Geez, is this 1991 all over again? If Perot doesn't enter the race, GHW Bush beats Bill Clinton.

I'm a conservative, but I'm also a pragmatist — who is going to be closer to a true conservative agenda — the Democrats if a 3d-party conservative splits the Republican vote???

This is further evidence that the extreme right is in a panic…people are actually starting to focus on real day-to-day issues and not just the emotional wedge issues they like to use to divide people with.

I think the country is ready to move beyond a government run by ideologues (in either party) to a government that actually gets stuff done and doesn't just take symbolic stands on wedge issues.

I respect Dr. James Dobson tremendously and often hear him on the radio.

However, I hope that Dr. Dobson keeps things in perspective before doing anything drastic (i.e., such as supporting a third party candidate). A third party candidate, particularly one who is supported by social conservatives, will inevitably result in President Hillary.

For example:

(1) It happened in 1992 (with a 3 way race between Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Ross Perot); without Perot, President Bush would have been re-elected since many Republicans voted for Perot, thereby splitting the Republican vote. In addition, President Clinton was elected with 43% of the vote.

(2) It happened in 1912 (with a 3 way race between Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson); the Republican vote was split between Republican Taft and "Progressive Party" candidate Roosevelt, thereby splitting the Republican vote and resulting in the 28th President Woodrow Wilson. If Roosevelt had not split the Republican vote, President Taft would have been re-elected.

Furthermore, while I agree with Dr. Dobson on most social issues, our primary focus should be on terrorism and protecting the border. We will not have to worry about social issues if we're all killed by intolerant Islamic Fascists.

Rudy exploits 911 over and over and over– changed his position on issues over and over and over– walked on the street in gay pride– dressed as a drag queen–married three times– has no character at all…If a person cannot succeed in marriage for three times, how can Rudy succeed in leading the world? Please think …

I'm a libertarian, but I may vote for Rudy just to split the GOP!

Can you imagine a GOP free of the "abortion and gay marriage is all that matters" part of the party? The new GOP would attract indpendents and moderate and conservative democrats.

Then we would have a liberal democrat party, the GOP, and the right wing Christian fundamentalist party!

"Vote for me a Democrat in disguise, because I can take away some Democratic states"

So he wants the GOP nominate someone, so that we have a choice between 2 Democrats? No thank you Rudy.

And I sincerly doubt he has that much chance at beating Clinton in Democratic states. Hell he even chickened out of running for U.S. senate in New York against Hillary, in the LAST moment.

And now he wants to win blue states while being a pro-war candidate?

Stop smoking Rudy

Here we go again with the conservative holier than thou…do what I say, not what I do BS. America has seen though this hypocritical rethoric. America has had enough! Social conservatives? There is nothing social about them. In my opinion they are very small minded people who, on the most part, have been brained washed by religious zealots.

As a Christian I hope that Christians take a serious look at Ron Paul. Ron Paul is very pro-life. As a medical doctor he has delivered over 4000 baby, some even free of charge to the people who could not afford it. He has introduced legislation defining life begging at conception. Ron Paul would end the unjust, immoral war in Iraq and bring our troops home to their families. Ron Paul calls for the end of the income tax replacing it with nothing. The income tax only covers 1/3 of the revenue of the country. If we shrunk the size of government back the size it was 2000, we would have a balanced budget without the income tax. Without an income tax Christians could have more money to help out ministries. Think of the possibilities are greater freedom and less government interference. Please become informed about Ron Paul. Pray about it.

Some comments above have already his this point home, but I just want to reinforce it…

A vote for a third party conservative candidate is a vote for Hillary!!!!!

This annoys me so much. I'm a social conservative who certainly wouldn't otherwise vote for Rudy, but there has to be some pragmatism here. I'd much rather have Giuliani than Hillary in office.

As social conservatives, we have to realize this!!! If it comes down to Rudy vs. Hillary and you end up, on principle, voting for a third party candidate, all you're accomplishing is easing the way for Hillary to win the presidency!

