You Gotta Read This…

EXCELLENT post today from Joe at The Evangelical Outpost. I’ve included it below with his permission.  

Voter-Based Reality: Reflection on Super Tuesday

During this election cycle we’ve been exposed to two contrapositive perceptions: pundit-based reality and voter-based reality.

Pundit-based reality is the political simulacra created by the bloggers, journalists, radio talk show hosts, and other confident opiners who understand how the world should work. Voter-based reality is the messy electoral aftermath that occurs after voters cast their ballots and show us how the world actually works. For the past few months we’ve been living in the pristine bubble of pundit-based reality only to have it popped by the inexplicable actions of the Voter Class.

Here are some of the lessons we learned on Super Tuesday:

Pundit-based reality: Huckabee is stealing votes from Romney.
Voter-based reality: Huckabee is competing for votes with McCain.

In the latest USA Today/Gallup poll Huckabee supporters were asked for whom they would vote if the race came down to John McCain or Mitt Romney.

 

Faithful leaders

i thought you might be interested in reading what Christian leaders are saying about Mike Huckabee — and the importance of this election.

Dr. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church:
 
“I know most of the candidates running for president but I’ve known Mike Huckabee the longest, since we did our graduate degrees together in the late 70s. Mike’s a man of vision, compassion, and integrity. I’ve watched his uncanny ability to identify with normal people in ways that many leaders don’t. That’s probably why TIME named him one of the five best governors in America. He’s definitely presidential material. But honestly, what I find most appealing is his self-deprecating humor. That’s a key sign of a spiritually and emotionally healthy leader - someone who is comfortable with himself, is authentic, doesn’t wear a mask, and is secure enough to be humble. People love that.”
 
Janet Folger, World Net Daily:
 
“We don’t have the luxury to sit back and wait to see what happens without us. Too much is at stake. Bypass the “Fear Tier” who have negotiated the non-negotiables of life and marriage and turn to the candidate from the pro-family tier who has the best chance of winning: Mike Huckabee. The good news is now we don’t have to choose between a pro-life, pro-marriage candidate and a “tier one” candidate “who can win.” Huckabee just became both. Now we just need to unite behind him.”
 
Stephen Strang, who was recognized by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the “Top 25 Evangelicals in America”:
 
“Mike Huckabee is an outstanding communicator who has a proven track record of success as governor of Arkansas . He is a true conservative who holds values common to most Americans. Governor Huckabee is a strong, Bible-believing candidate who articulates our values as well as any politician in my lifetime.”
 
Rick Scarborough, who heads Vision America, a national coalition of Pastors whose mission is to call Christians to be proactive in restoring America to her Judeo-Christian heritage:
 
“In Mike Huckabee, we have a man who has successfully bridged the chasm that divides people of both parties who share common values and faith. At this time in American history, we desperately need someone to lead us who can step over the partisan divide and unite people if we are going to solve the massive problems facing our nation.”
 
Jerry Cox, who is also the past director of Unborn Child Amendment Committee:
 
“Long before his involvement in politics, he was a defender of the unborn, a promoter of character in our schools, and stalwart champion for traditional values. His compassion for people, his command of the issues, his faith in God, and his genuine desire to work with people on both sides of the aisle are a rare find in the politics of today.” 
 
Jim Pfaff, who is president and CEO of the Colorado Family Action and has been active in pro-life/pro-family politics for more than 20 years:
 
“It is critical, at this time in the history of our country, that our elected representatives truly understand the significant role that families play in our culture today and in the future. Mike Huckabee has been a reliable champion for the values of faith, family and the protection of the unborn over many years of public service.”
 
Mathew Staver is Dean of Liberty University School of Law and founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a nationally prominent legal, educational and policy organization specializing in religious liberty, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family:
 
“We need a leader who understands and is prepared to confront radical Islamic terrorism, who will protect America and her boarders, who does not merely lip sync moral and religious values but who really believes and practices them, and who has the experience and personality to govern a divided Congress. Mike Huckabee is that man.”
 
