Young Turks: Focus on the Family's Priorities

I try not to over-use some of my favorite "old reliables" on the blog, like blog posts by actor Steven Weber, or frivolous YouTube clips. But when an old standby hits a sweet spot--in this case, The Young Turks discussing "Focus on the Family"--I can't help it.

FotF (and most other churchy groups with "family" in their names) exists primarily to taunt and torment gay people. Seriously. And they rake in a lot of money doing it. Unfortunately, they spent so much money on Proposition 8 in California, they have now been forced to lay off a big chunk of their staff. How did that meeting go? "Hurray! Gay people can't get married! You're fired! Thanks for helping!"

James Dobson Endorses Mike Huckabee

Photo from source, Yahoo! News

I'm a grump, I'll admit it. I'm sick of right-wing control of politics. I'm sick of the ubiquity of extremist right-wing opinion as if it is mainstream. And I'm sick of the strong-arm tactics of religious leaders, trying to shoe-horn their religion into politics and law.

James Dobson, with the death of Jerry Falwell, the advanced age of Billy Graham and the descent into craziness of Pat Robertson, is probably the most influential religious leader in the country. His "Focus on the Family" organization--largely a "we hate gay people" group--has propelled him to the top. And now that he has this power, he's wielding it to publically endorse. . .Mike Huckabee? Now? OK. . .

Oh, and I'm also sick of the media's tendancy to refer to Dobson as "Dr.", as if that is the main reason he's a power-player.

[Excerpt]

AP: Evangelical leader endorses Huckabee

James Dobson, one of the nation's most prominent evangelical Christian leaders, backed Mike Huckabee's presidential bid Thursday night, giving the former Arkansas governor a long-sought endorsement as the Republican field narrowed to a two-man race. . .

Read more at: Yahoo! News

More on Hannity & Dobson from Newshounds

Earlier, I posted my take on last night's Hannity & Colmes, where Hannity pleaded with James Dobson to see the "good" in Giuliani. As usual, NewsHounds.us (they watch FOX so you don't have to) did a more thorough job dissecting the episode. Check it out.

[Excerpt]

Hannity Pleads With Dr. James Dobson To Support Top Tier Republican Candidate

Poor Sean Hannity. As if the Republicans’ chances for holding on to the White House in 2008 weren’t bad enough, now Dr. James Dobson and a group of religious right leaders are threatening to vote for a third party candidate if either Rudy Giuliani or Fred Thompson becomes the Republican nominee for president. Hannity pleaded with Dobson to reconsider during the first half of Hannity & Colmes last night (10/8/07) but to no avail. . .

Read the rest at NewsHounds.us

Sean Hannity Thwarted by Coulter and Dobson

I watched Hannity & Colmes this evening, which is usually a way to irk myself into a blogging lather. Imagine my surprise to find myself laughing through most of the episode!

In his "exclusive" interview with James Dobson (which means Colmes didn't get to ask any questions), Sean tried fruitlessly to get Dobson to agree with him on the presidential race. Dobson adamantly refused, saying he could not compromise his principles to vote for Rudy Giuliani or Fred Thompson.

Hannity tried, again and again (asking essentially the same questions) to get Dobson to agree with him, that Hillary Clinton would be oh so much worse! Each time, Dobson stood his ground.

After the interview, they hauled in Ann Coulter, a usually reliable Hannity guest (and foil for Colmes). That didn't work either. She agreed with Dobson and Colmes! She went Dobson one better, and added some of the other Republican contenders to the list.

Hannity really has a problem (as does the GOP) when James Dobson and Ann Coulter will not go along with their line of thinking. Good!