No doubt about it, says Larison, Mike Huckabee has a problem getting Catholic support. I find this a little hard to understand, given that of all the Republicans, Huckabee is the closest to the ideal of a social conservative/economically moderate-to-liberal approach that Catholic social teaching prescribes. I mentioned that the other day to a reporter who has been covering the Huckabee campaign, and he said that Huckabee actually understands a lot more about Catholic social teaching than people might think. He is close to the Catholic Bishop of Little Rock (or, I'm guessing, the former bishop, who was transferred to another diocese in 2006; Little Rock is presently bishopless).
Anyway, if this is true, it's vital for Huckabee to give a speech, soon, to a Catholic audience (at a Catholic university), talking about how his own views and policies correspond to Catholic teaching. It may be too late for Michigan, but he shouldn't put it off. All Catholics know of him is he's a former Baptist preacher who spoke at the San Antonio megachurch of a TV evangelist who hates Catholicism. It wouldn't hurt him to reach out to Raymond Arroyo on EWTN, and ask to come on his news program, but in the main, he needs to be seen in the MSM talking to Catholics, in a Catholic setting.
Some might say that Huckabee's immigration views, which don't correspond to the position of the Catholic bishops, hurt him. Not with Republican Catholic voters. There is no such thing as "the Catholic vote." There are Catholic votes. The Catholic vote in presidential elections, at least for the past few cycles, has always mirrored the voting patterns of the whole country. Huck needs to talk to the kind of people who used to be called Reagan Democrats: people whose economic views were more in line with traditional Democratic priorities, but who left the Dems over cultural issues (pro-life, etc.). There's bound to be a sizable contingent of them in Michigan who would be willing to cross over and vote for him. They are his natural constituency. But he's running out of time.
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"Spunky, You can say a lot of things about Mike Huckabee but he not being comfortable in his own Identity and what being a pretender is not something I thing you can Huckabee is. IN fact the Press seems very sure about that!!!"
Let me explain, someone who is comfortable within himself doesn't need to mispresresent who is or tell anyone that he's "authentic." It will be obvious.
Huckabee misrepresented his own education telling us he had a "theology" degree then it turns out he doesn't. He says his faith "defines him" yet you can find now mention on his website of WHO is faith is in just that it is a faith that "pervades our world." By contrast Ron Paul has a statement that his belief is in Jesus Christ. Huckabee's obviously a Christian Baptist and wants us to know he's been a pastor and that's helped him about other people's struggles, but he wont' release his sermons to let us know what he's learned. I know the UNbelieving world may use it for their own political gain, but Huckabee's a Christian first and politician second. Why would he fear others hearing the Truth of the gospel. Just think of all the people who would hear the gospel if those sermons were released.
nd then despite all his work in Christian service, he can't tell us if a Mormon is a legitimate Christian? That's Christianity 101 to a Baptist. His artful dodge makes political sense, but he is the one who made his faith his calling card to evangelicals specifically to bring attention and votes his way.
And then when things got out of control with the NY Times reporter and the Jesus and Satan are brothers, he PRIVATELY goes to Romney and apologizes. Fine and dandy. But then what does he do? Runs to the cameras and tells the world how he apologized, keeping the story alive and forcing Romney to talk about Huckabee and the apology. That's good politics but not a great example of humble Christian repentance.
It's not just in his faith that he puts ambition above truth. Huckabee came out with an emergency immigration plan calling it his own when he appeared weak on this issue, yet it wasn't. And now that is catching up with him. The Wshington Post has an article this weekend where the hastily put together plan was by Mark Krikorian, who admits it's his plan but his all to flattered by Huckabee's use to cry foul. What's laughable is that when the plan first came out, it was obvious because it referenced the INS which hadn't even existed since about 2003! He quickly made that change to his website when it was pointed out.
Shall I go on? It's those sorts of things that tell me Huckabee isnt' comfortable with himself and his knowledge of the issues. Or then again you could be right. Maybe Huckabee is comfortable in his own identity, his political identity that is. Perhaps, I'm still expecting him to uphold the high standards and character of a Christian leader.
If you're talking about informed, practicing Catholics, instead of the general mouth-breathing electorate, Huckabee's problem is his strident pro-Israeli position and Christian Zionism. John Hagee (televangelist of the "Jesus is not Messiah" fame), after all, is one of his best buds.
No thanks.
It help if he did not spend his Sundays preaching at very anti- catholic churches.
I am really saddened by how some bloggers are so disrespectful of the gentleman from Arkansas. As a moderate, populist and Christian, I am very heartened by people such as Mike Huckabee still can vie for the attention of the American electorate. Perhaps the Huckabee-haters are irritated that he can run a campaign with ingegrity -- something that Romney could not say he does with a straight face --and still be in contention for the nomination. The man from Arkansas is genuine, not a Slick Mitt. He speaks the truth from his heart and his mind. What are you immigrant haters going to propose? Send them back to Mexico and Central America en masse? Who's going to clean up the mess after you at restaurants? Who's going to landscape your beautiful lawns? I say think this through before blathering on about immigrants breaking the law. We seem to be doing a great job of screwing over the economy of Mexico and other countries in the region by our farm subsidy shenanigans. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
You convinced me, Ande. All this while I thought Huck was just Slick Willie II-- a moderate, populist, Christian who could run a campaign with integrity; a man from Hope, Arkansas who was genuine and who could speak the truth from his heart and his mind--like Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers.
Slick Willie, like Arkansas Slick, would never have sent 12 million illegals home--how could they vote for him from there?
Darn it, Ande, you win-- I sure don't want to cut my own grass.
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