Pastor-in-Chief
Monday, December 17, 2007 at 05:30AM 
By Rose Pedenko and Tanya Simon
In Air Force-speak a bogey is defined as “…an unidentified aircraft or missile, esp. one detected as a blip on a radar screen.” And to have a bogey on your “six” is trouble; it means he’s on your tail and closing fast. The acronym IFF (for “Identification: Friend or Foe”) is also used by the military for when an unknown blip appears.
In today’s political aerial show, all three terms can be used to describe Mike Huckabee “the Huckster from Hope.”
(1) He’s a blip that’s appeared out of nowhere;
(2) His campaign on the religious platform is threatening to overtake more qualified Republican candidates who do not play the religion card; and
(3) Most important, we cannot say with clarity whether he can be identified as friend or foe to the conservative party. He self-describes as a “different kind of Republican.” Mike, that’s called a Democrat.
There is little or no mention by Huckabee in his campaigning about his position or even his views on national security or foreign policy. This is probably because he has yet to exhibit or claim to have any experience in foreign policy. Rather, Huckabee is investing far too much time projecting his remarks toward his preferred constituency: Evangelical Christians. This maneuver is like sinking all his money into a hot stock on the promise that its value will skyrocket overnight and then bail out with a fat profit (no pun intended, Mike). This is commonly referred to as a “quick kill.”
Huckabee is seeking that “quick kill” to the White House by making inflammatory statements meant to influence those who are “on the fence” about Mormons and the Mormon religion. This smash & grab tactic should automatically negate Huckabee’s (or any candidate’s) eligibility as a serious presidential contender. We hear nothing from him about how best to secure our borders, how to deal with the influx of illegal aliens, gang infestations, over-spending, term limits, the Iran issue, the rebirth of enmity by Russia towards America, Hugo Chavez, or pledging not to raise taxes (and Huckabee is notorious for raising taxes).
Huckabee is preaching for his religion (and against others’) from a political pulpit that is rife with hypocrisy. This is dangerous and, coming from an ordained minister, unacceptable. Mixing religion with politics is a very messy and volatile cocktail that harms those who listen and swallow his messages.
Just like another glib gent from Hope, Arkansas, Governor Huckabee has mastered the art of turning a clever phrase or the cultivated “Aw shucks” one-liner to his advantage. This can be a good thing. However, his carefully crafted public character fades quickly when his skin thins and his attitude turns vindictive, as recently described by J.J. Vigneault, a former Huckabee consultant. Vigneault further stated: “A lot of folks out there felt his [Huckabee’s] wrath over 10 years.” (Vigneault may well end up being Huckabee’s Dick Morris.)
After each Republican debate, Huckabee has treated us to denials of prepared “off-the-cuff” clever remarks. Perhaps his funny quips are the product of a genuine quick wit – perhaps. Or perhaps a Marjoe Gortner slickness we have yet to fully understand. Once he is asked a direct question about the source of his humor, his answers seem to mimic those of a previous occupant of the Arkansas Governor’s mansion. The quips have nothing to do with party passion.
Can this pastor, himself once a paradigm of the Seven Deadly Sins (go ahead, guess which one), overcome his shortcomings by preaching the “Word” to Iowans just in time to run away with the nomination?
Will the good people of Iowa see through his “Chautauqua tent” transparency of shameless self-interest by belting Bible verses to a select, though important, few?
And will those important few come to realize that nominating Huckabee for the Oval Office is the same as putting the fool in charge of the fortune?
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Reader Comments (16)
Yeah, I wish Huckabee would get the hint that preaching has nothing to do with policy, and we need a guy who has the guts to cement our foreign relations with anti-terrorist governments and say NO to sanctuary cities and illegal aliens. Now, who might that be? MITT ROMNEY, of course.
Rudy supporter here, and frankly your piece is no different than hundreds I can find just about anywhere attacking Huckabee from all sides and it is surprisingly usually found on the right side of the aisle on the blogosphere.Redstate has become the chief attack vehicle with at least three posts everyday usually attacking Huckabee for this or that.
If anyone's record is hyperanalyzed one will find plenty of flaws with it. I saw this when my own candidate was attacked endlessly for things he did as mayor of New York.
The reason Huckabee continues to rise despite this full frontal assaul is because the public at large doesn't care the way some of you hope they would.
I believe that you guys just like most people miss Huckabee's appeal entirely. I don't know what a religious platform means, however I have never found Huckabee to be preaching as you claim. He is an ordained minister and of course religion plays a role in his life. So what, is he supposed to hide that?
He just wrote an op ed about his foreign policy vision.
I think you over emphasize his attack on Romney's religion, and I don't think the public at large sees it like you.
I have no idea why you are debating if he will be a friend or foe to Conservatives. He was a foe to liberals in his home state when he was Governor, which means he is a friend to conservatives.
Everyone misses the point on Huckabee and it isn't that hard to understand. He is charming, charismatic, and likeable and that can't be quantified.
Thank you, you have left nothing out--it is true and clean and factual, a really great article.
The Huckabee is a pro-life lib with no background to be qualified for the job of Commander in Chief, representing the Republican platform!
Mike, if it's no different than anything else, why bother reading it? And more important, why bother even leaving a comment? Or do you just thrive on being contentious?
As far as a candidate is concerned, Mike is all Hucked up. Romney complained about Mike's lambasting Bush in his foreign policy piece, and Mike told Mitt he needed to read it. I believe he did or had, but more to the point, I read it, and Mike indeed has some apologizing to do.
Yeah, Rocky - I mean, where does Huck get off thinking he can run this country when he preaches to the choir (Evangelicals) just to get the nod? What about all the illegals running around, and Putin, and keeping the success going in Iraq, etc., etc.?
Lily,
I didn't know what was going to be said before I read it, and I like leaving comments. Apparently, you only like someone commenting if they agree with you.
Like I said, I support Rudy, however I saw him go through the exact same gamut earlier in the season as well, which is why I am interested in the way the blogosphere is crucifying Huckabee now.
There is a total echo chamber in the blogosphere and folks like you think they are the majority everywhere rather than just in the blogosphere and all you all do is pat each other on the backs and tell each other how right you are.
It is rather debased frankly.
It is also sad and amusing to watch each of you step over yourselves in an effort to condemn a member of your own party worse. What exactly are you accomplishing besides giving the other side potential ammunition. The fact is that the majority of the voting population is not impressed by the way in which the blogosphere treats the candidates and the assault that the right has had on Huckabee is a great example. The blogosphere only marginalizes itself when it does such things. That,I am interested in, and that is why I comment.
Mike V -
Could you repeat that?
If you want to see what Rudy will do to America, take a look at what Arnold has done for California. Either you're a conservative, or you're not. Huckabee is a better Democrat than a Republican. And Mike, this is what primaries are for: to cut away the dead wood.
Stan -
THANK YOU!!