Kelly Shackelford, who serves as Chief Counsel of Liberty Legal Institute and president of Free Market Foundation:
 
“The reason you are starting to see everyone coalesce around Mike is that he doesn’t just talk about conservative issues, he breathes them and has a passion for them. He speaks the truth with an honesty and grace that no other candidate can match in either party.”
 
Phil Burress, the president of Citizens for Community Values who won this year’s Focus on the Family Grassroots Action Award:
 
“I have met and interviewed most of the Republican Presidential candidates. After several months of research, I am pleased to announce that Governor Mike Huckabee is the most qualified candidate to hold the office of President of the United States ,” Burress said.

Mike Huckabee firmly believes the greatness of our nation then, does not come from our government or politicians, but lies in the hopeful, optimistic spirit of everyday Americans. Americans who acknowledge that God has set us apart.

Your vote for Mike Huckabee tomorrow is crucial.

Don’t Give up on Huckabee!

Doug Wead, author, former advisor in the Bush White House and credited with coining the phrase compassionate conservative, has some really great insight on why Huckabee supporters should be encouraged.

Read it here… then VOTE on Super Tuesday February 5th.

http://www.newsmax.com/politics/huckabee/2008/01/29/68254.html

Huckabee vs. Chattering Class

The likelihood of the Governor from Hope taking on the Goliath of the Republican establishment and winning the Republican nomination seems minimal. However, has anyone checked his pockets? There just might be five smooth stones in there.

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=26591

I encourage you to turn off the chattering radio pundits and learn the FACTS about Mike Huckabee at www.mikehuckabee.com.  In this case, RUSH is NOT right.

Who’s More Conservative, McCain or Huckabee?

I came across the following post at http://lighthouseblog.blogs.com/ and got permission to share it with you. I think David makes some great points.

With McCain and Huckabee fighting it out, I thought it would be interesting to compare the two based on their adherence to Conservative principles.  Let’s take a look:

Free Speech:  McCain loses here due to McCain Feingold which limits free speech and campaign finance.Taxes:  McCain voted, as one of only two Republican Senators, against the very successful Bush tax cuts.  McCain has not supported any further cuts.  Huckabee supported taxes in Arkansas to improve schools and roads.  Some of those taxes were court mandated.  Huckabee claims to have lowered almost 100 taxes while governor.  He has signed the pledge to not raise taxes as president.  He is also advocating a flat tax to replace the 80,000+ page current tax code.

2nd Amendment:  Huckabee beats McCain here hands down.  Huckabee is a hunter and has spoken at length about the constitutional right to bear arms.   McCain has used his influence to impose gun laws in states such as Colorado where he did commercials a few years ago that supported new laws to limit ownership.

Life:  McCain is pro-life but to my knowledge has done nothing as a senator to sponsor legislation for the cause.   He supports embryonic stem cell research and voted against funding abstinence education.  Huckabee is unabashedly pro-life and speaks about it frequently on the campaign trail.  He would end taxpayer funded abortions and would actively work to make our nation more pro-life.

Death Penalty:  Huckabee has carried it out as governor.  McCain supports it.

Environment:  McCain is a believer in global warming, and likens drilling in ANWR to drilling in the Everglades and Grand Canyon.   Huckabee has yet to jump on the global warming cause.

Faith/Religion:   Huckabee is a former Baptist minister.  McCain does not speak of his religious conviction much on the campaign trail, though he is a man of faith.

Compromise:  McCain has worked well with Senators Feingold and Kennedy, two of the Senates leading liberals.  Huckabee worked with a Democrat legislature in Arkansas in order to lower taxes and improve the state.   Because of this, he is being labeled a liberal by some conservatives.

War on Terror:  McCain has no equal.

Immigration:  McCain sponsored McCain/Kennedy which most consider a from of amnesty for illegals.  Huckabee wants all illegal immigrants to head home and get in line to come back.

Judges:  McCain was leader the Gang of 14 which was designed to roadblock “the most extreme judicial candidates.”  Those extreme candidates were some of the brightest, most qualified conservative jurists in the nation.  Huckabee will appoint strict constitutionalists.

