Fresh off his Kansas caucus win and James Dobson's endorsement, Mike Huckabee is chugging along in his presidential race.
His chances of the winning the nomination are decidedly worse than his chances to win the Iowa caucuses last fall when he was polling in the low singe digits. Of course he ended up winning Iowa.
But putting aside all talk of political miracles, Mike Huckabee does have a chance to do something - he has a chance to fundamentally and finally remake the alliance of conservative Christian voters.
As he campaigns across the country, he has a choice to make.
Will he pander to the viciously harsh right wing that applauds the idea of wantonly deporting 12 million Americans who arrived here illegally?
Will he make overtures to defend the confederate flag as he did in South Carolina?
Will he try and become an agent of rage?
OR
Will he go back to his compassionate conservative roots. Remember that as Arkansas' governor he spent money on education and worked on compassionate welfare policies. He talked about the importance of those who were pro-life being "whole-life". Bush talked about being a compassionate conservative, Gov. Huckabee was a compassionate conservative.
He can and should reclaim that mantle and speak to the great moral and social issues of our time - the unfathomable poverty around the world that is a breeding ground for everything from disease to terror. He should tackle the reality of the enormous income gap between rich and poor Americas. He should confront the reality of failing schools from coast to coast saying that standardized tests are not the measure of a student's capacity or a teacher's compassion. Millions of evangelical Christians are exhausted by the old order of self-appointed religious right leaders. Huckabee has a chance to become a new kind of leader. He should seize this chance to be who he really is - a politically moderate compassionate conservative.
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Damon,
The Democrats besides the pure atheists, are the only political party trying to outlaw Christian voices. Or at best, The Left is ghettoizing the Church. The democrat party reeks of socailism, murder for convenience (abortion), thievery (taxation) and greed and pronograhpy existing in their heroes the Hollywood Elites and the majority of their constituency.
The GOP seems to be tying to convey, that honest people should be in charge of their own lives, familes and money. I'm thinking that is very compatible with Apostolic truth.
Hi David,
I hope your treatment is still going well..your book was eye opening and I am sure was not an easy decision to write in the first place.. I have noticed your skepticism sometimes when writing about Sen. Obama.. I wanted to point you to a speech that Sen. Obama gave regarding Faith and Politics.. I myself am an evangelical and find myself agreeing w/ the overall scope of this speech. I would love the hear your thoughts on this..
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid353515028?bctid=416343938
David,
Let's suppose that Huckabee does what you suggest: repudiate his Version 2.0 positions on immigration (hardline) and the Confederate flag (urging it be hoisted above the SC capitol dome) ... and revert back to his Version 1.0 "conservative compassionate" roots.
Would he not then be open to charges of flip-flopping? Who then could take Huckabee at his word or trust him again on these or other issues?
Romney took a lot of hits for moving -- in the past six years -- toward the conservative positions on life and marriage. Why wouldn't Huckabee deserve hits for a similar flexibility?
The Republicans speaks of socialism,but it's socialism when America's jobs are out source to other counttries. The social security and penision system is threathen to fund an ungodly war,that will make corporation rich by rebuilding Iraq. Why are Christian dupe by the Rep. party? Morality come in many ways,ungody mortage loans ,corporate welfare,white collar crimes galore,immoral politician praying on children,etc. The great Commission is the church calling. Laws could not stop man from sinning before grace through Christ came,so why would passing law againt sin make a different. Get out of you church pew,and share the good new of jesus Christ. Politicians are not your Lord and savior.....I hope. God is not a flip-floper.
Socialism is when America"s jobs are outsource to give social service to other countries. The threathen of Americans lousing their homes, their social security and pension checks to fund an ungodly war that will make corporation richer. Christian need to stop serving Caesar,and trust in God through Christ. Pasing laws to stop people from sinning did not work before grace and truth through Christ,so,why can it work now. Why are Christian a puppet for the Pub. party. This party has just as many ungodly people as any party. Don't trust in Caesar,trust in Christ.
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