James Dobson: Obama Has A “Fruitcake Interpretation Of The Constitution”
James Dobson is basing his comments on a speech Obama gave at the National Cathedral in 2006, where he called on progressives not to divorce themselves from faith, and that faith informs, yes, even liberals in the things they do in public life. In his speech, Obama questioned which Biblical passages should be held up as examples for public officials to follow. He even invoked Dobson’s name, which is what may have especially disturbed Dr. Dobson.
And even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? Would we go with James Dobson’s, or Al Sharpton’s? Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is ok and that eating shellfish is abomination? How about Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount – a passage that is so radical that it’s doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application? So before we get carried away, let’s read our bibles. Folks haven’t been reading their bibles.
This led Dobson to claim that Obama is “dragging Biblical understanding through the gutter.” Also causing right-wing underwear to bunch up is the part of the speech where Obama discussed diversity and said we’re not “just” a Christian nation.
Moreover, given the increasing diversity of America’s population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.
Earlier, I posted about how this is being purposely edited to give a false view of what he said. This is the lowest form of politics.
A PEW poll just out says a majority of Americans do not accept a literal interpretation of the Bible, and do not believe that their religion is the only path to “salvation.”
June 24th, 2008 at 12:39 am
I think Obama is taking the Bible text and meaning way out of context. Hey Obama what does the Sermon on the Mount have to do with the Department of Defense? I still have not figured that out. If anyone can, let me know.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Alan said: “Also causing right-wing underwear to bunch up…”
LMAO that’s one of the funniest things you’ve ever said or written, man. LOL
I have no idea what a “fruitcake” interpretation is. Is it like calling a person a fruitcake? Does that mean that Obama’s interpretations are silly?
I’m so confused.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:51 am
From A Repub~ Obama was probably referring to “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” That sentence can be taken to mean, blessed are the pacifists. It can also be taken to mean, blessed are those who use violence as the only remaining option to keep peace. Either way, Obama made an intelligent link between the Sermon and the DoD. It’s thought provoking, you know?
While we’re on the subject of the Sermon on the Mount and thought-provoking statements, check this out:
“The New Testament has been and continues to be the most widely read and revered book in the history of the West. It continues to inspire belief, to stimulate reflection, and to provide hope to millions. It is preached from the pulpit; is it studied in the university; it is attacked by skeptics; it is revered by believers. In the United States it is widely considered to have been a foundational document for the founders; it is quoted on the floor of the Senate to justify acts of war and at peace rallies to oppose the use of military force; its authority is cited by both opponents and proponents of the death penalty, by both opponents and proponents of gay rights. It was used to justify slavery and to abolish slavery. It has been used to justify capitalism and socialism. It has been used for good and for evil.”
From LOST CHRISTIANITIES, by Bart Ehrman
June 24th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Dobson is an idiot! Period
June 24th, 2008 at 2:08 am
COLMES’ CRITICISM:
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. compared “Hannity & Colmes” to a Harlem Globetrotters game, where Colmes’ “whole job is to loose every argument”. Kennedy read a quote from Colmes’ made after the president declared “Mission Accomplished” in 2003: “Now that the war in Iraq is over, shouldn’t the people in hollywood who opposed the president admit they were wrong?”, pointing out that the quote was right-wing propaganda, and that Colmes is not a liberal commentator at all.
What say you about this Colmes?
June 24th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Louie the Lib: I’m sure Alan has enough $$$$ banked to do whatever the hell he wants. I can’t speak for him but I’m sure he likes his gig. If the most shouting = winning then Sean always wins. If you want Alan to be a pit bull attack dog instead of providing cogent (well, to some…gotta make that caveat) intellectual arguments then go look up somebody else. I’ve watched Alan on Fox since around the Impeachment Trials…he’s a true believer.
Alan, I ate some fruitcake yesterday and now I’m feeling some underwear bunching…what do I do? Cheryl, any advice?
