Defending Dobson and presidential winner

Recent guest columnist Paul Mathis (Reporter-News, Jan. 7) waged a politics of personal destruction warfare against Dr. James Dobson and "Focus on the Family" for becoming “nothing more than a support for sexual predators” because Dr. Dobson supported Donald Trump for president.

One might excuse Mathis as simply defending his unrealistic view that Hillary Clinton was a paragon of virtue.

But he vehemently attacked Dr. Dobson, still a champion of traditional, conservative Christian values and beliefs. Yet, despite Mathis’ demeaning and salacious attacks, he somehow avoided pronouncing Dr. Dobson “deplorable." My, what restraint.

Mr. Mathis failed to mention several obvious facts.

First, Dr. Dobson retired from all active roles at Focus in February 2009. He then founded “Family Talk,” a nonprofit that produces his radio programs of the same name. There is no nexus between Dobson and his former ministry and, in fairness, Focus should not be conflated today with him now.

Second, our presidential elections result in either a Republican or a Democrat winning the office. Mathis cleverly avoided mentioning uber-liberal Clinton and the overriding fact that Trump soundly defeated 16 Republicans, then went on to demolish her in November 2016. One or the other would be president; no unnamed “perfect candidate” stood a chance. 

Third, while Mathis admits that “all are innocent until proven guiltym” his condemning, holier than thou view is unmistakable: although Trump has, to date, not been convicted or even charged with any crime, he is still not fit to hold office. His condemnation extends to Dr. Dobson as equally worthy of his contempt.

Mathis repeats much of Clinton’s failed campaign rhetoric to voice this animosity. Naturally, he ignores her still unresolved problems: a private email server, the Clinton Foundation’s receipt of millions of dollars from adversary, radical Muslim nations, and the Uranium One scandal. Mathis conveniently also forgot Benghazi, where four Americans were murdered, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, while HRC was secretary of state.

My purpose, however, is not to rehash Mr. Mathis’ lost cause, but to defend Dr. Dobson from such unfounded and unfair attacks.

Perhaps Dobson had other reasons that factored into what Mathis viewed as his ideologically flawed choice for president? Perhaps Dr. Dobson had different priorities for America and its future survival/success. Mathis claimed allies: “However, leader after leader has recognized how toxic (Trump) is and will continue to be.”

And who are these unnamed “leaders?"

Likely suspects include HRC, BHO (Barack Obama), Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, along with those who confidently predicted that, should Trump be elected, our economy and stock market would collapse, perhaps with the rest of the world’s economies. They don’t admit such horrific mistakes but, like Mathis, merely seek and promote our President’s absolute failure. 

Mathis could as easily praise the darlings of the pro-abortion, open-border, anti-military, anti-police, high-tax, legalized pot crowd, who also criticize President Trump’s pushback against the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea. 

In contrast, I personally know many intelligent, kind and from personal observation, very moral people in the Big Country who supported Clinton. Mr. Mathis obviously supported her, too, and I hope he personally fits that description. Unlike Mathis, though, Trump supporters don’t make public declarations that attack Clinton supporters as worthy of disdain or being morally corrupt because they supported her.

Mr. Mathis has no authority to declare that Dobson’s support for Trump proves that he is not “following a God who died on a cross and rose from the grave…” In America, we Christians may choose one candidate over another without losing our standing to be treated as a Christian by other Christians.

Was Donald Trump a perfect candidate? Politician? Role model? Or Christian? Obviously not; no one except Jesus could fill those roles.

Should James Dobson be castigated because he supported Donald Trump? Certainly, but only if one seeks to divide and balkanize America. Could America stand or survive four more years of excessive governmental regulations/spending/taxes, abysmal border security, appointment of activist/liberal federal (including Supreme Court) justices, diminished military readiness while meekly confronting ISIS and terrorists around the world, federal control of the American health care system, destruction of Second Amendment Rights, and escalating racial divisions?

If those and other issues caused voters to choose Trump, then Kudos to American voters for voting both morally and wisely, trying to save this wonderful nation. The one candidate who promised to make America great again won. Enough said.

Chris Carnohan is an Abilene attorney who still believes that America is a Constitutional republic and a Christian nation.