Dobson and the "pro family" right may sit this one out!

by Alan Willis [courtesy of Blog for America]

 According to the Denver Post, James Dobson may sit this election out, if McCain is nominated by the Republicans. This could be very good news for Democrats. Dobson and his "Focus on the Family" organization have enormous influence with thousands of religious conservatives. If they "boycott" the election, the Republicans are in serious trouble.

 Still, I believe that Democrats should go on the offensive and redifine "pro-family;" the right end of the  Republicans are, after all, the most anti-family of political groups. How can I say this? Simple. Trouble in the family is not caused by the gay couple next door (who are more likely to stay together longer than a straight couples); it is caused by financial pressures and lack of time to spend together as a family.

 Many of those financial pressures are exacerbated—and we all know this—by health care costs. Yet, the Republicans have repeatedly cut federal health care funds, and have steadfastly opposed national healthcare insurance. National healthcare, more than anything else the Federal Government could possible do, would be truly pro-family! We Democrats should go on the offensive with this.

Time together as a family? Americans work more hours than other industrialized nation’s workforce, and we have this amazingly American institution: the 24 hour retail store. We have less vacation time, and the family wage has disappeared to support enormous profits for corporations and a ridiculous wealth gap in America. Now, to support a family, both parents have to work. So to answer James Dobson’s own question: Where’s Daddy (the name of a Focus on the Family film)—He’s at work, and so is mom, because management has cut into workers lives in unprecedented ways without commensurate compensations. Democrats should go on the offensive in favor of rights of workers, better wages and benefits, and actual time away from work to spend with one’s family, rather than lining the pockets of the already superrich.

Of course, mom and dad may not be at work. Not if they worked for one of the corporations now out of business because American corporate giants took their Bush tax breaks and invested them overseas. That really helped the American family, too.