Take it from someone who lives in Dobson's backyard… I've seen how this con artist bilks money out of people (inviting Benny Hinn) over to Focus. How he used to be BFFs with Ted Haggard (who is now trying to use a faith based charity started by a registered sex offender to launder money). Or how he consistently uses his non-profit politic. I could go on and on… but at any rate, Dobson is doing nothing more than throwing himself on the floor kicking and screaming because he isn't getting his way. Dobson has formally taken credit (on many occasions) for getting Bush elected. Now that there isn't another Bush archetype in the system, and Romney, Rudy, et al., won't capitulate to Dobson's whims, Dobson is in turn saying, "vote for none of the above." Dobson’s actions are meant to be nothing less than decisive. Stay classy Dobson.

A Rasmussen poll out this morning shows 27% of GOPers would vote for a third-party if Giuliani was candidate… and the three-way horserace numbers are dismal for Giuliani.

The republican party is in a mess, as according to the polls, most of the republican candidates do not represent the core values of the party. The republican voters, including the social conservatives, are disillusioned with their candidates.

Other than lacking visions for the country, some leading candidates (Giuliani, Thompson, McCain, etc.) have personal character defects - multiple marriages, married young women - which show their lack of committments, poor communication and relationship skills.
If elected, these character defects would impact their political decisions for the country.

As in the last election for congress and senate, the republican nominee will be wiped out by the dem nominee.

Giuiani is all talk without substance, in his comment that he is running competitive against Hillary, and that he will take the dem states from her. The fact is that he has been falling in polls of the american voters for next president for the last 2 months vs Hillary, and the spread is widening.

If Giuliani gets nominated, he is Hillary's ticket to the white house.

Conservatives need to be pragmatic!

I am a conservative and consider myself Pro-Life. I, however, will not become a single-issue voter.

Conservatives need to win this battle (abortion) not on the political ground, but through personal involvement and compassion. Let's push for programs to incent mom's with unwanted pregnancies to allow those developing kids a chance at life. Let's provide financial support and a way to relieve as much pressure and stress of having the child. Let's push for continued support (financial) encouraging 'The Family'.

Becoming a single-issue party will religate us to the sidelines with little to NO influence in Washington.

Rudy uses that line to scare republicans into electing him as nominee.

I am from NYC and he sucks.

People like James Dobson are the reason I switched parties. These religious fundies have distorted "conservatism" so much that it doesn't even take into account the same principles that it did 20-30 years ago.

Ron Paul is the closest thing that the Republican party has to a real conservative and we all see how much of a chance he has of gaining the nomination.

Dr. Dobson could risk becoming irrelevant if he makes this a one issue race. Other than submitting Supreme Court Nominees who are pro life what influence does a president have in the abortion debate anyway. Cutting off your nose despite your face is not the smart thing to do.

Gotta love it. Hypocrisy runs rampant…I'm a Bible-believing Christian, but I think the time of people like Dobson are slowly but surely up. Nice try though to still hold on and speak against issues that really aren't important in this election. Oy.

Which Democratic states can Guiliani take from Mrs. Clinton? Why doesn't he name these states? New York? I dont think so. Pennsylvania? Better yet, when will the media challenge him on this? Polls suggest that he would not carry a single Soutern state. So, where is this strength among Democrats and Evangelical Christains?

The very best Christians are all sitting in the pews, mostly good people. But the Christian leadership is, alas, short sighted, dim witted, and corrupt.

How many names could we list? The priests who are after the altar boys, the evangelist leader who asked his gay prostitute to procure drugs for him, the televangelist who had an addiction to prostitutes, the many many financial scandals where church funds become private funds, the evangelist whose God whispered amazing details about people in the audience (turned out to be his wife whispering into a small radio receiver in his ear), the bogus cures where the same cripples are healed in town after town, the miracle prayer cloths available only through a toll-free number, the Christian leader who was involved with lobbyist Jack Abramoff and bribes (campaign contributions) from an Indian reservation to rig disapproval of another reservation's application to open a casino, the evangelist who ran for President after God told him he would win the election (God reneged on that promise, but the evangelist and God are still on speaking terms), the evangelist who got a court order preventing a TV program from airing a show in which a man claiming to be the evangelist's gay lover a lie detector test to authenticate the lover's claims - these are the ones that come easily to mind.

Evangelist Billy Graham is conspicuous in this seedy crowd by virtue of his integrity, his honesty, and his sincerity - like tall strong oak growing in a landfill, surrounded by filth.

