Good sign for John McCain: conservative James Dobson says he'll vote Nov. 4

James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, a conservative, nonprofit organization that wields widespread influence among Christian Republicans, has come, oh, so close to endorsing the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain.

For the past year Dobson, who endorsed George W. Bush in 2004, has been mainly saying which Republican he would not endorse--Rudy Giuliani because he was pro-choice, Fred Thompson because he opposed the marriage amendment and, at one point, McCain because of restrictions that the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reforms put on nonprofit communications with members about political issues.

At one time Dobson even suggested he might not vote for the first time in his adult life if the candidates didn't meet his standards of being antiabortion and for family values. That could have caused millions of religious conservatives to stay home on Nov. 4.

Dobson once said Mitt Romney would qualify as a pro-family candidate. But when he dropped out of the GOP race, Dobson endorsed Mike Huckabee for his "unwavering positions on social issues."

From their mountainside headquarters in Colorado Springs, Dobson and Focus reach millions of conservative evangelicals daily through their website, newsletters and his radio broadcasts. The concern among Republican operatives has not been that conservatives with some lingering doubts about McCain's, say, initial opposition to the Bush tax cuts would vote for Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, whose Democratic party members have turned out in large numbers all election season.

The GOP concern has been instead that a lack of enthusiasm among....

conservatives and Republicans would cause a low turnout on that side come November.

But last night Dobson appeared to ease that worry. Stressing that he was speaking as an individual, Dobson did not actually endorse McCain -- yet. But he did tell Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel that though he has "problems" with all three remaining presidential candidates, especially the two Democrats, he fully intended to vote on Nov. 4.

That was a signal to his followers that they might have to settle for the least-worst candidate, namely McCain.

"Let me just say," Dobson said, "that I will certainly vote. I think we have a God-given responsibility to vote, and there are all of the candidates and the issues down the ballot that we have an obligation to weigh in on and let our voices be heard."

Told that McCain had assured Hannity he would keep the pro-life and pro-marriage plans in the Republican platform, Dobson asked, "Did he give you a commitment about embryonic stem-cell research?" Hannity said, No.

"That's an important one for me," Dobson replied.

(UPDATE: A spokesman for the McCain campaign declined comment late this evening.)

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[dave]

it might be seen as encouraging when people like dobson suggest they will NOT vote for mccain, come nov. 4. anyone looking for a consistent constitutional stance on the issue of inalienable human rights in a presidential candidate might want to look at ron paul's message.
(ron paul is the republican candidate who sponsored the 'sanctity of life act,' hr 1094 defining that:
'human life shall be deemed to exist from conception, without regard to race, sex, age, health, defect, or condition of dependency; ...the term 'person' shall include all such human life'...)

[KYJurisDoctor]

That's the Maverick McCain for you. You gotta love the guy!

http://OsiSpeaks.com

[Rob Johnson]

I would like to encourage John McCain for the sake of his presidential career and for the sake of the Republican Party to choose Mike Huckabee for his vice presidential running mate. Mike Huckabee carried the South and the majority of the evangelical votes in the nation. John will need them to win. If he choses a moderate candidate, he could lose the religious right, the southern states, and others of the Republican conservative base. If he chooses Romney as a running mate, he will lose my vote and most assuredly many other evangelicals. Morminism is an anti-Christ religious cult much like Islam. I hope that John McCain does not repeat his error of the 2000 campaign year by offending the spiritual sensibilities of those of us who know and support the truth, and those who stand up for it. If he chooses Romney, it will be the first time in my adult life that I will not vote. To vote for a Mormon would be an offense to my personal principles and religious conscience. Sorry Mitt, I like you as a candidate, but your embrace of the false doctrine of Mormonism is not something that gives me confidence in you as wise leader of our nation.

[Rodney Whiting]

I will start by saying I 100% agree with the thoughts of Rob Johnson, posted April 3, 2008; I second that.
I personally cannot believe that none of the canidates understand what this country needs and the direction a real leader should be taking us.
In city, county and state governments it is clearly understood that there respective branches must charge for their services, (ie fire, police, etc.) and must make a profit at the same time in order to improve those same services and to upgrade equipment as necessary.
Our federal government has somehow lost sight of the basic fiscal responsibility that ALL businesses and individuals must adhere to in order to be successful.
The Republicans are not wrong about our moral responsibilities in helping those peoples in the world who are oppressed. They are not wrong in helping Iraq; we must.
The Democrats are not wrong that it is fiscally irresponsible to continue being involved in Iraq and around the world when it is driving us as a nation into bankruptcy.
Why can't anyone see the obvious answer and have the guts to take action?
WE MUST CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES IN IRAQ AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
It is my opinion that we, the USA, have the responsibilty to help those in need, but for those who can pay, MUST pay.
We should not be going broke, but we should be making record profits like any successful business.
We should have no national debt.
Our miltary should have the best equipment available.
Our military should be paid well and have the best benefits.
This approach is basic, but is the only direction our leaders should be going.
We as a nation can and should be concerned for the people of the world, but we do not, and cannot continue to foot the bill for those countries that can afford to pay for our services.
My name is Rodney Whiting. I am a Christian first and an American second. Will someone please take the reins and lead? Hear me John Mccain.