Huckabee's Faith Obsessed Campaign Freaks Out GOP Establishment

[babylonsister]

Huckabee's Faith Obsessed Campaign Freaks Out GOP Establishment

Posted by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report at 12:03 PM on December 26, 2007.


To a certain extent, Huckabee is undermining American political norms and using Christianity in ways no credible, modern candidate has

If anyone from Bush's inner circle is going to defend Mike Huckabee's Christian-centered presidential campaign, you'd think it would be Peter Wehner. Not only is Wehner, the former White House director of strategic initiatives, a self-described evangelical Christian conservative, but he also helped oversee Bush's faith-based office. It's not like the separation of church and state would be high on Wehner's priority list.

And yet, in an interesting WaPo op-ed today, Wehner said Huckabee's emphasis on religion is giving him a "queasy feeling," because the former governor's tack is "disturbing."

After noting a litany of recent examples -- the "Christian leader" ad, the talk of being God's anointed candidate, the theological shots at Mormons, and the "birth of Christ" ad -- Wehner suggests Huckabee is confused about his goals.

This is a man who, in 1998, when explaining to a Baptist pastors conference why he got involved in politics, answered, "I got into politics because I knew government didn't have the real answers, that the real answers lie in accepting Jesus Christ into our lives. . . . I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ."

Now isn't that odd -- a former pastor who leaves his ministry so he can get involved in politics because he "knew government didn't have the real answers."

Well, sure, when you put it that way, it is odd.

Wehner ends up focusing on how very unusual all of this, asking whether Huckabee is "playing the Jesus card in a way that is unlike anything we have quite seen before."

Invoking one's faith is not unprecedented in American politics and is not, by itself, disconcerting. It can even be reassuring. But it is also fraught with danger. If certain lines -- inherently ambiguous lines -- are crossed and faith becomes a tool in a political campaign, it can damage our civic comity and our politics and demean our faith. {...}

Mike Huckabee, by all accounts a faithful Christian, may not have crossed any bright lines yet -- but he's edging close to them. He should pull back now, before his political ambitions injure what he claims to care about, and undoubtedly does care about, most.

more...

http://alternet.org/blogs/peek/71613/#more

[gatorboy]

1. And using gay folks as an incentive to get the right base out to vote isn't disgusting?

You reap what you sow....

[babylonsister]

3. Boy, that there's a stretch for you to make. nt

[TwilightGardener]

2. Huckabee has turned religion into just another political tool, like military service

or a good stump speech. He's vile and sickening--Christianity is now a gimmick.

[gatorboy]

5. It's been a reliable gimmick for the right for quite some time.

I'm curious as to why conservatives are suddenly pretending like they had never religion in such a way.

[TwilightGardener]

10. It's only a recruitment tool for them--

only meant to scare the mindless fearful flock into voting GOP, so that little brown people, gays and promiscuous, non-maternal women don't run rampant and wreck their 1950's fantasy of society. They never meant for a slimy televangelist to rise up and take over.

[babylonsister]

6. It's heartening to know he's freaking out the GOP imo.

I almost wish there was a more viable GOP candidate so this guy wouldn't be taken so seriously. :scared:

[AndyTiedye]

12. He Scares the Hell Out of Me Too

If only there were more viable DEMOCRATIC candidates so we wouldn't have to worry about Huckabee winning :scared:

[gratuitous]

4. Isn't this what they've wanted for the last quarter century?

I mean, Ann Coulter even wrote a book, "Godless," telling America what it really wanted in its national leadership. The Republicans have the corner on the God market, and this is what the United States wants, no needs. And now along comes Mike Huckabee, talking the evangelical talk, like Reagan, Bush, Dole, Bush and so many before him, as well as walking that walk in ways that none of those guys ever dared to do.

Come on, Republican establishment! Make your move, here.

[Wapsie B]

7. I thought Huck was doing what many repugs running for office do, which is play the Jesus card.

Sounds more than a little odd hearing someone like Wehner talk about using faith as a political tool. Uh, isn't that what * did? At least Huck may be an honest to God Christian, which is way more than * is.

[TwilightGardener]

11. He's not a Christian, unless it's acceptable for Christians to steal, lie and blaspheme.

[Hydra]

8. Anyone familiar with the term "Christofascists"?

It's only a matter of time before the Repubs try to enshrine "christanity" as the state religion. It works wonders for population control, especially when you invite the people with the racks and the hot irons to ply their trade.

Huckabee is simply testing the waters to see how far he can push this in the attempt to gain some sort of support.

[Irreverend IX]

9. They'll never let Huckabee get the nom.

I'm halfway convinced that Wehner is thinking "we've just been using the Jesus shit as a ruse all this time, but this guy actually seems to believe it!" The GOP manipulates the fundies for their votes, but they know it'd be terminally stupid to put one in the driver's seat.

[AndyTiedye]

13. I Hope and Pray You Are Right

Hillary or Obama can't beat him.

[monmouth]

14. Huck is not one of "them." He will never get the nom, he isn't interested

enough in corporations, money to suit them imo...

[TwilightGardener]

15. Yeah, right, he isn't interested in money. He was a corrupt grifter as Governor.

[monmouth]

16. Ahh, you have a point there. My Bad...n/t