The Case for Huckabee
October 24, 2007 — wickleI make no secret of the fact that I’ve decided my Presidential candidate. I support Governor Mike Huckabee in the Republican primary, and also in the general election. I did not, by the way, just pick a Republican. I am not a Republican, I left the GOP in 1995, and I have no intention of registering as such until Mike Huckabee wins the nomination. In that case, I will return to the party as a show of support.
What I am is a devout Christian who takes his faith very seriously, and who believes that my faith has to determine my politics. “For whom would Jesus vote?” is the kind of question that I ask myself when I look at the candidates — and I don’t believe that the Son of God would settle for someone who’s sort of acceptable, or good enough, or “better than Clinton.” Rather, my candidate has to be right — and has to line up with me 100% on certain non-negotiable issues.
Does that make me inflexible? Intolerant? Does that mean that I have a “litmus test”?
Yes, pretty much. I require that my candidate fit my standards, and that he or she show me that these aren’t just slogans, that these are real beliefs. I require that my candidate be pro-life, that s/he believe that marriage is foundational to the society, that s/he have good sense about criminal justice, gun control, terrorism, foreign policy, and much more. I will only support a candidate about whom I feel good, a candidate at whom I can look and say, “That’s my candidate, and I support what he (or she) says.” I will not twist my logic, I will not convolute my arguments. My candidate has to be the right one.
Mike Huckabee is that candidate. His is the first campaign with which I’ve been involved since Dr. David Funderburk’s House of Representatives campaign in 1994.
Why would I say this? Why would I be so emphatic? I’ll go through it, point by point:
Mike Huckabee is Pro-Life
There are people who want to overturn Roe v. Wade, there are people who are anti-abortion, and there are people who are pro-life. Mike Huckabee is firmly pro-life.
Perhaps you’re looking at that sentence and asking, “What’s the difference?”
Overturning Roe v. Wade is one battle to fight. A states’ rights advocate would support this. Reversing his ruling will not, actually, stop one abortion from happening. it would move the battles to the states. This is a low commitment level.
Being anti-abortion means actually wanting to end abortion. This would be seeing that the pre-born child is just that — a human being. Being anti-abortion means taking the step after the stake is finally put through the heart of Roe v. Wade. These are the people who will take steps to end abortion in the states, or pursue the Constitutional amendment to strike down Roe v. Wade forever.
Being pro-life is one step beyond being anti-abortion. It means caring for the babies — not just requiring that we not allow people to kill their babies, but that we offer our own hands and hearts to people. This is what it means to be pro-life, and not merely anti-abortion:
To me, life doesn’t begin at conception and end at birth. Every child deserves a quality education, first-rate health care, decent housing in a safe neighborhood, and clean air and drinking water. Every child deserves the opportunity to discover and use his God-given gifts and talents.
Refer to the Imagine video to see even more of what it means to be pro-life.
Mike Huckabee has never been pro-choice. No one can point to anything he’s ever said that is less than fully-committed to the pro-life cause.
“I’m not a person who became pro-life because I got into politics. … I got into politics because I’m pro-life. And I believe that on this issue, our culture rises or falls, because it says everything that we are.”
- Mike Huckabee at the Values Voter Debate
Mike Huckabee Stands For Families
Gov. Huckabee led the drive that passed a state constitutional amendment prohibiting homosexual “marriage.” He also took the lead on covenant marriages, and Arkansas became only the third state to approve this program. He knows that marriage and the family is important to a healthy society, and he stands in support.
Mike Huckabee has nothing to hide, and nothing he needs to explain. His positions are and have always been clear. He met with pastors to talk about covenant marriage, and many churches in his state will only perform covenant marriages. He and his wife renewed their vows and upgraded their marriage to a covenant marriage.
In Arkansas, he helped reverse contraceptive-based education programs and helped restore an abstinence-until-marriage program. He knows that there are physical and emotional repercussions to sexual behavior, and he doesn’t think that we should casually throw that away — nor should we allow government-run schools to contradict the values parents want to teach. Mike Huckabee gets that marriage is the foundation of the family, and the family is the foundation of society.
