James Dobson vs Kathleen Parker for the Soul of the GOP
By John Amato Monday Dec 01, 2008 4:30pm
Let's get ready to RUMBLE!
The stage is set. Conservatives are fighting one another to see who will dominate the now defunct Republican party. Christian Conservatives led by James Dobson have been running things since Newt Gingrich launched his Southern Strategy back in '94, but some conservatives are not staying silent any longer about the dominance the religious zealots have had. Kathleen Parker has been speaking up ever since Bill Kristol convinced John McCain to nominate Sarah Palin as VP in their losing effort. She was blasted for it by angry righty wingers.
KURTZ: Here is what you wrote this week: "Allow me to introduce myself. I am a traitor and an idiot. Also, my mother should have aborted me and left me in a dumpster, but since she didn't, I should off myself."
Now, this is all because some readers didn't like what you had to say about Sarah Palin.
PARKER: Some people were very upset. Approximately 11,000 so far, and counting.
Yes, I wrote about Sarah Palin stepping down from the ticket. I felt after her third interview -- I didn't think any of her interviews were very good, but the third was catastrophic -- that she ought to leave the ticket and let McCain try to put somebody else in place to do a better job and help him with maybe the economy.
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KURTZ: What about the reaction? All those e-mails, all the vitriol directed at you, I mean, that has got to be somewhat depressing. Are you expected because you are on the conservative side of the spectrum to defend any nominee the Republican Party throws out there?
James Dobson is none too happy with Parker for not embracing the extremely radical values of Palin and is now urging his flock to go after Parker in his latest screed.
So, Kathleen Parker has determined that getting rid of social conservatives and shelving the values they fight for is the solution to what ails the Republican Party (“Giving Up on God,” Nov. 19). Isn’t that a little like Benedict Arnold handing George Washington a battle plan to win the Revolution?
Whatever she once was, Ms. Parker is certainly not a conservative anymore, having apparently realized it’s a lot easier to be popular among your journalistic peers when your keyboard tilts to the left. She writes that “armband religion” — those of us who “wear our faith on our sleeve,” I suppose, or is it meant to compare socially conservative Christians to Nazis? — is “killing the Republican Party.” Lest readers miss the point, she literally spells it out. The GOP’s big problem? G-O-D.
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Do you have something you'd like to say to Kathleen Parker about her recent column criticizing socially conservative Christians and their involvement in matters of government and public policy? You can send her an e-mail — please be respectful — through our Action Center.
This is an interesting fight taking place. The other favorite of social repressors is Bobby Jindal, the man who love Intelligent Design and brags about exorcisms. Poor Kathleen Parker, I almost feel for her.
Who will win?
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{Deleted, Off Topic. SiteMonitor}
Get. Your. Own. Blog.
Ron Paul lost. Get onboard, go in for the score. Be a part of the team. Now scheduling tryouts
What with two comments with your name on 'em since the new version of the site started, both posted in the last hour, and both chiding the authors and/or the site...concern troll. It's as easy as using the search bar.
watching these knuckle-draggers tear each other apart. Kathleen Parker was a reliable fluff for Chimpy, and the GOP up until this last summer. As retrograde as she is, she was smart enough to see the direction the electorate was leaning, and fearing for her livelihood, tried to moderate her vitriolic rhetoric she used in the 2004 election.
If I were her, I would be scared to death. When you cross these folks, violence usually is their answer.
All I want for Christmas is a billion dollar bailout.
... for Xmas is an aeolipile and go tell Kathleen Parker that it's time for Progressive Republicans, if they can resist digging up Reagan's bones every day.
That'd keep me away from them. My father was a true republican. He HATED Reagan.
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Silly John. Like the GOP has a soul.
I put "Soul" in the headline.
You used "dick fingers". lol
Someone needs to go by Parker's house and look for pods. I can't believe this is the same woman who has been polluting newspapers for the last several years.
what he said!
Is she a thinking person who is coming to a realisation?
Is she a hack who wants to be on the side that is winning?
