It’s no surprise that Mike Huckabee was urging a group of Michigan pastors yesterday to mobilize their supporters for him like only a fellow pastor could, as reported by The Washington Post:
“I don’t presume that you automatically support me because of a common faith,” Huckabee told a group of more than 100 conservative pastors. “I know I have to earn that. But I also recognize that there is a unique kind of opportunity. For a long time, those of us who are people of faith are asked to support candidates who would come and talk to us. But rarely has there been one who comes from us.”
Huckabee’s comments were the latest attempt by the former Baptist preacher to rally support from social conservatives by advocating a larger role for them within the GOP…
“Many of us who have been Republicans out of conviction . . . the social conservatives,” he told reporters, “were welcomed in the party as long as we sort of kept our place, but Lord help us if we ever stood forward and said we would actually like to lead the party.”
….At the Michigan pastors’ meeting, he encouraged them to “mobilize people of like mind and spirit” by tapping their e-mail lists and phone lists. That strategy helped him in Iowa, where about 80 percent of his voters identified themselves as “born again” or “evangelical.”
But given that Huckabee’s strategy–and his success so far–is based on his faith-based connection to evangelical pastors and the conservative Christian rank and file, it strikes God-o-Meter as a tad disingenuous that he’s increasingly calling foul over the media’s questions about his religious beliefs:
…Huckabee complained Saturday in Grand Rapids that debate questions about his faith are of “an unconstitutional nature,” since the Constitution forbids a religious test for potential officeholders.
God-o-Meter knows the Constitution forbids religious tests for candidates. But till now, it doubted whether Huckabee knew as much. When he tells pastors they ought to support him because “rarely has there been [a candidate] who comes from us” and because it’s important for candidates to speak “the language of Zion [as] a mother tongue and not a recently acquired second language,” isn’t Huck calling for the establishment of a religious test? He can’t have it both ways. If he wants to uphold the Constitution, he should start campaigning like it.
10
posted January 13, 2008 at 9:04 pm
“it strikes God-o-Meter as a tad disingenuous that he’s increasingly calling foul over the media’s questions about his religious beliefs:”
As it should.. for once, an article on Beliefnet that has more truth than biased crap about Huckabee. Huck’s main draw has been from Evangelicals. The main draw as a candidate should be from American’s. Period. He brought religion into the mix. He tried to perverse Mormon beliefs to his advantage. He has stirred the pot against Romney hoping to benefit himself. Now he has the gall to say his religious beliefs are constantly being brought up?? Please. He’s running as a pastor first, idiot second.
posted January 14, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Seems to me that conservativegirl could be Romney’s wife. Or even Clinton’s wife. Ha Ha!
posted January 14, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Jody,
An article that has some valid points. I also made some valid points and this is what you’ve got to contribute?? Please. Are you sure your not really Donny in disguise? Sounds like some of the crap he likes to sling around here.
I have problems, as do many other Americans, with candidates who play the religion card first and policy second. Who cater and pander to churches for votes. Spend any amount of time in the blogging universe and most share these views. There is another article on this site that says Huckabee has his people calling all baptist preachers in Michigan to urge support via congregations. Ask any non-baptist and they’ll tell you that it smells bad. But as soon as anyone wants to talk the religion Huckabee touts so often he cries foul. You can’t have it both ways.