“Our culture is failing in its understanding of the proper role of marriage. About half the marriages performed in the US end up in divorce. Why does it matter? Divorce dramatically increases the likelihood of poverty; drug use; premarital sex; juvenile delinquency; and academic failure. The cost to society of failed marriages is too high to calculate. In most instances, only the lawyers come out winners.”
- Mike Huckabee, Living Beyond Your Lifetime
Mike Huckabee Supports Second Amendment Rights
He was the first governor in the US to have a concealed handgun license. He understands that the Second Amendment wasn’t about hunting, it wasn’t about target-shooting — it was written so that we could protect ourselves and our families FROM the government. He strongly supports the Second Amendment as it was written.
I’m not a gun owner, and I have no desire to be. But I do believe in my right to be, and I believe that the government should not be trying to interfere.
He tried to stop lawsuits against gun manufacturers, and helped to protect the rights of licensed gun owners and former law enforcement officials.
“Voters want someone whose views on the Second Amendment understand that the basic issue is one of freedom and it’s not hunting.”
- Mike Huckabee, Fox News Sunday, 2007 presidential candidate interviews Aug 26, 2007
Mike Huckabee Wants Every Child to Have a Good Education
Not only a good education on “the basics,” but a well-rounded education. He wants the control returned to the states, and he wants to give parents the control to choose their schools, to choose charter schools, and to choose homeschooling. He actively promoted arts education as governor, and his efforts led to higher test scores.
See above, his programs with respect to sex education and values.
Governor Huckabee sent his three children to public schools, the first Arkansas governor in 50 years to do so. He was invested in the schools. He raised teachers’ salaries to attract the best teachers, and pushed the Fair Dismissal Law so that the inept could be removed to make room for those new hires.
“We all know the cliché of thinking outside the box: I want our children to be so creative that they think outside the cardboard factory.”
- Mike Huckabee, from his Issues page on http://www.mikehuckabee.com .
Mike Huckabee Wants to Incent Health, Not Just Pay For Health Care
Gov. Huckabee wants to see market-based and consumer-focused solutions to health care, and he wants to see states and private insurers, as well as other interested parties, work on creative and proactive solutions for health, not just medical care.
“It is time to recognize that jobs don’t need health insurance, people do, and to ease the burden on our businesses. Our employer-based system has outlived its usefulness, but the answer is a consumer-based system, not socialized medicine.”
- Mike Huckabee, from the Issues page from http://www.mikehuckabee.com .
Mike Huckabee Has A Real Plan to Change the Tax System
Mike Huckabee didn’t invent the idea of the Fair Tax program, but he’s behind it 100%. This will dismantle the Internal Revenue Service as unnecessary. That will save us millions of dollars in administration alone, to say nothing of the hours of work put into filing those taxes.
In Arkansas, Mike Huckabee had to work within a balanced budget, unlike the national policy of spending into massive deficits. He cut taxes more than 90 times, saving the people of Arkansas millions of dollars.
There are groups and candidates that accuse Gov. Huckabee of taking credit for other people’s work, and charge him with raising taxes and opposing tax cuts. This is inaccurate and incomplete information. While he did stand against eliminating the sales tax on groceries, that was because other tax cuts would have resulted in a budget deficit if the sales tax was also cut. He had to choose which taxes to cut. There’s something to be said for accurate information.
The Fair Tax, which Mike Huckabee supports as his federal tax plan, will eliminate all federal income, capital gains, Social Security, inheritance, and other taxes. A system of “prebates” will keep the tax progressive and prevent us from being taxed on necessities of life, but with a system that is running smoothly and efficiently — and eliminating the loopholes used by powerful and well-connected groups to get tax breaks.
The Fair Tax would also capture the underground economies of criminals, who don’t report their income but will wind up buying things, and thus paying taxes.
“I’d like you to join me at the best ‘Going Out of Business’ sale I can imagine - one held by the Internal Revenue Service.”
- Mike Huckabee, from the Issues page at http://www.mikehuckabee.com
Mike Huckabee Believes in Free and Fair Trade
He doesn’t want to see tariffs and overtaxing products, and he understands the importance of being able to buy and sell products from and to the rest of the world. However, he also sees that other nations rebate their taxes along the way, giving them advantages in US markets. Still other nations (especially China) use savagely inhumane working conditions and product standards.
Requiring a fair playing field isn’t any kind of “protectionism,” it’s how the market is supposed to work.
He wants us to fix out own practices so that we can compete fairly, and use trade policy to force other nations to bring their policies in line.
Three dominant factors in the American economy make it increasingly difficult for jobs to remain here: excess LITIGATION, excess TAXATION, and excess REGULATION combine to ultimately result in the MIGRATION of American jobs to marketplaces beyond our borders.
- Mike Huckabee, From Hope to Higher Ground
Mike Huckabee Believes in Protecting U.S. Sovereignty
This has been another area of criticism, accusing Gov. Huckabee of supporting amnesty for illegal aliens. He wants to seal the borders and know who is coming across. He supports building a border fence, deporting illegal aliens who commit crimes among us, and monitoring illegal aliens and repeat offenders.
Moreover, Gov. Huckabee opposes treaties that threaten our sovereignty, such as the Law of the Sea Treaty, North American Free Trade Agreement, and the North American super-highway plan.
He also believes in punishing the companies that hire illegal aliens, thus creating the incentives for people to come in the first place.
He has been accused of supporting amnesty, but this is simply false. He has said that he doesn’t believe in punishing children for the illegal actions of their parents, and he offered an incentive to the children of illegal aliens to get educations — if they were top-performing students in Arkansas school and they applied for citizenship.
“If we’re going to deal with the supply, you touch it at the point of the demand. And until something is done to touch the people who are employing illegal immigrants, to create what amounts to another version of slave labor, then we’re never going to stop the flow.”
- Mike Huckabee, GOP Debate at Morgan State University
Mike Huckabee Understands the Importance of the War on Terror
He gets that there are people who want to kill us. He’s not afraid to say that the war on terror is theological … the terrorists have combined politics and theology into a terror-driven philosophy. He wants to use the CIA and Special Operations Command to hunt down and destroy the terrorists’ training camps.
He also understands that there are shades of grey in the world, especially in that Arab world. He sees the error of President Bush’s “for us or against us” declaration, and will hold out allies to account for support of our enemies. He understands the need to understand the “cast of characters” in the Arab world — the religious, tribal, and ethnic differences between various factions.
He commits to increasing the size of the standing military, with the hope that we won’t have to use it, but that the National Guard and Reserves will still be held in reserve, rather than being primary forces.
He sees the errors of the Iraq invasion, and endorses the Powell doctrine of overwhelming force. He also understands that leaving Iraq now will cause more innocent men, women, and children to die. It will weaken our position, because someone unfriendly is going to wind up in control. More than that, it is wrong to pack up and leave when our forces are the only thing stopping the various factions from a massive bloodbath.
He also knows that there is no point in debating the past — whether we should or should not have gone into Iraq, that die is cast. He said recently that history will judge whether that decision was right or wrong, but we need to deal with the situation as it is. Now, we’re there.
“During the Cold War, we had hawks and doves, but this new war requires us to be a phoenix, rising reborn to meet each new challenge and seize each new opportunity.”
- Mike Huckabee, from the Issues page of http://mikehuckabee.com.
“Setting a timetable for withdrawal is a mistake. This country has never declared war until ‘a week from Wednesday’”
- Mike Huckabee, from the Issues page of http://mikehuckabee.com.
Mike Huckabee is a true believer. He’s a man of real faith and devotion. He’s honest to his beliefs and principles. When asked in a debate whether he believed in evolution, he was not afraid to say that he believes in Creation. Only two other candidates were so willing. Unlike other candidates, who want to avoid discussions of their religious affiliation or involvement, Mike Huckabee is a former pastor and an ordained Baptist minister. He is active in his faith, and his faith makes him who and what he is.
These beliefs and principles are also the ones that I share, and I believe that they are the best way forward for this nation.
Without hesitation, and without reservation, I support Mike Huckabee for President.