If Christianity was a theater, it would have already been raided by the vice squad.

Other leaders, like Dobson, the late Falwell, and the Pope remain untouched by scandal but they stand resolutely against solving any of our nation's problems. They are against abortion, sex education, birth control, unmarried sex, and sex scenes in movies. The convince teenagers to sign chastity pledges fully knowing that the typical result is that the girls give the boys oral sex to protect their virginity.

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

People…its politics and all of them will say what ever it takes to get your vote and kick the people in the teeth after they are sworn into office or has everyone forgotten the last 6.5 years. If you want a conservative Christian run government, vote God and then get his butt down here to fix this mess his followers have subjected everyone too.

Tell me again why a blatently political organization like Focus on the Family should have tax exempt status?

If the radical religious people try to run a third-party, it will utterly and bitterly fail, and they will be left with a democrat anyways. Compromise is the only political solution.

If they had it their way, the Constitition would be the Bible. That's not the way I, our Founding Fathers, or anyone else wants this country run except for that small 25% radical segment.

What gets me about "Social Conservatives" is that they say that the federal government should stay out of peoples lives and not help anyone with social programs like social security and health insurance for children. Then they use wedge issues to divide us and want the government
to control human sexuality with anti-abortion,anti gay marrage, and anti-stem cell research. What a bunch of idiots these people are.

And so it begins… I tell you what, I won't vote for any politician that doesn't at least respect my right to NOT be tied to religion and actually LISTEN to the people that elect them into the jobs they so dearly covet.

As for this 'sanctity of life' BS…
I don't see them sanctifying the lives of the people that the corporate/political bullies have destroyed in the middle east.
Oh, I get it now. Sanctity of life… American life.
I truly hope the next human elected to the presidency isn't a right wing, christian ass who caters to the bible belt and is basically a bigot to all those who DON'T follow their antiquated ideologies.
Believe in it all you want, but don't force feed it to me, just do the job you were elected to do.

God Help Us!!!!!

As if there are not more pressing matters right now after this disaster of an administration for the past 6 plus years. The evaporation of the middle class, the price of EVERYTHING, ridiculous tax cuts for the rich, and most of all IRAQ….

Boy, I sure would look past all of those problems that are noticeably affecting our world and livelihood just to make sure my candidate is anti-choice and anti-anything but heterosexual!!!!

Quit preaching HATRED and stupidity.

While I respect Dobson's values and his determination not to give up cherished beliefs; I don't agree with those beliefs.

I feel that he wants to impose a theracracy based on the Christian religion into our government and I DO NOT approve. So go ahead, Dobson, take away the religious fundamentalists voters from the GOP, and you'll never win the election, thankfully neither will the sane members of the GOP either.

Does this mean the Christian Right is living on borrowed time? Does it mean that at last we won't have these people pushing their divisive agenda down our throats? I hope so.

There is only one true conservative running for President under the Republican ticket, and that's Ron Paul.

I am still surprised that the GOP's super conservative section have not taken a closer look to Mike Huckabee or even Ron Paul…..

Can Mr. Dobson tell me why are the not good enough??? He only mentions the front runners….

If one believes that human life begins at conception, it is impossible NOT to make it a political issue. The divide it has created in the country is as great to the people who believe this as the divide of slavery was to America's predecessors. If life begins at conception, what's the difference between an abortion and throwing a baby in a dumpster? Or even killing a two year old who is still dependent on his parents - what if his parents decide they don't want him anymore.

To those out there who say Conservatives need to focus on the issues, fundamentalists view this as THE issue. Voting for a third party candidate is a way to keep their hands clean. It's not unlike voting for Van Buren and the Free-Soilers in 1848.

The speech, the speech! Mr. Romney, my kingdom for the speech! Whew, let’s all just calm down. There is no reason for Romney’s “JFK” religion speech. Not yet.

While liberal pundits, the media, and a few Giulianiacs (read Novak) in New York are fixated on Romney’s religion, very few national evangelical leaders oppose Romney on religious grounds. For obvious reasons Catholic and Jewish leaders are rather adamant that there be no religious issue concerning Romney and the 2008 presidential race.

