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COMMENTARY: The Huckabee Phenomenon and the fall of the old 'religious right'
Catholic Online ^ | 1/4/2008

Posted on 01/03/2008 8:38:17 PM PST by 11th_VA

Edited on 01/03/2008 9:13:06 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - First, it was Larry Sabato and then it was Rush Limbaugh. Sabato is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics of the Center for Politics at the University of at the University of Virginia.


(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; christianvote; cults; giuliani; huckabee; ia2008; lds; mittromney; mormonism; prolife; romney
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To: roses of sharon

People don’t quit smoking because you ban the item, they do so because you present them with medical evidence that maybe smoking might not be such a wise decision, same with drugs in general. We need real leadership now, not yesterday or someday but now. Leadership that doesn’t just mouth respect but acts with respect to the people in this great country. People that try to ban things have no respect for individual rights, hence they disrespect the constitution. Either you love us warts and all or maybe you don’t belong in the Whitehouse. Should we ban gasoline too since people can hurt themselves with it? Time for the politic to change, time for new ideas, and responsibility. Huckabee appears to give off a distrust of common sense, if he thinks of banning smoking.


141 posted on 01/04/2008 12:52:24 AM PST by bubbatrouba
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To: HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath
To me he is Bill Clinton without all the personal baggage, with better skills and decision making faculties, shaded to the right, instead of the left.

He certainly is playing the same political games that Slick Willy did. And the "Christian aspect" of who he is was responsible for the vast majority of his support in the Iowa caucus. And yes, it will only carry him so far.

142 posted on 01/04/2008 1:15:58 AM PST by the808bass
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To: LenS
"I’m one Catholic who wonders if once Huckabee’s finished demonizing the Mormons, he’ll decide we’re next on the hit list."

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Traditionally, whenever a charismatic fitness enthusiast campaigns on a platform that mixes nationalism and socialism, it's us Jews he comes after.

143 posted on 01/04/2008 1:18:03 AM PST by Fabozz
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To: cowdog77
I don’t know about “losing their soul and going to hell”, but I wouldn’t want to stand before God and admit I voted for a cross-dresser or a wealthy cultist.

Wealthy cultist? Careful there, big boy. Envy is a sin. As much as "cross-dressing." Yes?

144 posted on 01/04/2008 1:22:26 AM PST by the808bass
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To: LenS
What is about Arkansas that produces these narrow minded, deceitful, hypocritical politicians?

HOPE, Arkansas, specifically. Amazingly.

145 posted on 01/04/2008 1:26:21 AM PST by montag813
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To: unspun
In fact, after adjusting for inflation, we found that spending in fiscal year 1998 (the first budget for which Huckabee was responsible) was actually $10.4 billion, while spending at the end of 2006 was $15.6 billion. That’s a big increase, but it’s a far cry from doubling state spending.

Whew! I was worried that Huck was a spender. He only increased spending by like 60%. That's phenomenal.

Psssst. I wouldn't really brag about this misstatement by the Thompson campaign. A 60% increase in STATE SPENDING is no better than doubling it. It's just a slightly slower speed to nanny-statism.

Look, we get you like Huck cause he's Baptist. Just admit that and quit pretending you're conservative.

146 posted on 01/04/2008 1:27:48 AM PST by the808bass
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To: Unam Sanctam; 11th_VA
I don’t recall any Republican Christian politician using and abusing his religion for political gain as much as Huckabee. It smacks of Bill Clinton’s photo ops walking to church with a Bible in his hand, or photo ops John Kerry going to Mass during the election so all the little old churchgoing Catholic ladies will vote for him notwithstanding his votes on abortion issues. Real Christians shouldn’t use their religion to gain votes, or imply that someone shouldn’t vote for someone else because of their Mormon beliefs.

Amen, brother (if you'll pardon the expression).

For so many years, people on the left have been reading undercurrents of over-religiosity into the words and actions of every Republican President since Ronald Reagan. They pilloried George W. Bush for saying that Jesus was his favorite philosopher and for saying he was comforted by knowing millions of Americans are praying for him. They see fascist Christians everywhere, like they had a nightmare after reading Margaret Atwood's ludicrous novel The Handmaid's Tale and don't realize that they're awake. Many years ago, I actually had a conversation with people who believed that Reagan might deliberately trigger a nuclear holocaust to fulfill prophecies of the Book of Revelation.

