WASHINGTON – Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is comfortable speaking about his faith.
Then again, he was a former small town Southern Baptist preacher once.
Still, the pastor turned presidential candidate is raising the bar when it comes to religious talk, declaring that faith not only influences, but defines him.
In his new TV ad, the former Arkansas governor courts Iowa’s large conservative voting base by declaring that “faith doesn’t just influence me, it really defines me.”
The ad features Huckabee at last month’s Values Voter Summit in Washington, where he said, “Let us never sacrifice our principles for anybody’s politics. Not now, not ever.”
His speech, and particularly that statement, won him a standing ovation from the conservative Christian crowd and gave him an overwhelming lead among onsite voters in the summit’s straw poll. He came in a narrow second to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, however, when online votes were added.
Moreover, Huckabee revealed in a recent CNN interview, “I put my head on the pillow and I just want to make sure that the Father above is pleased,”
“In essence, I can say that I have one client I have to please,” he said.
The Republican White House contender takes his message – the Gospel that is – to the pulpit even during the busy campaign schedule.
This past Sunday, Huckabee took to the pulpit of a Baptist church in South Carolina not as a presidential contender but as a former pastor.
“I am here today to talk about Jesus and not to talk about me,” Huckabee said to the congregation, according to CNN.
Huckabee is the first political figure since religious broadcaster Pat Robertson – who ran for the Republican nomination in 1988 – to gain such a prominent national political role while being so openly defined by his faith.
But John Green, a University of Akron professor who studies the role of religion in politics, has praised Huckabee on his handling of faith and public duty.
“It’s very rare to have someone who has a religious background; who’s been a pastor; who has also served in high public office such as a governor or senator and can put those roles together effectively,” said Green to CNN.
“Up to this point, [former Arkansas] Gov. Huckabee seems to have done a very good job talking about his faith and politics in a very comfortable and apparently sincere fashion – that’s a bit unusual,” Green noted. “There are many politicians who have a hard time putting those two things together.”
A new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Huckabee is only four points behind Romney among Iowa Republicans. In August, Huckabee had a surprisingly strong second-place finish in August at the Iowa straw poll.
Comments
Governor Huck,
Pretty scary when you consider . . .
3.5 years ago, we bought a log cabin in AR. Soon I noted the absence of color in the county. A neighbor said, "Ahhh, they know better than to come around here." He told me he'd recently had a major home appliance delivered to his home from a larger neighboring town. An Afro guy drove the truck. He laughed, saying he never saw a guy get back in his truck & get outa here so fast. Bergman & Zinc are neighboring towns, local headquarters for the KKK, he explained. Sorta gave me chills, not of friendliness.
GMG. I totally wholeheartedly agree! Jesus said, "Occupy until I come." annie, Webster's defines 'occupy' as: Being absorbed, busy, concerned, engaged, engrossed, filling, inhabiting, being interested in, invade, lodge in, reside, take, and use up. Webster's also includes the word, "worry" but Jesus said not to worry. However, I might find it hard not to worry if hard-line liberals run our land and decide how our children will live. Just give it all you've got, you can make a difference in our world for eternity. Especially pray! But vote.
annie, you make some good points. I'm registered republican because in my state when you vote in primaries you have to vote within your party, and though I also vote for the man, I've found that that's usually not a democrat.
Should we worry ourselves with politics as christians? I believe strongly, yes. Yes, our Lord is definitiely coming, and I like you believe it won't be too long. But in the meantime we are supposed to be living life as He called us to, which involves having a concern for who our leaders are. Think of it this way. What do we want our children to learn? The more the secular world gets their way in rewriting the constitution, and our laws, the more our children are taught that all these things we struggle against are "normal", when we know that they are not. Having strong judges, presidents, senators/congressmen and others in authority who believe that God is the author of life will help keep some of these problems at bay. Think about the struggle to keep the word "God" out of the pledge, trying to keep nativity scenes off of public property, just little things that make big impacts in what our children are exposed to. Will this make them opt for God? That's the Holy Spirit's job, but what a tougher struggle for them if they're convinced that everyone else calls it a fairy tale, and the resultant ideas that the "relative" idea must be correct because no one who knows anything would believe in God.
