As per your calling Barack Obama a non-Christian… I find it troubling that you so easily cast judgment on him and his faith because he disagrees with you. I find George W. Bush’s actions as president to be beyond the pale for any Christian – and yet I do not condemn him as lying about his faith.

I think your letter is well-written. I would have to agree with you on this love of the Republican party from Focus on the Family.

Also, the “doomsday tone” is a good thing to point out. I felt like the person was writing from a bunker in Gears of War or some other doomsday video game/movie. I’m not joking. I seriously felt this way.

Here’s where I think you hit the nail on the head – “Because I believe the HOPE of the world is Jesus Christ, not some politician.” That’s exactly the point!

Good stuff.

–Evan

PS – I was nice walking to 30th Street Station with you

Thanks for your e-mail. It was good of you to offer your candid reaction to Focus on the Family Action’s “Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America.”

We’ve heard from many people who found this resource helpful; some, like you, have disagreed with our approach. While critics of this document accuse us of engaging in “sensationalist fiction,” it’s vital to underscore that we are not claiming to make definitive predictions on what a Barack Obama presidency would produce.

However, as the “Letter from 2012″ makes evident, every scenario outlined in this piece is plausible based on recent documented events, court rulings, the Democratic Party’s stated agenda, and Senator Obama’s voting record and campaign promises. We invite you to re-read the introduction of the letter which clearly states that we are neither employing unfounded “fear tactics” nor speaking out with mean-spirited intent. On the contrary, we’ve posted a reasonable projection of what *could* occur with a Senator Obama presidency and a Democratic-controlled Congress. Of course, we hope and pray that none of the possible outcomes described in “Letter from 2012″ come to pass.

It might be beneficial to provide some additional background on our mission to help you better understand our reasons for engaging in the public policy realm. We have no interest in partisan politics; rather, we care deeply about the sanctity of human life, the value of marriage, and the preservation of religious freedom. Dr. Dobson has espoused these crucial issues since he launched Focus on the Family in 1977 and has always encouraged people to consider them at the ballot box. Despite what the Matthew 25 Network and other pro-Obama action groups may say, we contend that Senator Obama’s record *significantly* differs from the pro-life and pro-family policies that many Christians hold dear. Some may label this “fearmongering” — we call it a sobering, rational assessment based on actual events documented in the letter.

It might be helpful for you to read a concise summary of four key points that motivate us in our actions:

1) Senator Barack Obama’s record is well outside the mainstream. For example, he was rated the most liberal United States senator by the _National Journal_ in 2007 [http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/].

2) A Democratic president, House and Senate has significant implications for pro-family policies. _The Wall Street Journal_ has stated that this election will usher in “one of the most profound political and ideological shifts in U.S. history” if the Democrats control the White House and possess congressional majorities, including a filibuster-proof Senate [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html]. This type of unchecked power, not seen since 1965, demands that voters critically examine the policies advocated by the Democratic Party.

3) Senator Obama’s commitment to causes championed by extreme liberal groups such as Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), both of which have endorsed him, are a source of great concern. Earlier this year, Senator Obama pledged that if elected president, he would advocate for and sign the “Freedom of Choice Act,” which would repeal virtually every federal and state law regulating or limiting abortion — including parental involvement laws for teenagers, late-term abortion bans, and limits on public funding of abortion. He has also indicated that he will make it a priority to repeal the “Defense of Marriage Act,” which allows states to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. In addition, he backs other HRC-supported initiatives including the passage of “hate crimes” legislation and the “Employment Non-Discrimination Act” [http://washingtonblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=20935]. Similar legislation has penalized Christians who hold a biblical view of sexuality.

4) Senator Obama’s stated appreciation of United States Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and David Souter — along with his votes against the nominations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito — indicate he would appoint judges with a judicial philosophy detrimental to pro-family causes.

On a final note, organizational endorsements of political candidates wed groups to their candidate in a way that may not lend itself to an honest critique of that individual’s weaknesses. As you’re likely aware, the group behind the Matthew 25 Web site endorsed Senator Obama for president.

Again, thanks for writing. We hope this response has helped clarify our perspective and explained why we feel the Matthew 25 Network’s version of “choosing hope” without a sober look at the troubling elements of Senator Obama’s candidacy is misguided. Grace and peace to you.

Jonathan Bartha
Focus on the Family Action

Thanks for posting your letter to Dobson, please let us know if you hear back!

Did you see Jim Wallis’ response to Dobson’s letter?

http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=3283

I sent it to my parents as a means of generating discussion…

and that it did!!

This is where I feel like the economic dimension of abortion is totally ignored by Republicans. Their answer seems to be – it’s wrong, so outlaw it.

But I see abortions as more symptomatic of deeper problems in our society, and outlawing the symptom doesn’t do much to solve the problem.

This is where I think that sex education, better education in general, an economy that isn’t tilted towards the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer all factor into people getting pregnant and then not wanting to keep the child.

Now… as someone with a firm pro-life stance, I still think that adoption is the right choice even in light of all those problems. I don’t think that abortion is ever the right answer. But I think we go a lot further towards reducing abortions in a society where the unemployment rate is low, where people have access to good health care, and where quality education and the chance for a job that pays a living wage are the norm. And I think that Obama comes closer to working for that kind of a society than McCain does.

Now, all this being said… I’m not trying to defend Obama’s pro-choice stance. I’m against it. What I was really upset about was how Focus on the Family has traded their love for Jesus in turn for the “influence” of being a campaign tool for the Republican Party.

Which is why it also doesn’t sit well with me that the Matthew 25 Network endorsed Obama.

I think Christians should take a much more Dr. King/Shane Claiborne approach, and reject the temptation of endorsing a candidate in order to be prophetic to both parties.