Stop Digging, Gov. Huckabee
The axiomatic first rule when you are in a hole is to stop digging. Well, in the aftermath of the 2006 elections, the Republican party remains in a hole. And one of its front-runners just won’t stop digging.
Speaking before a large audience on the eve of the (much downgraded) Michigan primary, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee called for the U.S. Constitution to be amended and brought into line with “God’s standards”. As if the Republican party doesn’t already have to deal too much with exaggerated incoming fire about a looming theocracy, the “Huckasaint” has to go handing out more ammunition.
In truth, the “theocracy” charge is a slander against the majority of Republicans, including many evangelicals, for whom the role of religion is a lifestyle influence and an shaping of personal values and not a political crusade. But especially after Huckabee built his claim to front-runner status on the back of anti-Mormon religious prejudice among a segment of evangelicals, it is idiotic to go off making even worse proclamations that will inevitably be used to smear the entire party with a Taliban-esque taint.
Huckabee should clarify his remarks. And then he should STFU.
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I think the "clarification" would result in the country hearing that he wants a Constitutional Amendment to ban abortion and another one for gay marriage. Yep, that’ll soften up the message plenty.
I see the nomination of Huckabee as less and less likely as time goes by, he’d be demolished in the general election, and I’m sure plenty of Republicans know it. Sure all the social conservatives would come out in droves for him, but the fiscal conservatives would go drown their sorrows in whiskey that day, while democrats of all stripes would flock and vote for his opponent (be it Obama, Hillary, or a duck-billed platypus), freaked out by his Christianist message.
At this rate he may even be hurting his chances at a VP slot. The other candidates may decide that risking the religious right vote is worth it, just to not have to carry the luggage of all those past statements.
Edited by MvdG: Ema, we have quite a strict comment policy. Either add something to the debate, or don’t comment at all. Snarks aren’t welcome. You are, but leave the snark at home.
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Ema: You truly can’t see the difference between someone who thinks that a candidate’s political rhetoric is harmful to the party he belongs to and thus advises that the person should shut up, versus complaining that a newspaper should not give voice to a person of a particular political persuasion? I’m quite sure from Jason’s history that he has no problem with Huckabee’s right to free expression- he’s just saying that the views that Huck is expressing on mixing faith and politics aren’t the ones that Jason wants people to associate with conservatism.
"In truth, the “theocracy” charge is a slander against the majority of Republicans, including many evangelicals, for whom the role of religion is a lifestyle influence and an shaping of personal values and not a political crusade."
I would really like to know how many there are of the latter category and how best to trip up their efforts, without going after the former. Evangelicals are not a threat, christianist evangelicals are.
Wake up, please. God’s Law trumps man’s law.
JLof@aol.com