Dobson’s choice

So much for Fred Thompson being the great white hope of the fundamentalist wing of the GOP. “God” doesn’t see it that way:

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson appeared to throw cold water on a possible presidential bid by former Sen. Fred Thompson while praising former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also weighing a presidential run, in a phone interview Tuesday.

“Everyone knows he’s conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for,” Dobson said of Thompson. “[But] I don’t think he’s a Christian; at least that’s my impression,” Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party’s conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination.

Yet it wouldn’t be difficult for Gingrich, who has two divorces (and a highly publicized affair) on his resume? He must’ve made some big promises to Dobson.

Andrew Sullivan writes that Dobson’s comments confirm the theocratic impulses held by many on the right:

A religious test for public office – clearly stated by the GOP’s most powerful base figure. Catholics aren’t real Christians either, according to Dobson. Now maybe people will take the threat to secular politics seriously.