I think Huckabee overshadows McCain when is comes to who is more conservative.  McCain is and has long been a moderate.  While Huckabee’s fiscal record needs some explanation and he need to adhere to more conservative free market fiscal policy, on the whole, he is far more conservative than John McCain.

Mike Huckabee: Philosophy of Governance

Governor Huckabee provided the following response to the American Consevative Union about what it means to be a conservative lawmaker. This is one of the many reasons I am supporting him. 

Governor Mike Huckabee: “To me conservative governance means following the “original intent” of the Founding Fathers, it means recognizing that Jefferson won the debate with Hamilton, and that we want very strong, energetic, innovative states, with government both as limited as possible and as close to the people as possible. The states should not usurp functions that can be handled locally, and the federal government should not usurp functions that can be handled by the states. An important part of being a conservative President for me would be strengthening federalism. Conservative governance also means an emphasis on personal responsibility and letting the free market function unencumbered, so that Americans have tremendous opportunity, but not a guaranteed outcome. It means smaller, more efficient government; lower government spending; lower taxes. It means keeping the government out of our lives and letting families keep as much of the money they earn and make as many of their own decisions as possible. It means allowing younger workers to have personal Social Security accounts. It means getting entitlements under control.

I believe that our rights come from God, not from our government; that the people should retain as much power and be left alone as much as possible; that the federal government should not do what can be done at the local or state level; that our government belongs to the people, not the lobbyists and special interests; that government at all levels exists to serve the people and not the other way around; that we must respect the separation of powers and no branch should usurp the authority of another; that my greatest responsibility is to protect the American people from all threats; that the free market, low taxes, and minimal regulation are the keys to economic growth and prosperity; that Americans are owed equal opportunity, but not an equal outcome; that we are a culture of life and recognize that each individual has intrinsic value and worth; that we are only as strong as our families; that we owe a huge debt to those who have given their lives for this country to protect the freedoms and way of life for which they sacrificed.
I would weigh all of my decisions in the context of those principles to assure that I am doing the right thing and not the popular or expedient thing. I will always err on the side of protecting life, strengthening our families, and protecting our citizens and our country from possible threats to their safety.”
(Response provided to the American Conservative Union)

Leading Social Conservative In Florida Switches From Thompson To Huckabee

January 14, 2008
Little Rock, AR -John Stemberger, a leading voice in the conservative movement of Florida has switched his personal endorsement in the race for the Republican presidential nomination from former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Stemberger will be co-chairing the Mike Huckabee Faith and Family Values Coalition for Florida, it was announced today after he informed the Thompson campaign of his decision.

“Governor Huckabee is without question the best candidate to breathe new life and fresh hope into a nation and its people who are fed up with scandal, corruption and big-money power politics. Mike Huckabee is a proven leader with executive experience and a solid record as a champion for pro-life and pro-family values, Stemberger said. “As a result, he has won the trust of more social conservative leaders across America than any other candidate. He has also proven that he is a viable candidate who can take us all the way home by winning both the primary and the general elections.”

Stemberger is the founder of the Institute for Conservative Studies at Florida State University and has been one of the leading pro-life, pro-family advocates in Florida over the past 25 years. He was a lobbyist for Florida Right to Life and served as the Political Director for the Republican Party of Florida during the final campaign of former President George H.W. Bush.

“Like Ronald Reagan before him, Mike Huckabee can restore common sense conservative leadership to America both at home and abroad,” Stemberger said. “He will re-envision us to once again become ‘one nation, under God’ while ensuring “liberty and justice for all.’”

Stemberger is a member of the Council for National Policy, the Arlington Group in Washington, D.C., and serves as the state chairman of Florida Marriage.org, the official sponsoring committee for the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment.

“John is a strong voice in the pro-life community. I welcome John’s support and help in getting out my message that I have been a consistent voice for the right to life,” Governor Huckabee said

Five Principles of a Mike Huckabee Stimulus Package

I took this from a post by Mike at the Huckabee website today. I thought you might be interested in the information as we move toward the important Michigan primary…

“I know that the American people are hurting. Traveling this country, I hear their stories; I know that Main Street, as well as Wall Street, is threatened by a weakening economy.  But we are all in this together.   

