 | ||
 | Elian Gonzalez saga could haunt Obama | |
| Gitmo trial looms in election homestretch | |
| Back at Senate, Clinton treated like royal | |
| GOP favoritism in new IG report | |
| How Hoyer got the deal done | |
| LA Times/Bloomberg Poll: Obama +12 | |
| IN Polls: Prez Race Even, Gov Race Close | |
| McCain's Psychological Benefits | |
| VP Watch: Michigan Numbers | |
| The Charm Offensive Continues |
| A Transportation Stimulus | |
| McCain's Speech in Santa Barbara | |
| A Serious Energy Policy for Our Future | |
| The Imitators | |
| 'Victims' of Cut-Rate Loans |
| McCain Should Pick Sarah Palin for VP | |
| McCain, Huckabee and the Evangelicals | |
| Mike Huckabee on "Hannity & Colmes" | |
| A Cliffhanger for Democrats | |
| Mike Huckabee's Concession Speech |
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January 24, 2008
Huckabee Hatin' Could Backfire on GOP
By Greg TaylorRush Limbaugh couldn't be clearer - supporting former Governor Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign is a really bad idea if you are a true Reagan Republican. In his opinion, Huckabee's nomination would mark the end of the Republican Party as he knows it. And Limbaugh isn't alone: Fellow talking head Sean Hannity and a whole host of conservative talk radio hosts love to pummel Huckabee and fellow candidate John McCain. The vitriol formerly reserved for Democrats Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and Howard Dean is now directed at Republicans like Huckabee and McCain.
Why am I interested in the Huckabee campaign? Not because I'm a Republican (though I have voted for Republicans) or that I'm very conservative (although I am more conservative than liberal). It's because I have something in common with Governor Huckabee- I am, and he was for many years, a vocational preacher. Whether the term is Pastor or Minister or Reverend, my guess is many others in the clergy are certainly intrigued by "the other man Hope." And while an endorsement would be inappropriate from me or any other member of the clergy, the thought of a preacher in the White House is something I believe merits consideration.
And my guess is I'm not alone in the Evangelical community. Rush and crew should listen up: the Evangelical/Republican marriage could very well be on the rocks. This large and important block of voters who put George W. Bush in the White House twice could well be close to saying bye-bye to the party of Lincoln and Reagan, and conservative talk radio could be the reason why. And don't let us kid ourselves, without W's overwhelming support from Evangelicals, Al Gore would be President and the term "Lock Box" wouldn't be a punch line.
Why in the world would Evangelicals bolt? The answer is simple - Rush and crew have demonstrated the values Evangelicals hold dear don't matter nearly as much as economic and foreign policy positions. No one in the Republican field is more committed to the causes that matter most to the Evangelical community than Huckabee - the former Baptist minister who is pro-life (and always has been), pro-traditional family and even open to amending the Constitution to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman. Huckabee believes in abstinence education and is very pro-states rights. These positions connect with Evangelicals and frankly are more important to many in these communities than tax breaks for billionaires, border fences or amnesty accusations.
The three tenants of the Reagan revolution seem to be dissolving into just two pillars in the hearts and minds of Limbaugh, Hannity and the like. While trickle down economics and strong foreign policy are very important to the posse, strong social conservatism seems to be optional. Many in the world of conservative talk radio seem to care much more about economic and foreign policy issues, and much less about the issues that matter most to the Evangelical community.
Some key leaders in the Evangelical community have already reached beyond traditional Republican circles in order to attempt to bring about change on issues important to their congregations and constituents. Willow Creek Community Church founder Bill Hybels invited both Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter to share Leadership lessons during his yearly Leadership Summit. And Saddleback Community church founder Rick Warren featured both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in back to back years at his churches AIDS Impact conference. Many other Evangelical leaders have wondered aloud if a Christian third-party candidate could be in the works even this year. Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family has stated he would not support pro-choice and pro-gay rights candidate Giuliani should he become the Republican nominee, and many other influential Evangelicals may follow. The response from conservatives is that Giuliani says he'll appoint conservative judges who want to overturn Roe v. Wade and that should be good enough - what else can a President do? But the Republican Party would still be supporting a pro-choice nominee, instead of a clear pro-life nominee, which it has always done.
The bottom line is the campaign to destroy and discredit Mike Huckabee could ultimately prove to be a disastrous decision for the GOP. And in a year when so many think the Republicans could give up the White House anyway, why in the world would these influential men and women who claim to love the Reagan revolution open the door of the Evangelical world to the Democrats and Independents? Since 1980, the Republicans have held the White House for 20 of those 28 years, and Evangelical Christians are a major reason why. But even some of the strongest partnerships and relationships don't last forever. And 2008 might just mark the end of the Republican/Evangelical marriage.
