The American Mind

James Dobson has softened his opposition to Sen. John McCain for President:

“I never thought I would hear myself saying this,” Dobson said in a radio broadcast to air Monday. “… While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might.”

Dobson and other evangelical leaders unimpressed by McCain increasingly are taking a lesser-of-two-evils approach to the 2008 race. Dobson and his guest, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler, spend most of the pretaped Focus on the Family radio program criticizing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, getting to McCain at the very end.

In an advance copy provided to The Associated Press, Dobson said that while neither candidate is consistent with his views, McCain’s positions are closer by a wide margin.

“There’s nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context,” Dobson said in a statement to the AP. “Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain.”

Earlier, Dobson had said he could not in good conscience vote for McCain, citing the candidate’s support for embryonic stem cell research and opposition to a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, as well as concerns about McCain’s temper and foul language.

It’s a “lesser of two evils” approach, but it’s better than the “I’m taking my ball and going home” approach Dobson was using. Time heals wounds, and Dobson is being politically realistic.

The lesson powerful leaders like him should take from this is not to blow his stack publicly too soon. Dobson would have been more influential by being more subtle and taking his efforts off the radar screen. It’s one thing for a writer like me (or even Michelle Malkin) to throw thunderbolts at McCain. It’s another thing if I had millions of listeners who can agitate or depress them have to show more responsibility and think big picture.

“Dobson Shifts Positions, May Endorse McCain”