Another Bush In The Making? The Ultra-Conservative Christian Right Candidate For 2008

Huckabee Announces Presidential Bid: Former Arkansas Governor Courts Conservative Republicans

Transcript of Mike Huckabee's Interview On Meet The Press With Tim Russert

Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, has thrown his hat in the ring for the presidential race in 2008. Huckabee's performance as Arkansas's chief executive lacked a lot of credibility. While Huckabee pointed to a lot of "successes" during his administration, he failed to acknowledge that Arkansas has not met many of the basic needs for many of its residents. He also failed to acknowledge that racism is alive and well in that state, even to the degree that some people are discriminated against in terms of hiring, education and coping with extreme poverty conditions (as compared with other US states)

MR. RUSSERT: You were governor of Arkansas for 10 years plus. The Cato Institute, conservative think tank... analyzed your performance, and this is what they said:

“Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, Republican, final term grade: F. Mike Huckabee ... receives an F for his current term and a D for his entire tenure. The main reason for the drop was his insistence on raising taxes at almost every turn throughout his final term.” And The Club for Growth, another conservative think tank, wrote this: “About Gov. Huckabee, the Club for Growth ... is adamant. ... They say he raised taxes five times—a gas tax increase in 1999, the cigarette tax hike, tax increases in 2004, a tax on beer and a tax on nursing homes.” That’s a tough record to sell to a Republican audience in primary states.

Given that Huckabee also served as Lt. Governor for Arkansas as well, his track record doesn't lend itself to allowing much confidence in his abilities and performance. Add to that the fact that he is also an ultra-conservative Baptist opposed to pro-choice rights (even though God provides choice as a condition for all Christians, Jews and Muslims); is opposed not only to same sex marriage, but also equal civil and workplace rights for homosexuals on religious grounds; and supports President Bush's plan for expanding troop numbers in Iraq. His support for escalating our troop numbers in Iraq is unwavering:

MR. RUSSERT: If you were in the Senate or the House, would you vote to oppose the president sending more troops to Iraq?

GOV. HUCKABEE: I think that’s a dangerous position to take, to oppose a sitting commander in chief while we’ve got people being shot at on the ground. I think it’s one thing to have a debate and a discussion about this strategy, but to openly oppose, in essence, the strategy, I think that can be a very risky thing for our troops.

In a contrast to Bush, Huckabee does have some moderate views regarding poverty, the environment and the rights of immigrants (legal and illegal). Huckabee also plays to the spiritual nature of all Americans, but remains committed to a political ideology that is grounded in seeing all of America express Christian values.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee yesterday announced plans to form a presidential exploratory committee, hoping to carve out a conservative niche in an increasingly crowded field of Republican candidates.

Indeed, Huckabee is playing to the ultra-conservative Christian Right that was his operational base in Arkansas and is hoping to catch the same wave that pushed Bush, his father and Ronald Reagan into high office.

The onetime Southern Baptist minister....

Judging from his interview with Tim Russert on Meet The Press, his anointing as a Baptist minister has not worn off. Now anyone that has had any exposure to the Baptist denominations knows that there are Baptists and then there are BAPTISTS. Huckabee falls into the latter category and, despite his genteel manner and ability to spin his commitment to faith as a natural part of who he is and a particular trait of all Americans, he is committed to bringing America back to Christ.

MR. RUSSERT: I was reading a lot about you, an ordained Baptist minister.... I want to ask you a couple things that you said earlier in your political career. “Huckabee ... explained why he left pastoring for politics. ‘I didn’t get into politics because I thought government had a better answer. I got into politics because I knew government didn’t have the real answers, that the real answers lie in accepting Jesus Christ into our lives.’” And then this: “I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ.” Would you, as president, consider America a Christian nation and try to lead it as—into a situation as being a more Christian nation?

GOV. HUCKABEE: I think it’s dangerous to say that we are a nation that ought to be pushed into a Christian faith by its leaders. However, I make no apology for my faith. My faith explains me. It means that I believe that we’re all frail, it means that we’re all fragile, that all of us have faults, none of us are perfect, that all of us need redemption. We are a nation of faith. It doesn’t necessarily have to be mine. But we are a nation that believes that faith is an important part of describing who we are, and our generosity, and our sense of optimism and hope. That does describe me.

Despite the spin and the reframing of his words in accordance with what is politically expedient, Huckabee is intent upon making America over in the image of the ultra-conservative Christian Right.

MR. RUSSERT: But when you say “take this nation back for Christ,” what does that say to Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists? What...

GOV. HUCKABEE: Well, I think I—I’d probably phrase it a little differently today. But I don’t want to make people think that I’m going to replace the Capitol dome with a steeple or change the legislative sessions for prayer meetings. What it does mean is that people of faith do need to exercise their sense of responsibility toward education, toward health, toward the environment. All of those issues, for me, are driven by my sense that this is a wonderful world that God’s made, we’re responsible for taking care of it. We’re responsible for being responsible managers and stewards of it. I think that’s what faith ought to do in our lives if we’re in public service.

While I support Huckabee's right to worship as he chooses, and his right to run for political office, I cannot see anyone in their right mind supporting yet another Christian Right candidate for president. We have seen this entrenchment in the Reagan-Bush administrations, as well as in the current Bush administration. Being a nation of faith does not require all of us to believe as Huckabee--or as the Christian Right--believes. Our political views, while certainly a product of our religious and philosophical views, need not be determined for us. Our fundamental freedom is defined by our right to determine not only our own form of government, but also in protecting the right of each person to act in accordance with their own values and conscience, regardless of religious affiliation. The compulsion that the Christian Right has for forcing their views and religious doctrine down our collective throats is reason enough not to vote for such a candidate as Mr. Huckabee.

Huckabee enters the race as a long shot, boasting little national name recognition and up against such high-profile and well-funded Republican candidates as Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. But, like Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.) and Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.), Huckabee is trusting that the GOP's traditional base is not content with the current leaders in the race and that there might be room for a staunch conservative who is antiabortion and opposed to same-sex marriage.

Huckabee, 51, said yesterday that he supports President Bush's position on the Iraq war, and he discussed his record in Arkansas, which was not always predictable. He was an advocate for providing state services for illegal immigrants, opened up insurance benefits for 70,000 children from low-income homes and was criticized by fiscal conservatives for raising taxes several times.

He also publicly supported creationism, a philosophy advocated by fervent Christians, arguing that students should be exposed to the study of the doctrine as well as evolution.

His positions on these issues betray his words of accommodation to those of us that believe differently than he does as false and opportunistic... the words and tactics of a seasoned politician who lacks the insight to see that he is in denial about his own convictions, entrenchment and ability to represent all of America in good conscience and under the conditions set forth by the Constitution.

We do not need another committed Christian in the White House. What we need is a principled person willing to fulfill the oath of office and the duties of the President in full accord with the Constitution, regardless of his/her religious affiliation, faith or doctrinal beliefs.

Mike Huckabee is not that person. Neither is Mitt Romney for similar reasons. John McCain fails the test because of his lack of consistency and commitment to the Constitution. So far, the field of candidates for President in 2008 is a weak showing on both sides of the political spectrum.