Conffederate
Confederate

January 11, 2008

Is Mike Huckabee Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?

As an evangelical Christian, I've long been bothered by Mike Huckabee's attempts to use his Christianity as a "holier than thou" political weapon against other candidates for President, even as he has lied about everything from his support of scholarships for illegal aliens (he wanted them), to his desire to raise taxes(he asked for them), to claims he has a theology degree (he didn't complete it).

This lack of honesty we generally associate with a previous Man From Hope has also been compounded by Huckabee's legendary problems with his temper, which have occasionally led to juvenile personal attacks (PDF) against his critics.

Huckabee exposed his childish side again this morning in a scatalogical reference directed at Fred Thompson. Thompson had ripped Huckabee's big government liberal tendencies during last night's Republican debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

This morning in an interview with Joe Scarborough, Huckabee snapped:

Well, I think Fred needs some Metamucil. I think it would help a lot if he gets some.

Mike Huckabee, who almost has a theology degree, may be smarter than a fifth grader, but betrays yet again that he could only hope to be that mature.

Posted by Confederate Yankee at January 11, 2008 04:40 PM
Comments

Huckabee is nothing more than a poseur with (almost) a theology degree who is MORE liberal and facetious than Bill Clinton in a Republican suit. Evangelicals and Republicans had better pray Huckabee is not the nominee.

He would be a good televangelist with his quick middle school wit. He likes to say "you know you're over the target when you're getting flak". I say it's time to shoot the sanctimonious RINO down once and for all.

Posted by: martin at January 11, 2008 05:29 PM

I am agnostic, and Mike Huckabee percular brand of religion bothers me. No matter what Huckabee does he claims to have a religious basis for it In that regards Muckabee reminds me a lot of the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton.

Posted by: DavidL at January 11, 2008 06:58 PM

David... nice name, btw, I've worn it myself for over 40 years.

Anyway, I am an evangelical Christian... you know, the people that are all supposed to be falling prostrate at the feet of the Huckster... and if it comes down to Huck vs. Hill, I have vowed to write in "Charlie Brown" rather than vote for either one.

I guess my point is, not all evangelicals approve of the Huckster.

Posted by: C-C-G at January 11, 2008 07:36 PM

Heh! Nice one CY.

Huckster makes my skin crawl...and as a Christian, I might add that Hucky-baby got his "blessed assurance" handed to him by the conservatives in the Southern Baptist Convention for his liberal--repeat--liberal beliefs--so he left, along with a lot of other liberals.

It doesn't matter what he calls himself...he still cannot change the truth. He's a liberal, tax-raising, arrogant politician. And while I know most of them are that very things--I have a special aversion to those who hide behind the Cross to get votes. DISGUSTING.

Wolves in sheep's clothing, baby...wolves in sheep's clothing.

Posted by: WB at January 11, 2008 07:57 PM

When a so-called Republican and self-described "Christian Leader" starts calling conservatives "Shi'ite Republicans", ya gotta wonder if the guy is really a Republican or just a Donkey in an Elephant suit.

Posted by: C-C-G at January 11, 2008 10:43 PM

I am a Catholic... and I view Huck as the Republican Jimmy Carter.
Without the endearing qualities.

It says something about how alienated the Believing Community feels itself to be from the Republican Party as a whole, that they would support Huck. It's also worth noting that the same could be said for small-government Libertarians and their support for Texas' own answer to Dr. Evil.

Posted by: DaveP. at January 12, 2008 12:33 AM

I was almost chosen as the Pope.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 12, 2008 07:29 AM

You're unbelievable. Huckabee is the man and I'm going to laugh at all of you when he gets the nomination and wins the WH! Quit with all your snide comments and look at what he really says.

Posted by: tennismama at January 12, 2008 07:41 AM

tennismama, of the first four links, two are video of Huckabee saying precisely what he's accused of saying, and another is a letter typed be his own hand. The fifth link is direct, from a transcript (I can get video for you as well, if you'd like).

We have listened to "what he really says," and we've looked at his record.

Mike Huckabee is a liberal. I'm sorry if you can't grasp that.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at January 12, 2008 08:59 AM

Huckapoo-poo I say! The guy is cut from the same sleazy, slick cloth as the other guy from Hope....I'm a conservative Republican Christian and no way does he get my vote! Huckapoo-poo is just a flash & will not win another primary! Rest easy!

Posted by: Val at January 12, 2008 09:19 AM

Huckabee whines about getting the "religion" questions, but it is HE who invited such scrutiny by campaigning as the "Christian" candidate.

What is most distressing to me as an evangelical Christian is the defense of Huckabee by my EC friends who simply refuse to look at Huckabee's liberal RECORD, but instead are mesmerized by the siren song of his "Jesus talk".

I'm from Louisiana, one of the most evangelical conservative states in the south. Yet we're 1rst in convictions of our elected officials. Our politicians are masters at appearing in churches and pandering to Christian voters, all the while rolling the dice that these same voters won't take the time to check the candidate's RECORD against their RHETORIC. Such deception works in LA because voters allow themselves to be deceived. It occurs every election cycle here, and it is happening on the national stage with Huckabee.