We are coming off the weakest holiday shopping season in five years, with consumer spending slowing, housing starts fell in December to their lowest annualized rate since 1993, and foreclosures on subprime mortgages might reach two million by the end of next year. 

Washington needs to do more to help American families as they struggle to stay in their homes and put food on the table.  

Two factors affect Americans’ spending. First, they have to have money in their pockets to spend.  Consumer spending is expected to grow only 1.6% this quarter, compared to 2.6% in the last quarter of 2007. 

Second, they have to have the confidence to spend it. When people feel good about their prospects, our economy expands; when people feel anxious, our economy contracts. Washington needs to immediately address both concerns.   That’s why I am putting forward a long-term plan, as well as a short-term plan, so that we can boost confidence RIGHT NOW, while adding to our national strength for the 21st century.  

Americans want to work, and they want to work hard. They want to compete, and to compete hard.   They want to win. Now is the time to unleash the economic power of the United States of America.   We  need a new generation of leadership to take us forward into the 21st century.

There are many ideas under discussion in Washington right now, and I hope that our incumbent officials will take responsible action. But as I travel through the Heartland, I just have one urgent message to Washington: Hurry Up!   

Here are the five principles that would guide my economic policymaking on behalf of all Americans.    

#1 Family: Focus on Middle Class Families: More Income, Better Jobs, More Secure Homeownership.  

-  Our economy is weakening and families are hurting; Jobs are being lost, many to offshore companies.  

-   In Arkansas, I cut taxes on working families; I eliminated the marriage penalty, and cut taxes on savings.    

-  Too many American families face the real prospect of losing their homes as a result of the ongoing subprime mortgage situation.  The federal government needs to immediately begin a second round of negotiations with subprime lenders with an eye toward expansion of the “Hope Now” program.  We should strive to find ways to preserve American home ownership.  

-  I will cut burdensome red tape that drives up the cost of products and keeps employers from hiring more workers or raising wages.  We want bosses signing pay checks, not filling out government forms.  

-  In Arkansas, I signed a bill that would reduce frivolous lawsuits which drive up costs of products and medical care. We need more doctors not fewer; we need more new products, not fewer.   

-  I believe in free trade, but I also believe in fair trade.  We will expect our trading partners to live up to their obligations-everyone must play by fair rules.  If you want access to the world’s largest economy, don’t send us your lead toys or your poisoned pet food. We will not outsource our safety.   

-  We will also open new markets for American products.   

-  And there is more: I will preserve and expand President Bush’s tax cuts, which are set to expire in 2010; I will ensure higher-education becomes attainable for more American families by making all tuition deductible.  

 #2 Fed: Work with the Federal Reserve for a Pro-Growth, Low Inflation Economy  

_-  The greatest source of short-term stimulus is the Federal Reserve.  I believe that it’s time for the Federal Reserve to adopt a pro-growth, low-inflation policy.    

-  But at the same time, we must always be fiscally prudent.  I will make sure that unnecessary spending is under control in Washington.  Republicans have lost their reputation for fiscal discipline. As Governor, I had to balance the budget by law every year. I will have my veto pen out in Washington.  

-  Monetary policy must be aggressive enough to stave off recession, but always mindful of inflation and its tax on our economy.  

#3 Fight: Create Jobs as We Build Up Our Defenses and Build Up Our Infrastructure  

-  I have pledged to increase defense spending to six percent of GDP as President.  That’s roughly a $200 billion increase.  That’s a lot of money, but we need it because the security threats to America today are enormous. We need this increase so that we can be safe and secure. However, this spending will also create jobs for vital strategic industries and, in addition, provide spinoffs to the civilian sector.   

 -  America must always be the Arsenal of Democracy. We will build new planes, new armed vehicles, new robotic land and air vehicles, and new ships all RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.  

-  After years of war, our heroic warriors are strained to the limit and our equipment is worn out by repeated deployments.  I will recruit and train thousands of new troops and bring our National Guard and Reserves back home.  We must quickly expand our Army and Marine Corps to help continue our fight against the agents of terror.  

