Unlike Mitt Romney, the Rev. Huckabee fails the Christian litmus test.
Rev. Mike Huckabee is supposed to be the most adamant, pure Christian candidate in the race for President. But I think Huckabee seems to be the least truly Christian in the Republican field. I might cite several grounds for that, but mostly I'm saying this because of the sleazy and underhanded way he's demagogically using his religion specifically against Mitt Romney.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - troll
hermano Al - what's the problem with a slick underhanded nasty hick preacher...might be just what's needed to negotiate with mullahs
27 - Jim
I used to think he didn't have a chance. With all the attacks from the left however, I think we may just see a Huckabee in the White House.
By the way, anyone see the full context of what Huckabee said to the Times reporter?
28 - Ed Barger
Al,
I read your Chuck the Huck post and the pro/con tag alongs with interest. My two request are that you rethink your personal non-believer position and second, help promote the seperation of religious beliefs from state and government politics.
Ed Barger
29 - RJ Elliott
Great article, Al.
I liked Huckabee until I heard about the not-so-subtle smear attack he made against Romney (and all Mormons) in that NYT interview. I've pretty much given up on Rudy (too liberal, too much personal baggage), and I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive McCain for some of the positions he taken over the years on issues that are very important to me (campaign finance "reform," illegal immigration, etc.). Tancredo simply isn't presidential, and Duncan Hunter is polling at about 1%.
So I guess I'm left with Mitt, Thompson (who is currently far behind and losing ground in the polls), and Ron Paul (who has roughly zero chance of actually winning the nomination). :-/
30 - RJ Elliott
BTW, the comment spam from Huckabee supporters is MUCH more obnoxious than anything I've seen from Ron Paul supporters...
31 - Bob
Blah blah blah.....
Mitt Romney WILL be the next president.
If you're a whiney little commie Obama Osama or Billary supporter...too fucking bad..
Deal with it losers!
32 - Al Barger
Ed [comment #28] - Please don't get me wrong - I'm not particularly looking for a religious candidate, as I'm not religious myself. But again, I would appreciate a candidate who shows some of the positive behaviors and character traits that it is the best purpose of religion to inculcate, ie honesty and brotherly love.
And if someone's a preacher running for public office, I'll damn well expect them to be well above board on such things. Huckabee is not, and reminds me only too much of Bill Clinton.
As to re-thinking my status as a non-believer, I'm not going to try to talk myself into believing in some foolishness. However, I do not claim to know the answers to the mystery of life, and remain open to a message from God if he has something to say to me. Being a somewhat slow-witted Kentuckian though, it would probably take a burning bush or a blinding light on the road to Damascus for me to get the point.
John [comment #24] - As Huckabee supporters go, you are so far clearly the most literate. You actually address me in a civil manner, and manage to write decent coherent English. Thank you for the effort.
However, your arguments aren't really impressive. Your argument 5 in particular seems odd. What did Huckabee do? The Jesus and Satan business, and the "Christian leader" most specifically are what he's done that's so un-Christian. I explained those in detail and provided links to news stories. And I haven't said anything against Christianity or Jesus Christ - only schmucks doing un-Christ like things while claiming his name.
Also, in your point 6, you want me to cite something. Well, did you follow the links in those words? It would tell you exactly what I had in mind there, which would be his anti-gay remarks and wanting to lock up AIDS patients. Here's the relevant text from my original story: fomenting hatred against whole groups as Huckabee does.
33 - Zannty
You need to start at the Kindergarten level of Christianity and learn what it is really all about....as it is a fact....you do not KNOW! Also, while you are at it study the Mormon RELIGION AND ASK WHY THEY WEAR SPECIAL UNDERWEAR EVEN WHILE GIVING BIRTH! Also, inquire about what happens to people from the top rung of Mormonism when they depart from that group and devulge info about what actually happens in the upper 20%, that is, if they are still alive to tell it.
34 - Zannty
You need to start at the Kindergarten level of Christianity and learn what it is really all about....as it is a fact....you do not KNOW! Also, while you are at it study the Mormon RELIGION AND ASK WHY THEY WEAR SPECIAL UNDERWEAR EVEN WHILE GIVING BIRTH! Also, inquire about what happens to people from the top rung of Mormonism when they depart from that group and devulge info about what actually happens in the upper 20%, that is, if they are still alive to tell it.
