What have we learned from Mike Huckabee?
Last week, I wrote an article about why I did not want Mitt Romney to be on the ticket with John McCain as his Vice-President. Now, I am not the most articulate fellow in the world, but I thought I made it clear why I would not support Romney for President or Vice-President. That article has received more comments than any other political article I have published on this blog. The supporters of Mitt Romney were quick to accuse me of being a bigot and not supporting their candidate because he was a Mormon, even though it is clear, that is not the case. All you have to do is look at the posts on this blog to see the truth. There was even one Romney supporter who called on me to come out and say I would vote for a Mormon, just to prove I was telling the truth. The sad part about the whole incident is the way the back and forth started happening between the Romney and Huckabee supporters. I finally had to step in and start deleting comments, just to keep it civil. To be honest, the guilty were from both sides and that is not the way it should be. We should be able to disagree on the subject, without calling each other names and resorting to bickering and fighting. I would have to say, if Mike Huckabee were to read the article and the comments that followed, I believe he would not be at all happy with the way it progressed. He might even be a little ashamed.
As we have all followed and supported Mike Huckabee throughout this campaign, we discovered that he is a different sort of presidential candidate, cut from a completely different kind of cloth. That is one thing that has drawn a lot of his supporters to him. One of those differences is his believe in “Vertical Politics”. He has stressed that time and again, that we need to move upwards and not stay on the same path that our country has been moving on for so long. Not only has he stressed it, but he has practiced it as well. Even when other candidates attacked him with a vengenance, Mike Huckabee did not respond in kind. He stayed on topic and continued to talk about the issues that are troubling our country and it’s citizens. Even after he dropped out of the race and endorsed John McCain, he has continued on the same path of staying vertical and providing a refreshing look at the race for President.
As the campaign progresses and we are faced with the choices we all have to make, about whom will we cast our votes for, let’s keep in mind the way Mike Huckabee has conducted himself and his campaign. I have made no bones about my distrust of Romney and of McCain, but I need to stay positive, even while I disagree with them on the issues. I would expect that out of their supporters when they take issue with Huckabee and his positions, so I need to conduct myself accordingly. Mike Huckabee has proved one thing. You can disagree with other candidates on their positions on the issues and still conduct yourself with honesty and dignity.
One thing we have to keep in mind, we who supported and still support Mike Huckabee. We need to practice what he preached throughout the campaign. We should be able to stay above the attacking and name calling that seems to be so prevelant in today’s politics. As frustrating as it is to see a candidate such as Huckabee be cast aside by the very people who should have supported him with passion, to be attacked by the conservative media as he was, to see his name mocked and made fun of, we still need to keep it vertical. If for no other reason, let’s just say it’s because Mike Huckabee would want it that way. We should have learned that much from him.
That’s my take!
Larry
The Huckabee campaign blog had turned vile in recent days as well with Huckabee supporters going after each other because of whom they chose to support – or not support – now. I only dropped in there occasionally to check any updates, but I was amazed at the ongoing “discussions” on the blog.
Personally, I think it is better we not waste time whining about Gov. Huckabee not getting the nomination and spend our time trying to get other true conservatives into office at every level of government. In Michigan, that means I am doing everything I can to get Jack Hoogendyk into the US Senate (trying to dethrone Carl Levin who has been there for 30 years).
I am looking forward to the launch of Huckabee’s new website on April 15th.
By the way Larry, it’s good to see you … I was getting a little concerned. Hope all is ok.
Larry,
I agree with you completely on this. Thanks for continuing to take the high ground.
This is what every single Christian should do.
The Golden Rule.
The Living Word.
Do not let your heart be troubled.
GOD WILL PROVIDE.
Larry,
Thanks for this excellent article. Whether we are Huckabee or Romney supporters, the words of our mouth, our deeds, and our actions need to reflect that of the Word of God. We are to love our neighbor and that includes each candidates supporters.
Thanks again for writing what very much needed to be said.
Kerry,
I have been around, but have been very busy with different things. I haven’t had time to post much, but I am still here. Thanks for asking.
Thanks for all the positive comments.
Thanks for an insightful article and a much deserved tribute to Mike Huckabee for running the kind of campaign that he, and all Americans can be proud of. The good thing about this free country we live in is our right to our own opinions. There will never be any one candidate who is chosen by everyone so let’s all just be glad we live in a country where we have the right to choose and the privilege to vote for our candidate of choice! By the way, I will vote for McCain (who always was my 2nd choice) but my candidate of choice is and always will be Mike Huckabee!!!
Most would agree that Mayor Giuliani is more liberal on almost every issue than Gov. Romney but I don’t hear any anti-Giuliani rhetoric. Where is the ad stating no to Condolezza Rice (I’m midly pro-choice), Gov. Ridge (definetly pro-choice), or Rudy Giuliani (pro-choice and proud). I just don’t understand why the ad targets only Romney. Will you guys withhold your votes for McCain if he chooses Ric, Giuliani or Ridge?
We should all be civil at all times, no matter to whom we are speaking.
We also should offer a well reasoned defense of our positions.
Politics is the processes of weeding out and narrowing down. There is a winner and a loser.
