Posted on 05/06/2015 12:19:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Mike Huckabee is not the evangelical candidate. Oh sure, hell get a hefty amount of the evangelical vote even though there is a much more competitive field this time around. But if you think hes a one-trick pony then you miss the larger story. The easy media narrative will be that Huckabee must appeal to evangelicals to do well. And theres no denying that will be a part of his potential winning equation. But what Huckabee has that no other candidate possesses is an, aw shucks, bless your heart, southern charm. That will play well in the heartland of this country. It will play well with those Reagan Democrats. His populist, flag waving overtones and exceptional communication skills set him up as a candidate that can definitely win the nomination. What he really needs is the mothers milk of politics: money. It was the famous philosopher Jerry Maguire who famously yelled, Show me the money. Well, Huckabee better start yelling.
As for the evangelical aspect, Huckabee and Ted Cruz are taking two totally different approaches. Huckabee is making sure (just like in 2008) that evangelicals know that he is actually one of them. Hes the ex-pastor who will be the one to show up at the Sunday church pot lot with the chicken casserole. Hes the regular guy at the Tuesday night Bible study. Ted Cruz is taking more of an intellectual, clinical approach. When you watch him in front of evangelical crowds, he says a lot of the same things as Huckabee but his method is different. Hes making the argument that he has fought issues near and dear to the hearts of evangelicals (marriage, religious liberty, abortion) in the courts, arguing these type cases for a living. Put more simply, Mike Huckabee is saying to evangelicals that hes fighting the culture wars at Chick fil-A along with the people while Ted Cruz is saying hes fighting for the people in front of judges. Both are equally compelling.
So who has the advantage between Cruz and Huckabee? Well, look; you have to give the nod to Huckabee at this point for two reasons. First of all, his likeability is through the roof and hes been through the rigors of a presidential campaign before. Hes been vetted. Oh, and this small thing: Hes won Iowa before! That counts for something doesnt it? As for Cruz, while he has a passionate following, he hasnt been fully vetted by the media so he has more potential potholes ahead. Also, Cruz (rightly or wrongly) has been saddled with a reputation that he doesnt compromise and is looked upon (fairly or unfairly) as someone who is a bit more of an angry conservative. Huckabee has a reputation as a happy warrior. Itll be interesting to see how it plays out. Maybe evangelical voters are in the mood for some new blood and the fire and brimstone approach of Cruz. Or will they look at Huckabee and simply say, bless his heart, Ill vote for him again.
If Cruz emphasizes that Huckabee released criminals into society, raised taxes, and instituted nanny state programs, Cruz can beat him easily. Unlike some of the other GOP-e, the Chamber of Commies doesn’t like Huckabee.
Senator Ted Cruz has much more Southern charm than any of the rest. Although born in Alberta, Cruz is a Texan by choice and has fully embraced all of the Texas values, including the very best of the Southern culture.
Go Ted go! Restore America's Biblical foundation!
Huckabee’s purpose in the race is to harm Cruz.
>> Mike Huckabee is not the evangelical candidate.
I have met Ted Cruz and talked a little Bible with him. He is the real deal when it comes to PRACTICING Christianity.
Huckabee is a poseur. He *uses* his faith as political currency. I find that disgusting.
Ditto.
And there is no such 'food fight'; the only one who is throwing things is Schmuckabee/Rove. Ted Cruz has his sights on bigger things.
For the life of me I cannot convince my pastor father that Hucbabee isn’t the right guy simply because he too is a pastor.
Both my parents got sucked into voting for Carter along the same reasons as Carter used to teach Sunday school.
Huckabee lives just two blocks from me. I’ve spent hours alone on the beach at night, just me and him BS’ing. Super nice guy, but I know better.
That and since I have to drive to and from work past his house really don’t want the hassle of dealing with presidential motorcades and such.
If Huckabee were running for a leadership position within the Southern Baptist Convention, I’d consider supporting him; but he is not a limited government conservative. He ran and won in Arkansas as an anti-bill Clinton, but his record while in Arkansas should not impress the “Tea Party” wing of the GOP.
Cruz won’t have to say a single word about the Huckster - nor should he. Cruz is above it, and he should stay above it.
Cruz gets liberty voters, economics voters, national security voters, Constitutional voters - as well as the Evangelicals. Huckster only has support in the ignorant low information evangelical sector, period, and he can never get past that. In a huge field, he may make some noise, but only noise.
I’d be embarrassed to have such a poorly written, shallow analysis with my name on it. Then again, I’ve never done one like that.
Brody is a maroon....
Glenn Beck was on the other morning pulling 2013 quotes from Huckabee strongly supportive of Common Core. But now he’s all against it. Not the sort of thing that will help him in the evangelical community. He never even made it on to my “maybe” list.
I don’t care if Cruz is evangelical or not. I support him because he is a practicing conservative who stands by our Constitution and its principles. His strong faith is a bonus.
I say that this article is a barrel of garbanzo beans.
What say you?
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From an “evangelical” perspective, it’s Franklin Graham (Ted Cruz) versus Benny Hinn (Mike Huckabee).
Ted Cruz is the real deal.
Mike Huckabee, on the other hand, has fooled evangelicals just as Benny Hinn has. Huckabee is a fraud who Christians would be foolish to support. Huckabee is all about what’s good financially for Huckabee in the long term.
I say the article is PRICELESS......it isn’t worth anything.
We certainly agree on that!
If the Bible belt gets in, we will have another Prohibition amendment!
Yeah, and burning witches and banning dancing, too. LOL
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