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Is Dobson’s influence waning?
Only once did Focus on the Family’s Dr. James Dobson endorse a presidential candidate–and that was George W. Bush, who in 2004 ran unopposed for the GOP nomination. In this year’s election, Dobson has largely skirted the issue–perhaps in part because he’s hesitant to mistakenly back a losing candidate and thereby devalue the worth of any future endorsement. But if and when he throws his support behind one of the candidates, will it even matter?
The founder of the Colorado Springs-based organization may have reason to be concerned about his influence. At the age of 71 and semi-retired from the day-to-day operations of his organization, Dobson is seeing Focus on the Family’s fortunes wane – CEO Jim Daly describes them as “flat” – perhaps an inevitability for a ministry pegged to one towering figure. The ministry’s expenses have exceeded its revenues for two years – what Daly calls a “drawdown from reserves” – by $4.1 million in fiscal year 2006 and by $9.9 million in 2005. (Figures for 2007 have not yet been released.)
Especially in light of a younger generation of evangelical leaders like Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, and Bill Hybels, is Dobson’s political influence in the Christian arena as important as it was in the past?
back to top33 Comments to “Is Dobson’s influence waning?”
This hand wringing about Christians controlling the republican party is ridiculous. Yes, there is an evangelical voting block that goes repub over dem in most elections. However, to say that people like Dobson control the party is like saying Jesse Jackson controls the dem party. There are many people in the repub party who despise Christians and wish they would sit down and shut up.
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I think Dobson’s political influence has been more of a media fixation than a reality. Dobson’s opinion is still important, but on politics perhaps he isn’t the only important opinion-giver.
Generally speaking, Time magazine has a poor perspective.
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To be fair and accurate, Dobson made it clear when he endorsed George W. Bush, that he was doing it as a private citizen and not as an official of Focus on the Family. You can call that incidental if your wish but he did take pains to be especially clear on that point.
And any decent Christian leader knows that we are called first to be faithful and true, and second to be influential or successful. And I don’t respect Dobson because I think he is influential. I respect him because he is a man of genuine conviction and he stands by them. That is so refreshing to me, whether I see others appreciating him or not.
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Yeah, what PhilW said. TIME ran these scare pieces on Dobson years ago about how influential he is which probably gave him more influence than he actually had.
My atheist daddy raised all his kids to be dyed-in-the-wool Republicans so I have never equated the GOP with Christianity or vice versa. I know lots of politically liberal Christians who would not vote for a Republican just cause Dobson endorsed him/her.
Hey, but if a candidate is looking to get an influential Christian’s endorsement I suggest they get Beth Moore’s.
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Alas, Adios, I think Joyce Meyer probably has more influence over Christian votes and I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing.
Dr. Dobson and his ministry helped me understand things about raising a Christian family I never knew. I listened regularly when my children were growing up and my family benefited from the insight I gained. My son probably has a beautiful girlfriend because Dr. Dobson suggested Summit Ministries and he met her there.
Politically, he never made much difference in my life, however, because I often had already reached the same conclusion or, when I didn’t agree, I stayed with my own choice.
I think the secular media, which doesn’t seem to understand Christians come in as many forms and traditions as anyone else, are frustrated because “we” don’t have a defined leader. They want the Protestants to have a Pope so the media doesn’t have to ponder all the grey between the black and white. Too bad. Christians are much bigger than politics.
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The Christian Right gained its foothold in the GOP in the ’80s, because Reagan was a willing ear. They still have influence, and some members of Congress have been in their pocket (Brownback, DeLay and others), but there are sizeable factions of the Republican party that never were.
I’ll consider voting Republican again when they field a candidate who doesn’t feel a need to pander to that bloc.
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I’m not sure I can express exactly what I’m thinking.
Dobson was not so much an influencer as an encourager. Christians all over America were upset with the direction of the country, and Dobson encouraged them to take a stand and to participate in the political process. Dobson was one of several key people who provided information–about the canddiates and the issues, about the legislative process and how to influence it, about the election process and how to have more involvement than just voting.
