COLORADO SPRINGS (CAP) - James Dobson, the influential evangelical leader of Focus on the Family Inc. and prominent conservative radio personality, has stepped down as board chairman, he announced Friday, explaining that he plans to devote his time to producing media featuring "robust young men who've made good life choices."
"Our culture is sorely lacking in entertainment featuring good role models, particularly for young men," said Dobson, who will produce his Movies For Men at his sprawling home in Colorado Springs. "People assume that just because a teenage boy is attractive and has cute spiky hair, and maybe wears tight jeans and has a firm round bottom that he's up to no good. I aim to turn that image on its rear."
Dobson says he has a short list of young men he'd like to work with, including Zac Efron, Aaron Carter, Daniel Radcliffe, Robert Pattinson and Burberry model Alex Pettyfer.
"I've thought very carefully about whom to approach, and studied their glossies and their videos very, very closely," said Dobson by phone this week. "In fact, I have several of their pictures right in front of me. Alex Pettyfer in particular I think has gotten a bad rap - people assume he's all tousled blonde hair and pronounced abdominal muscles, and tight, hairless chest ... Mmm, umm, can you excuse me for five minutes?"
Dobson's approach to the projects he has in mind is similar to one he proposed for the Jonas Brothers last year, in which a young man or men seem on their way to a wayward existence before a wiser, older gentleman shows them the right path by providing emotional support and "even something as simple as a hug during some masculine bonding activity, such as a trip to a sauna," explained Dobson.
Dobson, who's written the initial scripts himself, says there's a scene just like that in his first planned video project, Today I Am A Man, in which a young runaway, played by Chad Michael Murray of TV's One Tree Hill, breaks down in tears of appreciation while being given a back rub by a sympathetic evangelical talk show host.
"I'm getting choked up just thinking about poor Chad, so exposed and emotional, lying face-down on that massage table," said Dobson. "Mmm, umm, can you excuse me for three minutes?"
Reaction to Dobson's plan has so far been positive. "We always need more examples of young people making good choices," said Darlene Fortenski of Mothers Against Everthing (MAE). "And I trust Mr. Dobson, because he has really bent over backwards to show he's not afraid to say which movies are completely inappropriate and should be boycotted, whether he's seen them or not."
"He's even offered to take my 16-year-old son Josh fishing, just the two of them," noted a clearly moved Fortenski.
Dobson and his organization have been very vocal in condemning movies that portray homosexuality, abortion, sexual activity, swearing or scatological humor. In fact, they haven't actually endorsed a movie since 2005's March Of The Penguins.
"And even that was a little iffy - those penguins can get pretty randy," admitted Dobson.
The lack of appropriate material being released to multiplexes is one reason behind Dobson's decision to step back from his administrative role at Focus On The Family and produce his own projects. He did say, though, that his first several will probably be DVD-only releases, with some material available for online download via a $9.99 monthly subscription fee.
"And when it comes to young men who might be able to participate, my casting couch is always open," Dobson assured.
The project will take off in earnest this summer, said Dobson, after he completes a planned cross-country tour of YMCAs with some associates, including the Rev. Ted Haggard and former Sen. Larry Craig.
- CAP News Staff