Posted on 03/23/2011 2:05:37 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The Sioux City Journal ran an AP article citing the growing evangelical clout that will shape this upcoming caucus.
I’m not sure I would call it growing… I think better organized would be a better way to describe what is going on in evangelical circles. I think it has always ben present, but it hasn’t always been galvanized. Much to the chagrin of the moderate wing of the Iowa GOP, evangelicals and other social conservatives will drive the debate. Social issues can not be ignored in Iowa, period. It doesn’t mean fiscal policy isn’t important, but we expect issues like abortion and marriage to be on the candidates’ minds and on their issues page. We also expect them to act when given the opportunity.
There is one group within the evangelical subculture, however, that the article eluded to but didn’t say a whole lot. I find the neglect interesting as this group will be vital for not only making inroads within the evangelical community, but they are also an incredible resource for volunteer help.
Homeschoolers.
Ask Mike Huckabee, he’ll tell you. Having volunteered for his campaign back in 2008 and visiting his headquarters a number of times he had at his disposal something you didn’t see in other campaign headquarters. Lots of homeschooling families… entire families working the phones, stuffing envelopes, going door to door.. during the day.
That was huge. Homeschooling families are not only knowledgeable about the issues they also work. They see the opportunity to get involved in the political process as part of the civics education curriculum, and we have plenty of field trip opportunities in Iowa. My children have had the chance to see former President George W. Bush twice, they saw former Vice President Dick Cheney, Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Sarah Palin and they are richer (and better informed of the process) for it. Candidates who reach out to this growing group early are incredibly wise. Will they coalesce around a candidate like they did Mike Huckabee in 2008? I don’t know.
But candidates such as Rick Santorum and Tim Pawlenty who met with homeschooling leaders in Iowa in small group sessions were wise to reach out. Better yet speak at their events as Herman Cain, Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann are doing today at the NICHE (Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators) Homeschool Day at the Capitol. Very smart and a missed opportunity for those who are not there.
Those who win over the homeschooolers have a leg up come Caucus night.
I could support Huckabee if there wasn’t anyone else better in the running.
You do know he’s a squish on amnesty and pardoned criminals who went on to kill again, right? One killed four police officers in cold blood while they ate their lunch.
If that worthless socialist turd get the nomination, (or Willard, or Tiny Tim), I’m staying home election day.
Elmer Gantry is an imbecile who does NOT believe in unfettered laissez-faire capitalism.
These myopic so-cons will be the death of sound economic sense in this nation and are as much for authoritarian statist big-government as Hussein is.
ping for the list.
You do know he’s a squish on amnesty and pardoned criminals who went on to kill again, right? One killed four police officers in cold blood while they ate their lunch.
Yes I do know all that. He’s still better than Obama.
That’s setting the bar pretty low: Joe Biden and John Kerry are “better” than Mr. Obama.
I understand the feeling. I harbored enough hate in my heart for Juan McCain that I could not bring myself to vote for him. Obama is now our POTUS. I wonder sometimes how many other conservatives felt the same way I did and took similar actions on the last election day.
I will NEVER take anyone to task for not voting for a particular candidate, and Huck is certainly not my first choice however I will tell MY story and make certain that you understand that MY actions lead directly or indirectly to our current POTUS.
That’s setting the bar pretty low: Joe Biden and John Kerry are “better” than Mr. Obama.
And if either one of those men were my only “choice” vs the muslim from nowhere, they would get my vote.
But Gov. Huckabee isn’t your only “choice” in the primaries, is he?
Dear God no! I really do not yet have a favorite. The candidate that I eventually back will be in the race by this summer, will have strong conservative credibility and will be (imo) electable. So far, I do not have a favorite because as far as I know there are only two possible candidates that have formed exploratory comittees. Of the two I can think of, I really like what Herman Cain has to say, but I doubt his electability. I believe that Tim Pawlenty is probably electable however I have doubts as to his conservative credentials.
>>>>I could support Huckabee if there wasn’t anyone else better in the running
I couldn’t. The only thing he’s conservative on is the religious social issues.
Versus Obama? I vote Huckabee and hope for the best because I KNOW what and Obama 2nd term is likely to look like.
Even then he’s not.
Like a lot of fundamentalist Christians, he believes in a distributionist economy instead of unfettered laissez-faire capitalism.
Many Christians consider it “greedy” because they misinterpret the Good Book’s diatribes against wealth creation, or take the quasi-communism practiced in Acts as, (forgive the expression), “Gospel”.
These people need to occasionally put the Bible down and pick up some Adam Smith, Friedrich Hayek, or Ludwig von Mises. The Bible is one of the greatest books ever written and is full of wisdom and truth.....but as an economics primer it misses the mark.
>>>Versus Obama? I vote Huckabee and hope for the best because I KNOW what and Obama 2nd term is likely to look like.
If it’s Huck vs 0bama, I’m leaving that race blank on my ballot.
I will NEVER vote for Huckabilly.
Homeschool ping.
HC HS Ping :-)
Ping
Where did you get that pic?
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