Evangelical leader Dobson accuses Obama of 'distorting' Bible
Pastor Dale Morgan
Evangelical leader Dobson accuses Obama of 'distorting' Bible*
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AP) — As Barack Obama broadens his outreach
to evangelical voters, one of the movement's biggest names, James
Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting
the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
The criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson's Focus on the Family radio
program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the
organization's headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice
president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.
The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an
advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and
highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal
Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.
"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.
Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical
passages should guide public policy — chapters like Leviticus, which
Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an
abomination, or Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, "a passage that is so
radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive
its application."
"Folks haven't been reading their Bibles," Obama said.
Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts
and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus' teachings in the New
Testament.
"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of
the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology," Dobson said.
"... He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."
Joshua DuBois, director of religious affairs for Obama's campaign, said
in a statement that a full reading of Obama's speech shows he is
committed to reaching out to people of faith and standing up for
families. "Obama is proud to have the support of millions of Americans
of faith and looks forward to working across religious lines to bring
our country together," DuBois said.
Dobson reserved some of his harshest criticism for Obama's argument that
the religiously motivated must frame debates over issues like abortion
not just in their own religion's terms but in arguments accessible to
all people.
He said Obama, who supports abortion rights, is trying to govern by the
"lowest common denominator of morality," labeling it "a fruitcake
interpretation of the Constitution."
"Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political
arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of
tiny babies?" Dobson said. "What he's trying to say here is unless
everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe."
The program was paid for by a Focus on the Family affiliate whose
donations are taxed, Dobson said, so it's legal for that group to get
more involved in politics.
Last week, DuBois, a former Assemblies of God associate minister, called
Minnery for what Minnery described as a cordial discussion. He would not
go into detail, but said Dubois offered to visit the ministry in August
when the Democratic National Convention is in Denver.
A possible Obama visit was not discussed, but Focus is open to one,
Minnery said.
McCain also has not met with Dobson. A McCain campaign staffer offered
Dobson a meeting with McCain recently in Denver, Minnery said. Dobson
declined because he prefers that candidates visit the Focus on the
Family campus to learn more about the organization, Minnery said.
Dobson has not backed off his statement that he could not in good
conscience vote for McCain because of concerns over the Arizona
senator's conservative credentials. Dobson has said he will vote in
November but has suggested he might not vote for president.
Obama recently met in Chicago with religious leaders, including
conservative evangelicals. His campaign also plans thousands of
"American Values House Parties," where participants discuss Obama and
religion, as well as a presence on Christian radio and blogs.