May 04, 2010 12:24 AM UTC

James Dobson, Sucker

• 5 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

Colorado Springs’ most famous resident Dr. James Dobson (eat your heart out, Ted Haggard) is continuing the byplay in conservative politics that made him such a lightning rod while head of the Focus on the Family organization. But according to a statement Dobson put out today concerning the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, not without the occasional faceplant:

Dr. James Dobson: “Have you ever made an embarrassing mistake? I did just that last week. I was given misleading information about the candidacy of Dr. Rand Paul, who is running in the Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate. Senior members of the GOP told me Dr. Paul is pro-choice and that he opposes many conservative perspectives, so I endorsed his opponent. [Pols emphasis]

“But now I’ve received further information from OB/GYN’s in Kentucky whom I trust, and from interviewing the candidate himself.

“I now know that he is avidly pro life. He believes that life begins at conception.

“He opposes earmarking and supports Israel. He identifies with the Tea Party movement and believes in home schooling. Sounds like my kind of man.

“If I lived in Kentucky, I would vote for Dr. Rand Paul. Would you consider sending him to the U.S. Senate to shake things up in Washington?”

Here’s that “embarrassing mistake” from one week prior: (H/T: Washington Post’s Right Now)

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, announced today that he is endorsing Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

“Trey Grayson is the only candidate with the conviction to lead on the issues that matter to Kentucky families.  His unwavering commitment to the sanctity of human life and the family resonates with me.  I know that he will be a leader on these issues, not just another Senator who checks the box.  As a matter of conscience, I encourage Kentuckians to support Trey Grayson on May 18th,” said Dobson.

Trey Grayson is another example of a candidate who has enjoyed support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and national GOP leadership very early in the process–Politico noted recently that NRSC chairman John Cornyn was holding fundraisers for Grayson just last August, primary or no primary. Sound familiar? Since then it hasn’t worked out so well selling Grayson to the Republican base: it seems that the NRSC anointing candidates before the voters even meet them is a problem everywhere this year. Ken Buck says, “sound familiar?”

Enough of a problem, it seems, that not even trotting out James Dobson can solve it…