Governor Huckabee is my first choice. McCain is my second choice and always has been. I choose not to vote for Governor Romney because of his newly discovered social convictions. I do not think he is a bad man nor do I think the people who choose to vote for him are bad people.
Mike Huckabee is a man of proven principle. In my book that trumps economics. In wealth or poverty, we must live with our character. And when we die, our wealth will be of no consequence.
I will be very disappointed if Governor Romney is chosen for Senator McCain’s VP. I don’t plan to even vote for the ticket but that is my conviction and everyone else is free to make their decision.
May the best man win (honorably and civilly).
It seems to be a theme with Huckabee supporters that any one but Romney. My question is will they support the ticket if Giuliani, Rice or Ridge are chosen? Will someone give me an answer?
Larry -
I have a question that I was asked about Mike that I honestly do not have the answer to. I thought maybe you knew. If Mike only suspended his campgain and something happens to McCain (not suggesting it will or that I want it to) does that open the door for Mike to walk back in? Does he then become viable for the Presidency once again?
Great article by the way. I see this nastiness almost every I blog or write. I had offers to publish my articles on some websites but I didn’t like the “tone” on the sites so I chose not too. And the really sad thing…they were “Christian websites!”
I think we, as a people, don’t understand the art of debating anymore. It has become very personal thus very mean spirited. Debate is about sharing and opening up new possibilities and new ideas. It’s not about being right.
Well, I am still praying for you and Tammy. Take Care.
Remaining Steadfast,
Dominique
Garth – I am already withholding my vote from McCain, and hoping very strongly that he does not select Gov. Huckabee as his running mate. Ridge or Giuliani will make McCain even weaker.
Thank you for this article. Mike is my choice for many positive reasons. But there is a place to point out the fact that Romney was rated by Human Events (a respectd conservative publication) as the 7th most liberal elected Republican in the Country. This is not a personal attack it is just a fact.
I did say that if Rudy Giuliani was the VP or Mitt Romney I would not vote for McCain. Either one would place the future of the Republican Party in the hands of liberals for several years to come.
Otherwise, I agree that McCain is the choice and far better than either of the Democrats seeking that office.
God is in charge but he expects us to do our part.
Garth,
I do respect Rudy Giuliani for one thing especially. He had the guts to stand by his convictions and even though I do not necessarily agree with him, I respect him for being able to do that. That being said, I do not believe I can support John McCain if he chooses him as his running mate.
Mitt Romney is especially distasteful to me, because of the reasons I have stated before. He has been all over the scale when it comes to social issues and I do not feel he can be trusted. Those reasons alone are why I will not vote for him.
At this present time, I am not completely decided as to what I am going to do, come November. I believe there is a lot to still be decided, up through the Republican convention.
The heated rhetoric, of which I myself have been guilty, is something that we all need to overcome.
The resentments that have been built this season, to me, came largely at the stoking of the ‘conservative media’ who did everything in their power to elevate some candidates while pulling down others.
I think there would have been a healthy competition without the almost ‘hatred’ if people had not felt personally insulted by the treatment Mike was meted out by those with the loudest megaphones.
It would also have helped if the candidates themselves had remembered the golden rule of not ’speaking ill’ of other republicans.
But’s whats done is done, and we have to figure out how to move on from here without the namecalling.
I don’t know if it is possible for some who seem to get absolute pleasure from dragging mike though the mud on every blog they can find.
Dominique,
I am not sure, but if Mike Huckabee only suspended his campaign, then I would think the Republican nomination would be wide open, if something were to happen to John McCain. I honestly do not look for this to happen. I do believe it would have to be a miracle from God for Mike Huckabee to actually win the Republican nomination this year. It remains to be seen what I will decide about the November election and a lot of that will depend on who McCain chooses as his running mate. I will say this, however. I think we need to think long and hard about this decision and try to realize the damage a President Obama or President Clinton would do to our country. Again, just something to think about.
I don’t think I could stomach a ticket with Giulani or Rice on it. I don’t know much about Ridge.
But my opposition to Romney is not just based on his position on abortion. His record on the Second Amendment, marriage, and “gay rights” also come into play. I’m at odds with Giulani on these issues, as well. Perhaps Rice, too.
I could care less about Romney being a Mormon, what I found isidious about him was that the conservative media believed falsely that he was their guy when he was little more than an opportunist. He sold out the liberals he made promises to in Massachusetts and he would not mind selling us out if it got him from point A to Point B.
Huckabee was imperfect (particularly in pandering to the greens in NH) but I had the overwhelming sense from what he said and by looking at his record that he was a strong conservative whom I could trust. I would be greatly saddened if he did not return to the political scene in some capacity.
Thanks for a wonderful article! I, too, and counting on Mike Huckabee’s return to the political arena.
ther are two reasons why huckabee would win the ticket for mccain. one reason that huckabee would be able to collect the votes form the southern states. the the other reason is that he is an honest person like mccain . what i don’t understand is why is so much money spent on this goal to become president of the united states. we could half of that money to feed the poor people in are own country. i think the people are more important that all those parties. people making promises to change everything. do you all know that it is impossible. no matter what each one promisses. i donot know why anyone would vote for obama, allthe trouble he has cause wtih all the people he is associate with. think think think donot make a mistake