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Dobson Refuses To Cave For McCain, Endorsing Huckabee Instead
In a sign that John McCain's essentially certain nomination still isn't going over well with some hardcore activists, James Dobson will be endorsing Mike Huckabee tomorrow — the first time ever that Dobson is making an endorsement during the Republican primary campaign.
Dobson is not a fan of McCain, to put it mildly. On Super Tuesday, while voting was going on, he released a statement that he would refuse to cast a ballot for president in the general election if McCain were nominated. Considering that McCain's nomination is now mathematically a foregone conclusion, it'll be interesting to see what Dobson does this Fall, and whether he successfully discourages his followers from going to the polls.
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I'm skeptical that Dobson will influence many followers. I'm just not sure he's got that kind of clout in the present, turbulent GOP electoral climate.
But I think if enough of these big-name troglodytes step up to declare their opposition to McCain, it could cumulatively have a disspiriting effect on conservative voters. We can see, on the Democratic side, that excitement and optimism are contagious. I should think the converse would be true as well.
February 7, 2008 11:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dobson and his ilk represent a small minority of conservatives, something they didn't realize before and don't want you to know now. Karl Rove was extremely adept at making them appear larger than they were and also at stifling any opposition to them.
It's all about the power and the glory and, of course, the fundraising. If they can't say they have a great deal of influence over the President, they are diminished, as is their fundraising potential -- hence their dislike for McCain.
February 8, 2008 12:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, if Romney continuing his campaign would be helping America surrender to the terrorists, what does it mean that Huck's continuing his campaign? Someone should ask Huck and Dobson why they hate America and want us to lose the war on terror? Remember, either your with us or against us.
February 8, 2008 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dobson's a pathetic sideshow as are most of the other so-called religious leaders. That Huckabee or any other politician would even welcome their endorsement is equally pathetic.
February 8, 2008 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's a McCain to do?
If he chooses Huck as VP, then Dobson is happy, but his new BFF, the CPAC crowd will blow a gasket. After his groveling yesterday, they would rightly crucify him.
Is there a politician out there that will be able to satisfy both wingnut clans? Brownback maybe does, but he's a poor fit for other reasons.
Can't think without coffee.
February 8, 2008 7:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
What is a McCain to do?
If he picks Huck as his VP, the CPAC crowd, who he just sucked up to, will blow a gasket and then crucify him in the press and on the airwaves.
Is there an acceptable choice for both wingnut clans of the GOP?
Brownback springs to mind, but is probably not a great fit for other reasons.
Can't think without coffee
February 8, 2008 7:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary electable?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Rush_weighs_a_Hillary_fundraiser.html
February 8, 2008 7:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
On NBC's morning show, Coulter advised McCain to pick Romney (Huckabee - no) as his running mate. Otherwise she may well vote for Clinton. The killer issue for her is immigration amnesty, which she says can't be undone after four disastrous years. Coulter seems to trust Hillary on the Iraq war and feels that any health care reforms could be rolled back after 2012.
BTW this was the first time I heard Coulter not sound like she was on Jerry Springer wearing strips of meat. She made her arguments without degrading language and almost sounded like a reasonable person that believes in different things. I wonder if the CPAC rebuke has gotten her to tone it down.
February 8, 2008 8:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I received a "Special Alert" email last night from Focus on the Family Action announcing Dobson's decision to endorse Huckabee. In addition to the endorsement, it had the following language letting everyone know that it was Dobson's endorsement, not that of Focus: "Dr. James Dobson issues the following statement tonight, speaking as a private citizen. " and "(NOTE: Dr. Dobson made these statements as a private citizen. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a reflection of the opinions of Focus on the Family or Focus on the Family Action.)"
Now, this email did not come from Dobson's personal gmail/yahoo/hotmail account. It came from Focus' email server, had Focus' domain name, used Focus' email list, and was probably typed by someone on the Focus payroll. Even though the email says that the endorsement is his own "personal" endorsement, he is using Focus resources to promote his "personal" political views.
To the more legally inclined...doesn't this raise issues with Focus' tax-exempt status?
February 8, 2008 8:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
The rigid right is clearly trying to position Huckabee as a potential V.P. choice. The more they agitate the more heft they believe they give Huckabee. Of course this will pull McCain to the right and deminish the likelyhood that he represents a viable national candidate.
February 8, 2008 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think that we tend to forget that the Rethugicans KNOW in their dark hearts that November will be a debacle for them.
Do you think if Dobson or Rush or Coulter thought for a second that McCain could win that they would burn their bridges to a new administration?
Silly Wabbits!
And think downstream. Most Rethugican House and Senate candidates will have to distance themselves not only from Bush but from McCain and the entire administration legacy unless they are from the most extreme safe seats or simply place holders getting their name recognition up for later races.
The election will be a stunning rebuke to Bush conservatism.
The WingNuts know this; they did not get to where they are by playing short term. They have no reason to back a loser. And there is a great deal of truth in the fact that their strength comes from opposition.
Obama and HRC will inherit exactly the same disaster from Bush and both will face exactly the same opposition from the 30% hard core Rethugicans who know that Bush walks on water.
I wish I could believe that Obama's Healing Spirit was more than an adman's pitch but it is snake oil in a real pretty bottle. And thankfully Obama knows that too.
Now I want and need to hear from him just how he will defeat the firestorm when it hits him. Look at what the Right did with WhiteWater when there was no there there.
Sadly Rezco has a there.
Before Obama fans go postal on me, I am not equating HRC's and Obama's baggage. That is an irrelevant point to the Right.
Obama is either lying or stupid when he equates HRC's campaign with the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy already ginning up against him. I hope and pray that he is simply lying.
It is as foolish as Nader's argument that there is no difference between Dems and Rethugs. It is more disingenuous than the argument that McBombBombIranCain is a better choice for Dems and Indies and the planet than HRC.
As to the inevitable battles we already know HRC's answer: to fight the fights with every weapon available.
It is not a matter of rehashing the battles of the past.
Nothing could be more here and now than militarism, racial and economic equity, health care, and all the other issues which remain unresolved.
To think the plutocracy will feed on Obama's thin gruel, that they will roll over and slumber through the promised OprahObama term is naive at best.
Thankfully most of Obama's fans know this; it is reflected in their huzzahs when Obama stops whining and counterattacks HRC.
But HRC is nothing to the coming storm.
February 8, 2008 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm bugged about the Press' refusal to properly vet Barack. After all white candidates throughout history have undergone this rite of passage.
The Brother can sure sing but, can he dance? Bush showed he could out-danced Gore and Kerry. Bill
out-danced Bush the elder and Dole. And what a dance. A sight to behold for sure. Even Hillary has shown she can dance too. Each withstood everything the Press could uncover.
Is it a matter of respect? Requiring Barack to undergo the vetting process would mean that he is equal to his peers. Treating him with kid gloves to appease the more thin-skinned shows two things. The Press is intimidated by said thin-skinned and the possible presence of deep racial animus on the part of the Press. The Press may not want to face a possible back-lash and it's easier to avoid the confrontation that vetting would bring and still maintain a feeling of superiority.
February 8, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought that Dobson had already backed Huckleberry two months or so ago . . .
The American legal system needs to 'focus on' James' family. There are molestation and abuse charges in all that showering with boys and regular beating of eighteen month olds that NEED exploring.
On the other hand, our favorite Baptist Minister has a kid or two showing signs of being cut from the same bolt of cloth.
February 8, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, he did. I guess he didn't get enough attention then so he did it again. You know how petulant these guys can be.
February 10, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink