The James Dobson – Albert Mohler interaction on Barack Obama was very provocative. Many topics arose, including (predictably) abortion and homosexual marriage. There was also an energetic exchange on whether evangelical interests have shifted away from traditional issues such as abortion and marriage toward other concerns such as poverty and climate change. Dr. Mohler noted that he had read virtually all of Obama’s writings (I believe it) and that he regarded Obama as “probably the most liberal presidential candidate to gain a major party nomination in the history of our nation”. To see that Barack Obama is to the left of President Clinton (and many others), consider that Obama:
1. Defeated, on several occasions, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act in Illinois (though he’s given an explanation for this, he has not, to my knowledge, explained his decision in light of the fact that the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 on an almost identical bill, now a U.S. Law.)
2. Is a co-sponsor of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would protect a woman’s right to abortion throughout her pregnancy even if a future Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade. (His recent comments about possibly supporting restrictions to late-term abortions are nonsensical in light of his co-sponsoring this bill, and standing before Planned Parenthood in July 2007 promising that “the first thing I’d do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.”)
3. Publicly criticized the Supreme Court’s April 2008 Five-Four decision to support the Partial Birth Abortion ban.
4. Has pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Clinton) as well as the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy (also instituted by President Clinton). Apparently, neither is sufficiently inclusive.
On a related note, Newsweek has an outstanding cover story this week on Obama’s religious pilgrimage. It shows some of the strands of his liberation theology.
Note: Previous post on this topic.