As Barack Obama broadens his outreach to evangelical voters, one of the movement's biggest names, James Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
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(Photo: AP Images / Alex Brandon)Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., talks with women during a round table discussion at the Flying Star Cafe facility in Albuquerque, N.M., Monday, June 23, 2008.
The criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the organization's headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.
The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.
"Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.
Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy — chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application."
"Folks haven't been reading their Bibles," Obama said.
Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament.
"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology," Dobson said.
"... He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."
Joshua DuBois, director of religious affairs for Obama's campaign, said in a statement that a full reading of Obama's speech shows he is committed to reaching out to people of faith and standing up for families. "Obama is proud to have the support of millions of Americans of faith and looks forward to working across religious lines to bring our country together," DuBois said.
Dobson reserved some of his harshest criticism for Obama's argument that the religiously motivated must frame debates over issues like abortion not just in their own religion's terms but in arguments accessible to all people.
He said Obama, who supports abortion rights, is trying to govern by the "lowest common denominator of morality," labeling it "a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution."
"Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?" Dobson said. "What he's trying to say here is unless everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe."
The program was paid for by a Focus on the Family affiliate whose donations are taxed, Dobson said, so it's legal for that group to get more involved in politics.
Last week, DuBois, a former Assemblies of God associate minister, called Minnery for what Minnery described as a cordial discussion. He would not go into detail, but said Dubois offered to visit the ministry in August when the Democratic National Convention is in Denver.
A possible Obama visit was not discussed, but Focus is open to one, Minnery said.
McCain also has not met with Dobson. A McCain campaign staffer offered Dobson a meeting with McCain recently in Denver, Minnery said. Dobson declined because he prefers that candidates visit the Focus on the Family campus to learn more about the organization, Minnery said.
Dobson has not backed off his statement that he could not in good conscience vote for McCain because of concerns over the Arizona senator's conservative credentials. Dobson has said he will vote in November but has suggested he might not vote for president.
Obama recently met in Chicago with religious leaders, including conservative evangelicals. His campaign also plans thousands of "American Values House Parties," where participants discuss Obama and religion, as well as a presence on Christian radio and blogs.
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I think people cared more about the economy in this election and that will come back and bite us in the butt if we don't pray. Don't worry folks, GOD is not mocked. Obama may be saying what he says now , then dancing before the LORD like David soon. Let us pray he is radically changed for Christ like Paul. amen
Obama is backed by Satan. It will only be by the grace of God in light of His extreme mercy if Obama is not elected president. Literally he is not what this country needs, but exactly what this country deserves! (Over 40 million aborted children are singing the Amen Chorus to that last remark!) Obama wants America to be the poster picture of all the radical ideals he has crammed into his brain during his quest for world domination. He can't help it! He simply is the product of all the militant, Islamic, gangster, blasphemic role models under whom he has sat on his rise to where he now stands. Pray for America - that God will once again bless America and not turn from her as she has turned from following Him. Pray for Obama's salvation! Pray for John McCain and Sarah Palin! Seek the Lord's will in accordance with His Word and you will not be disappointed. Pray for America!
The Message Says in Romans 14:9
That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.
Laws merely keep honest people honest.
As for the abolishonists...Making a law doesn't take away a person's self-will. Our over-crowded prison system will testify to that. Laws simply present a consequence for an action.
I'm sure there were people who tried convince Abram that it couldn't have been God that told him to leave his home and travel to who-knows-where. There were certainly many who told Noah that he couldn't have heard from God. God couldn't possibly have told him to do something that stupid.
Judging whether a man makes a right decision about the direction his life should go is a far cry from judging whether someone is a liar, theif, murderer, etc. You're comparing apples to onions.
Oh geez. Not this William Wilberforce garbage again. Sigh.
"God tell us to do and rebuke others. But you cannot force them to obey. Yes, we should warn others about their actions and take a stand. But they still have a right to make their choice."
Does this mean that the abolitionists were in fact wrong and that William Wilberforce was misguided for going into politics rather than the clergy???
