Former pastor and later Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee has surged in the polls in Iowa and appears to be leading substantially in the race for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. At least in all in important Iowa.
Here are some excerpts from Gov. Huckabee’s website:
A significant part of his adult life was spent as a pastor and denominational leader. He became the youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the largest denomination in Arkansas. Huckabee led rapidly growing congregations in Pine Bluff and Texarkana. He said those experiences gave him a deep sense of the problems faced by individuals and families.
- The First Amendment requires that expressions of faith be neither prohibited nor preferred.
- My faith is my life - it defines me. I don’t separate my faith from my personal and professional lives.
- Real faith makes us more humble and mindful, not of the faults of others, but of our own. It makes us less judgmental, as we see others with the same frailties we have.
- Faith gives us strength in the face of injustice and motivates us to do our best for “the least of us.”
- Our nation was birthed in a spirit of faith - not a prescriptive faith telling us how or whether to believe, but acknowledging a providence that pervades our world.
The First Amendment requires that expressions of faith be neither prohibited nor preferred. We should not banish religion from the public square, but should guarantee access to all voices and views. We should share and debate our faith, but never seek to impose it. When discussing faith and politics, we should honor the “candid” in candidate - I have much more respect for an honest atheist than a disingenuous believer.
My faith is my life - it defines me. My faith doesn’t influence my decisions, it drives them. For example, when it comes to the environment, I believe in being a good steward of the earth. I don’t separate my faith from my personal and professional lives.
Real faith makes us humble and mindful, not of the faults of others, but of our own. It makes us less judgmental, as we see others with the same frailties we have. Faith gives us strength in the face of injustice and motivates us to do our best for “the least of us.”
Our nation was birthed in a spirit of faith - not a prescriptive one telling us whether to believe, but one acknowledging that a providence pervades our world.
December 9, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I have heard Huckabee compared to Jimmy Carter. Is this a good comparison or a bad comparison. Likewise, is it good or bad that he may be like Carter?
December 9, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Ooooo, bad comparison. Carter is a Southern Baptist, but of the liberal, very liberal stripe. Huckabee is a conservative, theologically and politically.
Carter was/is pro-abortion, pro-big taxes, pro-gay rights, etc. Huck is just the opposite. Look at his website.
December 10, 2007 at 10:46 am
Now, I may be showing my age, or rather, lack of it, but since I wasn’t alive during the Carter administration, did he articulate those views prior to the election?
December 10, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Les, it would be really helpful if you would summarize Huckabee’s views here on a variety of issues, which would help me in the arduous process of researching candidates. It doesn’t have to be anything too long, but quick summaries would be great. Thanks!
December 10, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Huckabee’s website has a really good summary of issues page that is an awesome abridged version for people like me!
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.Home
December 10, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Yea, don’t forget to mention he’s being endorsed by none other than Chuck Norris.
December 11, 2007 at 12:06 am
The Texas Ranger himself….he’s got my vote….Chuck Norris that is.
Actually, I really like Huckabee, but his tax plan is a little hard to swallow, and is the sticking point for me. I mean, a massive VAT seems a little too European. I prefer Thompson’s suggestion for a flat tax for those who make less/more than 100,000, rather than Huckabee’s >23% VAT. Actually, many economists suggest that Huckabee’s plan would shift a lot of business overseas because the burden of filing would be dramatically shifted to the supply side of the economy.
December 11, 2007 at 1:24 am
Wes, i suggest you go to his website, as Jared said. Click on issues. Everything is there.
December 11, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I’m also concerned about Huckabee’s tax plan. Also, I’m not sure I could fully support his policy on Iraq or health care. I do of course appreciate his strong pro-life stance.
This is always my problem…Each candidate has things I really like and things I really don’t. grrr.
December 11, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Oh, I forgot immigration. I struggle with his position on that too.
December 11, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Chuck Norris? That can’t be helpful. There’s something deeply insidious about a beard that is that perfectly sculpted, with microscopicly even growth spreading from ear to ear like a freshly-mown putting green.