Jim Daly, Focus On The Family President, Questions The Gains Made By Confrontational Evangelicals

Jim Daly, Focus On The Family President, Questions The Gains Made By Confrontational Evangelicals

In an interview with AOL news, Focus on the Family President Jim Daly addressed chatter that the pro-life movement has recently started to reject the confrontational style that partly defined the movement in past generations.

Reflecting on the contentious cultural battles of the 1980's and 90's, Daly, who has been President of Focus on the Family since 2005, suggested that the brash, "hard-edged" strategy employed by his predecessor, James Dobson, and other evangelicals during the era may have been detrimental to the pro-life movement in the long-run.

In the interview, Daly wondered, "When you look back from a pro-life perspective, what were the gains there?"

Daly acknowledged political gains made during the era, referencing conservative Supreme Court nominees, but added that, a generation later, "we see a bit of fatigue. We don't see the results for the energy, the money, everything else that's been poured into the political sphere."

While Daly insists there is no difference between he and his more combative predecessor on matters of principle, he readily admits that his tone and style are the polar opposite of Dobson.

Dobson, Focus on the Family's founder, continued to broadcast his radio show after stepping down from his leadership position in 2003. In 2009, Focus on the Family announced that Dobson would be leaving the organization altogether to begin a new radio venture with his son.

Earlier this year, rumors circulated that Dobson had been pushed out of Focus on the Family by the board of directors because he no longer squared with the organization's new image.

Daly has taken heat from hard-line Evangelicals for his softer approach. Many questioned the organization's decision to use it's Superbowl commercial in January to spread a light-hearted message about Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother.

Daly said Focus on the Family is unlikely to tread back into politics as it did under Dobson, citing his philosophy that "Policy is important, but Jesus is more important."

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