James Dobson's Focus on the Family reportedly lays off 200

Tough times on the morality business front too, it seems.

Published reports in Colorado say that Focus on the Family, the conservative evangelical group founded and headed by Dr. James Dobson, is laying off about 200 of its employees.

It's the second time in recent months the influential group that does so much mailing it has its own ZIP code has released workers from its mountainside headquarters in Colorado Springs. The latest cuts leave the national organization with about 950 employees from a onetime high of some 1,500.

The cutbacks come after Focus, formerly headquartered in California until 1991, spent a reported half-million dollars to successfully support Proposition 8 in the Golden State, overturning a state court decision to allow same-sex marriages.

The support of Dobson, who speaks to millions in his daily broadcasts on some 3,000 domestic outlets and hundreds more abroad from the organization's in-house studio, is eagerly sought by conservative politicians.

After opposing John McCain in 2007 for restrictions on nonprofit political activities in his McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law and Rudy Giuliani for his abortion support, Dobson endorsed ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee late in the Republican primary season this year.

But faced with the choice of McCain or Democrat Barack Obama, Dobson eventually said he would personally support the Arizona senator because the Illinois senator posed such a threat to family values. Since Obama's victory, Dobson has worried online about the direction of the country.

Apparently, that support was insufficient as polling showed millions of religious regulars chose not to vote on Nov. 4.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[Andrew]

He publicly announced his support for McCain though he didn't officially "endorse" him. It amounts to the same thing, but communicates he was very reluctant to do so:

http://tinyurl.com/57vxt3

By the way, note that in that interview he states the only candidate he's ever endorsed was George W. Bush--in 2004.

Thanks for that, Dobson.

[Hdtex]

20% of their workforce?

GOOD!

80% to go.

Seems they should focus on their own families rather than mine.

[Ken T.]

Good. They should all lose their jobs for the hate they preach. Their church is nothing more than a business. No doubt most of the mailings sent were begging for money that the majority of which went right in their greedy pockets.

[Slim Chestnut]

Focus on the Family does not preach hate! Where do you get that? No group is doing more to bring a message of hope and conciliation. Probably wasting time to tell you though. Sounds like you have your mind all made up! Perhaps someone will read this and do the research though not just spout group-speak.

Slim

[Matt G]

As a gay man from california i have to add something to this. I find it kind of ironic the fact that this organization is located in colorado which is seperated by two other states. Its not my business why they felt so inclined to financially support a measure that they didn’t even vote on, but at what cost? They gave so much money to a cause, that now they cannot afford to support their employees!!! So the gays can’t marry in California yet again, but now 200 employees which i’m guessing atleast half if not more have families to support are out of a job. WAY TO GO! (do they remember whats up with the economy these days?) Im not the least bit concerned about the fact that it did pass and what? now i can’t get married? Im 22 and don’t plan on it right now anyways. We all know that this issue is so far from over and as generations will come to pass so will this. Just as the women were to suffarage and the blacks to segregation so will be the gays to marriage. It just takes time.