The loudest objections come from the left. Jacob Weisberg, editor of Slate, said, "Romney's religion will become an issue with moderate and secular voters - and rightly so." His justification comes from a rather strained reasoning that objecting to one’s “religious beliefs is not the same thing as prejudice based on religious heritage . . .”

What? Late last year Romney met with the prominent evangelical leaders. Oh, to have been a fly on that wall! From the few remarks made by some of the attendees, that meeting must have gone quite well.

Says Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, "Evangelicals know that they're not electing a theologian in chief, but a commander in chief. If they agree with Romney on social issues, his Mormonism won't be a hindrance . . ." And Jerry Falwell, who has often spoken in unflattering terms about Mormons said, "There's no question that there are strong feelings about Mormonism. But we're not electing a Sunday school teacher; we're electing a president. I do not believe his church affiliation will hinder his being a viable candidate among evangelicals."

So just who are these 24 percent of Americans (not 29 percent as reported by Novak.) who would not vote for a Mormon? see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21036143/site/newsweek/
Well, certainly many are liberal and/or secular. In the same poll 14 percent said they would not vote for a woman, 64 percent said no to an Atheist. Even more telling is what Novak did not reveal.

In the same poll 68 percent of Americans said they had a favorable opinion of Mitt Romney while only 13 percent did not. Gee, I wonder what Hillary’s numbers would be.

So everybody, just take a deep breath. Go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21036143/site/newsweek/ and see the results for yourselves. After Mitt has secured the nomination there will be plenty of time for The Speech.

What if one does not believe that life begins at conception? What if one believes that it doesn't matter when life begins? What if one believes that a woman is capable of having many more children than she can care for? What if one believes that a natural miscarriage and an artificial one are the same thing? What if one believes that no one has the right to tell a woman how many children to have? What if one believes that what happens inside a woman's skin is her business and NO ONE ELSE's? What if one is raped? What if one's fetus has no brain? What if one's fetus has a terrible disease that will result in a short life of intense pain and an infant death?

What if the people who disagree with you are a large majority of Americans and voters?

Phillip:

I respect your belief that life begins at conception, the problem that I have is that the Republicans who so deeply care about the Fetus don't seem to care about that precious life once it has had it's first breath. They don't want to make sure that child has healthcare and good food and good schools and equal opportunities.

We just want the Dr. Dobson's of the world to care about the born as much as they care about the unborn…..oh… I'm sorry that requires taxes….uh… nevermind.

"Tell me again why a blatently political organization like Focus on the Family should have tax exempt status?"

The same reason, Jim, the NAACP has tax-exempt status.

Good ole James (Swastika) Dobson. If he had his way, if you aren't a Bible-thumping Christian fundie, you would be sterilized.
Him and his ilk should have a say in politics the same day they start paying taxes.
Unitl then; eugenics, anyone?

Dobson is both right and wrong.

He is absolutely right that they should not compromise on such a core belief, if it is sincere, and therefore they must not support Rudy, Mitt, McCain or Thompson in any way, no matter what.

He is wrong of course on many other issues and his world view but if his movement is sincere, they must remain consistent and true to their core.

This is coming from a raised Catholic:

The Catholic Church is in the same awful state of affairs as the Republican Party (oh, and I'm republican). The Church is more concerned about holding onto power than doing the right thing (hiding child molestors). The Republican Party has gorged on power for the past 6 years and needs a diet and a dose of ass kicking to return to more principled roots.

The Christian right…is as bad as the wacky leftists. They scream so loudly bloody murder about gays and abortion that it makes everyone else deaf. The Church, under John Paul II started to turn things around with how homosexuals are dealt with. I mean, Jesus saw the leapers, he took the hated tax collector under his wing, he helped out a prostitute. He helped the people who no one else would help.
The Church needs to get its priorities straight and start judging people by the character, heart, and soul, of people, not because of what gender their genetics have given them.

Homosexuality in most cases appears to be caused by genetics, just like some men are more masculine than others, why some men are uber agressive and others more passive. People have different levels of chemicals and hormones in their bodies. Why is it so hard to accept that the wiring in our brains that affect gender could be wired incorrectly? It doesn't make homosexuals any less of a person or hated by god, or immoral. Yes, its not supposed to be like that in nature, but you know what, life isn't perfect, people are born without arms and legs all the time. Nature didn't intend for them to not have legs.

