October 2008
Dear Friends,
Can you feel the tension in the air? The nation—and indeed, the world—is holding its collective
breath as the final days of the presidential campaign wind down and the candidates engage in
one last round of electioneering and debating. By this time next month, we’ll know whether
Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama will be inaugurated in January as the 44th
President of the United States.
Considering the stark differences between the two presidential candidates and the critical issues
that are hanging in the balance, it’s not difficult to understand why Campaign 2008 has been
such a spirited affair. I’d like to take a few moments to consider what is at stake in this year’s
election, particularly for those of us who embrace a biblical worldview. Please understand that
I will share these thoughts under the umbrella of Focus on the Family Action™, which has
supported the preparation and distribution of this letter. Focus Action is, in turn, supported by
contributions from those who do not receive tax deductible receipts for them. Thanks so much
to you who made it possible.
Let’s start with the need to elect a pro-family, pro-life President. The importance of this objective
cannot be overstated. Between 2009 and 2012, there will likely be two or more opportunities
for the President to nominate new justices to the Supreme Court. Some court watchers say
there could be as many as four resignations. That alone should give us serious pause as we
consider for whom to cast our votes. In the months ahead, the Supreme Court will likely hand
down rulings that will impact America for generations to come. We need a President who will
nominate conservative, strict-constructionist judges to the Court. If that doesn’t happen, the
highest court in the land could become stacked—even more than it already is—with justices
who will endeavor to legislate from the bench and impose a liberal agenda on the nation. It will
likely affect the definition of marriage, religious freedom, and the protection (or lack thereof)
of life in the womb.
It’s probably obvious which of the two major party candidates’ views are most palatable to those
of us who embrace a pro-life, pro-family worldview. While I will not endorse either candidate
this year, I can say that I am now supportive of Senator John McCain and his bid for the
presidency. This is not because I am beholden to the Senator from Arizona or to the Republican
Party. Anyone who has even a passing familiarity with my views knows that I have agonized
at times during this election process, and have been strongly critical of Senator McCain and
the Republican Party on numerous occasions. My concern is for the biblical and moral values
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY ACTION
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DEDICATED TO THE DEFENSE OF
MORAL VALUES AND THE FAMILY
that I and millions of Americans hold dear. I will gladly support politicians of any stripe who
are willing to defend the sanctity of human life, support the institution of traditional marriage,
protect the country from terrorism and advance the cause of religious liberty. While certainly
not perfect, the 2008 Republican platform comes closest to embracing those ideals by a wide
margin.
In recent weeks, I have received some measure of criticism from those who feel that my
“change of heart” toward John McCain is unwarranted. I understand those views and concede
that the Senator continues to embrace positions that concern me. I don’t apologize, however,
for reevaluating our options in this election year. John Maynard Keynes, whose views I have
disagreed with strongly, said this about reversing course: “When the facts change, I change my
opinion. What do you do, sir?”1 In this instance, Keynes’ perspective is correct. Every thinking
person will eventually have reason to change his or her mind as circumstances evolve, as they
have done during this long political ordeal.
There are four primary—and I believe compelling—reasons why I now view the McCain
presidential candidacy favorably:
1. During the “Saddleback Forum” on Aug. 16, Sens. Obama and McCain fielded questions
from the Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren. Senator McCain gave very solid and
encouraging answers to questions about the sanctity of life and the institution of
marriage, whereas Senator Obama came down at the other end of the argument.
You will recall the following interchange during the forum:
Pastor Rick Warren: “At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?”
Senator Obama: “. . . Answering that question with specificity, you know, is, uh, is, above my
pay grade.”2
With all due respect, Senator, if this question is above your pay grade, then so is the job
attached to it.
2. The Republican Party’s 2008 national platform is a remarkably conservative document.3
Indeed, it is the strongest pro-life platform in the history of the party, surpassing even
the pro-life advances of the Reagan years. It was approved and sanctioned by the McCain
campaign.
3. Senator McCain selected an astonishingly strong pro-life, pro-family running mate in
Governor Sarah Palin. Although he could have embraced a liberal Vice Presidential
nominee, such as Senator Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge, he made the bold decision to
join forces with a VP pick whose views reflect those of the party’s conservative base. I’ll
discuss Governor Palin’s candidacy in greater detail in a moment.