35 - Caroline
Mr. Mitt Romney is truly a Christian person, he treats his wife the way all women should be treated - with love, admiration and respect. He has a great family, all 5 sons with love and respect with one another. I did not know that Mr. Romney is a Mormon until the media said so. So I can see that Mormons have great family. I like that for a President. As well as intelligence, nobody can doubt that with Mr. Romney and other great things that a Commander-In-Chief should have. GO MR. ROMNEY GO!!! Straight to the White House!!!!
36 - Colin Ashley
Al, you asked me to elucidate as to how you're living in a "reverse universe."
I could write pages! Let's look at the facts. In a lengthy interview Mike Huckabee made ONE comment about Mormonism which is actually true. Even if there was something deliberate about this question, he personally apologized to Romney.
Conversely, Romney has created very misleading direct mail and television ads about each of his opponents, most of all Mike Huckabee. He attacks Huckabee DAILY in the press, taking Huckabee's comments out of context and running a completely negative campaign. Romney has shown himself to be deceitful, lying about endorsements he has not received. He has flip flopped on abortion, gay rights, immigration, gun control, stem cell research, etc. He seems to hold no true convictions, adopting whatever stance on an issue he thinks will get him elected. When running against Ted Kennedy in 94 he said he was NOT a Reagan-Bush Repulican and now that he is running for the Republican nomination, all of a sudden, he decides he is indeed a Reagan Republican. He is the most dishonest politician I've ever seen.
Governor Huckabee, on the other hand, has run a very positive campaign. He refuses to run negative ads even in response to Romney's attacks. He prefers instead to spend his time telling the American people how he will lift this country up. He stands up for what he believes in, even when it is unpopular.
I would sum up these two candidates with the following ...
Mike Huckabee: "This is what I stand for, I hope you agree and vote for me"
Mitt Romney: "Tell me what you want me to stand for so I can win your vote".
Ultimately, the key to Huckabee's massive surge in the polls, despite limited funds and organizational support, is his supporters sense in Mike a true, authentic yet imperfect Christian, and someone who reflects and has consistantly stood for their values. He appeals to so many Americans who are tired of Washington elites, Wall Street, and the media who all think they can elect our President.
37 - Alec
RE: However, I would appreciate a candidate who bears some of the personality traits of that groovy mortal guy Jesus of Nazareth.
I note your preference for a hippie-dude “Jesus Christ Superstar” kind of candidate, but this makes just as much sense as wanting a presidential candidate who resembles Santa Claus. Nobody knows what the historical Jesus was “really like.” And since Jesus never ran for or was elected to public office, I have no idea why an imitation of Christ is supposed to be meaningful with respect to the attributes of a presidential candidate.
RE: I would at least appreciate if a candidate for office was not a sleazy religious demagogue.
How about a candidate who is neither sleazy, nor religious, nor a demagogue?
RE: But if I WERE looking for a Bible modeled candidate, I'd be thinking more Old Testament vengeful God, ie Yahweh rather than Jesus. That line of thinking would naturally tend to incline one to Giuliani.
Uh, no. The idea of a vengeful deity is based on a false dichotomy between the supposed Old and New Testaments. But even more false is the idea of looking to any religious text for hints of a presidential candidate.
RE: And ultimately to me, the point with these religious issues isn't religious faith or doctrine. I don't believe in either or any faith, so I don't necessarily care. But I do care about the kind of basic personal honesty and integrity that religion is supposed to instill.
Religion is supposed to instill integrity? According to what reading of which religion?
RE: Not to say that Romney's perfect - for all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God - but he sure seems like he does a better job of following the basic Ten Commandments and Golden Rule morality than the preacher does.
This neatly sidesteps the question of qualification or even competence. That either Romney or Huckabee exactly follows the Ten Commandments might be useful information in looking for a Sunday School teacher, but it is low on any rational discussion of what it takes to be president of the United States.
RE: Mitt Romney WILL be the next president. If you're a whiney little commie Obama Osama or Billary supporter...too fucking bad.. Deal with it losers!
Spoken like a true fucking Christian. Of course, the loser, if any Republican wins this next presidential election, will be the American people.
38 - Utah PL
I must say that I am amazed at how uninformed some people are. This discussion should not be taking a turn into whether or not Mormons are Christians. Nor should it be a question of Gov. Romney or Gov. Huckabee being a "better christian". This is a job for the person that can lead all faiths/beliefs for the 4 years they are in office. This job is about LEADERSHIP, HONESTY, TRUST, and doing what is best for ALL of us.