And Obama is still a muslim...
until he explains why he is a Christian and not a muslim...why Jesus and not allah, why Jesus and not muhammed...when the rest of his family is muslim and backs him all the way...
and when the new york times...a newspaper that ought to be defending freedom of speech when and where freedom of speech is being attacked in the U.N. by no other than those nations that systematically persecute nonmuslims...the OIC, who are pursuing an agenda in the U.N. to stifle any speech on sharia or so called extremist muslims...
and the new york times does nothing to warn Americans of these events that are pivotal in western societies survival, but instead publishes articles that militate against Macleans(magazine) fight in Canadas kangaroo courts that are being used by muslims to stifle free speech there....
and the NYT publishes articles questioning why people think obama is a muslim when he said he isnt...and yet provides nothing more as a reason other than obama says so....
compels me to think that the NYT is interested in supporting the likes of the OIC, who wish to persecute those that do not accept islam to be peaceful and point out that sharia law oppresses women...and humanity... but withing a few minutes time are quashed because the U.N. is submitting to the demands of the O.I.C.
Why doesnt the NYT report on that, so that americans may know who their true enemies are?
Personally, I think Dobson's characterization of what Obama believes, based upon MY readings of what he has said are right on.
For the record, I've been a Christain for over 22 years. Grew up in a Baptist church, and voted Republican all my life. I've always loved and respected Dr. Dobson. I've been listening to him on the radio since I was 16.
That said, I have to ask if anyone else out there was sadden by his misrepresentation and mischaracterization of Obama's comments. I'm not advocating that what he said was right or wrong (that's a differnt thread). I'm just wondering if anyone out there actually read Obama's speech and then listened to Dobson's show and compared his comments the Obama's actual meaning?
There are several examples, but I will just mention the one that I was most disappointed in. At one point, Dobson and the other guy (Tom Minnery, I think). They take issue with Obama's reference to the Law commanding the stoning of a son for leaving the faith. They provide some historical context (which is fine), but they conclude by correcting Obama, pointing out that Deut 21 says to stone the son for rebelliousness, etc, and then mock him saying he should read his Bible. Unfortunately, Obama's is referencing Deut 13 and his assertion is correct. I was incredibly surprised that no one on Dobson's staff bothered to check. You can see the obvious come back - Dobson should go read his Bible. I was very embarrased for him.
There are several more things like this. So I was just wondering if anyone out there read both and had any thoughts on this topic.
Thanks
:)
There is NO call in the Bible to be political and legislate chritian laws of worship! Jesus said MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD! There is NO Christian Nations on this earth and there is NO call for one. We are NOT a Christian Nation, but rather a nation of Christians. We should NEVER try to create a theocracy, nor Legislate morality. Follow the Old Testament nation of Israel---It did not work hence New Covenant! We have no good candidates that qualify as Christian nor will we.
The government creates laws to protect the people - no stealing, no murder, etc. This is legislation of morality.
The big question is upon what do we base these laws...?
It used to be they were based upon the Bible (sometimes the Bible was used to justify bad behavior and for expediency sake others who did not agree chose to not force the issue). Now, in this country, we have no basis for our laws. As such, laws are being used to try to force the embracing as good and valid that which the Bible says is bad behavior.
Combined with the liberal media, selfishness, and law making judges, the lack of a basis for laws is causing the morals of this country to degenerate.
1man,
I believe all legislation is based on ethics from a religious worldview whether it is Biblical, humanist, Islamic, etc, which is intended to control the behavior of the population, not each citizens beliefs.
We are called upon to be the salt and light to the world and priveleged to be participants within a constitutional republic as citizens of this great nation. I believe we have a God given responsibility to influence legislation to reflect the will of God so that we can have a government operate per Romans 13 as a servant to God to carry out God's will.
holito8; Doesn't 'Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.'
Matt 7:6 (HCSB) tell us to keep the rebuking within the body of Christ? We are to be Christ's ambassadors to the world and represent Christ in a winsome way, not in a harsh manner as we are dealing with captives to the lies of the world which we once were.