The unfairness of politics
I have been very busy for the last week or so, dealing with my daughter’s wedding and with my own illness and I haven’t been able to post as much as I would like. I have been reading a lot of articles and one thing is becoming increasingly clear about this campaign. The conservative media and the Republican establishment have no intention of allowing Mike Huckabee to become the Republican nominee for President.
I have always felt the need to vote and help choose the leaders of my community and country. That is my right and my duty, as it is with all of us. As for politics, I dislike all the advertising and negativity that goes hand in hand with the selection process. I have learned to deal with it and to tune out most of it. As this election season progresses, however, I find it harder and harder to tune out.
Mike Huckabee, I believe, is being held to a much higher standard than any of the other candidates. His words are scrutinized by members of the media claiming to be conservative and they call him a liberal. He can’t seem to utter one word without it being twisted and turned into something negative. Those of you who have been saying Huckabee is a darling of the media and is being shoved down our throats, guess again. The media certainly does not like Mike Huckabee.
Mitt Romney can change his position on every issue under the sun and people like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh call him a conservative. Mike Huckabee can utter one word they don’t like and they call him a liberal. No matter what position he takes on an issue, no matter how he tries to bring out the truth about his record as Governor of Arkansas, about how he actually governed in Arkansas, instead of playing partisan politics, they refuse to believe a word he says. Maybe I should just be tough about this and suck it up, but there is something grossly unfair about this entire election process. I understand about differences of opinion on issues and I know we all, as human beings, are going to look at each candidate and issue differently. That is part of what makes our country great. However, it is a sad time when a candidate such as Mike Huckabee has to fight such an uphill battle to win the nomination. It is especially sad because the very people whom you think would support him are the very people who are fighting the hardest against him.
I am looking for Huckabee to do extremely well in South Carolina on Saturday and then move on to Florida, but I honestly believe he is playing against a stacked deck. Not to say he can’t win the nomination, because I still believe he can, but it is not going to be easy and it certainly will not be because the Republican establishment and the conservative media have crowned him as successor to President Bush. It will be because people like you and I have risen up and let our wishes be known. Now, more than ever, we the people need to stand up for what we believe. We need to let our neighbors, our friends, and our family know why we feel so strongly about Mike Huckabee. Someone has to balance the inherent unfairness in this business we call politics.
I agree with you. I try not to admit it sometimes, but I’ll open up and join you in this one.
Ann Coulter’s recent column came out in praise of Mitt Romney, which is absolutely bizarre … she complains about Mike Huckabee appearing on stage with Bill Clinton at a Heart Association fundraiser; but isn’t bothered by Romney’s change of opinions.
Somehow, nominating Gov. Huckabee will (according to Limbaugh) destroy the GOP, but Giuliani’s okay.
Yes, it’s unfair. The only thing I can say is, it’s always been unfair. We need to count on the real people, the voters, to be smarter than the critics give them credit for being. We’re doing well, even though most of talk radio is anti-Huckabee. Hang in there, Larry.
I too came to the same conclusion as you. After reading another Malkin diatribe referring to Gov. Huckabee signing his No Amnesty Pledge, she states. “I don’t believe him.” That’s when it hit me: It doesn’t matter what he says, they will keep him from the nomination(so they think-almost seems to be an obsession.) Then, while working around the house today, this scripture came to mind(specifically verse 1-seems to be a perfect description of what is happening to Gov. Huckabee.) The task of getting Gov. Huckabee seems so daunting. The support we expected from our fellow conservatives will not come. They have abandoned us. BUT, after reading the rest of the chapter, I realized that God is the One fighting this battle. So I say let the heathen rage all they want. It will not change the plans of our Lord and God. Even if the election does not go the way we’d like, we have been given the reminder that we are not to put our trust in man but to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”
So, Larry, “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
It is unfair, and as wickle has said, always been that way. However, I think the Internet is helping to level the playing field, and will continue to do so as more and more people are used to it for doing research.
Of course, with the internet, we have the issue of some blogs passing opinion and rumors off as news, but we also often have “both sides of the story”. I think the primary hurdle will be to get people to actually research for themselves and not just believe the ofrst thing they see/hear.
Of course, it seems many voters are not educated about the candidates or issues, and often vote on emotion.. or based on what some columnist or blogger they like says…
Yes, the Internet has done a lot to level the playing field of politics. You are also correct in your statement about people doing their own research. Most of the negatives about Mike Huckabee are easily refuted, if you are willing to do the research and not believe the first thing you read.