In the case of homosexuals, the delicate balance of chemicals and hormones has been changed, but that's all. What's the big deal?

If people are scared by gay sex…straight people do some of those same acts, too. Straight people get divorced all the time, abandon child, and have broken families. Being heterosexual doesn't make you a good person or make you go to 'heaven'.
WWJD? Jesus would save the gay person from being trampled on by bigoted striaght people.

More people ought to point their criticsm inward and work on improving themselves. More people ought to look inward and provide for themselves and not rely on the boogy man 'government'
to give them handouts. People ought to realize that Lou Dobson is a power hungry individual and is looking out for his own interest and the expense and detriment of others.

None of the current candidates in either party exude the leadership and character that i want to see in a president. But we have to choose who's closest to those ideals. I'm not sure yet, but I'm not just going to vote for someone who is anti abortion.

I'd reserve abortion for those girls who are put into a situation where their life and the life of the baby is compromised. Not just a life or death situation, but quality of life. We shouldn't have 15 years old mothers who have kids and then that kid is likely to also have a child when they are a child.

Adoption is great, but not enough people do it. Everyone wants to pass on 'their' genes, like is so damn important. Loving a child is more important. Until society decides to take all the babies from these girls, its better served to learn a hard lesson than bring a child into this world that one can't care for adequately.

James Dobson is the epitome of right wing conservatives. Believes in the "father" figure as supreme boss of his wife and children and dishes out the discipline. Carries beyond the home and into the making of laws and even determines international policies. "We do not award bad behavior" (Cheney) e.g. Iran and will not talk to them. Such backward thinking resolves nothing. Fear is the key to anything right wing. Fear of the authoritive figure that demands respect and forces control and oppression. Great life if you are the father figure. Not for everyone else. We lived that way in the 50's, and you can keep it.

Where do we begin, dobson is no different than osama. Both are hard-head which leads to a soft behind always! Both are speaking in tongue
to create fear & loathing of people who don't believe the way they do!
The Founders of America were very clear that king george of England
policies/rule wouldn't take place
here. It's disingenuous to try to rewrite History, to get folks who refuse to think for themselves due to misguided rhetoric! I have no respect for hate mongers, fascist, and traitors! This creature of a person(dobson) fits the profile hands downs!
Oh yeah by the way "Get osama"!

Well, if he thinks he's got it bad with Giuliani he has NO idea what he is in store for with ole Hillary. She would make Giuliani look like Jerry Falwell. Amazing that Dobson is so clueless.

This group of single-issue voters is the biggest reason I am not a Republican, and as long as they are trying to extort the party I will remain independent.

I personally think Giuliani is one of the best Republican candidates in a long time, due in no small part to the fact that he stands firm on his principles. Rather than trying to pull a Romney and conveniently change his views to satisfy this group of voters, he stands up for what he believes in.

I think at the end of the day the American people will respond favorably to someone who tells them like it is and has strong convictions. The American people are not foolish enough to buy into someone like Hillary who they know good and well would say ANYTHING it took to get elected.

Giuliani continues to surprise all those who had previously said he had no chance to get the Republican nod. When the dust settles and all that is left standing is Rudy and Hillary, people will come out of the woodwork to ensure that the pathological opportunist remains Senator of New York.

Social conservatives believe that by simply making abortion illegal that it will go away. I guess it's because that line of thinking worked so well with prohibition???? What they fail to understand is that no one is pro abortion, I don't know too many Democrats that feel "abortions performed were a little too low last year, we really need to get our numbers up". Democrats are just smart enough to realize that if you want abortions to go away you have to address the causes of unwanted pregnancy..education, education, education. You can't be pro life and then stick your head in the sand and feel that the only sex education that should be taught is abstinence. If you don't want your children taught sex education at school becasue you feel that is something they should learn from you- awesome!! but we have to remember that many children don't have such role models they have parents who are absent or uninvolved or just don't care, these are the children that are at risk for unwanted pregnancies. These are the children that need to know the facts about getting pregnant. I'm very liberal on social issues and I believe that every unwanted pregnancy should end in adoption but that is just not realistic. Making abortion illegal won't make it go away, those who can afford to will go to either Europe or Canada and those who can't will continue to die in back office clinics- or don't the pro life people care about those lives???

