Dobson Accuses Obama of Distorting the Bible

[Dr Ron]

Cross posted from Liberal Values--see original post for links:

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=3450


Dobson Accuses Obama of Distorting the Bible

Barack Obama has had some success in reaching out to compete for the evangelical vote. While he might receive the support from some religious voters who do not follow the political agenda of the religious right, the far right is certain to oppose him. James Dobson plans to attack Obama with accusations of “distorting” the bible. AP reports that this attack will air on Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio program on Tuesday. Dobson criticizes Obama over a speech given in 2006 where he referred to his difference in approach to religion with Dobson:

“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.

Obama has often included reference to religion in his speeches, but has made clear his belief in separation of church and state. Their differences are actually over matters far more significant than their interpretations of the bible, which would not be of significance in a political campaign if not for the problem that the religious right also desires to impose their view of the bible upon others. Dobson objects to beliefs on religion and public policy similar to those Obama expressed during a debate last year:

"But what I also think is that we are under obligation in public life to translate our religious values into moral terms that all people can share, including those who are not believers. And that is how our democracy’s functioning, will continue to function. That’s what the founding fathers intended."

While Dobson objects to Obama’s views on religion on public policy, he has also stated he will not vote for John McCain. After being spoiled by the Bush year, only a full blown theocrat is now acceptable to him.

[Kutjara]

1. Dobson knows what he's talking about.

After all, he's been distorting the Bible for decades, so he's sure to be an expert in the field.

[hobbit709]

2. Beat me to it.

[Catherina]

20. Darn! I'm 40 minutes too late n/t

[AllentownJake]

3. Dobson is the biggest Asshole

of the RW preacher group. If he was saying nice things about Obama I would be scared.

McCain won't kiss his Evangelical Pope ring so he won't endorse McCain. He can't risk losing control over the party.

[AlinPA]

7. It won't be long before McCain sucks up to Dobson-he needs the fundamentalist

vote.

[AllentownJake]

10. It will be too little and too late

Rumor I heard was Dobson reached out to him and McCain smacked his hand. If he goes to Dobson it will be on his knees with his mouth open in late August early September.

The things he will be required to publicly say for the endorsement will remind me of that one Murphy Brown show where the guy got elected to congress not knowing he was funded by neo nazis till his first TV appearence and he was handed a script and a threat.

[AlinPA]

25. McCain will do it. Remember how he hugged Falwell after calling him intolerant in 2000.

[anonymous171]

4. Rich. Dobson, accusing someone else of "distorting the bible"

[C_U_L8R]

5. If only hell had a surveillance cam...

Dobson turning on a spit over white hot brimstone would be must-see tv.

Justice will eventually overtake that sanctimonious prick.

[baldguy]

6. Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, comforting the sick? That sort of thing?

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Yup. That's all the stuff of Satan worshipping libruls. n/t

[jody]

9. Obama would do well to avoid debating the Bible with any long time religious leader whether it be

Sharpton, Dobson, or many others.

Theologians are divided on nearly everything and such things as filoque still generate acrimonious debate between Orthodox and Roman Catholic scholars after a millennium.

IMO wise political candidates would stick to strictly secular issues and stay out of religion, leaving such things up to each individual as protected by the First Amendment.

[Dr Ron]

24. The real issues are political

When I first saw the headline that Dobson was accusing Obama of distorting the bible, my feeling was that Obama should stay out of that debate. I certainly do not care to have a debate over the meaning of the bible be a part of a presidential campaign. If this was the topic, then Obama should respond somewhat as Arnold Vinick responded to bringing religion in to the campaign on The West Wing:

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=1868

However the real dispute here isn't really over the bible but is over applying one's views of the bible to public policy. That is one topic Obama should continue to debate the religious right over.

[jody]

26. Understand but religious debate is becoming more divisive and polarizing. IMO there is little room

for compromise between the various protestant Christian groups much less Protestant Churches v. Orthodox Churches v. Roman Catholic Church and certainly not between the various Jewish groups and Muslim groups.