October 24, 2007 at 8:41 pm
[...] The Case for Huckabee « Working the field series cancelled [...]
October 26, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Yes! Huckabee is the man for me, too! Too bad you’re not a registered Republican so you could help him out voting in the primary. But great job on the blog.
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn
October 26, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Actually, Lisa, have no fear. In NH I’m allowed to vote in primaries as an independent.
Were that not the case, I might not have gone that same route, or I’d have re-registered months ago for that very purpose.
December 23, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Hey, I loved reading your site- thanks for opening up your life so that we can understand your journey of faith/etc.
My problem is that I too have traveled the world, seen how the world has been run- and the fact is, that I cannot see the difference between Democrats and Republicans (except when they are campaigning)- I think the whole thing is a deception, to keep us distracted from seeing what happens in international markets/ big contracts. Reading books like “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” and “The Secret History of the American Empire” both by John Perkins, helped me to understand how the IMF/World Bank and others are forging our world. Also, living in African countries for years and interviewing first hand accounts/eyewitnesses have helped to form my paradigm.
I too am a realist, and a person of vibrant faith. I am sorry if you got ‘harassed’ by an Ron Paul supporters (I am one too!) I like his realism and think he knows more about the corruption that is hidden (yes there are many more Enron’s and Worldcoms hidden from our eyes)- If they can distract us with the ‘war on terror’.. I think they are succeeding.
I love your pro-life stuff- my life has been touched by orphans from Africa, also my wife’s life. We work among them regularly. Bless you have a great Christmas!
December 27, 2007 at 6:49 am
Hi, John. Thanks for stopping by.
And, I assure you, I don’t lump all Ron Paul supporters into the kook category. I know at least three in real life, and several perfectly sensible people online.
I’m afraid that there are also some kooks, who reflect badly, but that’s not your fault.
Anyway … thank you for the work you’re doing in Africa. I’ll be spending more time checking out your site, as well.
January 17, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Really nice rundown on Huckabee, thanks for putting this together.
January 18, 2008 at 2:32 am
The FairTax is the best idea in the last two hundred years in my opinion. I don’t understand why other candidates have not familiarized themselves with it. Since they don’t know anything about it, they’ve been saying bad things about it. Oh well, Huckabee has the best stance on the issues, so I’ve been campaigning for him as much as possible online, and pointing out the deficiencies of his competition. The worst two seem to be Romney and Thompson, who have not the slightest idea of what Huckabee is about. I suspect they’ve seen the little clip put out by Club for Growth, which distorts Huckabee’s record, making him look like a liberal. If you see the whole speech, it puts everything into context.
Go Huckabee!
January 18, 2008 at 2:46 am
The problem is that with a downturning economy, Huckabee scares economic conservatives. He talks about firing the 150,000 IRS employees in one swipe. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of small businesses providing tax services. The USA only created 43,000 jobs in November of 2007. Huckabee fails to mention the 23% consumption tax on everything you buy. That includes healthcare. Can you afford a 23% increase in your healthcare?
His reason for supporting the so called “Fair” tax is that it would bring the “bad folks” into the system. The issue there is that the “bad folks” are a tiny percentage of the US population and the middle class will actually pick up the burden.
Look, I am a student with student loans, three kids and a wife, I pay an effective tax rate of 7%! Huckabee would give me a 15% tax increase - I cannot afford that. Finally, economists estimate the “Fair Tax” would need to be closer to 50% in order to remain revenue neutral!!!
Just imagine the black market that will kick up in the US of A. A vote for Huckabee is a vote to put 150,000 people out of jobs right off the bat. That’s a big NO for me.
January 18, 2008 at 7:45 am
Actually, I could afford that increase, if I kept all of our pre-tax income. I could also afford the increase in prices … especially given the prebate system involved in the Fair Tax, which would take care of that issue for most people in the situation you describe.
Can you cite anyone for that 50%? I’ve seen economics who cite 30% … of course, there are economists who back the Fair Tax, so you’ll need to be a bit more specific with that.
January 24, 2008 at 2:35 pm
HUCKABEE SUPPORTERS - SOUND THE ALARM !!
