Gay rights foe accuses Obama of “distorting the Bible”
Where there’s smoke, there’s usually Focus on the Family‘s James Dobson, and as Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama continues his outreach to evangelical voters, Dobson is accusing the Illinois Senator of distorting the Bible and pushing a “fruitcake interpretation” of the US Constitution.
Dobson’s criticism was aired on yesterday’s Focus on the Family radio show, hours after an Obama aide requested a meeting at the organisation’s headquarters, according to Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.
The Associated Press obtained a pre-taped copy of the programme, which largely references a 2006 speech Obama gave to liberal Christian group Call to Renewal.
Obama mentions Dobson in the speech, and says it would be irresponsible to govern based solely on the Bible.
“Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy?” Obama asks in the speech.
“Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is an abomination?
“Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?”
Dobson fired back, accusing Obama of using antiquated quotes from the Old Testament which are no longer relevant in the New Testament to drive his point home.
“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology,” Dobson said, according to the AP article, adding that Obama is “dragging Biblical understanding through the gutter.”
Obama’s director of religious affairs responded to Dobson’s claims, saying the Presidential hopeful is “committed to reaching out to people of faith and standing up for American families.”
“A full reading of his 2006 Call to Renewal speech shows just that,” Joshua DuBois continued.
“Obama is proud to have the support of millions of Americans of faith and looks forward to working across religious lines to bring our country together.”
No fan of Senator John McCain either, Dobson, a former Mike Huckabee supporter, has consistently said he could not in good conscience vote for the Republican Presidential nominee because of concerns over the Arizona Senator’s conservative credentials.
Adam Higgins and Jonas Oliver © 2008 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.
