July 22, 2008
On the 'Constantly Changing' Political Environment (A.B. Stoddard)
As Christian leaders go, I am casting my lot with the Rev. Rick Warren this week. The best-selling author of The Purpose-Driven Life and head of Saddleback, the 20,000-person megachurch in California, has managed to do what no one else yet has — get Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) together onstage before the fall debates. (Luke Russert, bless him, managed to bring McCain and Obama together at his dad's memorial service but hey, they didn't have to talk.)
In a forum titled "Compassion and Leadership" on Aug. 16, the candidates will address a key audience. McCain, of course, has struggled with evangelical voters who dreaded his nomination; Obama, whom Democrats originally hoped could attract such voters, is now supported by fewer of them than Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) was at this point in the 2004 race. Warren's event is a Saddleback Civil Forum, which sounds anything but hostile, and he promised to play nice. “Since I’m their friend, I’m not going to give them any ‘gotcha’ questions,” Mr. Warren said, adding that he would ask questions like “What’s the most difficult decision you’ve had to make, and how did you make it?"
Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson, on the other hand, isn't calling anyone a friend. He not only wrote off McCain publicly more than a year ago, declaring "I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances," but he recently went after Obama, accusing him of distorting the Bible and promoting a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
News out now is that Dobson may just be endorsing McCain, much as it troubles him. "I never thought I would hear myself saying this," Dobson said Monday. "While I am not endorsing Sen. John McCain, the possibility is there that I might." He later added in an interview with The Associated Press: "There's nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context … Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to re-evaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain."
No word yet on what has changed in this "constantly changing political context," but should we guess that Hillary's nomination would have kept him from endorsing McCain? Dobson sure could work hard against Obama without endorsing McCain, but then again, that kind of thing wouldn't keep him in the news. Better to dangle a bitter and belated endorsement out there to make sure the media keeps checking back in.
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IF THE TRIP ENDS AS WELL AS IT STARTED, WILL POLLS SHOW A BARACK SURGE? Ask A.B. returns Tuesday, July 29 — Please join my weekly video Q & A by sending your questions and comments to askab@thehill.com. Thank you.
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Reverend Rick has received flack from evangelical leaders for inviting Obama to his church in the past. It will be interesting to see if that happens again.
Poor Mr. Dobson, to him it must seem like a choice between Judas and Satan.
Comment by M. Richard — July 22, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
When it comes to politics, the more things change, the more they remain the same. When it comes to getting things done, more is said, then done.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — July 23, 2008 @ 7:42 am
It really does boil down to the lesser of two evils. Dr. Dobson is caught in a quandary the same way most of us are. Stay home and don't vote? That would surely mean an Obama victory so the alternative it to vote for a candidate we still don't overwhelmingly like, but siding with the party has more promise of ensuring our principles are considered in the future.
To me, it's a shame these are the best candidates the political process has to put forward this election year.
Comment by Wayne Kulick — July 23, 2008 @ 9:29 am