June 24th, 2008 at 2:32 am
The Bible was used by the white man to justify the genocide of killing all of the Native Americans it was also used to justify taking their land, it also was used to justify having black slaves. There’s no honor in claiming to be an xtian. Even Alan claims to be a Jew, for that very same reason.
A christian can do no wrong, how can they, when they have their savour waiting to forgive them 24/7.
Look at Ted Haggard, he preached against homosexuality for years, nothing said, he’s forgiven, Swaggard, Baker, we put religion as top priority even over our own laws.
We’re even afraid to accuse and punish anyone for crimes, because they may turn their hearts to Jesus.
What a bunch of bullshit religion is.
The American soldiers pray with rifle in hand to god to help them kill more Muslims, the Muslims pray with rifle in hand to Allah to help them kill more Americans.
Religion = mental delusion.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Yeah, I’m from the school of thought that wants to know leaders believe _something_, as a hedge against megalomania, while not really feeling comfortable with mixing too much church and state.
Something about following Jesus seems to argue against it, to read the interaction of Christ and Pilate.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Who cares what James Dobson thinks?
The biblical verse:
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Was written about the james Dobsons of the world.
June 24th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Old Lefty is right, who cares what James Dobson thinks or says? He’s a fanatic and only appeals to his cult followers.
June 24th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Thank you, Budda.
I heard this the other day and thought I would pass it along:
The Moslems don’t recognize the Jews
The Jews don’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah
The Protestants don’t recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith
And the Baptists don’t recognize each other at Hooters.
June 24th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I think that brushing religion off as “bullshit” and “mental delusion” is an unfortunate perspective. Pursuing religious and spiritual truth is as important to me as raising my son. I’ve spent a lot of time researching the origins of Christianity and the Bible. I come across PEOPLE who were bullshit, people who corrupted things to fit their own agenda. Those people make it harder for me to find the truth, but I still pursue it. Even if I determine that my spiritual truth is no more than a healthy psychological mind, the journey will be worth it. In addition to that, many of the principles found in religious texts help to support a healthy spirit and/or psychological mind.
Flap~ dude, I have NO IDEA what to do about the fruitcake bunching up your drawers. LOL George Carlin said that “farts are the smell without the mess”… I guess you’ve got the smell AND the mess going on right now! HA HA, LOL
June 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
The spiritualty which underlies most religions commonly advances the good of a civil society in terms of behavior towards one another…golden rule etc. It does not drive wedges between people or offer exclusive membership to an annointed club. When it becomes religion, it becomes ensnared in ritual and rules, becomes exclusive and notably less charitible towards others. The excellent materials available on religious subjects from The Teaching Company are a great source for eager learners. Religions of the Axial Age, a recent course clearly defines the commonalities.Bart Ehrman’s works one of which Cherl mentioned are excellent in understanding Christianity. Too bad it’s so tough to just take the good and leave the bad!
June 24th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Fruitcake is a code word for “Crazy.” Dr. Dobson is screaming “Fire” in the Church trying to generate interest in the “Radical Right Base.” Translate his words and hold him accountable. Dr. Dobson, “Are you trying to say that Barack Obama is crazy?” Don’t let the code words stand. Challenge them and their hate will be exposed. If we can see the hate, then we know why thing are said.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
OldLefty: I thought the punch line was: …they ignore each other in the liquor store…
June 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Wait, wait, who is James Dobson?
June 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Either way works, Budda.
Had a lot of those ‘holier than thou’ folks around here when I was growing up.
Wouldn’t be caught dead in a local tavern.
BUT go 15 miles or so out of town, and there they were.
Anyone outside there clique showed up, the place would empty out double time.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Reply to A Republican:
I think the Defense Department/Sermon Mount correlation is this.
to paraphrase: Forgive your enemies, when they strike you on the cheek, turn the other one.
Basically no need for military if “We turn the other cheek and forgive our enemies”…..