Neither Reagan nor Bush 41 nor Bush 43 fit the mold of prospective uber-Christian, but the left tried to squeeze them into it. Huckabee is embracing the label, but, unlike Reagan or either Bush, he is not yet really providing reasons why he would be a better President. Heck, the author of this smarmy opinion piece didn't give a real reason beyond halting abortion being priority #1 and the concept of "good government" largesse without explaining how in the world this offers a contrast to what the Democrats will proffer in November.

Is there something about Arkansas politics that produces folksy, amiable guys that are slick as slugs? Dale Bumpers, Bill Clinton, and now Huck. But Huckabee has taken it to a new level; rather than dirty tricks like hiring ethically challenged private detectives to intimidate former mistresses, he's putting subliminal messages in his TV ads (oh, no, it was just a bookcase, except it didn't have any -- how you say? -- books in it), and he's stretching his campaign dollars by producing an nasty ad, showing it to the media, and saying he's going to be a nice guy and not run it, while it is leaked to the internet and every newscast in the country.

But these aren't dirty tricks. Huckabee doesn't do dirty tricks. He does CLEAN tricks.

Rush is right, and the author's wrong. This IS identity politics (it's neither a "Rush-ism" nor a new concept, Einstein), and it's why so many conservatives are made uneasy by Huckabee. Most of us have spent years rejecting the concept out of hand as a matter of principle, and darned if the Dems in Iowa aren't doing so as well in rejecting Hillary and embracing Obama. Don't sweat the details about "fundamentalist" and "evangelical"; he's embracing Huck because he is willing to imply he's a better "Christian leader" than the rest. It's almost as if the people who wanted Harriet Miers to be a Supreme Court justice just because she was an anti-abortion evangelical have been biding their time, and Huckabee is their revenge.

If this is not just a one-off and is the beginning of a trend, this could be just as long a year for conservatives as it could be if Giuliani catches fire. And if the choice comes down to the two of them? More effective than syrup of ipecac.

147 posted on 01/04/2008 1:29:13 AM PST by L.N. Smithee ("San Francisco Zoo" is redundant.)
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To: Dumb_Ox
Since government took that away, it should put it back.

The government didn't take anything from us. Our weak apathetic lazy morose society gave up its intellectual and moral underpinnings. The government was only an enabler. It was us.

148 posted on 01/04/2008 1:30:07 AM PST by the808bass
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To: 11th_VA
Also from the article:

Nor will they be won over to a model of the market which forgets that it is a servant and not a master.

These folks care about those who have not experienced the benefits of the engine of freedom that is supposed to be the market economy; the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten. They see a proper role, limited though it may be, in the exercise of “good� government in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

They are not “anti-Government.� They believe that we are, in a real sense, “our brother’s keeper� and want to serve the common good by not only caring for their own families but reaching out in solidarity to the poor and the needy.

What else is there to say but the split is well underway. Let the realignment begin and see what happens.

149 posted on 01/04/2008 1:53:39 AM PST by LowCountryJoe (I'm a Paleo-liberal: I believe in freedom; am socially independent and a borderline fiscal anarchist)
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To: Polybius
Abortion could easily be outlawed in Iowa if Roe v. Wade were overturned by such a Supreme Court but, by insisting on the impossible, they are ensuring that abortion will remain legal in Iowa for decades to come as Ruth Ginsburg clones fill the next Supreme Court vacancies.

Wrong wrong wrong WRONG.

"Letting the states decide" is a recipe for national disaster. You can't "let the states decide" when it comes to things like murder or slavery. We fought a war over that, remember? Whats the point of allowing the voters of Alabama to outlaw abortion when their daughters can just drive over to Pensacola to get all the abortions they want? It's pointless. Its actually worse than pointless, since allowing some states to keep aborting their children would actually further enshrine abortion in those states.