I think Parker really saw what a lightweight Palin was and called McCain on it. She apparently didn't realize how bat-shit crazy the other members of her party were.
saying I agreed with her on this point.
using Dobson's form. Can't wait to start receiving all the fundy propaganda I told them not to send.
so I can tell what's from them.
I hope the GOP splits, I wouldn't be surprised if Palin and Huckabee form their own party in 2012
I hope with all sincerity that the GOP does split. Personally, there are a few issues on which I agree with the small government and fiscal conservatism line. While 80-90% of the time I agree with Democrats, I don't like the fact that I feel I *have* to vote for / support them simply because the GOP as a whole is too "dangerous" for a non-Christian person of faith such as myself. I would like to see an old-school Republican party, based on conservative business and finance ideology (not "corrupt" or "purely self serving", but "conservative", there is a difference), and our country's political state be shaped by the sharpest minds on both sides.
Unfortunately, the GOP has been saturated by corporate shills and religious extremists. That leaves all sanity in the Democrat party, and I don't think a one-party system can last long. If things continue, then in about 10-12 years the Democrat party will begin to collapse under its own bloat.
Personally, I think this country would be served best by 4-5 strong political parties. The religious crazies can have their own, which will make it nice and easy to compartmentalize them. (Note that I'm not equating "religious" and "crazies". I'm religious myself, like I said. I just look at the crap going on and think, "Aren't you at all afraid you're God is going to pimp-smack the Hell out of you for saying that?")
Mike
How refreshing it would be to actually have issues debated between the two great American political systems. Democratic and, yes, Republican. G-O-D has indeed gotten in the way of tempered, reasonable debate. I want my country back not Dobson's vengeful, vision-blinkered take on Paradise.
I was just saying that. You can find good ideas, even sanity, in many zones of the political spectra. It would be nice to have sharp minds debating issues, rather than, "Pelosi hurt my feelings," and "This is displeasing to my G~d. I demand absolute power to rectify this."
Mike
The GOP's McCarthy gene
TY Hornet, the first poster seems to have gotten lost, and thinks this is redstate, or worse, freerepublic, where the truly crazy share their thoughts (if they can be said to be thoughts).
Dobson and Palin need to form their own political party and leave the GOP alone. There might actually be some positive and intelligent contributions from Republicans and conservatives if they are not tied to the religious right.
... another McFarland . . . .
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I can't believe this. You wrote:
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Conservatives are fighting one another to see who will dominate the now defunct Republican party.
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WHAT? Are you high? The Republican Party is FAR from defunct. Remember 47% of the voters voted for McCain. I don't call that defunct. Not by a long shot. Are they divided? You betcha. Do I care? Only insofar as it debilitates the GOP (which is always a good thing in my view).
As someone noted above:
Your new president elect person just put Clinton (who is PRO war) in the helm at State. Good Move. Not.
He put Rahm Emanuel, Mister DLC himself, in as CoS.
So far, Obama's appointments have been VERY disappointing, but I don't see you going on about that much. Instead, you'd rather dance on the grave of a party that is far far far from dead.
This kind of hysterical vapourous glee is going to come back and bite you all right hard on the arse. Things can change quickly, and if not handled really well, we could easily see the Rethugs take the House. Seem unlikely? Yes. Highly unlikely. For sure. Impossible? Hell no.
So, trim your wicks and pay attention. Obama is dragging you all over a cliff. you need to agitate and drag him in the opposite direction. Cut him NO slack. He will sell you all down the river if he feels he needs to.
{Edited, Not very smart. SiteMonitor}
well aware that conservatives will rebrand themselves, but the Dobson wing will not. I've written a lot about that, but u might not have seen the posts. Obama does have a tough road ahead and I'm only trying to give him a chance to at least take office.
...with a tougher row to hoe.
I don't necessarily like everyone he's picking (after decades in Arizona, I'm certainly not happy with Napolitano), but we'll see who's actually on the tiller of the ship of state. At least it won't be the same hands as the last incoming prez had.
