Text 915, 61 rader
Skriven 2007-03-30 12:15:50 av ROSS SAUER (1:123/140)
Ärende: Dobson and Thompson
===========================
I'm not the one saying "who is a Christian," and who is not.
This asshole is.

Dobson: Thompson must express faith

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As senator turned actor Fred Thompson considers a 
presidential run, his Christian credentials are being questioned by Dr. 
James Dobson, a major voice among Christian conservative voters.

Republican strategist Rich Galen saw this as a positive thing.

"If I'm advising Fred Thompson, which I'm not, I'd say 'Good news! We're 
big enough that someone like Dobson has to pay attention to us,' " he 
said. (Watch why some in GOP think actor is Mr. Right)

In an interview with "U.S. News & World Report," Dobson said, "I don't 
think he's a Christian."

A Thompson spokesman quickly contested Dobson's statement, saying 
"Thompson is indeed a Christian. He was baptized into the Church of 
Christ."

But a declaration of Thompson's religion will not be enough for Dobson, 
who is viewed as being widely influential with evangelical Christians, a 
key Republican voting bloc.

"We were pleased to learn from his spokesperson that Sen. Thompson 
professes to be a believer," said Nima Reza, a Dobson spokeswoman. 
"Thompson hasn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many 
evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him."

Why did that come up now, even before Thompson, a star of NBC's "Law and 
Order" and a former GOP Tennessee senator, has committed to running for 
president?

Dobson has shown so far he's not a believer in any of the front-running 
Republican candidates. He gave Mitt Romney a lukewarm review and said he 
couldn't support Sen. John McCain or frontrunner Rudy Giuliani. It 
signals a split among evangelicals.

"They're looking for someone to head off Rudy Giuliani. Some 
evangelicals want Thompson to be that person. But others want Newt 
Gingrich," said Dr. Charles Dunn of Regent University.

Dobson recently had Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, on his 
radio show, where the former house speaker admitted an extramarital 
affair.

"I asked you if the rumors were true that you were in an affair with a 
woman, obviously, who wasn't your wife at the same time that Bill 
Clinton and Monica Lewinsky were having their escapade?" Dobson asked.

"Well, the fact is the honest answer is yes," Gingrich said.

Dobson has not endorsed any candidates. He told "U.S. News & World 
Report" that he thinks Gingrich is the "brightest guy out there" and 
"the most articulate politician on the scene today."
 
© 2007 Cable News Network.
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