For all of you Dobson supporters-BEATING YOUR CHILDREN IS IMMORAL,that it's illegal in most states aside,you should be ashamed of yourselves for respecting such a malicious group of chid abusers! I hope you never have a voice in our politics again. You are disgusting!

I cannot believe that I know more about this man's religion than he does, but it's the whole issue of right and wrong about free will?

If you pass laws that make it illegal to sin, then where does the morality come in? No one needs to be moral, think morality or ponder the implications of right and wrong when someone else decided it all for you.

If you sin, you are supposed to go to hell, not prison.

Free will was G-d's greatest gift to mankind and I don't need your laws to know the difference between right and wrong, or even the Bible.

I am scared to death of people who think that you cannot, on your own, figure out what is right and what is wrong. Now for figuring out what is legal, that's harder.

When any Republican friends of mine explain the party to me, it's always about "less government" and "less spending." They NEVER say it's about "laying down the word of God on the country and the world."

I think it would probably be best if this social conservative infestation left the party for their own. On the one hand, it would be a great tragedy to see a theocratic candidate win, but on the other splitting may make the Republican party more tolerable to people who believe in freedom and justice for ALL people, not just those living in accordance with Christian doctrines.

If Rudy Giuliani wins the nomination I'll be quite pleased. I do not vote based on political parties. I vote based on who I think supports the values of freedom, justice, and equality the most. Many times the Republican candidate does not fit that bill, shrugging off science and equality to oppose rights such as sexual orientation while sounding like televangelists at speeches.

I will be comfortable if either Hillary or Rudy wins. I need to research them more but at least they have the common sense respect of equality that so many Republican candidates have lacked. I lost sleep both times George W. Bush was elected, and that loss of sleep was quite clearly merited. We need a logical President, not a crusader.

It's comforting to see the great responses for this ticker posting. Even the majority of conservatives are distancing themselves from these wedge-issue lunatics who hijacked the GOP.
I used to politely disagree with most conservative issues, but since the Christian taliban became so prominent in politics, I began to HATE the Republican party. It would be nice if we could get back to more rational dialogues that led to decisions that would benefit the country.
I'm starting to notice a slight change in tone with many posters….LET'S KEEP IT UP!

“In the present political climate, it could result in the abandonment of cherished beliefs that conservative Christians have promoted and defended for decades.”

please for the love of everything SANE and yes HOLY keep your religion out of my life, my body,and my bed room. I am a christian plain and simple.

I do not want James Dobson dictating how I whould live. That is between me and God.

Yes split the Republican vote. Better yet go to chucrh on election day and Don't vote. If these are the only issues you care about, then pray, but please stay the H— away from the polls

Dobson, of course, is the religious zealot who still insists that Iraq has WMD's and the evil left-wing media won't allow our troops to find them!

We need a senior conservative party leader to twist this guy's arm and get him to sit down and shut up.

Being a person of faith is one thing… to bludgeon people over the head with your belief and threaten to hold your entire politcal party hostage (see "MoveOn") is another.

If he's so naive to purposefully split the conservative voting block, Conservatives will get exactly what we don't want. Hillary by default.

Hell, he'd get the same result if he simply told Conservatives to just vote for Hillary, or told them to just stay home on election day. Again, the same result… Hillary by default.

We conservatives need to wake the hell up and put this guy on a shelf, or we'll be bled dry by a reinstitution of pre-1981 tax rates (see "Hillary for President".

James Dobson is nothing more than a bigot who advocates child abuse. Nothing he says should be taken seriously.

Maybe all of this is a good thing. Ordinarily I am an advocate of high voter turnout but if the folks that agree with Dobson decide to sit this one out we'll all be better off. Considering how well things have been going for the past 8 years I think that we have all had about enough of the type of decisions Dobson and co make. By the way I am originally from New York City and trust me nobody there would vote for Giuliani. On Sept 10th he was the most hated man in New York for his hypocrisy. Who cares if you are having an affair I say. But dont try to be the guardian of public morals, On Seot 11 all he did was report how many people had died. he was a publci face of grief for the cioty but he didnpt do anything that any other mayor or anypone lese for that matter wouldn;t have done.