I’m sure that many people were converted by him to a more conservative perspective, but I think most of his “followers” were already on his side and just needed a cheerleader to keep them going.
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STEVEG, #6
“some members of Congress have been in their pocket (Brownback, DeLay and others)” like how?
In the same way one can say Hillary is in the pocket of Hsu and Soros and Edwards in the pocket of trial lawyers?
As an evangelical I’ve always been quite capable of making up my own mind, thank you. The idea of an evangelical monlith lead around by leaders like Dobson and Robertson is a great urban legend.
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Ivan: Most politicians have people whose interests they are particularly inclined to support. I don’t mean to suggest that being influenced is unique to those politicians who count the Christian Right among those influencers.
But on the question of whether Dobson and other evangelical leaders have influence in American politics, they certainly do.
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Wow. As much money as FoF brings in, and they’re still several million dollars short?
Yes, his influence is waning. That’s partly due to his age and reduced activity levels, because Dobson is the star of FoF. But another big reason is that white evangelicals, which are Dobson’s fan base, every year make up a smaller and smaller percentage of the electorate. Plus, many of them are trending more liberal just like McClaren and Rick Warren and other new evvie leaders. Dobson’s time has come and gone.
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Kyle A has a good point: Dobson has been an encourager more than an influencer.
For instance, contrary to the article, Dobson more-or-less gave an endorsement in 1996, when he said that the Republican Party had strayed so far that he was going to vote for Howard Phillips instead of Dole. That was an election that many evangelicals sat out, and I think many of them (us — I voted for Phillips) felt that Dobson validated their misgivings about the Republicans.
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I am a Christian and a conservative (no a card-carrying Republican), who’s life and family has been profoundly affected by the ministry efforts of Focus on the Family. I have tremendous respect for Dr. Dobson and will always be interested in his ministry and his views, whether political or otherwise. His ministry has encouraged and equipped our family to actively engage the front-lines of the culture civil war our nation is waging. Often these tactics require practicing my political rights to vote, to contact my congressman or senator and express my concerns. Focus on the Family provides information and encouragement as well as a breakdown of current issues from a Christian world view. I think the greatest political strategy Dobson and his ministry have perpetrated is empowering the American family to use it’s political voice to affect change on a national level. I don’t consider myself to be blindly treading a path set by any kind of “Protestant Pope” or otherwise, but following my conscience and convictions. I also agree with several poster who previously decried TIME’s lack of journalistic integrity.
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Um, SteveG: DeLay isn’t in Congress anymore. And I think that Kyle was on target to call into question the phrase “in their pocket”; that usually carries the connotation of corruption or financial fealty. While many GOPers have felt it necessary to kiss the ring of one evangelical figurehead or another, it’s a leap to equate that with corruption.
I realize I’m nickpicking, but I figured it was a decent point to make.
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RobHays at #13:
Um, SteveG: DeLay isn’t in Congress anymore.
Right. That’s why I said “have been” instead of “are.” I’m referring to members past and current.
And I think that Kyle was on target to call into question the phrase “in their pocket”; that usually carries the connotation of corruption or financial fealty. While many GOPers have felt it necessary to kiss the ring of one evangelical figurehead or another, it’s a leap to equate that with corruption.
Fair enough. Would you prefer “at their beck and call?”
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I have deep respect for both Jim and Shirley. They send me a Christmas card ea year!!
Seriously, I see him more as a Bonhoffer type outside the political spectrum offering a principled conviction-based objective view of much of what passes for law in the USA. Focus will cope with Jim’s departure as WalMart did with the departure of ol’ Sam.
Tom Minnery’s book should be read by ea of you. Along with the Cal Thomas and Ed (no relation) Dobson book “Blinded by Might”
And I dont know about where you live, but the big-backers of the lottery and legalized horse race betting are mainly Republicans. There are areas where fundagelical theocons dont hold as tight a grip on the Rs as both they and liberal OpEd handwringers would like to assume
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haha…Beck and call works. I’m imagining Dobson with a bell that he rings.
