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Figuring out just who Dobson is trying to be isn't as easy as it should be. He appears to sway from one professional identity to another as the needs of the moment demand - which might not be so bad if it weren't for the fact that he refuses to admit that this really is happening. We all wear different hats at different times, but Dobson wants to seem to be wearing just one professional hat, one professional identity - no matter what he is actually doing.
Throughout most of this career, he has played up an image of a family psychologist and counselor, helping people all over the country with their problems. Other times, however, he appears to be more of a Christian minister, dispensing theological advice to his listeners. Which is true?
Well, when he was once sued, he appeared in court to explain that his company was actually a "Church" and hence was beyond judicial scrutiny or civil accountability. In one broadcast in 1996, Dobson explained to listeners that the real purpose of Focus on the Family was to "Focus on Jesus" and that he had devoted himself to a campaign to make America "spiritually righteous." So he's really a preacher, right? Maybe not.
The apparent key to Dobson's ire with the Republican Party and American society in general appears to be the concept of "Family Values". He makes every effort to preach the idea that the American Congress should enforce his ideal of Family Values upon the rest of us, and some are willing to do his bidding. He certainly is consistent in the sense that on his radio program, he advocates real family values - the idea that people should slow the pace of their lives and reserve the bulk of their time and effort for their families. You can find this ideal throughout his written works, and it is a far cry from the repressive "family values" agenda which we normally see being used as an excuse to roll back every single attempt at progressive social thinking.
Oddly enough, Dobson isn't actually consistent in his own life. According to close observers, he is nothing less than a textbook workaholic. He works 6 to 7 days a week and rarely takes vacations of any sort. He really doesn't have the opportunity to spend quality time with his family - but what's worse is perhaps the fact that he doesn't think that his employees should, either. He has even suggested the termination of employees who refused to work overtime so that they could spend time with their children! It is little wonder, then, that he also supports efforts to eliminate legislation which requires fair treatment of employees and the requirement of things like family leave. After all, he doesn't regard such luxuries as having any place in an organization devoted to the promotion of the family, so why should any other company be burdened with them?
It seems clear that for all his talk about "family values" and how important the family is in society, he doesn't actually believe this himself. If he did, he'd be more likely to practice what he preaches. If family values do not mean valuing one's family, what on earth do they mean?
Read More: Fear and Anger What is Dobson afraid of and what is he angry about?
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