April 12, 2009

James Dobson is going out with a whimper, literally and conceding the obvious, but they were always validated by the traditional media.

Steve Benen has the scoop:

James Dobson delivered a farewell speech to the Focus on the Family staff, and conceded that the culture war he helped start hasn't turned out well for the agents of intolerance. Indeed, Dobson almost sounded resigned to defeat.

James Dobson, 72, who resigned recently as head of Focus on the Family -- one of the largest Christian groups in the country -- and once denounced the Harry Potter books as witchcraft, acknowledged the dramatic reverse for the religious Right in a farewell speech to staff.

"We tried to defend the unborn child, the dignity of the family, but it was a holding action," he said.

"We are awash in evil and the battle is still to be waged. We are right now in the most discouraging period of that long conflict. Humanly speaking, we can say we have lost all those battles."

Now, in fairness, this report omitted some context. As my friend Kyle reported, Dobson actually emphasized his desire to keep the fight going, despite the religious right movement's setbacks: "Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right? ... I have been assured by the board and by many of you that we're not going to cow, we're not going to be discouraged."

He's admitting that up to this point they have lost the culture war (in their own heads) that they created as a fund raising tool. Many millions of dollars have been sucked out of the pockets of so many that could ill afford it, but it's their money and they can spend it freely. I find it appalling that the culture crowd never bothered to see if the elderly could actually afford to donate money that they so dearly need to live on that lined the pockets of these televangelists. I do not believe that all religious or evangelical causes are without merit and certainly many people that fall into the religious community are not as extreme as the views Dobson represents, but there is too much money to be made for them to throw in the towel:

Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right?

APPLAUSE

The world has turned colder for the family in recent years and there is such hostility to anyone who holds to a faith and we're going to take the heat. But I have been assured by the board and by many of you that we're not going to cow, we're not going to be discouraged. We're going to continue to express the love for the Scripture and the principles that we find there and if we are made fools for Christ, that's okay too because our purpose is to serve him and that he be pleased.

None of what Dobson tells his audience is true, but he's got to try and keep their movement going so he offers some words of encouragement. Where is the coldness to families? It's a fallacy, but they need phony causes like the War on Christmas to keep the money and the rage intact. By the way, my mother always loved Easter and since she's been gone this day brings me sadness that she's not here to enjoy it. I'm surprised BillO hasn't been able to facilitate the War on Easter yet. I know John Gibson and a few others have tried to get that one going, but even many from the religious right have a hard time believing that one.

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