*Zannty-You are one funny duck. Where do you get that garbage about us Mormons. I happen to be one of those who wears "SPECIAL UNDERWEAR" and I can tell you have either been reading too much in the conspiracy theory realm or you have been smokin too much weed and it's rotted your brain. Either way, you have written some funny stuff.
39 - Al Barger
Colin - Thanks for taking the time for that response, but it's very broad and general and thus not very meaningful.
Huckabee has not been running a positive campaign, in that his most notable tactic has been screwing with Romney over being Mormon. That's not positive, nor very Christian. That kind of sleazy underhanded religious divisiveness that Huckabee's been peddling appeals to the worst angels of the religious right's nature, not the more truly Christ-like.
Romney has not been making false and bigoted claims against Huckabee, or played very rough really at all. What specific Romney ads would you point to as dishonest?
This article, again, was not about all the policy issues of the campaign, but just the religious angle. Still, I say again that Huckabee has been far worse a flip-flopper than Romney, if that is your angle. Huckabee was basically all pro-immigration as a governor, and now taking a fairly radical stand against it. Romney seems to have been only maybe marginally tougher there than Huckabee, but then he's not moved so far the other way rhetorically either.
Then there's Huckabee on taxes. He raised a lot of taxes as governor. He's clearly the most tax hungry Republican on the stage - but now he's all for absolutely eliminating the income tax, all right suddenly. That's not kind of shifting your position a little bit for competitive positioning, but just absolutely doing a 180 from anything about how he ever governed or would ever try to actually govern.
Now, Romney changed his mind on abortion - but it's important that he's openly saying that he has done so (and making a plausible explanation why). He's not pretending that he always thought that way. And at that, it seems that in the practice, he behaved in a pro-life way on pretty near all the related issues that came before him as governor.
Other than that, most of the supposed flip-flopping is just in language and tone - and I'll give any politician some room to work on those counts. When he said he was not a Reagan Republican, that was just that the Reagan mantle wouldn't be helpful to him in Massachusetts. But how did that reflect any substantive difference in public policy?
I watched Tim Russert rake him over the coals, and Mitt actually came out pretty clean. I don't see where he's changed his position substantially on gun control. He was never any big advocate of it, and he's not a suddenly converted 2nd Amendment absolutist now. He's joined the NRA, but says directly that he doesn't necessarily agree with them on everything.
The worst problem with Romney is that he comes across too much as a super salesman. You know he's sharp and prepared, and could probably sell ice to the proverbial Eskimo. Therefore, you might understandably be a little suspicious.
But Huckabee's a salesman, too. Indeed, he may be a better salesman because he's so much better at his aw, shucks act and pretending he's not a salesman at all. But Romney is selling an expensive car with features you may or may not like. Whereas the Arkansas traveler is flat selling snake oil, and obviously has no clue what the real issues are.
I mean, the guy took a couple of days to notice that NIE report on Iran. Whatever you make of that report, it's pretty near to disqualifying simply that Huckabee didn't know. He doesn't have a foreign policy adviser, nor any particular view, other than a really broad bromide that we should be nicer to foreign countries.
In short, Romney's a little slick perhaps, but he knows his business and has some real knowledge and skills to run a government - whether or not I'd agree with all his decisions. Huckabee, on the other hand, is an absolute fraud. Romney's maybe a bit slick and corporate in style, but Huckabee's positively devious.
40 - Mormons Christians
phhhttt (#21):
You acuse Al of not "conducting journalistic research to find out what Mormon's actually believe" yet I seriously doubt that you know what Mormon's believe and if it is really different than what Christians believe.
First: Christians believe that God created everything, including Satan but that Satan is a fallen angel. This is exactly what Mormons believe.
A fundamental Christian beliefe is that Christ is the Only Begotten Son of the Father and the only true path to return to live with the Father is by the Atonement of Christ. Guess what? This is precisely the foundation of all Mormon doctrine.
Now to say that Mormons believe that Christ and Satan are spiritual brothers would be the same thing as saying that Catholics believe that Mother Theresa and Hitler are spiritual brothers or that protestants believe that Martin Luther and Ghengis Khan are spiritual brothers. Technically true, but irrelevant and misleading.
Baronius (#21):
"You could also argue that Mormons fail that most basic Christian Teaching that Jesus is God". How? That is the foundation and core of Mormon faith. Mormons believe that the only path to salvation is by Christ, all ordinances, and prayers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are done in the name of Jesus Christ. Almost every lesson on Sunday revolves around the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ.