MONEY - NO EXCUSES
Its time to put up or shut up!
Folks must stop pussy-footin around. Time to sound the alarm and pull out our wallets !!!!
If I sound mad it is becuause I am really MAD ! Mike’s campaign is going down because there are thousands of people who have not made any sacrifice to save our nation and the republican party. They know Mike Huckabee is the only one who can do it. These are the ones who will blame it all on the pundits and establishment. But, it will be because of selfishness, plain and simple - that Mike’s message will not reach the voters. So, I will not shy away from strong speech here. Thousands of people need to get off their duff, pull out their credit cards and give Mike at least $50 bucks today.
Food for thought: If the vulgar, mean spirited RP supporters can raise millions in one day… why can’t millions of American Christians give generously in this time of dire need? Shame, shame, SHAME ON US !!!!!
Amazing !! The very people who have everything are unwilling to give anything !!
Prove me wrong - I dare you!
Those to whom I am talking to know who they are.
No more nice talk. Spread the word far and wide. Mike Huckabee is broke and we are the only ones to help.
These are the facts:
Mike needs 400,000 supporters to donate $50 immediately - that means now.
To all the folks who say they love and support Mike -
$50 will not break anyone.
There are a whole lot of “supporters” who have not given a single dime. Shameful !
If Mike does not have over 400,000 supporters who can give him $50 today, then hang it up.
Bloggers !!! Make a big deal, splash the challenge to everyone - call on 400,000 supporters to give $50 immediately and show the results - in the number of people giving $50 or more.
People think their little contribution does not matter. They should be ashamed. We spend $25 just going out for a quick bite, and another $25 going to the movies.
There is absolutely no reason why Mike should not be able to raise $20 million dollars this week!
Except for our greed and selfishness.
Every person who claims to love and support Mike needs to get this message.
Only 400,000 people X $50 = $20,000,000 !
$ 20 million dollars…. are there not at least 400,000 of us who have $50 bucks?
There are no excuses. Get off your wallets and put your money where your mouth is…TODAY !!
Help Mike Huckabee -
Give generously!
Go to the Campaign website:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com
and click on the “Contribute” Tab - then donate to Mike’s Campaign now.
Use Donor Code: R1808
Mike’s success depends on 400,000 people’s generosity….
February 16, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Mike Huckabee is exactly who I believe God has ordained for this job. One with integrity and not one who will shy down about his beliefs but one who will stand. God alone appoints and annoits and if God’s people would humble themselves and pray then he would heal our land and that’s exactly what we need. Not to shrink back but to stand and therefore stand and vote for God’s choice. A lot of men will come with decietful and cunning words to lead others astray for those with itching ears who only hear what is benificial to themselves. We all know who the right man is for the job and I thank God for Huckabee’s listening and being willing to be lead and accept the responsibility God has bestowed upon his life. Thank you and I commit myself this sixteenth day of February two-thousand and eight to pray for you and all those with you. Again thank you so much for the story of your son who made a cake with a dash of salt. You nailed it, people want the morals to change, the commandments, the way God made us to live, have families, breathe, create, marriage, but I believe there is no budging. No moving the plan of God because it doesn’t let my conscience settle right and that is exactly right to, because if we give in than we have conformed to the world. No feel good Christianity here no way, it is all or nothing ifuwere warm God will spit us out. Huckabee is the right one and I believe the only one for the job. He makes choices and his standing on all the issues are right on that kind of wisdom only comes from God. People that didn’t even vote for him in Arkansas liked him beause it takes more than just words but a life of integrity and to walk in love no matter what.
February 28, 2008 at 8:31 am
Ultimately this nation will receive the President that God would put in charge, to complete the plan for this nation that God has put into motion. Serve God with your whole heart and you will serve this nation. Make decision on your knees that will effect your life and this nation. Discern God’s word, and serve Him.
We need to be in pray when ever we have a spare moment. Many in this nation love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but far more do not. The time is at hand, we must shore up our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Make it strong enough to withstand an attack from the anti-Christ’s of this world. The Lord will use those who serve Him.