palin’s being willing to name the name of Christ as a true believer and surmise how that evilly excites negativity in the "liberal press." They contend Palin is being hotly persecuted for her personal experience with Jesus. Minnery stated her personal faith "is the motivating force within in her."
Palin says she "has to have that faith that God’s going to help us get that message (the family values agenda) out there." Rejoined Dobson, "There are millions of people out there praying for you and Sen. McCain." Palin says she need's God's help to go around the mainstream media to get her Christian/Pro-life message out.
For the Focus on the Family audience this recital by Dobson and Minnery is just one perfect fact. Now they must pray hard and long, and again go out to save Palin from her enemies—it’s the holy kind of propulsion that makes the whole far right religious apparatus get up in arms and get out the churchly voters.
It seems inconceivable to Dobson, Minnery and those millions of avid listeners that there may be many other vital, important issues in this campaign: on national security, the Wall Street meltdown, two wars in far off lands, energy issues, a gigantic national debt, and dozens of other problems and challenges upon which and for which Palin is totally lacking, give her time, she’ll get back to us on these. Yes, when?
Like the proclamation of G. W. Bush to be "born again" made him bulletproof for the strict morals, faithful attendance religious right wingers, Palin’s profession of her faith (in tune with Dobson’s own salvation formula) is the key element in Focus on the Family and the other elements of the Christian coalition stoking the coals in the belly of the far right religious get-out-the-vote effort.
Dobson’s praying for an election day miracle the outcome of a very effective crusade which centers in churches and, in particular, is well-placed in religious settings in several states because of statewide ballot social hot button initiatives for which the church may campaign and pass around those notorious voter guides without fear of violating the IRS church/politics/candidate endorsement restrictions.
James Dobson and ilk’s disinterest in the real national issues beyond his set of single focus issues is a terrible threat to the future of the country. Dobson is focused on social/religious issues and the Supreme Court in particular. Beyond that he and his cabal have little interest except to limit government in every way that does not serve them. We have seen how well this base has shed any slings and arrows to designed to defend G.W. Bush in his fateful destruction of the nation on many fronts.
Somehow we must put this Dobsonian faction into its proper place and get on with what’s best for America.
Let the church be the church, and let the government be free to be the government--with freedom and justice for all.