John (#24)
You attacked Al by stating that is only goal is to "attack the candidate who isn't afraid to profess unabashedly to be a Christian".
I am sorry, but Huckabee is by far not the only Candidate who has professed unabashedly to being a Christian.
41 - Lee Richards
Hilarious--and very sad--that it's the 21st century and the Republican nomination for POTUS may hinge on the candidates' preferences in mythology!
Better to try and determine which candidate would make an honest and effective president in spite of his religious beliefs than because of them.
Or do you like the idea of a "Christian" government?
42 - Lee Richards
Hilarious--and very sad--that it's the 21st century and the Republican nomination for POTUS may hinge on the candidates' preferences in mythology!
Better to try and determine which candidate would make an honest and effective president in spite of his religious beliefs than because of them.
Or do you like the idea of a "Christian" government?
43 - Al Barger
Utah PL - Again, I'm not a believer, and don't care about Mitt's underwear any more than I gave a rat's ass about Clinton's boxers or briefs. When I say that Romney's a better Christian, I mostly mean that in terms of just the kinds of character traits you list there: "LEADERSHIP, HONESTY, TRUST, and doing what is best for ALL of us." Specific policy proposals aside, I'd trust Romney 10 to 1 on any of those general character traits over the Huckster.
Alec - It would entirely cool with me if a candidate for POTUS was an atheist. But the point here is that Huckabee carries on about being a "Christian leader," but doesn't do a very good job at all at living up his billing.
As to hippie-Jesus, you perhaps misread me. I'm pretty much Eric Cartman made flesh, and I despise a damned dirty hippie as much as the next rightwing nutjob. My point was to try to distinguish the ideas and philosophy of Christ the character from any religious-type beliefs, ie the resurrection story.
44 - johnny scott
great article ... as I study to whom i should vote for i ran across another romney fact thats been carefuly overlooked . he once shut down a corporation for days to help a frind and fellow business partner find a daughter who had overdosed on drugs , he put all the resourses of tghe company towards flyers and feet on the ground efforts , she was found minutes before slipping into a coma . do we want a president whos smart , has integrity , has deep beliefs who has never let his mate or family down , ive decided this week because he has what it takes .
45 - RJ Elliott
"You could also argue that Mormons fail that most basic Christian Teaching that Jesus is God". How? That is the foundation and core of Mormon faith. Mormons believe that the only path to salvation is by Christ, all ordinances, and prayers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are done in the name of Jesus Christ. Almost every lesson on Sunday revolves around the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ.
I can vouch for this. I went to a Mormon church once as a young child (long story), and Jesus Christ was absolutely front-and-center in their biblical teachings.
It is my opinion that a lot of these Protestant preachers/reverends tell their congregations that Mormonism is a "cult" because they fear losing parishioners to them. After all, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been growing in membership quite rapidly, and therefore other denominations view them as a threat. So they use disinformation about this religion in order to prevent their flock from leaving.
It's disgusting, really.
46 - Al Barger
RJ- Thanks for that independent testimony. That does confirm the general point of assumption that I'd make based on them calling themselves The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Mitt Romney made your point with Russert, who was reading anti-Mormon quotes from Bob Jones III - and has endorsed Romney for president. Romney smiled gently and suggested briefly just that point about competition for adherents.
47 - Sergio
Good article if you don't believe in God. Its very biased. You like Romney because you think he has a better chance of winning because he has alot of campaign money(Goliath). Its amazing when Huckabee was not winning how people like you were not criticizing him. Now that he is beating others with less campaign money(David) he supposedly is the least Christian of them all. How can you know that future U.S. President Mike Huckabee is using manipulation of his true faith as a weapon when you, yourself admitt you do not know what true faith is. Its ok to use the parables of the Bible if your influencing people to understand a point like David vs. Goliath. I believe manipulation is when one party benefits only. And influence is when two or more party benefits. So far of what I know about future U.S. President Huckabee, is when he wins the Presidency, alot of people will admit that this great country and they are benfitting from his leadership and the other people will benefit, too. They just won't give him the credit. Which by the way, Jesus doesn't care who is the least of them. He the Savior just cares to know if your one of them.
48 - Marlene
JESUS WILL RULE THE WORLD SOON AND I SAY EVEN SO LORD JESUS COME QUICKLY.
