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AP 9-Mar-1998 17:14 EST REF5757
Copyright 1998. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
By ROBERT UNRUH
Associated Press Writer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- James Dobson, the conservative author whose daily radio program reaches 5 million listeners, is warning Republican leaders to get serious about moral issues or risk extinction.
"I would really like to see millions of people call or write Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, Trent Lott and others and put them on notice the ground is shifting underneath their feet; that they are aware that they have been ignored ... and if that lack of commitment to the things in which they believe continues then they will abandon the Republican Party," Dobson said.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Dobson aid the Republican Party could end up going the way of the Whigs, whose party disappeared in the 1850s.
As president of the Focus on the Family ministry in Colorado Springs, Dobson rails against abortion, condom programs and homosexuality. A psychologist who has published more than a dozen books on family life, his comments suggested he was getting interested in a role in the kind of election politics his nonprofit organization can't get involved in.
"If they (Republicans) want our votes every two years and then say 'Don't call me, I'll call you,' then I will take the next step." That will be, "whatever it seems right to do at the time," short of running for office himself, he said.
Gary Bauer, who runs Washington's conservative Family Research Council, said he expects Dobson to become involved in several Republican primaries "to signal the type of candidates" he wants.
Republican National Committee communications director Clifford May said Dobson has many followers who would pay attention if he were to advertise in favor of certain candidates. "And I think, by the way, those candidates are going to be Republican," May said.
May said taking an absolute, uncompromising stand won't work for politicians or voters.
"If he feels that he can never under any circumstances support a candidate who is not full pro-life, that is his privilege," May said. "But I don't see, when you have a race that neither candidate is pro-life, I don't think it pays to stay home. It pays to vote for the candidate who is the more conservative."
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