It is a sad state of affair for our country when its citizens do not have a candidate that will come out of the primary elections that stand up for what is true according to what our country was founded upon. Many comments has been directed against the Christian community. I would like to remind everyone that it was because of a desire from our founding fathers to establish a country where there is freedom of religion. Freedom of religion is not the only freedom they were seeking, however it was one of the most prominent. Dr. Dobson is a man of character and stands upon what he believes. There are so many other people that are in the news that takes an opposing view to what Dr. Dobson believes, yet they are not bashed by the public as this man is in the comments submitted to this article. Regardless of what you or I think, unless our opinions line up with what the Word of God says, our opinions are of no value.

I would love to see a candidate from either party be brave enough to stand up for what everyone knows down deep in their heart of what is right and of what is ethical. Candidates from both the Republican and Democratic parties have their strengths and weaknesses. However, it would be a great day for our country when the citizens stand up and demand that our government does what we have elected them to do.

They are in office to protect our Constitution and Bill of Rights. They are not elected to submit themselves to just the big businesses and wealthy, but they are to also submit themselves to the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the fatherless, and the widows. They are to submit themselves in service to the working class people of which keeps this country alive.

Each party submits to a minority which either pads their pockets or yells the loudest. It is time that our government officials are held accountable to be as honest and fair as they impose laws on the citizens to be. There are too many scandals in our government of which sets a terrible example to the rest of the nation and to our children.

We need someone leading our country that is strong in their military beliefs in order to keep our country safe. We need a president that submits himself/herself to the citizens as a whole, so everyone that has the initiative to work has the opportunity to do so and have a retirement that will see them through their elder years. In addition, health care should be a top priority for our government so that every American citizen can afford the best of health care without it draining our savings.

However, above all else, we do need to return to the fundamental moral values that our forefathers possessed. I do share Dr. Dobson's spiritual, ethical, and moral values, but I also believe there may be a candidate within one of the two parties that holds the primary values that would serve our country with good moral ethics.

Neither Mr. Giuliani or Mrs. Clinton are even close to what our founding fathers possessed when they established this country upon biblical principles.

We all must remember the most true test of what a person is made of is what they do when they are absolutely free to make a choice. Maybe Giuliani nor Clinton should be the presidential candidates that represent the two parties.

Philip in Elkhart,
You are wrong to focus on one issue when you vote for president. Abortion is a wedge issue, not one of national importance.
For the record I do not really approve of abortion. However there is a lot more to the issue than weather life begins at conception. It does.
There is a big difference between an abortion and throwing the baby in a dumpster. What you are really against is using abortion as birth control. That use of abortion statistically has gone down dramatically! What if having the baby would kill the mother? For a lot of women with serious diabetes pregnancy can be a death sentence. What if the baby would be born severely retarded or deformed? What if the chances are very good that the child would not live anyway? What if the woman was brutally raped and is 14 years old, poor and uneducated? OK on that one we might put the child up for adoption if the fetus is healthy and normal. What about the psychological impact on the girl? And adoption is difficult now because of legal tangles. The mother might come back in five years after the adoptive couple raise the child and want the kid back!
Nothing is black and white Philip. Go wash your hands.

Dobson is GOD;s chosen one! Do as he says now or gay's will marry ending all straight marriages, Women will never give birth due to free abortions and cats and dogs will rain from the heavens

I long for the day that humans can move forward, allow themselves to evolve, leaving behind the weak minds and atrophied beleifs of barbarians like him. I am so weary of reading about the millions who have been killed in the name of righteousness. Shaking free of all religion may be the only thing that will save our species.

Cindy, Kissimmee, Florida

I sincerely hope that is an attempt at sarcasm; if it was Great job

…otherwise if not, you need serious help

Dobson is a idiot and he's no Christian.He will fry in hell with Falwell.

Hey Dobson–stay out of politics–you're not worthy–sorry to burst your bubble–you are actually uptight, and like most of your sort- probably a closet homosexual!
Didn't you read the constitution? It seems most right wing conservatives have not heard of religious freedom, seperation of church and state, etc?
I have a deep seated spiritual belief system. That is between me and my god…and dobson simply isn't god–I don't think we need an unqualified middle man. I don't need you to interpret the bible for me, and by the way, you have completely missed god's message! Read again! We are ALL god's children, and I care for all as such–I am proud to be and American, NOT an elitist- all elitists are doomed to warm places. God doesn't condemn…but the devil does–

That's going to be difficult with Hillary Clinton in the mix. She is a guttersnipe for sure.