I'm not sure who's going to win the primary (hoping its Fred or Hunter), but a truly pro-life President doesn't need to wait for the SC or a new Amendment to outlaw abortion. Abortion (murder) is already illegal, despite what the SC says. The SC can be ignored (they have no actual power over the Executive) and as Chief LEO of the Nation, the President can simply order Federal Marshals to close down abortuaries. Yes Virginia, it really is that simple.
150 posted on 01/04/2008 2:07:48 AM PST by LightBeam (Support the Surge. Support Victory.)
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To: bragginright

“Religious big governmentism is contradictory with Christianity. “

Good point!


151 posted on 01/04/2008 3:59:49 AM PST by txzman (Jer 23:29)
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To: txzman
A note from a Conservative Catholic:

The MSM is out to destroy Christians and Conservatives.

To all of my Evangelical Christian friends, BEWARE of wolves in sheep’s clothing (I am speaking of the MSM who embrace the Hucksters until the Beast or Obama is nominated, then.....).

152 posted on 01/04/2008 4:06:25 AM PST by oiler (Reagan Republicans Unite!!!!! Draft Fred Thompson in 08')
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To: Unam Sanctam; calcowgirl; ElkGroveDan
"Shame on the Huckabee supporters in Iowa."

No matter what one's political leanings are, it's obvious that IA caucus goers just gave us Jimmy Carter II and Jimmy Carter III!!!

153 posted on 01/04/2008 4:19:03 AM PST by SierraWasp (IA caucuss goers just gave us Jimmy Carter II and Jimmy Carter III. God save the USA!!! Please!!!)
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To: bragginright
What a brilliant and powerful point you make!!!

Now, can ya boil that all down to a bumpersticker???

154 posted on 01/04/2008 4:25:36 AM PST by SierraWasp (IA caucuss goers just gave us Jimmy Carter II and Jimmy Carter III. God save the USA!!! Please!!!)
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To: Checkers

I’m sorry did Bush even try to propose a Pro-Life amendment when he had control of both houses of Congress and a 90% approval rating? No. The Pro-Life cause to the GOP establishment is nothing more than a bait and switch to get Evangelicals to vote for them.


155 posted on 01/04/2008 4:31:05 AM PST by Philly Nomad
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To: 11th_VA

I don’t think most of the punditry understood rush’s comments because they are too in love with themselves.

They say the TOTAL turnout was 250,000

What percentage is 250,000 divided by 300,000,000?

answer .000083 percent!

The huckster NARROW CAST his message as “one of you” despite the televagalist stink of his message it played for the LESS THAT 100,000 that voted for him.

Conservatism WINS, it was shown again and again and recently (as Rush pointed out but the MSM refuses to report) in 2006 when DINO trumped RINO.


156 posted on 01/04/2008 4:55:30 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Juan Medén

The politician pretends to be the servant so he can become the master.

Huckabee is just a sleazy televangelist who glomed onto religion as a tool. He would just as easily glomed onto any other issue to win.

but its ok, he is anti-abortion so that gives him the free pass...


157 posted on 01/04/2008 4:59:07 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: vaudine
"Fred informed him those were issues which were decided by guiding principles."


BINGO!!! Too many view conservatism as a laundry list of stances on various issues, rather than adherence to a set of principles.
158 posted on 01/04/2008 6:31:49 AM PST by rob777 (Personal Responsibility is the Price of Freedom)
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To: roses of sharon
men who must be vice-free for a lifetime

WTF? Nobody was ever "vice-free for a lifetime" (certainly not Dubya, who by his own admission used to drink too much).

159 posted on 01/04/2008 6:40:29 AM PST by steve-b (Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other "sins" are invented nonsense. --RAH)
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To: Checkers
I CAN BELIEVE THAT WITH QUALITY LEADERS LIKE MITT, FRED AND RUDY ON THE BALLOT, WE WOULD WOULD GO WITH TRASH LIKE HUCK AND MCCAIN!

"Democracy is that system of government under which people, having 60,000,000 native-born adults to choose from, including thousands who are handsome and many who are wise, pick out a Coolidge to be head of state. It is as if a hungry man, set before a banquet prepared by master cooks and covering a table an acre in area, should turn his back upon the feast and stay his stomach by catching and eating flies."
--H. L. Mencken

160 posted on 01/04/2008 6:42:29 AM PST by steve-b (Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other "sins" are invented nonsense. --RAH)
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