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TechnoratiWASHINGTON – Rivals, pundits and the media have largely dismissed Republican candidate Mike Huckabee as a serious contender for the GOP nomination. But a group of black conservatives rallied behind him Monday ahead of the much-anticipated Super Tuesday contests to tell him to stay strong and stay in the race.
(Photo: The Christian Post)Don Scoggins, president of Republicans for Black Empowerment, speaks at an event announcing the endorsement of Gov. Mike Huckabee by conservative black leaders on Monday, February, 4, 2008 in Washington, D.C.
Supporters of the Republican underdog pointed to his consistent conservative record, his authenticity and his humble beginnings as reasons for their endorsements.
“He (Huckabee) does not waver from his views and we know that he is not a recent convert to conservatism,” said Don Scoggins, president of Republicans for Black Empowerment.
“And we like that his life story pretty much mirrored the background of many African Americans,” Scoggins added. “He comes from humble beginnings, he’s worked hard, and gone to college – first one in his family who has graduated from high school. We feel that his life story is something to be emulated.”
Huckabee, during his 10½ years as Arkansas governor, appointed more than 300 black Americans to state boards and commissions and received over 47 percent support from black voters during his re-election to the governorship.
“What many of us feel is that the Republican Party, hopefully with a President Huckabee, will start to be more inclusive [of black voters],” the president of Republicans for Black Empowerment hopes.
Other black speakers echoed Scoggins’ sentiment about their candidate’s conservative record and contrasted it with chief Republican rival Mitt Romney, whom they accused of flip-flopping on the values issues.
They argued against Romney’s claim that a vote for Huckabee is a vote for Sen. John McCain, calling it “absolutely not true” and that support for Huckabee should not be misunderstood as support for Romney.
“It is like dating,” explained Star Parker, conservative Christian activist and president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education. “We knew Romney was in this race from day one. It was a set-up marriage, a plan and we went on the first date and said no.
“And to now to take a second look and to think he is more acceptable today after flip-flopping on all of the issues,” she said, noting specifically his former liberal stance on gay “marriage” and abortions.
As Massachusetts governor, his state became the first in the nation’s history to legalize homosexual “marriage.”
“For someone to get all the way to 2005 and not recognize the humanity of life in the womb, this person is not fit to be president of the country,” fired Parker, who said she had four abortions before becoming a Christian and realizing it was wrong. “We need the nation to know that we are not going to get duped into accepting a second date.
“We are going to make sure that our candidate goes all the way to the White House because we really believe that he has the best ideas for this tender and vulnerable nation.”
Some of the black conservative speakers admitted that they are ostracized in the black community and even within their families for being conservative and for not supporting Democratic candidate Barack Obama, who is vying to be the first black president.
But the black conservatives fought back and said that just because Obama is African American does not mean that he would be the best man for the presidency, or has the best interest of African Americans or the nation in mind.Continue »
