COMMENTARY: The Huckabee Phenomenon and the fall of the old 'religious right'

Catholic Online ^ | 1/4/2008

[11th_VA]

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.

[donna]

So sad. These people ignore the fact that big government is what has killed those 60 million babies. Bigger government will just kill more.

[donna]

So sad. These people ignore the fact that big government is what has killed those 60 million babies. Bigger government will just kill more.

[rob777]

"Religious big governmentism is contradictory with Christianity."


I agree with you 100%, but many who call themselves Christians do not see it that way. That is why it is much more important to me to look at where a candidate stands on the role of government than what his institutional religious affiliation is.

[roses of sharon]

National Security be damned, the religious right have left our troops in the dust.

Maybe other primary state Republicans will vote sane.

(pundits are already calling Obama the next President from his “I had a dream speech” tonight, barf)

[M203M4]

The religious-left is the new religious-right? Sounds expensive.

[Unam Sanctam]

Committed to faith, life, family and biblical values,

One can be committed to faith, life, family and biblical values and still believe in a strong economy, limited government and liberty as opposed to "liberal", big government solutions. In fact, liberalism has led to strongly anti-worker, anti-faith, anti-family, anti-biblical value outcomes most everyplace it has been tried.

[Bushwacker777]

Why is the media ignoring the Huckster’s supporters being motivated by hate?

[Bushwacker777]

Jesus was a supporter of free market capitalism — read The Parable of the Talents and you’ll see.

[Philly Nomad]

When was the last time a right to life amendment was even proposed by the President? Or when the GOP controlled congress.

The Businessmen get the tax cuts, the pork and the open borders, the Social Conservatives who do all the heavy lifting in November get nothing.

After so many promises, people want results.

[Juan Medén]

I agree.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[The HUGE difference, among several, is that Huckabee hears the cry of the poorest of the poor, children in the first home of the whole human race, their mothers womb. Edwards has bought the Democratic frontrunners’ line of calling their intentional killing through procured abortion an exercise of “freedom.”]

To me, the writer is saying that the pro-life movement is finally reaching the groundswell the Christian-inspired, anti-slavery movement reached in the 1850’s. The Whigs fell apart over the slave issue and much of their base joined the new Republican party. The Republicans not only wouldn’t compromise but brought about abolition.

If I was an Iowan I wouldn’t have voted for Huckabee but this commentary helps me understand those who did.

[tantiboh]

~”Shame on the Huckabee supporters in Iowa. If Huckabee wins the nomination, the Republicans will be creamed in the general election.”~

We thoughts exactly. Romney isn’t dead just yet (though he’s certainly on life support), but barring some resurrection there, McCain is now the only chance for stopping Huckabee. Quite the Hobson’s choice. At least with McCain, we’d get a sane foreign policy and fiscal conservatism. I’m very scared of a Huckabee nomination. I wouldn’t vote for Clinton over him, but I’d be tempted to vote for Obama, just so we can get the do-over in four years.

[Juan Medén]

?

[tantiboh]

~”Gov. Huckabee saying he was a Christian is like another candidate saying he’s a member of the Chamber of Commerce - both suggest where the candidates stand on a large number of issues ...”~

That would be what Rush describes as ‘Identity politics.’ It appears that Iowans fell for it.

[cradle of freedom]

This government compassion of the past forty years has given us the Lyndon Johnson War on Poverty programs. This is not compassion. This is sly Democrat party big government, big party machine cronyism in the disguise of helping people. After forty years of trillions of dollars on these always expanding social programs, you would think that there would be no poverty anywhere. And yet what do Clinton, Edwards and other liberals campaign on - poverty. They will bankrupt all of us before they put an end to poverty.

[tantiboh]

~”fortunately most Republicans know this....”~

The evidence thus far is against this.

[Juan Medén]

I agree.

[Jim Noble]

I can't decide whether to vote for McCain or Obama on Tuesday.

Driving a stake through the heart of the Clinton crime family is of the utmost importance, more important than who the nominee of the GOP is.

However, Huck is so beatable, it wouldn't hurt to turn up the heat on him a little more.

[tantiboh]

The ‘religious right’ is on a course that will rip the conservative coalition to shreds. Liberals have nothing to fear.

[unspun]

Good grab, VA.