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Is Dobson’s influece waning?”
Perhaps. But my gratitude isn’t.
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By the way, Dr. Dobson called me on the telephone and told me what to write in comment #7. I typed what he said word for word.
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Yeah, we Christians just love our Jay Jay Dobby. I remember so well after the 9/11 attack when he was being interviewed by Larry King. Dobson had the perfect opportunity right then and there to say “Yes” when King asked him if non-Christians who died in the WTC attacks went to hell. Instead he said something like, Well… uh… see… uh, Larry… no one really knows God’s mind…” Still brings a tear to my eye.
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That was weak, Bianca.
And what a pathetic question for King to ask after 9/11 (and Dobson’s answer seems very responsible to me).
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In regards to “Dobbie” (a play on the character in Harry Potter):
For years he was more of a psychologist from a Christian perspective, and gained a huge following through his radio show. He was more of a Christian “Oprah”, and I think people of all persuasions listened to his advice.
However, when he ventured into politics, things got muddied and eventually turned nasty. His open support for the Republican Party was a mistake (in my opinion) because it took his Christian message and melded it to one political party. God became a Republican in the eyes of many people. His political views became the focus and the message.
Eventually he over-reached in the political arena. Remember his claim to control a large voting block (of conservative Christians) and his threat to take them and bolt the Republican Party if the nominee wasn’t sufficiently conservative enough? I think that’s when people realized he went too far.
For many people, he will always be remembered for his attempts to keep gay people as second-class citizens, and his shoddy “research” on homosexuality. His organization contributed mightily to the spread of anti-gay groups and anti-gay legislation in this country.
Like so many Christian organizations, it’s been built around one person. When something happens to that person, things go “south” quickly. (Note: the Billy Graham organization may be an exception to that). How many supposedly great TV preachers and evangelists have we seen crash and burn for one reason or another? Also, he apparently doesn’t have a son ready to step in and continue his “ministry”. Many big-time preachers have a son that they groom to take their place. Dobbie is trying a non-relative to take over his organization, but it’s not going as well as they hoped.
Like any “king maker”, Dobbie never had the influence his friends or foes made it out to be. One thing is constant in the political world: people come and go. Influence and power can be gone with the snap of a finger. Ideas become outdated, people are fickle, loyalties are constantly changing.
It’s my personal opinion that conservative Christians never had the power and influence over the Republican Party that they thought they did. A few of them got in the door and were able to get a seat at the table under George Bush. It made them giddy with excitement, and they showed that they weren’t ready for prime-time in some cases.
The Terry Schiavo case was their high-water moment and the American people turned on them. The real Republican Party establishment has used conservative Christians for votes over the years. They never really bought the “Jesus” stuff.
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Hi Anlir,
Your voice comes across loud and clear on this blog. Wow, can’t believe you have a roomate who has never heard your voice. That has to be quite frustrating.
I agree with the above post. While Dobson stuck to his field–Christian psychology–he was very effective, but politics gets mud on anyone. And the ‘Pubs and users is sadly true, but that’s politics.
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#12 has it EXACTLY RIGHT!!
As for me, I could never vote for a Democrat as long as their party endorses killing children, surrendering to terrorists, and appeasing radical feminists here at home.
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Thanks Adios! It’s been entirely frustrating to not be able to speak. I can’t go through any drive-through windows. I can barely talk on the phone (I can whisper). I can’t yell when Tennessee scores a touchdown or screws up a play. Worse, I can’t sing while driving down the road.
Yeah, I suppose my voice does come through on here pretty loud.
. It’s not intentional, that’s for sure. I’d much rather be known as a thoughtful writer (so far I’m failing miserably at it, but I’m trying). It’s interesting – in real life I’m fairly quiet and reserved.
