According to Bob Unruh in World Net Daily, Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group, said he would not support Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign "under any circumstances.":

A prominent Christian leader whose radio and magazine outreaches are solidly in support of biblically-based marriages – and keep in touch with millions of constituents daily – says he cannot consider Arizona Sen. John McCain a viable candidate for president.

"Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances," said James Dobson, founder of the Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family as well as the Focus Action cultural action organization set up specifically to provide a platform for informing and rallying constituents.

This is unlike the comments made by another influential conservative Christian leader, Rev. Jerry Falwell, who had kind words for Senator McCain in March after the Senator apologized for labeling Falwell as one of America's "agents of intolerance" during the 2000 Republican primary.

Dobon is upset with Senator McCain's cloudy position on gay marriage and McCain's support of Democrat legislation that would create new obstacles for grassroots organizations:

(Dobson) noted that legislation he'd just been discussing on the program, regarding an attempt by Democrat leaders in Congress to create obstacles for ministries such as Focus to reach constituents with action messages about pending legislation, is being supported by McCain, too.

"That came from McCain, and the McCain Feingold Bill kept us from telling the truth right before elections … and there are a lot of other things. He's not in favor of traditional marriage, and I pray that we won't get stuck with him," Dobson said.

The provisions of the new congressional proposal, hidden deep inside a plan to reform lobbying rules to eliminate the many recent scandals involving members of Congress, would require pro-family groups to provide documentation of their actions to the government any time they try to spark any "grass-roots" action.

The legislation Dobson is referring to is Section 220 of Senate Bill 1, which would add a load of bureaucratic red tape to any group taking part in grassroots communications which has expenses of $25,000 or more.

The Hill reported that The Free Speech Coalition, lead by prominent conservatives such as Richard Viguerie and Paul Weyrich, is vigorously campaigning against this assault by Senate Democrats (and John McCain) on the 1st Amendment. And as the former FEC Chairman Brad Smith (a Clinton appointee) notes, this legislation is all about silencing grassroots organizations with threats of retaliation:

The conservative blogosphere has lent its heft to the Coalition’s campaign against grassroots disclosure, along with past Federal Election Commission Chairman Brad Smith, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton. Smith also predicted that the grassroots provisions would merit a court challenge if they become law.

“It’s a disaster, generally, the notion that the government should be checking up on attempts by citizens to communicate with citizens,” Smith said. He argued that lawmakers are seeking the identity of firms paying for constituent calls for purposes of retaliation: “Can you think of any other reason that members of Congress need to know who’s running grassroots ads in their district?”

Senate Bill 1 includes a number of positive reforms, but if the bill reaches President Bush's desk with Section 220 in tact, he would be wise to veto it.