I am not implying that Huckabee is dishonest or a criminal. But he talks a conservative talk, and walks (and votes) the liberal walk.

I just wish EC America would carefully examine Huckabee's record, which is patently liberal on every single issue except abortion.

EC America needs to wake up, check the full record, and realize that we aren't electing Jesus.

Posted by: ES at January 12, 2008 09:44 AM

Lets be honest. All of these GOP candidates have their share of liberal ideas and have supported left wing positions at some point. Of course the most conservative being Alan Keyes who gets no mention anywhere. We must stop blinding ourselves with some belief that we must have thoroughbred conservatives. None exist. Even the Great Ronald Reagan signed Amnesty.

I will take ANY of these Republican candidates over Hillary -Obama-Edwards. And do so with great enthusiasm.

Another large Dem victory not only brings in a Dem President but could very easily bring about a Super Dem Majority in Senate and a greater Majority in the House. Harry Reid with 60 Votes is unacceptable. GOP would be all but extinct at that point.

Posted by: Dennis D at January 12, 2008 09:48 AM

Issues aside, how is the Metamucil crack funny? Or rather, explain to me the basis of the alleged joke, whether you think it is funny or not, whether or not you think it was in bad taste or not. It just goes over my head and leaves me confused.

It's like Huckabee said Fred should wear a hat, or paint his house yellow, or get a dalmatian. I don't understand the reference.

Posted by: Aplomb at January 12, 2008 06:11 PM

The problem with your scenario, Dennis, is that with the Huckster, we're basically getting Obama or Hillary with an R after his name instead of a D. Their policy proposals, with but one or two exceptions, are essentially carbon copies of one another.

Aplomb, the Huckster was trying to insinuate that Fred is constipated. Fifth-grade humor seems a bit generous, third-grade is more like it.

Posted by: C-C-G at January 12, 2008 06:57 PM

I wouldn't vote for Huckabee if he nominated ME as his running mate... and I know of no one that will vote for him either. In primary OR general.

Posted by: Verlin Martin at January 12, 2008 09:03 PM

There is a little bit (some like Huckabee, a lot) of liberalism in all the Republican candidates. [Unfortunately, Bush and his compassionate conservatism is largely to blame because he won on that platform] That said, I believe that Fred is the most conservative of the bunch.

Posted by: czekmark at January 12, 2008 10:10 PM

Mr. Huckabee seems to manifest the slippery ethics of another Arkansan while playing a game of identity politics.

I happen to be a Baptist. Baptists have no Pope to enforce ideological purity, so we have a set of "distinctives" that you either agree with or not. If you fail to agree with them, you are really engaging in false advertising. One of those Baptist distinctives is "Separation of Church And State." Maybe you've heard of Roger Williams and Rhode Island, or that letter from the Danbury Baptists to Mr. Thomas Jefferson.

For Mr. Huckabee to say, "vote for me because I'm Christian," and then target his appeal to Evangelical pastors does violence to my notion of the separation of Church and State. (Granted, the Founders were more concerned to protect the Church from the State than politicians are today. But everyone who isn't an Evangelical has that same notion. Thus, Mr. Huckabee polls in the teens among non-evangelicals.) By engaging in faith-based identity politics, Mr. Huckabee is engaging in un-Baptist behavior.

Evangelicals will not bring in the Kingdom of Heaven by seizing the reins of Leviathan. If Evangelicals give government the power to do so, it will corrupt us and serve the ends of Antichrist. Mr. Reagan was a good fit for Evangelicals, because he said government IS the problem. If you're worried about the Antichrist, you're worried about big government. Mr. Huckabee threatens to undo this happy alignment of interests.

If you're not Evangelical or Baptist, I'm sorry about all the "inside baseball" of that last paragraph.

Posted by: steve poling at January 13, 2008 02:05 AM

As an Arkansan who has endured Mr. Huckabee's kind of government I cannot in good conscience vote for him. At the time he ran for governor he was the "lesser of two evils" candidate. That's what he would be if he gets the nomination.

He allowed our state to become saturated with illegals. Along with them came a surge in crime and disease (TB). Car insurance in this area is almost unaffordable due to the number of uninsured drivers. What used to be middle class neighborhoods are now brightly painted slums with a pit bull in every yard. What used to be excellent schools are now breeding grounds for gangs. (My daughter is a teacher in Jr. High. She has personally broken up knife fights.) I am a Christian but I will not be voting for the hipocrite Huckabee. All he needs is a comb over and a diamond ring. In my book he rates right up there with used car salesmen, telemarketers and journalists.

I am voting for the mature candidate - Fred. Forget change. Forget experience by osmosis. Forget charisma. Give me a mature candidate.

Posted by: Razorgirl at January 14, 2008 05:18 PM

Welcome to the FredHeads, Razorgirl!

I actually got a campaign e-mail today from Fred's campaign using the term FredHead, so it's an official moniker. :D

Posted by: C-C-G at January 14, 2008 08:05 PM

when he gets the nomination and wins the WH!

I got $10,000 says that don't happen.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 14, 2008 08:56 PM