The unsubstantiated allegations concerning Dr. James Dobson trumped up in a negative-campaign-style ad this week by the way-left group DefCon are not about what they say they are about.
I know, it appears to be a bumbling attempt to tar Dr. Dobson by hinting at the possibility of some kind of coincidental link to the Jack Abramoff scandal. But it became blindingly evident — as I listened in on a DefCon media teleconference Wednesday — what the folks behind the campaign are really mad about.
It's you.
The Values Voter.
They saw what you did in the last national election. You increased the number of pro-family members of the House and Senate. You rejected Sen. John Kerry's bid for the White House.
They see President Bush signing the partial-birth abortion ban — and think of you.
They see Sen. Tom Coburn sitting on the Judiciary Committee — and curse you under their breath.
They see Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court — and throw darts at your picture.
So now they are trying to knock the support out from underneath Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family because they see us as a rallying point for America's Values Voters. If they can dupe you into believing that Dr. Dobson is somehow a "base hypocrite," that he's "knee deep" in scandal, that he's "selling out the millions" who believe in him, then maybe you won't have the will to show up at the polls. And if you do show up, maybe you won't feel quite so compelled to vote for candidates who represent your values.
Which means they make gains in '06 and '08.
Which gets them closer to advancing their hard-left agenda, which includes slashing every restriction on abortion, jackhammering the Ten Commandments from public buildings, ripping the page defining marriage out of the law books and packing the nation's courts with liberal activist judges.
So, even while members of DefCon are admitting they have no proof and don't ever expect to have any proof of impropriety by Dr. Dobson — they tell the Big Lie.
And this is only March.
November is eight long months away.
I see this as the launch of a protracted series of attacks, nominally aimed at pro-family leaders, but with a real target of keeping you from taking your faith, your beliefs and your values to the polling place.
It's going to get ugly. It already has.
So, what can you do?
Pray hard.
Pray for divine protection for pro-family leaders and the people who work with them. Pray for wise decisions. Pray that they won't be tripped up along the way.
Be discerning.
Don't take wild allegations at face value. Check them out. Ask questions. Search for the truth.
Take action.
Stay informed so you can gently correct misinformed friends who otherwise may start a cascade of e-mails falsely questioning the integrity of pro-family leaders. Hold your local media accountable. Be the one who can bring the truth to your Sunday-school class or small group.
The continued impact of Values Voters on America will be largely contingent upon our ability to keep a cool head and stay together.
We'll be praying for you.
And we covet your prayers for us.
