James Dobson: A Rose Should Smell Fragrant Away From A Bush

The AP reported and MSNBC quickly featured James Dobson's harsh criticism of Barack Obama today.  It's not the first time that Dobson has produced the perfect soundbite for a cynical media suspicious of evangelicalism.  This time he accused Obama of having a "fruitcake interpretation" of the United States Constitution.  And Dobson suggested that Obama uses the lowest common moral denominator in making legislative decisions, particularly on abortion.  Something about Dobson's accusations smells sour.  I'm trying to sniff it out.

Last night I started to write about opportunity.  I'll finish that post some day, in which I talk about two paradigms for opportunity: using opportunity to get something or using opportunity to give something. That post about opportunity is going to use Galatians 6:10 as a springboard, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Sniff.  Sniff.

I could point out Dobson's rotten misrepresentation of Obama's words. As if like a trained Washington chef, Dobson stirred some political spin and cooked up a distortion of Obama's speech.  But that's not the stench I'm smelling.

In his harsh and skewed rebuke of Obama's speech Dobson used unchristian pejorative language that neither hurts Obama's campaign nor bulsters public sentiment for Christianity.

Look, James Dobson is an earnest Christian.  He's outraged by much of the shallow morality of the culture of the United States.  As a leader with a large constituency and as a public figure in a democracy he has earned the right to speak up and share his opinions.  But he's a Christian.  He's been exhorted by King Solomon and Saint James and even Jesus that he should watch his tongue.  Christians should mind their tongues because the tongue is the only body part with the power of two of our five senses.  Our tongues can speak false, uncharitable words. And that stinks.

Comments

[Travis Prinzi]

Well said. Scot McKnight had the same take on it. (I tried to do an html link to it, but it wouldn't let me post the comment. It's http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=4008)

[EDW]

Oooh, this was very smart. I like you.

[Cara]

Well said. I couldn't agree more.

[Jess]

I agree. I also don't think his comments serve the average American family, many of whom will simply follow Dobson's lead and become anti-Obama without looking at the issues or the candidate. I also think his statements alienate a large number of earnest Christian families whose main priorites in the next election are not the protection of the traditional family or abortion.