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Dobson is largely a cult hero for angry middle-aged white evangelicals who are still smarting over their loss on every major battle front in the culture wars of the 1960s and 70s.
As Dobson’s Christian warriors retire and head to Florida and Arizona, it seems that they’d rather spend their money on rounds of golf than on financing a self-absorbed raging demagogue. Good for them.
As Dick Armey pointed out in the fall of 2006, the Schiavo debacle spelled the end of influence for the evangelical right. Evangelicals overreached on that issue and got burned badly. And then the Ted Haggard incident showed the rest of Americans how twisted (and hypocritical) the evangelicals’ anti-gay message had been.
I have no sympathy for them. They’ve made foolish choices, and now bear the due punishment for it. Maybe one of these days evangelicals will get back to preaching the death and resurrection of Christ instead of pandering their shallow, Gnostic, limp-wristed moralism.
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Whatever, Kiyoshi.
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#25…I recommend counseling…it’ll help.
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20 – Yeah, real sensible. Dobson’s such a man’s man. A real black robed regiment founding father!
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#26: What rhetorical genius! Such a trenchant barb! I bow before the master!
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Kiyoshi, Is it possible that instead of “overreaching,” evangelicals were trying hard to save a woman’s life? I daresay you didn’t hear the whole story on that one (such as the fact that she was responsive). That her husband had children by his mistress (and had won millions for her care) and her parents were willing to care for her–all relevant. Really, truly America reached a new low there; evangelicals did not.
How does Ted Haggard (one person) prove the hypocrisy of millions of people?
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Cheryl,
The Schiavo case had nothing to do with her husband’s mistress or her parents’ willingness to care for her. She was not a minor, such that a court could defer in part to the desires of others. Rather, the Florida district court had decided as a factual matter that SHE would not have wanted her life artificially preserved after falling into her vegetative state. Any responsiveness observed was the result of involuntary reflexive responses. Given the legal posture of the case, there was nothing for the federal courts to review. Judge Birch of the 11th Circuit, who is one of the most staunchly conservative federal appellate judges, wrote a scathing rebuke of Congress’s actions in the Schiavo incident. The actions of Congress in the Schiavo incident — performed at the behest of evangelicals — were a gross legal travesty that struck at the very heart of our federal system. It showed that evangelicals have no respect for the Constitution and no respect for the rule of law. It was in the Schiavo incident that non-evangelical Republicans witnessed evangelicals’ unbridled lust for power and saw the beginnings of their theocratic designs for the rest of us.
The Haggard incident is important because it gave establishment Republicans the political leverage to tell evangelicals to tone down their anti-gay sound machine. It’s hard to say that you disapprove of gay relationships when the head of the NEA conducts himself in the manner that Rev. Haggard did.
Political evangelicals don’t seem to grasp how much the money wing of the GOP has grown weary of their persistent whining. Conservative writer Ryan Sager referred to content of evangelicals’ public discourse as the “Plenty-Plaint.” Conservatives lost the culture wars of the 1960s and 70s. I don’t see that anything will reverse that. So, get over it, stop the whining, and start living in the present. There’s no value in continuing to re-enact the lost battles of yesteryear.
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The ironic thing about the Schiavo case was that the same people most likely to complain about “activist judges” were suddenly in the position of demanding that a judge ignore the law.
Oh and Cheryl, she wasn’t responsive. By use of some misdirection and editing, they took several hours of videotape and extracted the few small moments where she seemed to be responsive. And even that was illusory because her autopsy showed that the visual center of her brain was destroyed … she didn’t follow anything with her eyes, contrary to the claims, because she could not see.
Article here.
Interestingly, you have to get to the fourth page of Google search results to find this. The first three pages are taken up with various Christian and conservative sites proving how little regard they really have for the truth … long after the claims were shown to be mistaken, they continue to insist the video “proves” she was alert and responisve.
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sigh … and I am still not being careful enough about closing tags.
Article here.
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