4. The longer the campaign continues, the more concerned I have become with Barack
Obama’s liberal views. Certainly, he is an attractive and very charismatic candidate who
has embarked on a campaign of historical proportions. However, the majority of his
policies represent the antithesis of principles I hold dear. Senator Obama’s record is more
2
liberal than that of any other Democrat in the Senate4—and that’s saying something!
For example, when he was a state senator in Illinois, he voted four times in three
years against legislation that would have saved the lives of babies that managed to
survive the abortion process.5 The U.S. Senate subsequently passed similar legislation
called The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act by unanimous consent.6 (Obama was not
a U.S. Senator at the time.) State Senator Obama was chairman of the committee that
opposed this protection of babies, and in 2001 and 2002 was the only legislator who
rose to argue against the Illinois Born Alive Act.7 That is an undeniable fact!
My good friend, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum published a scathing analysis
of Senator Obama’s pro-abortion record earlier this year. Here is an excerpt of what
he wrote:
In March 2001, [Senator] Obama was the sole speaker in opposition to
the bill on the floor of the Illinois Senate. He said: “We’re saying they are
persons entitled to the kinds of protections provided to a child, a 9-month child
delivered to term. I mean, it would essentially bar abortions, because the equal
protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child.”8 So according to
[Senator] Obama, “they”, (babies who survive abortions or any other preterm
newborns,) should be permitted to be killed because giving legal protection to
preterm newborns would have the effect of banning all abortions.9
To further underscore Senator Obama’s radical devotion to abortion rights, he has promised
that “the first thing I’d do as president” would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act.10 The
FOCA is a devastating piece of legislation that would overturn nearly every local, state, and
federal anti-abortion law passed in the last 40 years.11 In fact, it’s so broadly written that legal
analysts suggest the bill may prevent institutions and physicians from refusing to provide
abortion services by invoking the conscience clause.
Earlier this year, while talking about sex education and abortion, the Senator said the following:
“I’ve got two daughters, 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about
values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”12
In other words, a pre-born baby is viewed as a form of punishment, and can therefore be
murdered in the name of convenience.
It is a matter of historic significance that Barack Obama has become the first African-American
to capture the nomination of a major political party for the office of President of the United
States. I applaud that remarkable accomplishment. Nevertheless, I cannot support his candidacy
because the positions he holds on moral, social and family issues place him at the extreme
left of the political spectrum. What the Senator believes and the policies he would seek to
implement are on a collision course with the biblical principles and beliefs I have fought to
defend for more than 35 years.
Turning the corner, the significance of Governor Palin to the 2008 presidential race is also
worthy of further consideration. Here is a woman who is a deeply committed Christian,
and who is pro-life not only with regard to her policies, but in her personal life. She and
her husband welcomed their latest child, Trig, into the world even though he was diagnosed
3
with Down syndrome while still in the womb. Approximately 90 percent of babies with Down
syndrome are aborted,13 but Governor Palin carried her precious child to term and now loves
and cares for him despite the challenges associated with a special needs child. Similarly, her
teenage daughter, Bristol, who became pregnant out of wedlock, could have bowed to cultural
pressure to seek an abortion. Instead, she and the father plan to get married and raise their child
together. Governor Palin has been married for 20 years, and by all accounts, she is a portrait of
Christian motherhood and womanhood.
As for Governor Palin’s qualifications to be Vice President of the United States and to assume the
mantle of President, should that ever become necessary, she is much better suited for the job than
the talking heads on the liberal Left would have you believe. She came out of nowhere to win
the Alaskan gubernatorial race against a powerful incumbent. While in office, she bravely fought
widespread corruption—including that within her own party—in the face of great opposition.
Govenor Palin’s critics suggest that her experience as mayor of a “small town” is somehow a
liability, but it is an asset. In fact, her time as Mayor of Wasilla and then as Governor of Alaska
gives her a greater degree of executive experience than Senator Barack Obama can claim. Her
qualifications to be Vice President, I would submit, exceed those of Senator Barack Obama, who
spent only 143 working days in the U.S. Senate prior to announcing his run for President.14 He
authored no significant legislation during that time.
