Tom, Dick, and harried

National: James Dobson's tense dispute with two Republican leaders seems resolved now, but concerns about Newt, Trent, and a tenuous hold on Congress remain | Bob Jones

When James Dobson threatened in February to bolt the Republican Party, many observers wondered whether he was bluffing. But a skirmish last month between the Focus on the Family president and two powerful congressional leaders proves that, even though there's now no wedge between them, Mr. Dobson really will dare to discipline the party and even Christian lawmakers he loves as brothers.

When Mr. Dobson, who stresses his political activity is as a private citizen and not as president of Focus, first dropped his bombshell at a conservative gathering in Phoenix (WORLD, Feb. 28), he immediately got the attention of the GOP. House Speaker Newt Gingrich quickly requested that Mr. Dobson detail his dissatisfaction with the party so House leaders would be better able to address his concerns. Frustrated that he had already outlined his priorities to the Speaker-to no avail-Mr. Dobson nevertheless repeated himself in a lengthy fax that covered a wide range of social and economic issues.