Dobson takes on Thune in speech at Mount Rushmore

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal Staff Writer | Saturday, November 04, 2006

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MOUNT RUSHMORE n Focus on the Family founder James Dobson’s 11th hour campaign stop Saturday at Mount Rushmore dished out some healthy encouragement for South Dakota voters who support Referred Law 6, the state’s proposed near total ban on abortions.

But what may have been most surprising about Dobson’s appearance at the Shrine of Democracy was who he criticized. In addition to the usual suspects such as the “liberal press” and the ever-present Islamic threat, the staunchly conservative Christian paused to chastise another Christian conservative: Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

Calling Thune a good friend, Dobson drew appreciative shouts and applause from the crowd occupying about the amphitheater when he said Thune should have attended the rally.

Thune, the lone Republican from the South Dakota delegation in Washington, has long been recognized as the state’s most conservative lawmaker and has been a vocal abortion opponent.

Thune staff members said he was scheduled to be in Virginia on Saturday to campaign with Sen. George Allen.

“Senator Thune’s pro-life position is clear and has never wavered,” his deputy communications director Andi Fouberg said in a written statement. “He wholeheartedly supports a culture of life and the protection of the unborn.”

But Dobson accused Thune of ducking the controversy stirred up by Initiated Measure 6 by being out of state.

“Sometimes, I think John likes to play the middle of the road,” Dobson said. “And this issue is controversial.”

Considering the importance of the issue, Dobson said, it was difficult to understand why Thune choose not to attend. A lot of people worked very hard to get Thune elected to the senate and gave him a lot of money, Dobson said.

Ellie Schwiesow, a Republican candidate for the state Senate in Rapid City’s District 32, echoed Dobson’s sentiments about Thune’s noticeable absence.

“I think it is important that everyone take a firm stand for life at this pivotal time in history,” Schwiesow said in an e-mail she distributed earlier this week. She added that Thune disappointed the Christian community that gave its heart and soul to elect him two years ago when he did not give Referred Law 6 stronger support, she said.

Russ Tarver, co-chairman of South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, said he believes that Thune’s position that abortion should include exceptions is a “wise choice” held by most politicians.

Tarver, a retired Methodist minister from Sioux Falls and member of Pastors for a Moral Choice, said Referred Law 6 does not show any compassion towards a mother who is a victim of rape or incest or whose health could be compromised by a pregnancy.

Referred Law 6 basically protects only the child, Tarver said.

In his other remarks, Dobson said that Referred Law 6 was the first time people in the United States had the opportunity to protect the life of a child, “to go to the polls to see that babies are protected.” He also spoke in support of another issue on Tuesday’s ballot, Amendment C, the proposal to constitutionally define marriage as only between one man and woman.

Dobson followed a slate of speakers that included Rick Scarborough, president and founder of Vision America; Janet Folger, president and founder of Faith 2 Action and former U.N. Ambassador and presidential candidate Alan Keyes.

About two-thirds of the Rushmore amphitheater, which holds 2,500 people, was loosely filled. National Park Service security people monitored the crowd, moving closer to the podium when Dobson arrived.

During the rally, fall visitors wandered the pathways leading up to and surrounding the national monument. A few paused to listen to the speakers, but most continued with their picture taking and sightseeing.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com