Mike Huckabee, the preacher/politician hybrid

May 24, 2006

Arkansas Gov. [tag]Mike Huckabee[/tag] (R) doesn’t hide the fact that he’s seriously planning to seek the GOP presidential nomination in ’08, and as part of his effort to boost his profile, [tag]Huckabee[/tag] sat down with the WaPo’s Chris Cillizza recently to talk about his priorities. One remark in particular stood out.

[W]hen it gets down to it, what animates Huckabee most is his faith, and it’s his background as an [tag]evangelical Christian[/tag] from the South that could very well distinguish him from the rest of the GOP pack.

Asked whether he considers himself to be more “[tag]preacher[/tag]” or “[tag]politician[/tag],” Huckabee insisted that it is impossible to separate the two. “I would say that my [tag]faith[/tag] has everything to do with my politics,” he explained.

Now, it’s worth noting that Huckabee segued from this comment to note that his faith leads him to take some relatively moderate positions (on immigration) and some hard-line conservative positions (on abortion rights). For that matter, it’s fair to say that many liberals can just as easily say that their faith shapes their values and religion influences political positions.

But as a rule, when it comes to presidential candidates, isn’t it a little troubling when a presidential candidate finds it “impossible” to separate the preacher/politician line?

Very troubling indeed. John Kennedy had to declare his independence of action from the Pope when he ran for president. Now we’ve got nimrods like Huckabee who won’t even declare their independence from the imaginary big mac-daddy pope of the cosmos, aka God. Talking about the insane running the asylum.

  • Whenever I hear any politician who tries pass themselve off as being morally superior to anyone else, I think of a line from the movie Hunt for Red October:

    “I’m a politician, which means I’m a liar and a thief, and when I’m not kissing babies, I’m stealing their lollipops.”

    During the Republican primary here in Nebraska, Tom Osborne tried to run a “clean” campaign, no big business money, no backstabbing, no personal attacks, and he got beat by long-time politician Dave Heinnman.

    Politics is the antithesis of morality. Plain and simple.

  • This November will provide a critical test for our “separation of church and state” hypothesis. It has weathered several centuries but, beginning with Ronald Reagan, has suffered a steady erosion, regardless of the party in power. Under the Regal Moron and the Bush Crime Family it has all but been erased. We should be able to tell this Fall whether or not we’re headed in the direction of a so-called Christian version of the Taliban. I sincerely hope not, but that means we’ve got to start speaking like Democrats and let the chips fall where they may.

  • Huckabee might think that being an evangelical preacher is compatible with being a politician – but it’s totally incompatible with being a statesman.

  • If I turn this thing inside-out and look at it from a Christ-centric theoretical perspective, then it becomes extremely problematic for “The People” to have such an individual as both Head of State, and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Huckabee comes across as an individual who can only see one point of view—his literal interpretation of Biblical concepts.

    Looking at the Bible, one finds point after point that identifies, either expressly or implicitly (and sometimes both) the gift to Man from God. That gift is Free Will. Each individual has a right to think things through for themselves—as individuals—and then choose what the best path might be for any number of hypothetical situations.

    Now I’ll grant the fact that everyone won’t always make the right decision, and I’ll agree that not everyone will make the decision that “I” think is best for them. But then again, that’s not my job—it’s theirs. God gave everyone else the same gift, and I’ve no right whatsoever to take from someone else something that God gave to them. That, in my mind, would make me a thief.

    Folks like Huckabee, however, think that they DO have the right to take away what God freely gave to each individual—and that’s what is so terribly wrong—and dangerous—about folks like Huckabee. They’re not only claiming to be “the voice of God,” but they’re also implying—through their actions and words—that they are “better than God.”

    Another point is the blatant refusal to separate God and politics. That “give unto Caesar” thing comes to mind.

    Huckabee and his ilk are probably more of a danger to the United States than illegal immigration, drug trafficking, dishonest politicians, Dick Cheney’s hunting skills, and the whole al-Queada/Taliban thing—all rolled into one….

  • Republican primary voters resoundingly dismissed Pat Robertson when he ran for president (this was before he was completely batshit insane, merely the type of insane that believes he has healing powers). Of course, Pat did not have the legitimizing cover of being a sitting governor of the same state that gave us Bill Clinton (a powerful narrative that our press corps will not be able to resist).

    Bottom line, I’d welcome him as the GOP candidate. The GOP coventional wisdom of run to the right in the primary and then run like hell to the middle after won’t work for a guy like that. He would turn the vast majority of Americans off.

  • Render unto Ceasar (the state) what is Ceasar’s.
    Render unto God what is God’s.

    These ass-hats are no more Christian than I’m a 20 foot tall Power Ranger.

    The problem is that so many people in this country (at least 29%) are so removed from reality that the panderers can convince them of anything.

    Anybody know where I can get snake oil wholesale?