-  Much of our country’s roads, bridges, water systems, sewer systems were built generations ago. Our country is now over 300 million people strong and still growing.    

-  We need a national mission to return our critical infrastructure to readiness for the 21st century.  We don’t need earmarks and bridges to nowhere when we have critical needs.   -  We can’t have our interstate highway bridges falling down, our levees breaking, or our water systems collapsing under our streets.  

 -  As Arkansas Governor, I took our state highways from the worst to the most improved in five years.  As your president, I will work with the Congress and we will rebuild our great nation.  

-   We will build a homeland security fence along the US-Mexico border, and we will build it with American Labor and American Materials.  

#4  Fuel: Invest in Energy Independence — A Great Nation Must Be Able to Fuel Itself, and Defend Itself  

-  Every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Coast Guardsman and Marine will earn a Veteran’s Bill of Rights.  They, along with their families, have sacrificed so much in defense of our Nation.  We will not turn our backs on them or their families.  One way we can support our servicemen and women in their overseas missions is with implementation of a sound energy policy back here at home.  

-  With oil prices touching near $100 a barrel and prices at the pump pushing past $3.00 per gallon across the nation, we must remember that these rapidly rising fuel prices put a great strain on the budgets of American families.  

 -  Every time we fill our cars up, we fill up the pockets of Middle Eastern countries.  That is going to end.  We will have national energy security policy and we will end our dependence on Middle Eastern oil within ten years of my inauguration.  

-  We are going to unleash the American ingenuity and we are going to conserve, explore and invent our way to independence in energy.  Right in Little Rock, Arkansas is the North American headquarters for the largest manufacturer of windmill blades in the world. We will do that all over America and right here in Michigan.  

#5 FAIR: Move Toward FAIR TAXation  

-  My short-term economic policies will move us toward our long-term economic goal: Simply put, America’s federal tax system is broken.  What we have now is a system that is failing American families and businesses.  Our tax system burdens low and middle-income families, robbing them of the chance for upward mobility.  

-  Our tax system encourages outsourcing of American production overseas and the dismantling of our industrial base.  It wastes hundreds of billions in useless tax preparation, paperwork and confrontation.  It pits industry against industry, class against class.    -  My FairTax proposal allows American workers to keep their entire paycheck, allows American businesses to compete on a level-playing field with their foreign competitors, and brings jobs and investment that are currently parked off-shore back to the United States.   

-  However, I recognize that passage of the FairTax will not happen overnight. In the meantime, I will eliminate the Death Tax, and seek to reduce counterproductively high personal and corporate marginal tax rates.

For more information about Mike Huckabee, visit his website.

Great Commentary: Bluebloods vs. the Base

I wanted to alert you to this well-written commentary by fomer Florida gubanatorial candidate, Ken Conner, about what is happening in the Republican Party. 

http://ajustsociety.org/press/article.asp?pr=3077 

Response to Voice of Victims Ad

Mitt Romney is running an ad accusing Governor Huckabee of releasing a convicted murderer and rapist from prison. Here is the real truth behind this tragic event…

“Governor Huckabee feels deep sympathy for Mrs. Davidson’s loss. He is also appalled by this ad, which cynically exploits the profound and private grief of a mother in a truly despicable way, and recklessly abandons the truth of the case.

“It’s extremely unfortunate when 527 groups, exploit the victim of a crime and put their families through this public exposure again for political gain. How far do we have to go to say enough is enough?

“Democrat Governor Jim Guy Tucker, not Mike Huckabee, gave executive clemency to Wayne Dumond, and commuted his sentence to 39.5 years. Tucker’s action made Wayne Dumond immediately eligible for parole.

“The parole board that released Dumond was made up entirely of Democrats appointed by Democrat Governors Bill Clinton and Jim Guy Tucker. Not one member of the board was appointed by Huckabee.

“The ad quotes parole board member Ermer Pondexter as saying she was pressured by Governor Huckabee to free Dumond. She and other Democrats on the board have made the same allegations in every election year. The people of Arkansas weren’t fooled by it in 2002 and the people of Iowa weren’t fooled by it earlier this year.”