Dobson Makes It Official: Religious Right Leaders Will Back Third-Party Challenger Against Rudy

[RedEarth]

Dobson Makes It Official: Religious Right Leaders Will Back Third-Party Challenger Against Rudy
By Greg Sargent - October 4, 2007, 10:14AM
Recently it was reported that around 50 pro-family leaders gathered behind closed doors to discuss what to do if a pro-choice politician -- read: Rudy -- won the GOP nomination. The reports were a bit vague as to what happened, suggesting that the group said they would "consider" nominating a third-party challenger.

Now, however, one of those leaders, Focus on the Family head James Dobson, has published an Op ed piece in The New York Times clarifying exactly what happened: The group voted almost unanimously not just to "consider" backing such a challenger, but to definitely do so. In other words, Dobson made it official, saying that if a pro-choicer wins the GOP nomination, these leaders will be going third party. Dobson wrote:

After two hours of deliberation, we voted on a resolution that can be summarized as follows: If neither of the two major political parties nominates an individual who pledges himself or herself to the sanctity of human life, we will join others in voting for a minor-party candidate. Those agreeing with the proposition were invited to stand. The result was almost unanimous.

That's pretty definitive. The group also discussed the possibility of creating a third party themselves, though there was no consensus on that question. Still, according to Dobson, they will almost unanimously endorse a third-party challenger. This could obviously have a major impact on the race by splitting the GOP vote.

Indeed, a new poll out from Rasmussen today says that more than a quarter -- 27% -- of Republicans would vote for such a pro-life third-party challenger. What's particularly interesting about this poll is that it offers GOPers this choice while explicitly naming Hillary and Rudy as the major party nominees -- suggesting that even the specter of a victorious Hillary wouldn't dissuade many Republicans from going third party.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/10/_dobson_makes_it_official_religious_right_leaders_will_back_thirdparty_challenger_against_rudy.php

[The Stranger]

1. Yes, there is a god.

Give the nut cases enough rope, and maybe they will hang themselves.

[VP505]

2. Great idea,

Dobson ought to get a really BIG atta-boy for that brilliant move! LOL

[Virginia Dare]

3. I'll donate to that campaign!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[babylonsister]

4. Hey, Rudy, are you feeling the love?

:D

[soleft]

5. well, you have to give them for standing by their principles

:shrug:

[aquart]

7. If you know you're going to lose anyway, why not?

[aquart]

6. Judi, Judi, Judi.

[TwilightGardener]

8. Yayyyy!!! Let's mail Dobson a thank-you note! Rooody's still

leading in the polls...we'll see how well this threat pans out. I wonder which turncoat will present himself as the third-party nominee, knowing it will screw the Repub party? I'll bet Alan Keyes would do it.

[JNelson6563]

9. This is enough to get me back to church

and I'm an atheist so this is saying alot!

The Fundies abandoning the GOP is like a miracle.

Julie

[Froward69]

10. If it really happens

HRC,Edwards and Obama have a chance in the GE.

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

11. I hereby declare today "James Dotson Rehabilitation Day." Long live his political clout

...actually just until November 08 if Rudy gets the GOP nod. Otherwise, back to business on him.

[npincus]

12. this is HUGH!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Schema Thing]

13. Perhaps they'll nominate Nader to lead their effort?

:rofl:

[mopinko]

14. is alan keyes available?

he would be perfect.

[regularguy]

15. Sweet! You go, fundies! You go!

[Ian_rd]

16. I still think it's a bluff

The Nader experience is far too recent for them to misunderstand what it did to the Left.

[RiverStone]

17. The rethug vote may not be the only one split

While this is good news, and having the fundies go off and vote for some wacko would help the Dems in the general; I fear the same kind of split could occur in the opposite direction with the Democratic Party.

Continued complicity between the Dems and rethugs (see the 92-3 vote this week on war funding) is leading more and more progressives to talk of a 3rd party vote as well. Progressives are also feeling abandoned by their Party.

I'm going DEM no matter what (even if it's Hillary) in the General; but before we celebrate the split of the GOP, we better watch out for our own! We on DU know this, but are Dems on The Hill paying attention?

[youthere]

18. Watch Newt step up and declare as a third party.

[dkofos]

19. Good for them. Hope they try to run Allan Keyes!!

[Blackhatjack]

20. So is this a boost to Romney's Campaign?

If you listen closely you will hear Romney strategists grinding their wheels to make this work for them.

How long before they put out the message that only Romney can hold the Conservative Wing of the Republican Party in line?

But can a "member of a cult"(according to fundie materials) save the Republican Party from defeat in the general election because he pledges to protect the 'sanctity of life'(which is a flipflop from past positions)??

[opihimoimoi]

21. The Fundies are in a snit...all confused and no where to go...I love it

[laureloak]

22. Did you just say, "Divided they fall?" n/t

[Milo_Bloom]

23. The law of unintended consequences.

If Guiliani doesn't have to worry about the far right, he sheds his skin and becomes freer to position himself as a moderate/reformer in the general election and campaign hard on his liberal social views, embracing them much more than he has in the primary. He could even campaign on ending the war in Iraq once he doesn't have to worry about that 25% of the republican loonie wing.

He presents these as "common ground" with the democrats upon which he can build to form a coalition with them on other issues.

This type of campaigning is often very attractive to the independents, who will (as usual) control the outcome of the race.

So, if you have Clinton/Edwards/Biden/Dodd vs Guiliani, the race will be framed (at least by the press) as

"OLD LIBERAL POLARIZING POLITICS" vs "NEW MODERATE REPUBLICAN"



Even in the worst case scenario, it could have positive consequences. There is a HUGE disconnect in the republic party. I know many republicans who share most of our views, but continue to vote for the R candidate, even when they are diametrically opposed to them on more than 60% of the issues. The republicans are in dire need of a cleansing and push the 25% wacko factor out might cause the rest of the party to shift more towards the actual right, instead of the wacky right AND thus push the democrats further to the left (where they are supposed to be).

[Elspeth]

24. Great. So a real wacko (not just a political sleezeball) will run.

What the hell does that Kool Aide have in it, anyway?

[zbdent]

25. Here's an idea ...

make them swear to God they will ...

[bowens43]

26. I guess it's time to donate to rudy......nt

[Maestro]

27. Great news!

They plan on resurrecting Falwell from the dead?

[lapislzi]

28. Who do I make the check out to?

Confusion to our enemies, always.

[roguevalley]

29. GO, ALAN KEYES!!!!!