Dobson (Enormously Influential Evangelical) Says He Won't Support Thompson

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Hot off the press! Eric Gorski has the story here.

James Dobson, one of the nation's most politically influential evangelical Christians, made it clear in a message to friends this week he will not support Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson.

In a private e-mail obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, Dobson accuses the former Tennessee senator and actor of being weak on the campaign trail and wrong on issues dear to social conservatives.

"Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won't talk at all about what he believes, and can't speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?" Dobson wrote.

"He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent 'want to.' And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!"

In his e-mail addressed "Dear friends," Dobson includes the text of a recent news story highlighting Thompson's statement that while he was baptized in the Church of Christ, he does not attend church regularly and won't speak about his faith on the stump.

U.S. News and World Report quoted Dobson earlier this year as questioning Thompson's commitment to the Christian faith — comments Dobson contended were not put in proper context.

Dobson in this week's e-mail writes that suppositions "about the former senator's never having professed to be a Christian are turning out to be accurate in substance."

This is huge! Dobson's calling a spade a spade: Fred's not truly conservative and long ago ceased to be an active, practicing Christian.

This could be a turning point. Romney likely will regain a little momentum he lost with Thompson's entrance.

Months ago, Dobson said he couldn't vote for Rudy or McCain. Mitt's the only electable guy standing. Go, Romney!

I'm tickled that perhaps now an growing number of conservative Christians will see Dobson's remarks as a green light to join Mitt's ranks and take Thompson's failings seriously. Hopefully, Christian values voters will increasingly join up with Mitt--the electable guy with the strongest history of supporting family and conservative causes.