This from today's R&R:

----------------Dobson Hall of Fame Induction Protested----------------

By Mike Stern

A group of national and local organizations calling themselves the "Dump Dobson Coalition" is protesting the Museum of Broadcast Communications' plan to induct Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson into the Radio Hall of Fame.

On its Web site, dumpdobson.com, the group contends that Dobson runs a so-called "ex-gay" program and has said that allowing gay people to marry will "destroy the earth." The group says unless the decision to induct Dobson is reversed, it will protest at the annual Radio Hall of Fame awards dinner taking place Nov. 8.

Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out -- one of the groups that joined the coalition -- says, "There is still time to reverse the reckless and irresponsible decision to honor James Dobson in the Radio Hall of Fame." He continued, "It is unconscionable that the Museum is giving its imprimatur to a demagogue who has profited from divisive and discriminatory rhetoric. If the museum wants to regain its respect and credibility, it will dump Dobson."

An official statement from the Hall of Fame released on Oct. 16 says, "A broadcaster's political, social or religious views never are considered when deciding to include or exclude a candidate. Likewise, the National Radio Hall of Fame does not endorse or support the views voiced by any nominee or inductee on the air or via any other platform."

The statement explains, "The 157 inductees into the National Radio Hall of Fame represent a broad cross-section of individuals and diverse program formats." Hall of Fame nominations, according to the statement, come from a 27-members steering committee and follow published criteria based solely on an individual's tenure and accomplishments in the radio industry.

Following the official release, National Radio Hall of Fame chairman Bruce DuMont posted an open letter that says, "I am fully aware of the pain Focus on the Family has caused in the gay community, but the Radio Hall of Fame induction is not about political or religious philosophy -- or my personal opinion."

The letter also explains that this was the first year voting for nominees was not limited to dues-paying members of the Museum but was opened to the public in an effort to fairly assess a nominee's popular support, expand the voting base and raise greater visibility of the NRHOF bringing greater weight to its eventual inductees.

Focus on the Family led a public online effort to turn out voters, which is neither encouraged nor discouraged by the Hall of Fame. DuMont points out that another nominee in the same category, Howard Stern, instructed listeners not to vote for him. "Focus on the Family's efforts resulted in over 50,000 people voting for Dr. Dobson to be included, far ahead of his nearest competitor."

Dumont then writes, "Some recent irate e-mail has suggested all previous Radio Hall of Fame inductees will be tarnished by the addition of Focus on the Family." He asks, "Does anyone really believe that any fair-minded person will think less of fellow inductees Edward R. Murrow, Norman Corwin, Susan Stamberg, Tom Joyner, Richard Durham, Bob Edwards or 'All Things Considered'?"

Making reference to Time magazine's controversial Man of the Year, DuMont notes that Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and the Ayatollah Khomeini have all been awarded the title. He says, "Time was not endorsing their words and their actions, but instead acknowledging their influence."

A statement from Focus on the Family says the protests are not a surprise: "The groups doing the protesting have made careers of sorts out of criticizing Dr. Dobson for his biblical stands on moral issues." The release continues, "What Dr. Dobson has made a career out of is offering wisdom, advice and hope to millions of families. For more than three decades, the Focus on the Family radio broadcast has helped husbands and wives navigate the inevitable bumps of marriage, meet the challenges of raising their children and walk out their Christian faith with boldness and integrity. That's why he, and the show, are being inducted into the Hall of Fame -- and why they deserve that induction."

DuMont's letter closes by saying that the steering committee will review its voting process before the next selection period and that he plans to urge a change in open online balloting "as it encourages voting manipulation and does not reflect the genuine support of a candidate." But, he says, "For the integrity of the process, the results for 2008 will stand, with protests noted."

tdanner beat you to it Craig.

Let them protest. He won the voteing by the rules fair and square, for the RHF. It just shows the bigited views of the protesters. Just because he dosent agree with them they will stamp there feet and scream. let them. Last time i noticed, this is still america. Where everyone has there right to believe what they want.

This whole thing is a militant pro-gay smear campaign against Dobson.

So, one thread isn't good enough for you two?

Oops! Sorry! Dan Packard can you detete my original and add the other posts to Terry Danner's thread?

AOR does mean all over the road...