June 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Dobson is a clown and should be called out for what he is and what he is attempting to do. Thank you for doing so.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
RC~ I can’t believe you don’t know who James Dobson is. I’m really disappointed in your ignorance, as well as your apparent lack of Googling ability. jk
Dobson is all right. I have one of his books, I think it’s called BRINGING UP BOYS. I haven’t read it yet, though.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Are you kidding me? Whose Christianity? No one has a market on Christianity. If you want to know what Christianity is all about turn to the Bible. Yes, that book you liberals cringe at every time it is mentioned. If we would all stick to the Bible there would be no need of denominations or religion.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I truly belive that organized religion breeds intolerance.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Vincent…do you really believe that “liberals” or “conservatives” are more or less likely to “turn to the bible”? (which version?) How about the Koran, or Bhagavad Gita, Confuscious’s writings or the Torah? If you go by numbers of believers, the Islamists have Christians out numbered? For you is it “my way or the highway?” Promote your faith system without disrespect or disdain for others please.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Vincent E Brown said,
Yes, that book you liberals cringe at every time it is mentioned. If we would all stick to the Bible there would be no need of denominations or religion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And we would never mix fabrics or eat shellfish, and we would have slaves and stone homosexuals, adulters and those who work on Sunday……
Just like the Taliban!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Let’s not forget polygamy, beating children black and blue, book burning, rape victims have to marry their attackers, and on, and on, and on.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:10 am
One of the reasons that evangelicals have voted Republican when progressive policies are clearly in their own best interest is the conflict of the absolute authority of a person’s religion vs. the pleuralistic ideas of the Democratic Party. It is a complicated dilemma: if our God is always right, how can someone else’s God be right too?! The dual ideas of human faith and humane governance can be disturbingly hard to reconcile, especially for those like James Dobson who dismiss anyone who doesn’t believe as they do.
Last night at an Obama meet-up party here in conservative, rural East Texas, I heard people of strong religious convictions from all races, socioeconomic levels and walks of life say they are supporting Barak Obama because he is smart, intelligent, rational, makes sense, supports science, supports education, talks straight, understands the world. I was overjoyed to think that the anti-intellectualism, religious intolerance and rabid nationalism we have seen during the Bush administration might be coming to an end.
The task of putting our faith into practice rather than using it as a tool of exclusion is our most important work. God is bigger than all of this. It’s time to see things from a God’s eye view and recognize the values we have in common: kindness, family, children, health, hard work, sharing, education, Nature, research, the elderly, etc. I believe this is our chance to make God–every God–proud.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Cheryl, I think Dobson fits into the category of people who I might remember when I see them on TV, but otherwise have made so little an impression on me that I maintain no independent memory of them.
Now this other guy Dick Morris(?) I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen, because I don’t turn on Fox TV.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
No way, no how should Dick Morris get anywhere close to a position of power.
A former Clinton advisor, who got caught with a hooker, he now makes his living bad mouthing the Clintons at every oppertunity. Hence the frequent appearances on Fixed/Faux/Fox News.
Rarely correct on predictions, generally spins things to the right, Fox, and particularly insHannity, loves him.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Vincent…do you really believe that “liberals” or “conservatives” are more or less likely to “turn to the bible”? (which version?) How about the Koran, or Bhagavad Gita, Confuscious’s writings or the Torah? If you go by numbers of believers, the Islamists have Christians out numbered? For you is it “my way or the highway?” Promote your faith system without disrespect or disdain for others please.
Spyglass10, grow up. You liberals love to go back to the Old Testament to bring up something that has been done away by the New. By the way, I don’t remember Christians flying planes into buildings and blowing them up. Those who do are NOT Christians no matter what they say.
And we would never mix fabrics or eat shellfish, and we would have slaves and stone homosexuals, adulters and those who work on Sunday……
Old Lefty, you need to grow up, too. If you don’t like Christians, just say so.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Hmmmmmm…..truth hurts
June 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Wow… that’s interesting. Not just James Dobson, but Al Sharpton too? Kudos, Obama.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:07 pm