Evangelical assholery

By Michael J.W. Stickings

The AP is reporting that James Dobson, child abuse advocate and founder of Focus on the Family, will endorse Mike Huckabee for president.

No surprise there. Dobson hates McCain, just like he hates anyone who doesn't kowtow to his right-wing Christianist agenda -- and to him personally. In fact, he hates McCain so much he won't even vote for him come November. Not that he'll vote Dem or anything, he'll just sit on his ass and not vote at all.

Should he stay in the race -- and note that he likes and respects McCain, unlike Jimmy D. -- Huckabee will almost certainly get a boost from this, just as he'll get a boost from Romney's withdrawal. But it won't matter. Huckabee may be a social conservative, but he isn't what the anti-McCain purificationists of the conservative movement are looking for. While he could make some races more competitive, it's doubtful he'll stay in the race much longer.

The truth that the right now faces is that McCain will be the GOP's nominee for president, a nominee without the support of most conservatives, a nominee loathed by many among the party's core constituencies (justifiably or not).

All the Dobson endorsement means now is that Huckabee is sure to be on McCain's veep shortlist.