49 - Al Barger
Sergio, you seem to have no effective answer to anything that I have said about Rev Huck, and thus are reduced to saying that my motivations are bad. Again, this kind of hateful psychological analysis of me is a distinctly un-Christian gesture - which type of negativity I've never heard from a Romney supporter, and rarely from any Mormon.
I'm less than impressed also with how you have to shoehorn in bogus Biblical analogies, so you can make it that I'm just wanting to support Goliath. Yet this is not based on anything whatsoever in my article. I never mentioned nor considered which candidate was more electable. My consideration was entirely based on which of those two candidates would be the better president, and particularly which would be better in regards to basic core Christian personal values.
And MANY people suffer when the Huckster carefully turns Baptist against Mormon, so that ONE political candidate can benefit.
50 - Ray Ellis
Maybe it's just me, or a lack of sleep or something, but comments 51 and 52 nake no sense whatsoever. Their vitriol, neaningless as it is, does disturb me, however.
51 - Baronius
I said, with painful care, that you could argue that Mormonism doesn't see Jesus as God. My understanding is that Mormons aren't trinitarian - they see Jesus as distinct from God the Father. Most denominations of Christianity see the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Redemption as essential beliefs. Most denominations wouldn't accept Mormonism as Christian, and most Christian preachers would give an answer similar to Huckabee's. I don't require a correct answer to that question from a presidential candidate.
52 - Irene Wagner
If Huckabee and Romney were chicks, and there were tee shirts and mud involved, I don't think y'all could be any more all over this story. Enjoy the catfight while it's still news.
The question any Christian politician should ask himself before brandishing the LORD's name in a political campaign is WWRPD?
Here's what Ron Paul has to say: "I have never been one who is comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena. In fact, the pandering that typically occurs in the election season I find to be distasteful. But for those who have asked, I freely confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, and that I seek His guidance in all that I do. I know, as you do, that our freedoms come not from man, but from God. My record of public service reflects my reverence for the Natural Rights with which we have been endowed by a loving Creator."
For those of you wanting voting advice from someone who speaks your spiritual language, I offer the following:
Jews for Ron Paul
Mormons for Ron Paul
Indians and Pakistanis for Ron Paul
(Someone wanting to hear the views of other Hindus or Buddhists may find what they're looking for here.)
53 - El Bicho
"Some might accuse him of flip-flopping on some issues"
Only the ones that have seen the videotape footage of him holding different positions, depending on the office he's running for. Of course, it could be pure coincidence that he claimed liberal views when running for the Senate in Mass, and now has conservative views while running to be the Republican nominee for President.
"you'd be hard pressed to find the least hint of impropriety in anything Mitt Romney has ever done in life."
You mean other than being a member of a religion that discriminated against blacks until 1978? If you don't find a "hint of impropriety" in that way of thinking, then you really shouldn't be calling others "knuckle-draggers".
54 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Brother Al,
All those years I was voting for folks in the States I was supposed to consider whether they were good Christians or not?
Man, do I feel bad. I never even thought about stuff like that! Wow! What an uninformed voter I was! Can I ever be forgiven my lapses in judgment?
You know, in Jerusalem, there is a bookstore called "The Torch" where they sell all sorts of Christian stuff. Do you think I could get a Christian "vibo-meter" that I could hold in front of the Youtubes I download that will turn green if an American candidate is a good Christian and turn red if he is a bad one?
55 - Dave Nalle
Why would being highly religious, or the best Christian be a plus for ANY candidate?
We're not electing a high priest, we're electing someone to run our government.
Believing in magic, fairies, juju, moroni, yahweh or any other fantasy ought to disqualify you from the presidency or at least cause us to take you less seriously, not be an asset.
And that should apply to Ron Paul as much as to Huckabee and Romney.
Dave
56 - Truth Hurts
All i have to say is in politics both teams are on the same side. No matter who wins we all lose!!
57 - alessandro
Did anyone happen to catch Lawrence O'Donnell's flip out on the Mormons on the McLaughlin Group a couple of weeks ago?
58 - Al Barger
Brother Ruvy- No, I wouldn't necessarily expect you to look for whether the candidate was particularly a good Christian, but at whether they're a good person with good personal values. That might come out as being a good Christian, a pious Muslim, or an upstanding Jew such as yourself. Or, lest Brother Nalle be offended, it could be an atheist with strong independently acquired moral scruples.
But the leading candidate for the Republican nomination at the moment is not showing those things to me. Huckabee comes across as really the sleaziest guy in the Republican field - made considerably worse in my judgment by the bogus proclamations of propriety.