I’m sure you have heard the shrill voices from the political Left decrying Mrs. Palin for any and
every reason under the sun. They gloat over the pregnancy of her daughter Bristol and claim it as
“evidence” that abstinence education, which Sarah Palin strongly supports, is somehow a sham.
They criticize Governor Palin for daring to hold political office and run for Vice President while
having a baby at home, even though the Left has for decades supported a woman’s right to do
just that. The attacks on Governor Palin and her family in recent weeks have been astonishingly
unfair and mean-spirited. If she were a liberal Democrat, she would be praised and lauded
for making the same decisions for which she is now being criticized. The double standard
is obvious.
Governor Palin’s decision to run for Vice President while raising a baby with special needs has
given pause to some conservative voices as well. Some have even questioned my enthusiasm over
Governor Palin’s candidacy in light of these circumstances. It’s important to note that although
I have often said stay-at-home moms are vitally important to raising the next generation, I have
never suggested that it is wrong for mothers to work outside the home. Indeed, Focus on the
Family® has hired thousands of mothers over the years. I have said, however, that if a mother is
going to enter the workplace, she and her husband must first find a way to meet the needs of
their children. Sarah Palin appears to have done that. Todd, her husband, is actively involved in
the raising of their children, and it seems obvious that Sarah will continue to be a positive force
in her children’s lives even as she carries out her duties in the political arena. Regardless of your
political views, may I suggest that the Palins need our prayers, not our disdain, at this critical
moment in our nation’s history.
Senator Obama’s selection of fellow liberal Democrat Joseph Biden (Del.) is also extremely
revealing. While the National Journal ranked Obama the most liberal Senator last year, Senator
4
Biden was ranked 3rd on their list—just ahead of Vermont’s Bernie Sanders, a self-avowed
socialist.15 While the Senator of 36 years from Delaware stands in blatant opposition to the
pro-family movement, many of you will remember him from his vociferous opposition to
several of our finer Supreme Court justices, namely, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Alito
and Thomas.
Returning to our theme, America’s future seems to hang in the balance at this time. Our next
President will have a dramatic impact on countless legislative issues. Since being relegated to
minority status in 2006, Senate Republicans have skillfully used the rules of parliamentary
procedure to frustrate many of the Democrats’ attempts to pass bad legislation. To this point,
that effort has almost always been backed by a President who is willing to use the veto pen
when necessary. The threat of President Bush’s veto on hate crimes legislation and issues
regarding the sanctity of life have kept a Democrat-controlled Congress from implementing
its liberal agenda. Will our next President stand up to Congress in the same manner, or will
he side with them, thereby giving the Democrats free reign to impose their liberal values
on America?
It is likely, say the pundits, that both the House and the Senate in the 111th Congress will still
be controlled by Democrats. If that party also takes the White House, a wave of anti-family,
pro-homosexual legislation is almost guaranteed to pass in 2009. The bills put forward and
advanced this year by Democrats reveal where they want to take the country. For example, they
inserted hate crimes language into the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, but were forced to
remove it in conference, again under the threat of veto.16 While in the Illinois Senate, Senator
Obama voted for a bill authorizing “comprehensive” sex education beginning in kindergarten.
Defenders have attempted to downplay its significance, citing the fact that it called for the
content to be “age appropriate” and “medically accurate”—dubious and subjective qualifiers
given the sensitive nature of the topic and innocence of the audience!17 (When criticized for
supporting this legislation, the Senator was dismissive and said proudly, I quote, “It’s the right
thing to do.”18)
Large portions of the agenda promoted by homosexual activists will also be enacted. The
implications for a federal hate crimes law are clear. People speaking against homosexuality have
already been prosecuted under hate crimes laws both in the United States and abroad. If a
federal hate crimes law passes, there will be little to prevent the government from endeavoring
to control and curtail religious speech, especially from the pulpit. It is entirely possible that a
pastor could be charged with inducing a federal hate crime simply by preaching from one of the
many biblical passages that address homosexuality.
