Notes From Off Center - Latest Comments in Why Does Dobson’s Opinion Matter with Politics…or Anything?

Re: Why Does Dobson’s Opinion Matter with Politics…or Anything?

Drew Tatusko — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:23:41 -0000

@jared I agree. There is a world of difference between Warren and Dobson. That's partially why I thought it was weird how the media seemed to dovetail all of this together and that all of it popped up at the same time. There is definitely a crafting of brand identity here that's probably not as close to reality as it could be.

Re: Why Does Dobson’s Opinion Matter with Politics…or Anything?

Wickle — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:37:12 -0000

Squeamish? More than that, to be honest. I've liked a couple of Dobson's books, but that's about all I can take. Listening to him on "Focus on the Family" is almost as painful as listening to any other bitter radio host.

Re: Why Does Dobson’s Opinion Matter with Politics…or Anything?

Jared — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:41:35 -0000

It is odd. And from the position of Obama and McCain, the pandering is tiresome, although I am not sure if it is any more or less tiresome than the pandering to any other constituency. I would have preferred that they meet in a public arena, but at least in this case, the invitation came from Warren (and apparently after he realized that there had been no such public forum).

But I would also differentiate between Dobson and Warren. Dobson tends to be incendiary and oppositional, whereas Warren at least tries to work with people who explicitly disagree with him in order to work through issues of AIDS, poverty, and the environment. In fact, I had interpreted Warren's move here as a response to Dobson (rather than illustrating something that Dobson represents): Dobson reluctantly supporting McCain by painting Obama is a more negative light than McCain, and Warren trying to be clearly more even-handed, giving each candidate an equal chance to present their views side by side to evangelical voters.

So with this forum, the candidates will be discussing issues that have fallen through the cracks lately (Warren's pet issues): AIDS, Poverty, and the Environment. These are global issues that everyone should have a stake in, and should be discussed in the election no matter who brings them up. At least these evangelicals (similar to Warren) are moving away from the issues that the religious right (like Dobson) have tended to push: "family values," abortion, and recently gay marriage.

Nonetheless, no matter who brings up these issues, whether an evangelical, an atheist, or a journalist, holding the debate itself in a church is what makes me the most squeamish.

Re: Why Does Dobson’s Opinion Matter with Politics…or Anything?

Alan — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:00:09 -0000

RE: It’s getting a bit distasteful and tiresome. Anyone else a bit squeamish over this?

yes. Yes. YES!

Re: Why Does Dobson’s Opinion Matter with Politics…or Anything?

Drew Tatusko — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:51:39 -0000

It's so hard to pin either down right now which is part of my frustration. They really are who they are talking to, at least it appears that way through the media lens.

But I think that you are right, that this might be mostly a media product to brand the identity of a given voting cohort.

Re: Why Does Dobson’s Opinion Matter with Politics…or Anything?

Looney — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:43:40 -0000

Certainly evangelicals don't have a spokesdude, but the media needs someone so Dobson and Warren will probably be as good as any. Their fans, although probably less than 5% of the total evangelical population, are still more numerous than other potential leaders.

Although I am not happy with McCain or Obama on social issues, I think there is still a big difference between them. McCain is a bit schizophrenic, sometimes one way, sometimes the other way, and sometimes taking positions that reflect his views of the constitution or federalism as they impact social issues that annoy conservatives, but aren't truly leftist either. Obama seems to be simply a classic social leftist.