59 - Dave Nalle
Al, that raises the issue of whether Christian 'values' as taught by certain sects in America are desirable at all. Values like hatred of minorities and homosexuals and non-Christians seem well beneath the level of morality we should be looking for as a nation.
Dave
60 - handyguy
Both candidates are extremely slick, and like all politicians, extremely calculating. But Huckabee, like Bush, plays the role of good ole boy quite skillfully. Romney, with his perfect smile and hairdo, looks over-polished, over-rehearsed, and this gives more traction to charges that he is almost completely insincere.
As a gay man, I'll never forgive Romney for his two-faced exploitation of gay issues before and after his election as governor. I will always think of him as a snake.
But if he really is a moderate beneath all his disgusting social-conservative posturing, as some of his supporters would have us believe, does that make him more palatable? To me, quite the opposite.
I think Al gives him way too much of a free pass by saying, yes, he flip-flops, but actually less than other politicians. Talk about rationalizing!
But the idea of a former Baptist preacher as President of the US gives me the shivers, too. I'm glad the Dems are ahead in the polls now...I just hope we don't muck things up the way we did in '88, '00 and '04.
61 - Al Barger
Yes Dave, that's fair enough. Most Klansmen considered themselves to be good Christians. Even beyond obviously wicked permutations like that, even decent Christians have some twisted philosophical premises. As a student of Ayn Rand, I'm totally conscious of those things.
But then there are those good values that most religions are mostly trying to encourage in their flock. In that regard and depending on the person, I'm inclined to look highly favorably on Mormons. Some of their mythology looks really silly to me - though no more so than, for example, transubstantiation, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Doctrine aside, actual living modern Mormons have a pretty strong and well earned reputation for being honest, upstanding neighbors with strong family values.
They may not be the hippest hep cats in town, but I'd be happy to have the Osmond family representing for US. I'd certainly rather have the Osmonds than a wicked demagogue heir to William Jennings Bryan.
62 - Mike Nichols
I am a liberal by definition.
Jesus is a liberal.
I am a Democrat.
I am a Christian.
I recognize Christian principles at work.
I will vote for Mike Huckabee.
63 - Dr Dreadful
Jesus is a liberal.
I would characterize him more as a political conservative...
"I come not to change one iota of the law..."
'Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's..."
...but a social liberal:
"Suffer the little children to come unto me..."
"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven..."
That kind of thing.
64 - Mike Johnston
Better Christian? Hmmm Ok there is a new qualification for being President. It is kind of funny really that this would be turned into an issue at all. The far right has been preaching their own righteousness since the Regan years to anyone who would listen and have now pretty much become the public face of the republican party.
Now that they have achieved that victory by ridicule, spin and slander against every group they could possibly attack and are at the peak of their game they have run out of enemies to hold themselves up against as "lesser" people. So now, in order to satisfy their insatiable need to prove their own goodness, they are forced to turn on each other. It takes the term "holier than thou" to a whole new level...lol
65 - Matt
I don't think Evangelicals are Christians. They not only label mormonism as a cult, but also Catholicism, Jehova's Witnesses, Scientology, and anyone else they don't agree with. Their actions in many other ways show that they are much more like the Pharisees than the followers of Jesus.
66 - Zac
Mike Huckabee would do the same thing the same way if Mitt were running or not.
This is you looking for something that isn't really there. kinda dumb if you ask me.
67 - Matt
People should start calling Evangelicals "The Christian Taliban." While they may not have earned the Christian part by what they do, they have certainly earned the "Taliban" part.
68 - bethtopaz
If a person attended law school for one year and then dropped out, but consistently told everyone that he had a law degree and therefore, he was qualified to speak on subjects related to the law, would you still have respect for that person?
Do you think that person just may get fired from his job for lying on his resume about his credentials?
Well, that is exactly what Huckabee is doing.
He has repeatedly bragged about his theology degree.
He doesn't have a theology degree (a Masters in Divinity).
He has a BA which is essential in order to qualify someone for earning a theological degree.
Only problem is that he dropped out of seminary after one year and started working for a televangelist.
This alone disqualifies him from the job of POTUS.
69 - Matthew
Right on Al!
