Did Dobson's Tacit Support of McCain Doom Huckabee's V-P Chances?

by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director

 

Trying to figure out the political mind of Focus on the Family leader Dr. James Dobson is like attempting to solve a Rubik's Cube while blind and, folks, I tried it and it can't be done.  That's a bit of hyperbole I threw in this column just to make a point because even I'm not that stupid.  But I would like to ask Dr. Dobson a question.  Just the other day, Dobson apparently changed his mind and decided he could possibly support John McCain, who is the Republic Party's presumptive presidential nominee.  For those of you who haven't followed the story, after McCain won the GOP nomination, Dobson said there was no way he would vote for or support McCain under any circumstances.  Well, that's not a direct quote, but I'm in a hurry today and I don't have the time to go back and find Dobson's exact words.

 

During the presidential campaign season, Dobson did endorse former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee--though that endorsement came very late in the process and probably had little to do with the surprising success of Huckabee's campaign.  At the time, many conservative Catholics and Evangelicals were wondering when and if Dobson was going to support Huckabee because he was the obvious choice for this important segment of the Party's base.  But better late than never and Dobson's endorsement was welcomed by Huckabee supporters at the time.  However, if those who thought Dobson was a bit tardy to jump on the Huckabee band wagon during the GOP primary race, Dobson's timing for his sudden turn around regarding McCain will confuse them even more.

 

Recently, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bob Novak generated some needed publicity for himself by saying he received the word McCain was about to choose his running mate.  Of course, the press went wild and Novak got to appear on a number of political talk shows.  Novak, who likes to be called the "Prince of Darkness," for reasons I won't speculate on, was wrong and it's obvious McCain is not on the brink of announcing his choice for V-P.

 

But here's a question for Dobson:  If Huckabee were in the running for the V-P slot, why show your political hand so early?  There have been many questions regarding whether McCain needed to shore up the religious base of the Party and Huckabee would have been the obvious choice and, now that Dobson has made his premature announcement, why should McCain feel he has to do anything to appease conservative Catholics and Evangelicals?

 

The smart political move, if Dobson really felt Huckabee was worthy of the endorsement he gave the former Arkansas Governor a few months ago, would have been for Dobson to have said something like:  I might be able to support John McCain, but much will depend on who he chooses for Vice-President.  The McCain brain-trust would have seen this proclamation and realized perhaps the religious vote couldn't be taken for granted.  But, no!!!  Dobson jumps the gun, McCain and his people feel the religious base of the GOP is locked up and now they have the political permission of an Evangelical leader to choose a running mate other than Huckabee or any other strong social conservative for that matter.

 

Perhaps Dr. Dobson never really liked Huckabee in the first place because he couldn't have played his hand any worse for Huckabee's sake.  Or it's possible Dobson is a bit past his past prime and the finer aspects of politics have passed him by.

 

I know Huckabee was a long shot to be McCain's Vice-Presidential choice, but Dobson's move has virtually taken Huckabee off the list, unless McCain really likes the former Baptist Minister's sharp wit and political acumen--which left him a hair short of pulling off perhaps the biggest political upset in history.  Just a few more votes in South Carolina for Huckabee and McCain might be still pulling his own bags through our nation's airports.  Isn't the world of politics strange?

 

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Comments

[jane]

I dont think so, If McCain chooses Huckabee the evangelicals will run away, as if running from a radio active mist. McCain better not pick Romney anyway. Have you seen the attack ads Romney put out against McCain during the primary, Or the video of Romney calling McCain dishonest. If not and you want to see them you can go to ...

I am hoping and praying that Huckabee will be chosen as the VP, then at the last minute the GOP realizes that McCain is slightly senile and runs Huckabee instead of McCain., thats how it would go in my little perfect world. LOL. Did you see the video of McCain falling asleep on the Conan Obrien show?? The media isnt running it much. But it is Halarious. McCain is just a little too seasoned at this point to handle the office. Thats why he takes every weekend off. I hate to vote for a man that cant handle the job. If you want to see the video of him falling asleep on conan go to ...

I guess the GOP shouldnt of shoved McCain down our throats in the primary, they should of let it Play out without all the Minipulation. I might just stay home this november.

Editor's Note: All links have been removed from this comment, pursuant to the rules of this blog.

[Angela]

Mr. Zanoza,
I heard the radio broadcast the day Dr. Dobson made his "unofficial" "almost" endorsement of McCain. He said he might consider endorsing McCain depending on who he chooses as vice president. If he chooses a pro-abortion candidate then he couldn't endorse him.