"On Tuesday, Focus on the Family released audio of a special James
Dobson radio program, recorded last Friday after John McCain's
announcement that Sarah Palin would be his running mate. Containing
analysis of the decision from Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, Tom Minnery,
and Kelly Shackelford, the group of right-wing heavyweights discussed
everything from the elation at the announcement felt among those
gathered for the Council for National Policy meeting to Gary Bauer's
role as the McCain campaign's surrogate to the Republican Platform
Committee in crafting the "the strongest pro-life platform in the
history of the Republican Party."

"Among the most striking information was Gary Bauer's revelation that,
contrary to the McCain's campaign's claims that it was taking a
hands-off approach to the platform, they were actively involved and
supportive of the Right Wing's efforts to craft the hardline document
that emerged. In fact, Bauer reports that he was tapped by the McCain
campaign to be their surrogate and that the campaign was "very open to
the kind of changes" the Religious Right was pushing.

"Among the other interesting facts contained in the program was
Shackelford's declaration that CNP members felt that God was answering
their prayers with Palin and Tony Perkins' assessment that McCain has
shifted dramatically in their direction from a year ago and that his
decision to name Palin as his running mate shows that "he can listen."
But perhaps the most entertaining thing about the program was the shame
in Dobson's voice as he explained how he has gone from a vocal critic
of McCain to someone who, "if I went into the polling booth today, I
would pull the lever for John McCain."

http://tinyurl.com/AmericanTaliban00001