  • The pragmatic problem is that Huckabee is a very likable guy. He is not Pat Robertson or Pat Buchanan. He is an average Joe who struggled with his weight, sat in on an impromptu gig with a governors’ “band” at a governors conference in Iowa, and is from Hope, Arkansas. Now, I don’t happen to think he has a very good shot at winning the nomination, but I do think he is a particularly dangerous vessel for delivering unto America a theocratic government precisely because he is not scary.

  • He can also do a million one-arm pushups.
    Nonstop.
    With a doublewide on his shoulders.
    While the Arkansas Razorbacks starting offense does jumping jacks inside.

    Thanks to Pat Robertson’s “Blood of Christ” Powershake

  • The left fears Huckabee. With good reason. But we won’t join you by slandering your morals or beliefs. We merely do what’s right and use the gifts we’ve been given. If America decides Huckabee is the man to lead the nation, it will happen. If not, fine. We can move on and sleep peacefully at night knowing that we did what was right. God bless and have a great day!

    BSR

  • Now, I don’t happen to think he has a very good shot at winning the nomination, but I do think he is a particularly dangerous vessel for delivering unto America a theocratic government precisely because he is not scary.

    You won’t see the GOP nominate someone who’s that obviously a walking affront to the 1st amendment.

    They’ll nominate Brownback, who’s also a total theocrat, but because he’s a.) Catholic and b.) not actual clergy, he can bring the Republic of Gilead a step closer without scaring the rubes.

  • You’re right, BSR, how rude of me.

    I would just like to apologize to any member of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team who was offended by my mentioning them in my last post.
    I’m sorry.

    As for Huckabee, politicians have been ridiculed in America since the founding of our country, it’s one of those pesky side effects of having a democracy.
    Personally, I don’t fear Huckabee. I don’t think he has much of a chance in ’08.

  • Huckabee is a terrific candidate for the R’s in 2008. To win the nomination, that is.

    He’s still far too uptight and goofy, in a Frist-like way, to win a general. He has no gifts as a messenger, he’s all bio. He adds absolutely nothing to the Bush electoral map. But look at the guy on paper; he’s tailor-made. Preacher, governor, Southern, “nice.”

    This would be like the Democrats nominating an intellectual from Manhattan.

    I think he really might be their nominee, because Allen might flame out.

  • BSR (Blue State Republican) wrote:
    The left fears Huckabee. With good reason. But we won’t join you by slandering your morals or beliefs. We merely do what’s right and use the gifts we’ve been given. If America decides Huckabee is the man to lead the nation, it will happen. If not, fine. We can move on and sleep peacefully at night knowing that we did what was right. God bless and have a great day!

    What better to illustrate the alternate reality inhabited by the right than BSR’s little gift. The right doesn’t slander our morals and beliefs? Hell, they do little else. Does anyone else remember The Reverend Mr. Fallwell blaming the events of 9/11 on the likes of the ACLU, the feminists and the homosexuals? How about the reflexive labeling as traitorous anyone who dares to voice opposition to Bushco? What utter bullshit.

  • Zeitgeist #8 is right. I saw Huckabee on the Colbert Report (or Daily Show??) and he was actually funny and self-effacing. So, whatever message he brings, it won’t be in a scary Pat Robertson package.

    Meanwhile, Steve #5 writes: “Looking at the Bible, one finds point after point that identifies, either expressly or implicitly (and sometimes both) the gift to Man from God. That gift is Free Will. Each individual has a right to think things through for themselves—as individuals—and then choose what the best path might be for any number of hypothetical situations.”

    I’m no theologian but I think what you are describing is more like Buddhism. Life gives us choices, per se, but the Judeo-Christian tradition has nothing to do with Free Will; it’s all about obedience. God said not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (the prerequisites of free will) and Adam and Eve were punished when they did. Since then, Christianity in particular has been pretty specific about how hewing to the path, with prescribed ritual and righteousness, ends with a good report card and admission to the club on judgement day…or else. Sure your enumerated sins can be forgiven by a merciful God, but you get no extra points for originality here. Just saying…

  • Steve W,

    You have no clue what you are talking about. One thing everyone who knows Mike Huckabee can agree on, liberal or conservative, is that he a tremendously gifted communicator.

    BSR

  • Huckabee has done some amazing things in Arkansas. The car tag system once required taking half a day off work to renew your license plate each year. Thanks to Huckabee, you can do it over the phone or on computer in five minutes. Arkansas’ roads were the worst in the nation. Now they are some of the best. His ARKids First program gave health insurance to uninsured kids up to 200 percent of the poverty line. It let parents get off welfare without the loss of Medicaid for their kids. The welfare roles in Arkansas have been cut in half. Education has improved and more students are going on to college — and graduating.

    America would do well under his leadership as President.

  • In response to Jim Strain: you critisize people like Reverend Fallwell for making ridiculous claims about 9/11. First of all, Reverand Fallwell is not running for president, if he’s making claims like that then I wouldn’t vote for hime either. You need to realize that those words never came out of Huckabee’s mouth. You cannot make generalizations about all republicans like that. If you would actually listen to Huckabee speak you would see that he isn’t a crazy radical like Fallwell. Don’t fault Huckabee for something someone else said!

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