IMO all presidential candidates should refuse to even talk about religion except for the only principle that occurs in all major religions, the Golden Rule, and in the Humanist Manifesto as "Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness."

IMO that's one goal towards which we can all work.

[mrs_p]

11. dobson

false prophet

[baldguy]

21. Real profit

That's what his "ministry" is really all about.

[mrs_p]

23. heehee

you - true prophet

[blonndee]

12. Dobson would object to any interpretation but his.

Just like MOST fundamentalist types. repukes have a problem with Jesus's railing against the greedy rich and selfish religious leaders, among other things.

[newmajority]

13. Dobson's made millions distorting the Bible

What the fuck is he complaining about?

[davidinalameda]

14. Dobson is dangerous

think Handmaid's Tale

[tishaLA]

15. this is a good fight for Obama`

Dobson will overplay his hand, and he'll be fine among the most conservative Christians, but Obama is very pragmatic about religion and knows how to use the discourse to his advantage. He can talk about the beatitudes and forgiveness, while Dobson advocates beating your children into submission and showering with your boy so he can appreciate your dick, or whatever.

It'll drive a lot of anti-religion (or areligious) liberals nuts, but it will work well overall.

[Ian David]

16. I suppose Obama doesn't think you turn boys straight by showing them your penis in the shower.

Apparently, that's something that Masturbation-Enthusiast James Dobson finds in "The" Bible.

[tularetom]

19. Yeah he probably doesn't think you need to beat your dog to show him you're in charge either

Another tenet of Dobson theology.

[Condem]

17. The bible is one big fucking distortion. A fairy tale.

[asdjrocky]

18. I actually clicked on this expecting a punchline.

If there's anyone who would know about distorting the bible it's that piece of shit Dobson. If there is a God, and for me the jury is still out on that, he must keep asswipes like this around to test us. If we believe him, we lose, if don't we win.

[Danger Mouse]

22. Wow. That's like....massive irony hitting me right in the face.

Ow.

[Bjorn Against]

27. I already sent him a letter dealing with this...

Dear Mr. Dobson,

I heard that you believe that Obama is distorting the Bible, and I must say that is a pretty devastating attack coming from a person like you who would obviously never distort the Bible. I mean everybody knows that the Bible is a book that is entirely focused on stem cell research, gay sex, and Sponge Bob cartoons. Look at Jesus, he was clearly a Republican. Never mind all that crap he said about peace and helping the poor and stuff, that is all outdated crap now. If he were still alive today he would clearly be calling to go blow some Iranian ass to kingdom come, and instead of giving aid to the poor there is no doubt he would be pushing to stop a minimum wage increase and working to ensure that our CEOs take home even more money. There is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that if Jesus were alive today he would be waterboarding people for America, and he would be singing along to a Lee Greenwood song while he did it.

We all know that all that liberal crap that Jesus spewed in the Bible is distorting what Jesus' position would be today so we ignore those parts people and focus on the parts that are important. Like the parts about Jesus hanging out with prostitutes, a tradition that many Republicans have followed him on.

You sure do have an interesting interpretation of the Bible, but I am sure that people will take you seriously when you criticize Obama for distorting the Bible. But that is not all you criticize Obama for Mr. Dobson, you also tell us he has a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.

You are completely opposed to those fruitcake interpretations though, you demand a barley cake interpretation. As Ezekiel 4:12-15 tells us “thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man." The dung that cometh of man Mr. Dobson, that is certainly a verse of the Bible that you have lived up to very well, and that is no distortion.

Sincerely,

A Citizen

[AspenRose]

28. Christian radio is all atwitter with this

e.g. "Obama isn't a REAL Christian."

Translation: Obama has a REAL shot at getting a good percentage of the evangelical vote and TPTB need to put a stop to it