Sorry, it's late, guess I'm being a bit rambly. Anyway, yes I believe it's important.
And I'm not sure but I think Al Gore was taller, even if you don't count his hair!! :)
GMG, LOL! Wasn't Al Gore shorter than George Bush??
WOW! I'm really taking a long look at this man! Does anyone know anyone who lives in his state? What is his record like as a Governor? I'd like to hear from someone in his area that has been affected by his policies!
Not everyone who says Lord, bows their knee to Jesus Christ.
I was a democrat most of my ignorant young life. now I am an independent. I'm not for or against anyone person. I look at now where they are with God. I'm not going to vote for someone who does not hold to the sanctity of life, marriage and the holiness of God!
I will pray for these folks and in sincerity I do, even while I may vote for Huckabee, I know he's not perfect, David was King, but he wasn't perfect. If people are looking to these people to FIX America, there is the problem.
Only Jesus Christ can fix what ails America and the world, He's already DIED for it and my true allegience is to Him and HIS Kingdom. I'm wondering a question, and I'd like a sincere response.
Should we be involved with the affairs of this world, when we are citizens of another Kingdom? This question is something that has been on my heart lately. Nothing in this world do I want. Jesus has taken me from this world into His Kingdom, I am His warrior, why would I think that man can make any lasting changes in this world, when my Bible tells me this world is reserved for fire.
Do we not believe that The King is coming? We should be advancing The Kingdom of God not this one?? I am a good citizen, I pay my taxes, I pray for the leaders, but my heart is not here, so if I don't vote am I wrong?
The people of Israel had God for their King, and they asked for a human one, and they got what they asked for! The KING has returned and I vote for HIM! :o) Can we write in Jesus Christ?
maranatha, good point about the UN. I often wonder how certain countries, during the UN's rotation schedules for presidency, can have any credibility on certain issues like peacekeeping,
etc. It all boggles the mind sometimes.
Ask strudel for the tape measure, and tell him to be sure and discount the height of their hair!! :)
Strudelcookies, I'm thinking John Kerry is taller than George W. Bush. Anybody got a tape measure? ;-)
GMG, I totally agree with your concerns about the issues you listed. There's one more which is near the top of my list, too: that of keeping our national sovereignty in the hands of our own people, rather than subverting it to the control of the UN. It seems to me the USA is the only nation which seems to be very concerned about this. JMHO
From all I have seen and heard, it seems to me that Huckabee is the only viable candidate for those who are genuinely concerned about our nation standing for what is right and good.
"Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord."
"When the wicked are in power, the people suffer."
You're nuts! :)
Hmmm...probably Mitt Romney, if he combs his hair right. He *does* have nice hair.
Vote Romney 2008 He Has Nice Hair
That's kind of catchy.
strudel - yeah, if you ask all those countries that have socialized medicine there are stories of the long wait for treatment, parameters used as to who gets what treatment that we would find unacceptable, issues like that. And most definitiely the moral issues are at the top of the list, one day I'm going to stand before God and I have no intention of hanging my head in shame for those things I KNOW to be wrong.
And no, I don't know who the tallest runner was. Do you know who the tallest contender is in our current motley group of presidential hopefuls? :)
Sorry, just one more thing. :) I heard that in all of presidential campaign history (save one instance), the person who won was the tallest candidate. Anyone know who the tallest runner is?
I agree, totally. While I agree with some stances democrats take, moral issues, for me, take precedence. I know Hillary is also going for socialized medicine, which either Americans will love or hate. (Me = scared to death of it.) I remember studying American Hist in college and the power of states vs. federal gov was a huge issue from even before the Constitution. I think it must be difficult to find the balance in it.
More thoughts (for which I'm sure I'll get lambasted :o) I won't vote democratic for 2 obvious reasons (for anyone who reads any of my posts), the abortion and homosexuality issues. Also, their platform is chock full of entitlement, which by necessity involves much more government at the federal level, instead of less. I am very much for state rights, think federal government should set the bar and the states should fill in the details as fits their population.