Huckabee is nothing but a HYPOCRITE! It has gotten worst in the past weeks. The most recent proof is his Christmas ad. In the ad, he denounces political ads and political commercials around this Christmas time with - GUESS WHAT? - a POLITICAL COMMERCIAL of his own, masked as a Christmas greeting/wish. Who does not know that the ad is a political one, when the disclaimer states that: “I am Mike Huckabee and I approve this message” with his campaign website address on there? And then deceivingly used part of a glowing window pane as a CROSS in the background. Mockery at its best! How more hypocritical and underhanded can one get? Well, I will find comfort in knowing the ONE who doesn’t like hypocrites!
70 - Dave Nalle
Huckabee may be a hypocrite, but let's not forget that Romney is one of the biggest hypocrites on earth, having changed his position on every major issue over the last 4 years from positions which the author of this piece would find utterly unacceptable to ones which make him the perfect candidate for the religiously motivated and intellectually bankrupt 'values' voters.
Dave
71 - Irene Wagner
#55, #59, #55: What happened??? Did Church Lady beat someone over the head with her handbag this morning?
FACT: People possessing the same level of intellect, the same capacity for ethical and even compassionate behavior and the same level of belief or lack of belief in the Supernatural will assign different priorities to:
*babies in foreign lands being wired to explosive devices in foreign conflicts exacerbated by manipulative and exploitative American intervention.
*full-term babies in America being decapitated by abortionists wishing to avoid murder charges.
*babies in foreign lands starving to death on baby forumula diluted with impure water because a big American baby food corporation convinced their impoverished moms to buy their expensive product rather than the cheaper and more wholesome alternative of breastfeeding.
*inequitable tax breaks for traditional households vs. nontraditional households.
I support Ron Paul because he's managed to assemble a group of colaborating backers who are all over the spectrum in terms of the priorities they assign to these matters. He wants careful reasoned debate on them, rather than having unelected PAC's and lobbyists steer federal representatives (who already have more legislation in front of them than they could ever possibly read) into decisions that don't reflect the will of the people.
Americans aren't going to find solutions we can be proud of by tossing tired slogans and increasingly barbarous insults across the great divide. I'm sick of hearing it from the faithful, and I'm sick of hearing it from atheists.
72 - Slick-Willy
Outstanding article. Al, you're clearly a very bright guy.
I'm a Republican who thinks the Christian Coalition has been huge for the GOP and I want Evangelicals' voice to be heard in political discourse. For that reason I will not vote for Huckabee in the primaries or general. He will take the Evangelical vote away from issues to identity only and identity politics is not a platform that can be sustained among rational people.
Huckabee's fear of the issues has caused him to produce adds that avoid them and only highlites his "Christian" status. This fear has also caused him to decline a spot on "Meet the Press," where he would get eaten alive and he knows it.
The main difference between the approaches used by Huck/Mitt is that Mitt, in his own name and with full personal responsibility openly questions Huckabee's record. Huckabee, on the other hand, uses whispers, "innocent questions," push polls, etc. to sway public opinion of the "knuckle draggers" Al referred to. Then, Huckabee claims Mitt is the negative candidate. Amazing.
73 - Irene Wagner
Amendment to Last Line minus three: Exceptions are issues that are Constitutionally within the purview of the federal government.
74 - Mathew
Dave:
Maybe you need to look up the definition and meaning of the word “hypocrite” before you spill your misinterpretations and ambiguity. Romney has changed and admitted that he has changed his views/positions on issues (e.g. on abortion). That’s not hypocrisy, especially when one admits that he has CHANGED. A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be someone he’s not, and Huckabee is a proven hypocrite. He claims and pretends he is a “Christian” and touts his Jesus discipleship, and YET, he has done some unethical, dubitable and corrupt things especially while governor - like hundreds of gifts he was not entitled to, and failing to report them, the mansion’s (governor's) furniture, destroying computer hard drives to hide information, using campaign money for personal things, lying about his theology degree, terminating an attorney for not defending/covering up his son’s crime, audacious pardons, etc., etc., Need I list more? If a poll were taken which one, of Romney and Huckabee, would be more associated with the words - “questionable character and corruption” - Huckabee would beat Romney by miles. And yet, here’s a guy who claims to be a Christian Leader, invoking Christ’s name at will? Now, that’s HYPOCRISY! OK, Dave?
75 - Rod Johnson
The question that I am struggling with is the issue of whether or not Mormons are Christians. Who has the right to tell somebody they aren't a Christian when every single person of that faith claims to be a Christian.
I think most Evangelicals understand this.
Does believing this make you a Christian?