This is a good dialogue. I've read all the posts so far. There are the people who hate 'social conservatives' for what they perceive as forcing morales on them when if fact they really hate themselves for allowing themselves to be tainted or even ruined by their own sexual license and promiscuity. There are the people who feel the Iraq war is an utter disaster and hate Bush for this as well because deep down these people, number one, don't like that Bush stands for morlaity, which includes sexual moderation & restraint, and, number two, because they feel utterly hopeless about the results of this war given their affinity for microwave-like or immediate results. The society we live in today in USA is made up of a bunch of toddlers who must have the needs and desires yesterday or today, but certainly not later where they are going to have to wait for the fruit of discipline and moderation.

Cindi, you've gotta be single, because NO man could possibly put-up with a whacko who believes cats and dogs will rain from the heavens if two women wish to be happy together. We're all our creator's chosen ones too; that's why we're all here. Whoever our creator may be that is.

I'm a Republican - and I am now with the growing majority of people in the US saying that the religious Christian minority does not run the country….nor the party any longer. I will vote for Giuliani because he represents the people of this country…the majority of the people in this country….unlike the Democrats or the other Republicans. People like Dobson are the very reason people don't vote for Republicans anymore - fiscal conservative and social liberal is where the new majority of the country is - we as a country will elect the next president (Giuliani) - not the party any longer….we need to send a message that fringe elements of the party nor longer have any control.

"Sanctity of human life" to Republicans obviously only refers to fetuses. GOP isn't so sentimental about what happens to a person after birth.

[...] haven't read this whole "article" by Dr. Dobson, but I thought this was a good [...]

It's time that our "melting pot nation" is not ran by individuals who base decisions, that will effect everyone, strictly on their religious views. I have respect for peoples pro-life choices that regard abortion (although I'm pro-choice), but discriminating against same-sex couples is ridiculous.

Clearly our choices will come down to a Democrate, and as a former Republican gone Independant I'm as confused as ever. Both sides make great points but the importent one like Immigration and Social Security, and Medical Care are being left out of serious debate because of the pro-oppose life issue and religions.

I won't allow anyone to tell me what consistutes life and at what stage, and I won't allow anyone who tells me it's ok to give illegals free things while our own people starve and go without…our elderly are again being pushed to the sides and no one seems to care….why is that?

I also don't care for a candidate who is supported by all wealthy , movie stars who already earn more then they have a right to, what with all our own kind going without as well. Or those supported by ex-Crips with hidden agendas…..who think that if their candidate is selected we will have a country ran by all blacks and for blacks…..which is racist thinking in itself.

So needless to say I'm still confused as to who to choose but what I am not confused about is that the Right-Wing supporters are clueless and like lemmings to the edge of a cliff will follow whoever [generally Dobson and Robertson who have their own private agenda, and imo use God as much as religious fanatics do to browbeat you into submission] these types tell them to follow and if they do choose to follow Dobsons advice they will straight into Clintons hands.

People start thinking for yourselves, ask and keep asking until someone answers you honestly……..not an easy feat for any CAREER politician…….oh how I wish I knew who Billy Graham supported. *sigh*

Just more proof that the religious right is DEAD. Its time to move on and face the fact that religion has NO place in politics. Would Dobson fight for the fetuses rights if it were gay? NO! Woul he fight for its equal rights if it were a female? NO! If it were Black or Latino? NO! America can see past the bull! Its time for a change, for equality for all, fairness for all! There's a popular saying "If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a SACRAMENT" and its VERY true. 77% of ANTI abortion leaders are MEN …100% of them WILL NEVER BE PREGNANT!
Dobson is Pro Life but Pro WAR, Pro Family but Anti LGBT families, Christian but so full of hatred. You're time is UP dude, make like Jerry Falwell and DIE already! thanks!!

I'm a Pro Choice male and supporter of Same Sex Marriages! DOWN WITH THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT!