Dobson: I Will Never Support McCain
With John McCain on the verge of winning the Republican nomination, the once-complacent anti-McCain forces on the right are getting louder than ever. This morning, James Dobson released a statement to Laura Ingraham's radio show, declaring that under no circumstances would he support McCain in the general election — a potential blow to the Arizona senator, since it could discourage turnout among some evangelical voters.
Here's a YouTube featuring the audio of Ingraham reading the statement:
Some of the reasons why Dobson won't support McCain:
• McCain opposes a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
• McCain supports funding for "embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings."
• McCain was part of the "Gang of 14" compromise, preserving the filibuster
• McCain "often uses foul and obscene language."
Dobson was quite firm on what he'll do if McCain gets the nomination: "I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life."
i guess ... Go McCain!
February 5, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds not terribly unlike many Obama supporters in here! Think about it guys. You know who you are. See any difference?
February 5, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
why should he vote for mcCain if mcCain doesn't meet his criteria? He is now in the dilemma that many people usually find themselves in. picking between two people they don't much care for. Only he has a bigger voice than most people do. One of the only things I agree with mr Dobson about is that the D or R stitched to your jersey isn't enough to get my vote. kerry only got my vote because gw is horrible.
if gw would have been so-so i would have stayed home, or voted green.
February 5, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!! I came here to post exactly the same thing.
slb
February 5, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, this is just Dobson waiting for somebody to offer him everything he wants, up to (and perhaps including) a national czar in charge of gay-bashing.
Trust me, Dobson will not vanish into the night.
February 5, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Loki redux:
Suppose the Democratic nominee was pro-life and would like to see Roe vs. Wade overturned. Would you vote for that nominee anyway just because they had a "D" next to his/her name?
February 5, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
At this point, after seven years of unmitigated disasters at home and abroad, yes I'd vote for an anti-abortion Dem over a pro choice Repub.
It would be nice to have an independent progressve in the mix but if not oh well.
Why would I be so foolish you might ask.
Is easy, because while all politicians are to a degree prevaricators and opportunists, I think it fair to say that the Repubs have proven themselves the lowest of the low, the snakes in the grass.
Just take a look at their current presidential field compared to our own admittedly flawed contenders.
Besides, better the devil you know and all that...
February 5, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you are voting Republican, I've gotten say as well, vote McCain. Anyone Dobson and ilk can't stand, can't be all that bad.
I just wish Dole would crawl back under is rock. Likening McCain to the late Jesse Helms is as offensive as it is wrong.
Yep, Republicans have got a confused choice--maverick, though conservative McCain who is pragmatic enough to work with Democrats, Huckabee the self-proclaimed Christian leader and anti-Mormon conservative, and Romney, the Republican John Kerry. The last is a bit unfair to Romney as he does have good business and governing experience, just had to compromise to be governor and now again to be a presidental candidate.
Anyway, Dobson and others like him are clearly marginalized by McCain and this year's election. This is very good for both Republicans and for the country. It is also good for Democrats once they win the White House and solidify their majorities in Congress. The remaining Republicans will be freer to be pragmatic in working with Democrats.
February 5, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is interesting, and could help Romney.
However, I think that true Huckabee supports who aren't pragmatist aren't going to switch from Huckabee the evangelical to Romney who is much softer and moderate in those areas.
But it reinforces an anectotal trend I've been seeing since NH of evangelical republicans jumping from Huckabee to Romney.
February 5, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Coulter, Rush and now Dobson have written McCain off?
Man, with each passing day McCain becomes far more likeable in my eyes.
February 5, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
In my view, the opposition to McCain isn't so much about McCain as it is a way to protect the gravy train of these "critics." Dodson, El Rushbo, and all the other right wing wackos know the the Repubs are doomed in November. They are simply disassociating themselves from a "losing team." The reality is that they have an easier and more financially successful career if the Dems are in office. It also allows them to "organize" against an identified enemy - and be viewed as "representing" the conservative cause by continually attacking and finding fault with every proposal and action taken by the Dems, while saying that they "told you so." They aren't protecting the conservative cause, just themselves.
February 5, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a good thought. If the Republicans lose in November, it allows them to portray themselves as vital to the party. "See? You can't win without us." Never mind that a candidate more to their liking would likely have done even worse.
Of course, the risk to them is that if the Republicans win, it makes renders the religious right irrelevant, but that is looking like a very small risk.
February 5, 2008 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a good thought. If the Republicans lose in November, it allows them to portray themselves as vital to the party. "See? You can't win without us." Never mind that a candidate more to their liking would likely have done even worse.
Of course, the risk to them is that if the Republicans win, it makes renders the religious right irrelevant, but that is looking like a very small risk.
slb
February 5, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
• McCain opposes a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
The President is irrelevent to Constitutional Ammendments (except for the 'Bully Pulpit' aspect.
• McCain supports funding for "embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings."
Okay, I guess this is valid, though there is a significant chance the next Congress will have a veto-proof majority that will support stem-cell funding, so it too may be irrelevant.
• McCain was part of the "Gang of 14" compromise, preserving the filibuster
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but except for the most extreme Judicial nominations (almost all of whom could be stopped by a simple hold placed by an individual Senator [see the recent instance in 4th District], or by a simple majority in the Judiciary Committee keeping the nomination from going to the floor), the 'Gang of 14' saved the filibuster by for all practical purposes ensuring it could never be used for Judges. You would think Dobson would see that as a victory. I know if any Dem on the Gang of 14 tried to run for President (or got into a serious primary fight to hold their own seat), progressives would actively using it as reason not support them.
• McCain "often uses foul and obscene language."
And what is the good reverend's stance on VP Cheney?
Another common conservative battlecry against McCain is Campaign Finance Reform, which was upheld by a Republican majority SCOTUS. This and the Gang of 14 criticism seem to both be holding him to an extremeist stadard for extremism's sake. If the right-wing think they will ever win another Presidency using such tactics, I thing they are sincerely deluded.
February 5, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The question that this beings to my mind is who will they chose as a running mate to balance the ticket? Huckabee could smooth the ruffled feathers of the religious right, but that ticket offers nothing to the economic conservatives. Mitt could bring the supply siders on board, but would alienate the Dobsonites. With the GOP so fractured, I don't see a combination that would inspire a large majority of the right's influencers. To me, the GOP falling apart is actually more significant than their inability to field a presidential candidate to beat the Democrats. Discipline, organization and solidarity have been the GOP's strongest characteristics since the dawn of the modern 'conservative' movement 28 years ago. If they lose that, they've lost far more than a Presidential election.
February 5, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm, interesting point Colorado. Obama and Clinton are actually not nearly that different and yet insane numbers of Obama supporters will NOT vote for Clinton no matter what if she is the nominee. So, you're right, I'm wrong. It's much worse than I thought. The Obama supporters are worse than Dobson!
That's somehow not as quite satisfying as I thought it would be.
February 5, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
[this is my second attempt at posting this...forgive me if it's a repeat...TPM still has work to do!]
Colorado Jones, you make an intersting point. Though it only makes Obama supporters sound worse. There are clear differences between Dobson and McCain...nothing like that with Clinton and Obama however. This only makes it clear that Obama supporters are even worse than Dobson! Not funny.
February 5, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed, how awful we Obama supporters are. Really, Loki, how do you find the strength to deal with us? The trials that you and your fellows are made to endure...
It makes me wonder, how do you keep upbeat and look so good all the time?
February 5, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Loki,
As nearly as I can tell your answer was "no"... you wouldn't vote for a pro-life Democratic nominee who wanted to see Roe vs. Wade overturned. Does that make you like Dobson, or was your answer actually "yes"... you would vote for such a nominee?
February 5, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe this is a conspiracy to get normal thinking people to think McCain's OK.
I mean, if these ass-clowns hate him, how bad can he be?
February 5, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Loki:
As nearly as I can tell your answer is no... you wouldn't vote for a pro-life Democrat who wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Does that make you like Dobson?
February 5, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Intentional or not, Rooktoven, that's the exact effect it's had on me.
February 5, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg...
...you know I'm right.
February 5, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Intentional or not, Rooktoven, that's the exact effect it's having on me (not that I would ever vote for him).
February 5, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm wondering how depressed turnout will be if it's McCain vs. Clinton.
February 5, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love it the Republicans are eating their own babies. The only thing that would save them is running against Hillary. She is the only candidate that unites the Republicans. Most of them would much rather vote against her than for any of their candidates.
February 5, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the example is about Clinton, replace pro-life candidate with pro-neocon-war candidate and then ask yourself if this person will not do much harm to America's interests globally and to the rest of the world. Kyle Lieberman is recent enough to cite.
February 5, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to the real world. This is almost always the way it is, and to sit home and sulk about it is not really the mature choice.
slb
(Why do I have to log in again after every post?)
February 5, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey! My "Posted by" finally showed up!
February 5, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does this (McCain's primary showing) show the beginning of the end of the influence of Rush, Sean and the rest of their ilk?
February 6, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good for Dobson: He opposed McCain, made his position clear, said if McCain got the nod, he'd be through with the GOP.
Good for Rush? Good for Ailes? Good for Hannity? Good for Coulter? Good for Levin? Good for Jason Lewis?
The silence is deafening. I thought you promised to exit, stage right. What are you all waiting around for? Dobson's in the car, the motor's running. Why the hesitation.
You haven't readjusted your moral compass have you?
February 7, 2008 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is so wild.
Last "open market in a small town" in the midwest ago, I thought McCain was going to be admonished to stay on his Aricept. Now, look.
But this split in the Republican party is wonderful to behold.
It isn't as though the Dems don't have their share of all over the map silly business going on as well, but the Dems are old hands at that.
The Republicans have had the stick yanked out of their rectum. Not their habit and they are nonplussed to a fare thee well.
February 8, 2008 1:00 AM | Reply | Permalink