It looks like there will be a few uninvited guests when Dr. James Dobson officially is inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in November.
Gay activist Wayne Besen, who reportedly preferred Howard Stern to win the popular vote, plans to protest the Chicago event.
He's called Dr. Dobson "an extremist who has built his empire on the backs of gays and lesbians" and “a bigot who distorts scientific research."
Gary Schneeberger, vice president for media and public relations (PR) at Focus on the Family, called Besen "a PR pro of the first order."
"He puts words into sentences very colorfully," Schneeberger said. "And that attracts the media's attention. Unfortunately, he's a little less adept at putting truth into sentences."
In truth, Dr. Dobson created his so-called empire more than three decades ago to help husbands and wives be better spouses, to help parents raise healthy and godly children and to help Christians walk out their faith with consistency, boldness and compassion.
"The Focus on the Family broadcast was created as, and remains, a means of helping families thrive," Schneeberger said. "If you were to analyze the content of our 32 years of broadcasts, only a minuscule number deal with public-policy issues, and an infinitesimal number deal with homosexuality."
As for "distorting research," Schneeberger said it's the gay activists who are doing the distorting.
In 2006, Dr. Dobson was invited to write an opinion piece for TIME magazine about the benefits of traditional marriage to children and society. In the article, Dr. Dobson pointed to a handful of scientific studies that found mothers and fathers parent differently.
"He never said the scientists agreed with his conclusion that gay marriage is bad for society," Schneeberger said. "He merely said their data could be used to reach his conclusion — which is 100 percent true, but something the scientists didn't appreciate because of their ideological leanings."
Dr. Dobson's radio broadcast came in first in the hall of fame's “national active” category, beating out Bob Costas, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Stern. To qualify, a broadcaster must have contributed to the radio industry on a national level for at least 10 years.
Bruce DuMont, chairman of the hall of fame, said Dr. Dobson meets the requirements for induction.
“Our only criterion is the number of years in the business," he told the Chicago Reader. "He’s been broadcasting more than 15 years on more than 3,000 stations. He’s qualified.”
Schneeberger applauded DuMont.
"It's not everyone today who is willing to stand up and do right in the face of the acidic criticism that comes from activists like Wayne Besen," he said. "I hope those who appreciate all that Focus on the Family has done will let Mr. DuMont know how much they appreciate his courage."
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Thank Bruce DuMont, chairman of the National Radio Hall of Fame, for recognizing the importance of family.
