Difference between revisions of "Mike Huckabee"

Revision as of 23:15, October 17, 2007

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee (born August 24, 1955) is a Baptist minister and is a conservative candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. He believes in Creationism and was the governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007.

Throughout the presidential primary, Huckabee has been viewed favorably by conservatives and Christian organizations such as the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich predicted that Huckabee will catch on with Republican primary voters, calling him "the most interesting dark horse" ^[1].

Poll numbers show that Huckabee's strong debate performances, communication skills and likability have him steadily moving up in key primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. ^[2] He was the winner of the straw poll after the Sept. 17th "values debate."^[3] With far less money than his competitors, Huckabee finished second in the high-profile Iowa Straw Poll with 18% of the vote, in front of Sam Brownback (15%) and in back of Mitt Romney (32%). His victory has placed him in the top tier of Republican primary canidates^{[4][5] [6]}.

Record as Governor

As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee cut and raised taxes. For example, during his ten years in office, the Arkansas legislature enacted increases in tobacco, sales, and fuels taxes; however he also signed into legislation tax cuts over 90 times during that period. During his tenure as Governor welfare rolls declined by nearly half, and last year the state's economy grew 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2%.^[7]

In 1997 he introduced ARKids First, a health care plan which cut the number of Arkansas uninsured children in half.^[8]

Throughout his tenure he also supported and helped pass pro-life bills through the Democrat controlled legislature.

In 2005 Time Magazine declared him one of "America's 5 Best Governors". ^[9]

Political Beliefs

Taxes: As governor, he signed the first broad-based tax-cut in state history and cut taxes over ninety times. Huckabee believes that the United States should enact a tax system known as the Fair Tax, this system replaces the income tax with a voluntary consumption tax. Recently he signed the Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge to Americans for Tax Reform which promises to not raise taxes if elected president.^[10]

Spending: During his tenure, state spending rose 65.3% between 1996 and 2004, which was 3 times the rate of inflation. This has led to strong criticism from conservative groups like the Club for Growth. However, when he left office there was a surplus of over $800 million. ^[11]. Huckabee has called on Bush to veto more spending bills by the democrat controlled congress.^[12] In August 2007, Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, stated "Gov. Huckabee recognizes that the challenge is to rein in spending and reduce taxes."^[13]

Abortion: According to National Review, as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee signed a bill requiring parental consent for abortion, and mandating notification by abortion providers to prospective parents that the unborn baby may feel pain, he also help pass a bill through the Democrat controlled legislature which stated that life began at conception.^[14] .^[15] He also signed the Fetal Protection Act. He is known to be strongly pro-life.

Marriage: Huckabee is opposed to same sex marriage and civil unions. He also is a strong advocate for fathers' participation in child-raising.^[16] He would favor a nation-wide Roe v. Wade being overturned and the federal governments recognition that life begins at conception.

Second Amendment Rights: As governor, he signed bills blocking frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and removing restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders. He became the first governor in the nation to have a concealed handgun license.^[17]

Immigration: Huckabee opposed the McCain-Kennedy bill because he stated it had problems with "credibility; secrecy; and spending".^[18] He believes the United States should seal the border first and deportation of illegal immigrates that have committed crimes.^[19]

Vertical Politics

While campaigning, Huckabee has referred to what he calls Vertical Politics - politics aimed at making America stronger rather than festering partisanship. Huckabee said, "Everywhere I go on the campaign trail, I meet voters with a real thirst for a healthy discussion of the issues. Ultimately, people don’t care whether an issue comes from the left or the right. What they want to talk about are ideas that lift America up and make us better. It’s what I call ‘Vertical Politics." ^[20]

Personal

Huckabee playing with his band, Capital Offense, during the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll

Huckabee was born in Hope, Arkansas, the same town where former president Bill Clinton was born. This coincidence led to one of Huckabee's campaign slogans, "give [Hope] one more chance." Huckabee lost 110 pounds while governor of Arkansas and documented his weight loss and set out a 12-step plan for weight loss in his book Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork. ^[21] He has also made childhood obesity a major platform issue. He became the first person in his family to attend college when he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, Texas, before becoming a Baptist pastor for twelve years in Arkansas. Because of his income situation, Huckabee graduated in only two and a half years.

The 52-year-old former governor and his wife live in Little Rock and have three grown children. Huckabee enjoys playing in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has played at the House of Blues in New Orleans, the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, Colorado and for two presidential inauguration balls.

Endorsements

Organizations

For the first time in the organizations history, the Homeschool Legal Defense Association Political Action Committee endorsed a political candidate. The organization, which consists of 90,000 members, stated that they decided to endorse Huckabee because of he was, "conservative, a friend of homeschooling, a man of character, and a man with a mature faith in Jesus Christ".^[22]

South Carolina

Huckabee has received some key endorsement during the course of his primary race. One such endorsement came from former South Carolina Governor, David Beasley, who had before planed on staying on the sidelines throughout the Republican primary^[23]

Huckabee received another South Carolina endorsement from Iris Campbell, the former South Carolina First Lady and wife of former governor, the late Mike Campbell^[24]. During Mike Campbell's time in office, from 1987 to 1994, his endorsement of Ronald Reagan boosted the underdog's presidential primary race.

Virginia

In August 2007, Huckabee received a key endorsement from Virginia's House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell. Howell has been a member of the Board of Directors of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation’s largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators ^[25].

New Hampshire

Huckabee has picked up some key endorsements in the very significant primary in New Hampshire. In August 2007, New Hampshire's former Senator, Russell Prescott, and former Executive Councilor David Wheeler endorsed Huckabee^[26]. Both figures remain very popular with social conservatives in the state^[27].

Quotes

• "We've had a congress that's spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop."

• "…my faith is my life. It defines me. I see no separation between my faith from my personal and professional lives."

References

External Links

• Explore Huckabee (official)

• Mike Huckabee (official)
• Huckabee Campaign Blog
• Recent Poll Numbers
• Win, The case for Mike Huckabee., National Review, S. T. Karnick, August 21007
• VIVA HUCKABEE!, The New Republic, Noam Scheiber, August 2007