Congressional Democrats will also seek to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act,
meaning businesses will be forced to accept and condone homosexuality —and possibly
transgenderism—in making employment decisions. Further, business owners, including
religious businesses, will not be able to make hiring and firing decisions based on their
religious convictions. Earlier this year, Senator Barack Obama said, “I will place the weight of
my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepherd Act to outlaw hate crimes
and a fully inclusive Employment Nondiscrimination Act.”19
5
Finally, I am deeply concerned about the tax and spend policies Senator Obama will impose on
the American people if he is elected, especially in light of the current financial crisis. This is not
the time to be taking money out of the economy, yet, he has proposed enormous new federal
programs and entitlements that will cost multiple billions of dollars. These initiatives cannot be
effected without huge increases in taxation on businesses, which will be passed on to the public
and to individual families. This will almost certainly require a return of the odious marriage
penalty tax that plagued families for 32 years!
The races for the White House and the Congress are hardly the only matters worthy of concern
in this election cycle. At the state and local levels, numerous policies and pieces of legislation
are being put to a vote, and many of them are directly related to family and moral issues. For
example, the definition of marriage is on the ballot in Arizona (Proposition 102), California
(Proposition 8) and Florida (Amendment 2). Voters in Colorado will be given the opportunity
to expand the definition of “personhood” to include all human beings from the moment
of fertilization (Amendment 48). In South Dakota, voters will be asked to ban all abortions
except those involving cases of rape and incest, or when the pregnancy seriously jeopardizes
the life or physical health of the mother (Measure 11). Michigan is considering whether to
legalize embryonic stem cell research, which would result in the killing of tiny human beings.
In California, voters will also get the chance to decide whether minor girls should be required
to give 48 hours’ notice to a parent or adult relative before having an abortion (Proposition
4). Arkansas voters will decide whether to prevent couples living together out of wedlock—
heterosexual or homosexual—from adopting children or serving as foster parents.
These are just a few of the important issues that, depending on which state you live in, will be
on the ballot next month. I implore you to spend the few days remaining before the election
researching the various amendments, ballot measures, and local and national candidates. Then,
exercise your responsibility before God to vote on or before Nov 4. Please, let your voices be
heard. For more information, visit Focus on the Family Action’s Web site at focusaction.org
Regardless of your political views, I want to urge Christians everywhere to be in prayer about
this election. There are many scriptural references wherein King David “inquired of God” when
he was faced by troubling circumstances (1 Samuel 23:2,4; 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19,23). It is
time for Christians everywhere to turn to Him for guidance and wisdom. Find some time to be
still and listen to what He wants to tell you. The National Day of Prayer Task Force, led by my
wonderful wife, Shirley, has embarked on a national campaign entitled “Pray for Election Day.”
All around the country, individuals and groups are being encouraged to gather every Thursday
leading up to Nov. 4 between 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. Spend time with the Lord, asking Him to
guide and direct those privileged to cast a ballot. If you are able, I would also encourage you to
fast and pray immediately before the election. After all, it was the Reverend Billy Graham who
once said that “To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.”20 Amen,
Dr. Graham.
This election is about the future of the nation, but it will also go a long way toward determining
the culture your children and grandchildren will come to know. I know you will vote with your
children and your children’s children in mind. That certainly puts the election in a different
light, doesn’t it?
6
You know my heart on these issues, and I hope you understand that I am less concerned with
politicians and political parties than I am with the timeless biblical principles that those parties
have the power to either strengthen or damage. No candidate is perfect, whether in this election
or any other. Please don’t make your decisions lightly. There is simply too much at stake. May
God grant each of us wisdom as Nov. 4 approaches.
Sincerely,
James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
Founder and Chairman
P.S. Since I began researching and writing this letter, the economic meltdown on Wall Street and
congressional reaction to it has occurred. These are, indeed, difficult times for American families
and businesses. Thank you for continuing to support this ministry, even though in many cases it
has required sacrificial giving. You are helping to keep us afloat during this financial crisis, and
we appreciate your contribution and prayers more than I can tell you.
Please share this with your friends and family.