Republicans got 47% of the vote. Great. But there are huge parts of the country the Republicans cannot win in, unless they change. The popular vote does not matter. It was an electorial college disaster and landslide.
Losing the Latino vote means the Republican have now basically lost Nevada, New Mexico, likely Colorado, Arizona and Florida. They will never regain power if they cannot win back the Latino vote.
The Republicans have no ability to win on the East coast and the West coast. Good luck trying to maintain majorities without these huge parts of the country. And forget about the North. Michigan, Wisconsion, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, etc. Maybe they can get some of that back, but good luck. It will require a huge populist change.
The two large states the Republicans have left are only Georgia and Texas. I think there is a good chance the Democrats can take Georgia in the future. If that happens, lights out.
However I acknowledge a lot can change that can put the Republicans back in power (maybe another large terrorist attack). Change always happens, but there is no doubt that the Republicans need to majorly change their own raison d'etre before they are back in contention. And if a war erupts that further splits the religious wing from the economic wing, then good luck? Separately, they are nothing.
I also think Obama's picks have been genius. A very good mix of the new and the old. Picking Hillary was an incredible move. Now you have her answering the phone at 3 am and her name goes a long way in the international arena and it frees up Obama to focus on domestic issues. Both Obama's economic and foreign affairs teams are very strong and a clear change in direction.
Far from dragging us off a cliff, he is going to try and fix the mess that the Republicans have created. Bush was the only one who dragged this country off a cliff. Nice parting gift, the Bush recession and likely 10% unemployment.
I want to enjoy this one - two tickets ... front row please ....
I'm rooting for Kathleen. YOU GO GIRL!! Dobson is a monster. I would not mind having a viable second party in this country. Or three or four or five.
But I hope Kathleen stands firm and gives them all hell - with some special sh** for Dobson. He's an abomination - a thuggish, truly perverted, control freak. He thinks HE'S god - honestly. The whole party should get behind the effort to jettison this piece of - yes - UNHOLY - crap. He is ABSOLUTELY part of the reason they lost this time around - and he'll do the same thing for them next time. But he just can't stand knowing that he's NOT all powerful - they're going to have to marginalize him and it won't be easy.
So he and Kristol had to watch their hand-picked rising star turn into a super-nova - tough. Your time is through Dobby.
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had his AAR show, he read some of Dobson's parenting "ideas". Dobson said fathers should shower with their sons to give the boys an view of what a man looks like, but he didn't specify an age limit. Al suggested this could be troubling to teenage boys. Dobson also advocated a type of "Vulcan neck pinch" for unruly children along with corporal punishment. Al suggested changing the name of Dobson's group from "Focus On The Family" to "Focus On Beating Your Family".
He also beat his family dog - and - clearly proud of the event - used it as an example of letting the kids get away with too much. He actually put it into one of his books. Warning - this account is disturbing.
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That's creepy. The "Onward Christian Soldiers" mentality has caused more pain, suffering and death than almost any other ideology. They love the intolerant wrath of the Old Testament "God". He's a perfect analogy for a raging alcoholic father with anger management issues. Failure to pay proper homage to this petty dictator brings abuse, torture and death by horrible, and usually weather related, disasters.
What a loon. The only thing that reviewer did not point out is that the dog is a tiny, helpless dachshund. What if the neurotic Dobson had instead confronted a willful 200lb mastiff, or even a 50lb pit bull?
The book may never have been written; or at least the anecdote would be radically different.
I can only suggest lion taming as a future profession to Mr Dobson, I think it will end well. For all of us.
So Dobson likes to shower with either young boys or other men in order to take a peek and the other's wang? And also, feels it's okay if they are if they are related? This explains much about that homophobic prick.
This is supposed to reaffirm the child's feelings of manliness and help prevent him from developing the dreaded illness "homosexuality" - by showing him daddy has the same thing - only bigger.
Aside from the abusive underpinnings of this suggestion - Dobson's logic totally escapes me. The ONLY thing I can make of this is that Dobson likes young boys to come into the shower with him to admire his equipment.
Can you imagine!!??!! -- "Look what daddy has, Junior . . . ."
I can - unfortunately - imagine the conversation that could follow.
That's child sexual abuse - pure and simple.
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The conversation that could follow:
"Daddy, why is yours so much smaller than mine?"
Dobson had trouble undressing in front of little boys. Now he really likes it.
cuz that's what he wants--domination and control by men, i.e., himself.
mentality as most major religions. Blind fealty to an omnipotent, angry, vengeful, unpredictable father figure. Piss him off at your own risk. You never quite measure up to his arbitrary dictatorship. George Carlin used to say that 7 of the 10 commandments are thought crimes. In Dobson's case mind control is achieved through physical control.
"Focus on your own damn family!"
I have
"I'm for the Separation of Church and Hate"
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can I find that bumper sticker?
The GOP's problem isn't G-O-D. James must wear a halo to bed, he thinks that highly of HimSelf.
The GOP's problem is D-O-B-S-O-N, the 700 Club, crazy church fuckers like Eric Roberts, militia types, abortion clinic bombers, and just rednecks in general.
religious wingnut to watch out for is Todd Friel. He's hosts a show called "Wretched", an MTV inspired version of the "700 Club". He tries (unsuccessfully)
to put a witty spin on the intolerant, dominionist, born-again, horseshit peddled by Kirk Cameron and Gary Comfort.
Are they still targeting younguns? Sounds like Mark Foley at a cub scouts jamboree.
"Whatever she once was, Ms. Parker is certainly not a conservative anymore."
A telling comment, isn't it? Apparently, Dobson believes he can "excommunicate" anyone who doesn't follow the orthodoxy of his conservative
faithpolitics. Funny, that. Starting an immoral and illegal war, vetoing healthcare for poor kids, raping the environment, lying, cheating and stealing are all OK. Just don't disagree with anything that the higherups (for lack of a better term) tell you to fall in line with.I hope Dobson and his cast of clowns keep it up. I'd send him a shovel, but it seems he already has one. Bravo, Mr. Dobson.
Satan gives him a free pass to Hell.
Don't believe for a minute that the GOP is defunct. They always come back. They won't stay dead. They'll be back in 4 years, louder than ever.
And Kathleen Parker is a moron to say that John McCain should have been president and that he could possibly fix the economy. I don't care whether she is considered a moderate Republican or not. She's an idiot.
"What about the reaction? All those e-mails, all the vitriol directed at you, I mean, that has got to be somewhat depressing." Well, I happen to find it kind of interesting. Now this woman knows with whom she has broken bread for the last few years and, if she has an ounce of intelligence and self-respect, she'll change her e-mail address and exit stage left very quickly.
Are Neither.
whether they go with so-called "fiscal conservatives" or "christian fundamentalists" it is a losing battle.
the notion that conservatives are more responsible with the economy has been exposed as a myth and the religious nuts are too small of a percentage.
so until they actually come around to democratic principles such as balancing the budget, it just doesn't matter. it is a losing proposition either way.
Religion is nothing more than a cult and Dobson, like Rev. Moon, has his followers drinking the kool-aid. Do not think for yourself and do not question.
wants to lead the Republican party into the wilderness for forty years in search of the promised winning electoral demographic I, for one, see no reason to stop him.
I just followed the link provided in the piece and went and sent Ms. Parker an email using their forms, but rather than join the vocal chorus of the mob hellbent of chastising Ms. Parker I instead thanked her for an open and honest assessment of the Republican party, expressed my happiness that she'd riled James Dobson and encouraged her to continue as there were certainly many who agree with her on these issues, Seemed like she should get some nicer Emails and what better forum than Mr Dobson's own choice, I may not agree with her politics but I agree with her assessment of at least part of the republican problem and what the heck if they just keep infighting for control it makes our jobs easier
for the soul of the GOP, then the GOP is screwed. It's the same self-serving, bigoted, anti-science, anti-intellectual, anti-tolerance party it will ever be.
Sorry, Kathleen. The enemy of my enemy is not automatically my friend. Just because you've been given a taste of the hate and slime you have been spewing for years does not make you slime free.
Ms. Parker, you are roundly despised by pretty much everyone, and it couldn't happen to a more deserving person.
Congratulations. You've earned it.
I just sent her a message of support, we need all the allies against the religious nuts we can get. The sooner they're gone the sooner we can focus on important issues like the economy, health care, and education, instead of BS like what God thinks of people in their bedrooms and any of this other tripe.
We should encourage anyone who opposes the religious nuts.
Retard 1 v. Retard 2 . . . does it matter?
I know many, and they do the best they can with what they've got. Can you say the same?
Two points:
1) In Dobson's Republican party there is no room for non-believers or even believers, but those who do not believe as strongly in all the so-called religious issues or even room for non-Christians, who may not think things like abortion are important. Dobson's Republican party is a very narrow tent. White, Chrisitian and strict believers in their interpretation of the bible. A good part of the country, but not the majority and certainly a minority of the world population.
2) The Republican party really does not work. Fiscal or economic conservatives really do not mesh with religious conservatives. It is a joke to continue to pretend that they do. They tried to keep this coalition together for as long at they could, but it just does not work. I have friends who are economic conservatives and they say the religious wing of the party scares the crap out of them. They voted for Obama. And the opposite should also be true. Religious people who's Chrisitian religion is founded on principals of helping your fellow man should actually be much closer to being socialists. A truly religious person should have values that contradict the economic survival of the fittest conservative mentality. Jesus was the biggest socialist on the planet. No focus on materialism and money from that guy. Religious people should also be the furthest from the Neo-Con wing of the party, unless of course they are crusaders to enforce their religion on the world, which guys like Dobson to a certain extent seem to be.
Dobson should really be forced to form his own religious political party. He should stop hiding behind the Republican party. It would be great to see how far he can get. Although I doubt he would give up his tax breaks and therefore he being subsidized by the American taxpayer. It is strange that guys like Dobson are still able to keep their tax status, when they have clearly crossed the line into politics.
repugs have no soul
And they wouldn't have it any other way
They will stick with their tuna fish on white bread sandwiches with extra mayo
Thank you very much...
I thought to myself, "why not?" - and used their stoopid form to send this to Ms. Parker:
Maybe more of you can use this form -- wouldn't it be sort of a twisted pleasure to use their own form to excoriate them?
An excellent idea!
hehehehehehe
"Isn’t that a little like Benedict Arnold handing George Washington a battle plan to win the Revolution? "
If Dobson is comparing Kathleen Parker to Benedict Arnold and 'liberals' to Washington fighting the American Revolution does that make Dobson Gen. Cornwallis?
As a spiritualist and follower of the great Yeshua de Nazri (Jesus of Nazareth) it's easy to say Dobson IS NOT A CHRISTIAN. Just like his counter parts Jim Baker, Jerry Fallwell and etc...he's nothing but a "money changer". He's just waiting to top Pat Robertson in his first "billion dollars" from bilking his nazi sheep. Jesus would have never done what Dobson has done. Please, remove his tax status. If he was really a christian he would have been against the "birth control pill" first, instead of this nazi thinking about a womans body being the possession of a man.
Kathleen? Well, what is popular isn't always right. What is right isn't always popular. Dobsons a fake. He's a Reagan supporter. Ronald Wilson Reagan has 6 letters in all three names. Dobson worships the devil....You can't serve two masters. You are either for God...or nothing.
I just used the resources of the odious FOTF to send an email thanking Ms. Parker for her article and pointing out that she is saying something that should have been said a long time ago. Better to use their resources than our own!
The GOP problem isn't G-O-D.
The problem is Y-O-U!
I like watching idiots go at it.
From a secular, political perspective James Dobson is a war criminal and a traitor. Hundreds of thousands of people are dead, maimed, homeless or emotionally crushed because of his support for the Bush administration's policies. From a religious view point, because of his intolerant and brutal secular political positions in the name of God, he warrants the epithet Anti-Christ and should be seen as such. It is disturbing to think that this monster is considered a legitimate player in any American religious or political activity.
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