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Winning the Iowa Republican Caucus put former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee under a microscope. Generally speaking, Democrats are pleased with his win and many Republicans are troubled. Why are Democrats pleased that an articulate, likeable former Baptist preacher and two-term Governor of a state could become the Republican nominee for President of the United States?
Lliberal media and politicians were overjoyed that Mike Huckabee won the GOP Iowa Caucus. Former DNC chairman and campaign manager for Sen. Hillary Clinton, Terry McAuliff, and Democrat Strategist Susan Estridge, who managed the presidential campaign for Dukakis, could not conceal their joy when they appeared on Fox News after the votes in Iowa were tallied. They share the view of DNC officials who see Huckabee as an “easy kill” and a candidate with a “glass jaw” they can’t wait to break. Drudge announced weeks before the Iowa Caucus that “Dems hold fire on Huckabee; they see easy kill in General Election.” Strategists for the Democrats see the eventual destruction of Huckabee, an ordained Baptist preacher supported by a multitude of Christians because he is one of them, as an easy way to destroy the so-called “religious right” base of the Republican party that has plagued them for decades.
The Campaign for Children and Families graded the Republican presidential candidates on their Family-Values claims, based on their actual votes, actions and policies, rather than contemporary statements that may differ from past policies or statements that contradict previous actions.
Using that criteria, Huckabee and Ron Paul stood out far ahead of the other candidates with a score of seven with eight being a perfect score. The eight values graded were:
Protected marriage and marriage rights
Opposed marriage counterfeits such as domestic partnerships
Opposed homosexual couples adopting children
Opposed establishing or expanding pro-homosexuality “hate crime” laws
Refused to support “Gay Pride Day”
Opposed to having homosexuals in the Boy Scouts
Opposed forcing private business owners to support homosexuality
Opposed teaching schoolchildren to support homosexuality
Huckabee scored yes on all the issues except the one pertaining to Boy Scouts, on which he was graded with a (?). Only Ron Paul received a yes on that issue and only Mitt Romney received a (No).
Sen John McCain received a (4), Fred Thompson a (3), Rudy Giuliani a (1) and Mitt Romney (0) on the same issues.
Gov. Huckabee lives up to his Christian beliefs in terms of the important issue of Family Values. Questions arise, however, from his record of managing the affairs of his state and political party activities. Strong criticism comes from some very credible sources in the Christian conservative community.
“He destroyed the conservative movement in Arkansas, and left the Republican Party in Shambles,” said Eagle Forum founder and President Phyllis Schlafly.
“His support for taxes split the Republican Party, and damaged our name brand,” said former Arkansas State Rep. Randy Minton, a Republican.
David Thompson, a Republican activist in Little Rock, Arkansas, lists 7 reasons he “could not in good conscience support Mike Huckabee as the Republican nominee for President of the United States:
He did lasting damage to the Republican Party and conservative movement in Arkansas.
His non-stop clemencies continually hindered the work of criminal prosecutors and miffed Republicans.
His pattern was to ignore immigration laws, often in the name of Christianity.
He was no friend to fiscal conservatives in Arkansas.
He left a long trail of ethics questions while Governor of Arkansas.
Judicial Watch listed him among their ten most wanted corrupt politicians in 2007.
His education record shows him to be an advocate of the “status quo.”
He has very little support for his presidential bid here in Arkansas.
Gov. Huckabee, supported by the family of former Gov. Carroll Campbell, will be a strong contender in the South Carolina Republican Primary.
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