OK Freak out time. Guess who started "Dobson Doesn't speak for Me" Website???? KIrbyjon Caldwell

[Perky]

My head is spinning

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barack Obama said Tuesday that evangelical leader James Dobson was ''making stuff up'' when he accused the presumed Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible.

Dobson used his Focus on the Family radio program to highlight excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal.

Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane before landing in Los Angeles, Obama said the speech made the argument that people of faith, like himself, ''try to translate some of our concerns in a universal language so that we can have an open and vigorous debate rather than having religion divide us.''

Obama added, ''I think you'll see that he was just making stuff up, maybe for his own purposes.''

In his program, Dobson focused on examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy. For instance, Obama said Leviticus suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination. Obama also cited Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, ''a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application.''

''Folks haven't been reading their Bibles,'' Obama said in the speech.

''I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,'' Dobson said.

Asked about Dobson's assessment, Obama said ''somebody would be pretty hard-pressed to make that argument'' that he was distorting the Bible.

Obama supporters also responded to Dobson.

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell

, a Methodist pastor from Texas and longtime supporter of President Bush who has endorsed Obama, said Tuesday he belongs to a group of religious leaders who, working independently of Obama's campaign, launched a Web site to counter Dobson at www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com. The site highlights statements from Obama and Dobson and asks visitors to compare them.

Caldwell said he has great respect for Dobson's advocacy for families, but said the criticism of Obama was ''a bit over the top'' and ''crossed the line.''

''There has been a call for a higher level of politics and politicking,'' Caldwell said. ''So to attack at this level is inappropriate and I think unacceptable and we at least want to hold everybody accountable.''

Tom Minnery, a senior vice president at Focus on the Family, responded: ''Without question, Dr. Dobson is speaking for millions of evangelicals because his understanding of the Bible is thoroughly evangelical.''

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AP Religion Writer Eric Gorski in Denver contributed to this report.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

1. I've been waiting for this for nearly thirty years...

For the day when normal Christians tell these snake-handling freaks to shut up and get to the back of the bus.

[Ikonoklast]

2. Not the back of the bus, they need to get OFF the bus

Dobson is NOT a Christian. He uses the terminology to fleece the sheep.

His theology has nothing to do with the teachings of Christ; they are an amalgam of his own making, twisted to conform to Dobson's worldview.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Didn't Jesus call out hypocrites?

That seems to be what needs to be done--and what is now being done by this Methodist minister.

[Ikonoklast]

5. Dobson is a Pharisee

Standing on the street corner proclaiming his praise for God in a loud voice, so the unwashed can see how blessed he is.

Jesus said to lock yourself in a closet and pray in private. They never mention that passage.

Dobson and all the other money-grubbing self-promoters are nothing but a sad parody of what a real Christian is.

Christ would whip them out of the Temple.

[Bake]

14. And a great big ol' A-MEN!!!! to that!!!

Pharisees indeed. "My temple should be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!"

Bake

[grantcart]

16. Actually while the Pharisees had some legalistic shortcomings they were moralistically

way ahead of Dobson who has none and is a shamless self promoter.

[AllentownJake]

20. Agreed Dobson is more in line with the High Priest Caiphas

Selling out his own people for Government recognition.

Funny thing about Dobson is I don't even think he's an ordained minister. He's a Christian Psychologist. He certainly isn't a Biblical Scholar.

[Tatiana]

18. AMEN! He is absolutely a Pharisee with all his public pontification.

The right wing is all a-skeered because Obama is going to split the fundie vote almost in half.

[WhiteTara]

21. Dobson uses shaming as a control method

we might all call his offices and tell him how disappointed we are in him. No need to even say why, Just "I am so disappointed in Dr. Dobson". No need to even continue the conversation (unless of course in some way it would feed you emotionally)

"I'm disappointed in you...not I'm disappointed in your behavior" was the subject of an hour long parent video training session. It was all shame based, so maybe he needs to have a bit of his own medicine.
Call (800) A-FAMILY (232-6459)

[margotb822]

17. I think the wheels have fallen off of his bus

BUt, I'm glad that the looney show is finally beginning to be exposed.

[Perky]

6. Wow

Dobson may well be a pharisee, but he is no "snake handler", "snake charmer" perhaps but ..... yikes. lets get the stereotypes righe at least.

[sandnsea]

11. He's worse, he's an abusive prick n/t

[yardwork]

7. I don't know that Kirbyjon Caldwell is "normal" but I'm glad he's telling Dobson to shove it.

[Perky]

8. Given how some here tied him to McGlurkin...I am suprised that

this has not confounded those who raised the spectre of Obama's purported bigotry. But then again aybe they are dumbstruck

[dsc]

27. Kirbyjohn also has ties to ex gay ministries

I wouldn't use him as an inoculator for McClurkin.

[Perky]

28. Those ties were the original reason for this posts

SOme folks jumped all over Obama when this guy endorsed hime becuase of those ties and it being on the backeed on McClurkin.

It was odd in that it was an endorsement that Obama did not seek. (See Hagee).

Now Calwell winds up creating a websie that is anti-Dobson. ANd those critical of Obama becasuse of Caldwell are largely silent,

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Dobson had to be called out

But it is a tricky thing to do, if a pastor takes the separation of church and state seriously. In some religious organizations, ministers are forbidden to talk about politics while identifying themselves and their church as a part of the political statement. Glad this minister found a way to do it without getting into hot water with his bishops.

[NatBurner]

9. i never got over kirbyjohn endorsing bush

this helps tho

i might go to your church again now, kj

good job

[uponit7771]

10. Looks like Dobson did no one any good.

[1Hippiechick]

12. "Evangelical: marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause" - makes me an Obama evangelical?

:shrug:

[Blue_Roses]

13. I just read Obama's entire message and it is very good...

James Dobson is so old-school it's ridiculous.

[polmaven]

23. That isn't "old school"

That is simply "look at me! look at me! I am famous!"

[Ian David]

15. All this gets is three recs?

Do I have to shower with you and show you my penis to make you recommend this thread?

Oh, wait.

That's Dobson's method for keeping your kids from turning gay, NOT how to get Recs on a thread.

Oh, wait....

Do I have to beat your dog?

No... That's Dobson's method for proving Man has Dominion over The Beasts of The Earth...

Anyway, just Rec this thread, please?

[polmaven]

24. Alright! Alright!

Stop! I rec'd it!!!! No more!

[Ian David]

26. 12 Recs. That's better. Now I can shower alone. n/t

[AspenRose]

19. I signed it.

.

[PM7nj]

22. Isn't he the guy who did Jenna's wedding? nt

[Maven]

25. I hope ol' Kirbyjon included an asterisk

as in, Dobson doesn't speak for me*

.
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.
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*except when it comes to hating gays.

Oh wait, he did:

"Caldwell said he has great respect for Dobson's advocacy for families..."

Translation: "I have great respect for his bigotry, I'm just attacking him because he's against my candidate."