ENDNOTES
1 Louis Uchitelle, “2 Mavericks in Economics Awarded Nobel Prize,” The New York Times, Oct. 12, 2004,
http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/aml6/econ001/pdfs/nobel2004.pdf (Sept. 29, 2008).
Also: Alfred L. Malabre, Lost Prophets: An Insider’s History of the Modern Economists (1994), p. 220.
(Responding to criticism when changing monetary policy in the midst of the Great Depression.)
2 Saddleback Presidential Candidates Forum, CNN Transcript, Aug. 16, 2008.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/16/se.02.html (Sept. 29, 2008).
3 Republican National Committee, 2008 Republican Platform, gop.com/2008Platform/
(Sept. 28, 2008).
4 “National Journal’s 2007 Vote Ratings,” National Journal Group Inc., 2008, nationaljournal.com/
voteratings/sen/lib.htm (Sept. 29, 2008).
5 bornalivetruth.org/obamarecord.aspx (September 2008).
6 frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2002_record&page=S7084&position=all (Sept.
29, 2008).
7 bornalivetruth.org/obamarecord.aspx (Sept. 30, 2008).
8 “Obama Blocked Born Alive Infant Protection Act,” Illinois Federation For Right to Life Daily News online,
April 3, 2008, ifrl.org/ifrl/news/080403/1/ (Sept. 29, 2008).
7
9 Rick Santorum, “The Elephant in the Room: Why conservatives should support McCain,” The
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 2008, philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080421_The_Elephant_in_the_
Room__Why_conservatives_should_support_McCain.html (Sept. 29, 2008).
10 youtube.com/watch?v=uUl99id2SvM (Sept. 29, 2008).
11 aul.org/FOCA (Sept. 29, 2008)
12 “Ballot Bowl 2008: More Campaign Happenings,” CNN Transcripts, March 29, 2008, transcripts.cnn.
com/TRANSCRIPTS/0803/29/bb.01.html (Sept. 29, 2008).
13 Patricia E. Bauer, “What’s Lost in Prenatal Testing: Why Encourage Testing for Down Syndrome,”
Jan. 14, 2007, Washington Post. washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/12/
AR2007011201954.html
14 “Days in Session Calendars,” Thomas, The Library of Congress, thomas.loc.gov/home/ds/
(Sept. 29, 2008).
15 National Journal online, 2008, Ibid.
16 Paul Kane, “Hill Negotiators Drop Hate-Crime Provision,” Washington Post, Dec. 7, 2007,
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/06/AR2007120602453.html (Sept. 29, 2008).
17 Byron York, “On Sex-Ed Ad, McCain Is Right,” National Review Online, Sept. 16, 2008, article.
nationalreview.com/print/?q=NzI3ZDUzOTE0ZThlMTU3MTY0MDI4ZTY0MTZhY2I2MGY=
(Sept. 29, 2008).
18 “Obama on Sex Ed in Kindergarten: ‘It’s the Right Thing to Do,’” Free Republic online, Sept. 10, 2008,
freerepublic.com/focus/news/2079415/posts (Sept. 29, 2008).
19 Michael Foust, “Obama: If elected I will use the bully pulpit for gay causes,” Baptist Press, Feb. 28, 2008,
bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=27510 (Sept. 29, 2008).
20 Chuck Spinner, A Book of Prayers: To the Heavens from the Stars, (AuthorHouse: 2008), p. 225, excerpts
online at: books.google.com/books?id=cfgSFGcC_n0C&pg=PA225&lpg=PA225&dq=%22To+get+nations
+back+on+their+feet%22+and+%22get+down+on+our+knees%22+and+Graham&source=web&ots=Hjq
Hwcw-mT&sig=OYFZAIONNVb_Ff138BCi2TmH1yo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result
(Sept. 29, 2008).
8
Title: Family Action News From Dr. James Dobson
Issue Date: October 2008
Issue Number: 10
Frequency: Published monthly
Mailing Address: Colorado Springs, CO 80995
Paid for by Focus on the Family Action, 8655 Explorer Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
This letter may be reproduced without change and in its entirety for noncomercial and nonpolitical
purposes without prior permisson from Focus on the Family Action.
Copyright © 2008 Focus on the Family Action. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Printed in the U.S.A.
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