soy but whether or not Focus on the Family sup-
porters were willing “to stand with us” against
the Woevrich-Thomas-Dobson wing of the
Religious Right. “Are vou there?” Dobson wrote.
“Do vou care? really need to know, Tt would
be helptud it vou would write us a note or a let-
ter to expla vour position. Clearly Dobson
was seeking to Intensity support, if not financial
contributions, by portraving the enemies of the
“pro-family movement as now within the gates
of the kingdom itselt. Charles Donovan ended
a similar letter to Family Research Council sup-
porters with a standard postscript asking for
contributions. “If vou can make a gift to FRC 10
holster our efforts, now would be a perfect thine
to do so. he wrote.
Still, tempers, egos, and fund-raising letters
aside, the fact that Wevrich, Thomas, and Ed
2obson are now engaged ina dialog with those
who are responding to their aritigue of the
Religious Right reveals a level of diversity in the
movement that would have been considered
dangerous to the Rehglous Right's health just a
fen vears ago.
Make no mistake, neither the First Things
Hap of 1997 nor the Wevrich- Thomas Dobson
thesis of 1999 mean that the Religious Right is
cracking up or going away. Rather, as is the case
with the feminist movement, which is nearly its
contemporary, we will need now to start dis-
cussing various wings of the Rehatous Right.
The one size-fis- all cra of uniformity is over.
The Religious Right has matured into a
movement that will arapple inwardly with how
best to tansform culture while at the same
time continuing as a presence in electoral pols
ities and cultural transtormation, Moreover,
amvone looking for evidence of the latter need
only make a carsory overview of the carly pres-
dential race. in which George W. Bush and Al
Gore were falling atl over themselves to see
whe could connect best with evangelicals.
Bush aimed that fesus was his favorite polit:
cal philosopher “hecause THe changed nny
heart, while Gore trumpeted his own born:
Juin status,
The leading candidates were dearly appeal -
ing to a Religious Right constituency that has
been dentitied. organized, and mobilized dur-
ing the past 20 vearss As long as that voting
block exists there will be politicians appealing
to it and Religious Right activist leaders orga
nizing 1 Phis will continue even as the Tors
Things melleciuals contemplate resistance to
the regime and the Wevrich-Thomas-Dobhson
wing of the Religious Right movement
attempts to keep evervone sober about the hm-
its of politics. i]
FOOTNOTES
“he Pad oan Demecraa? The lodiaal Usarpation of
bohtics Fost Thivaes, November 19a, pp. 18 HL
See Rob Boston, “Eamialy Feud: Pocus onthe Pamilv Ss Lanes
Drobwsn Dares to Disapline Wavsard Members of the
GOP — And Mavhe Americas Too] Clrdd and Stare Mav
tas, pe 9-140 Tronicallve while plaving the role of GOP
instders Dobson also applauded the forse Thenges considera
ton ab resistance to “the regime” See The Bnd oor
Democracy? A Discussion Continued.” Froese Ding, January
POY pp. 210,
Sees tor osamples David Neft, "Oudaaders Noo Mores Flos
Conservative Christians Scrapped. Wheedled, and
Bareained for Ther Place at the Table, Olostuaniny lod,
April 28, 1997, pp. 22-250 Phe artdde cares a photo of Pat
Robertson and Bob Dole together, he most thorough and
up-to-date story of the Religious Right alse argues that
the movement hus become w staple of the American polit
Cal scene. See Wikia Martin, Wenn God Or Or Sele: The
Rise of the Reltgrows Koh io bnerica New Yorks Broadway
Books, 1996
Paul Wevrich to “rear Friend feb, Te, 19990 As Lite as
November 1999 Wes nichis letter could be accessed at the
Web site wawwerionetorgiarchives'wesnich im, This as the
Web site for the Religious Freedom © oahiion: Wevrich's
own orpdization is called Tree Congress
fbsdop, 2.
[ond
[bal
Jerry Falwell, Id Dobson, and Fd Hindson, Ihe
Frordarentalist Phenomenon, Pre Resurgence of
Conservatory Chrndenie (Garden City, NOY Doubleday
Colter, T9811
Cal Thomas and Bd Dobson, Blinded by Magha: Can tie
Referens Bech Save Aenea? thrand Rapids: Zondervan,
[RA EAN
{had pos In,
Shad ppc 2ocand Tien Wallis Hostage to an Huston: An
Interview with Cal Thomas and Fd Dobson,” Sopearners,
November December 1999 pp. 18-210 For a tall article on
Probson and Calvary church, see Dean Merndl, “The
tducation of Fd Dobson Closaanas Today, Aug. TL 1997,
PP. MIRE
lames Dobson, “Or Fath Compels Us Caren, Api
baau po 1a The other articles were on pages 13 through 19,
Jamies Dobson to "Dear Friends,” Tune 1999, pod As of
Novernher 19v Biohaons fetter could be avuvessed at the
Focus vn the Tan Web site address www Lomi org do
study: newsletters Ase us homd, A vasion ot this eter
abo appeared a ferry Falwells oanrnal, See Dre lames
Dobson, “Christians Must Remain Tnvobved) Narooma!
[oberse Joromad, July Tod Phas version can be accessed at
waa sthertvedo chancellorindp Tale Taos acivisan hin
Drobo to Dear Poends, pp 1, 2
{hod
end opp. dob
it Fshied: An Insaadersy
Rehivtouns Redd
volodan, Septo, Tugs pp Ay
Como taation, Chetan
Conse ats and Cultural Change,” © SPAS Tondas,
“Waoted ty Thomas and Dobeon, Hinaded Ine Mode po Sb
Dobson to rear Foeands pos
Chk Donovan to Thea Friend” Mosiiide Doren, Apr 2
pas po 30 has
wah reo fertersapnl bitin
noeswestoiter van be adeessed ae