In a June 25th article in the NYT James Dobson, the famous evangelical Christian, smears Obama for his religious views comparing Obama to Al Sharpton as an example of religious leaders with conflicting views. The article later goes on to quote Dobson “They [Obama and McCain] don’t give a hoot about the family.” I’m not quite sure where to start with the disgust and hypocritical statements of Dobson.
Let’s start with Obama. Dobson smears Obama for supporting abortion rights. Dobson amidst all the positives has focused on the one negative. I don’t agree with the stance and am pro-life, but where does Dobson have any right to talk? Dobson has supported the war with Iraq calling it even a “noble war” and has even supported war and more killing in Iran. While Dobson slanders a presidential candidate for an unethical stance of murder he himself supports another unethical stance of murder.
Moreover, Obama who is a candidate for supporting the poor, fighting genocide, universal healthcare, and the environment - all issues that are at the core of Christian beliefs. Dobson has so carefully neglected to show that maybe indeed he does not care for the poor, the sick, and God’s creation. Maybe Dobson has been so blinded by one view that he has neglected some of the core beliefs in the Gospel of Matthew: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”1
As for McCain, Dobson’s only hope for pro-life stances in government, he has also attacked. Dobson ridicules McCain as well because he did not speak out energetically enough against same-sex marriage in a proposal in Arizona legislature2.
A hoot for the family? Are gay people, whom are created by God, not allowed to have a family? Do the families who cannot afford health care not deserve it? Does the environment continue to be destroyed for the sake of humans? Obama and McCain are just two others excluded in Dobson’s church of saints. Are we not a people of sin rooted in love, grace, hope, and the truth of God?
Iraq by the numbers.
Civilians killed in the war against Iraq
1 Matthew 11:5
2 Larry Rother, “Evangelical Leader Attacks Obama on Religious Views,” New York Times, June 25, 2008.
Let’s start with Obama. Dobson smears Obama for supporting abortion rights. Dobson amidst all the positives has focused on the one negative. I don’t agree with the stance and am pro-life, but where does Dobson have any right to talk? Dobson has supported the war with Iraq calling it even a “noble war” and has even supported war and more killing in Iran. While Dobson slanders a presidential candidate for an unethical stance of murder he himself supports another unethical stance of murder.
Moreover, Obama who is a candidate for supporting the poor, fighting genocide, universal healthcare, and the environment - all issues that are at the core of Christian beliefs. Dobson has so carefully neglected to show that maybe indeed he does not care for the poor, the sick, and God’s creation. Maybe Dobson has been so blinded by one view that he has neglected some of the core beliefs in the Gospel of Matthew: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”1
As for McCain, Dobson’s only hope for pro-life stances in government, he has also attacked. Dobson ridicules McCain as well because he did not speak out energetically enough against same-sex marriage in a proposal in Arizona legislature2.
A hoot for the family? Are gay people, whom are created by God, not allowed to have a family? Do the families who cannot afford health care not deserve it? Does the environment continue to be destroyed for the sake of humans? Obama and McCain are just two others excluded in Dobson’s church of saints. Are we not a people of sin rooted in love, grace, hope, and the truth of God?
Iraq by the numbers.
Civilians killed in the war against Iraq
1 Matthew 11:5
2 Larry Rother, “Evangelical Leader Attacks Obama on Religious Views,” New York Times, June 25, 2008.
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