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In a speech at Liberty University, Huckabee makes the case that Divine Intervention favors the Baptists:
Mr. Huckabee also said that Divine providence was responsible for his recent surge in the polls in Iowa, as he noted that he is the candidate with much less capital firepower than his rivals. Despite his fundraising shortfall, his message seems to be resonating with voters.
Wow. Remember I reported earlier how Huckabee claims to be endorsed by God:
New Beginnings church hasn’t endorsed anybody in the 2008 presidential race, but God probably has, pastor Larry Huch said Sunday.
…”"I believe that Sen. Huckabee is the David that you’ve brought in to be a head over this nation’s house,” Huch said, misstating Huckabee’s political rank. “And Father, I ask for the blessing on him, on his family, on their campaign, that you will keep them safe, you will give them wisdom, that you will give him favor, for he is giving you all the praise and all the glory.”
Apparently this was welcomed by Huckabee:
The crowd, some of them wearing yarmulkes, cheered noisily after Huch’s declaration, and they later stretched their hands toward Huckabee as they prayed for campaign season favor from heaven.
I am all for religion and being devout in your cause, but is it really a good game to claim God wants Huckabee over Romney in Iowa?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:32 pm
That’s a little bit to far for me, i dont think Huckabee needs to be talking about this to tell you the truth..
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:32 pm
You didn’t capitalize God.
Still, even fictional characters must be capitalized. It’s still a proper noun. Ho-hum.
Anyway, this just confirms that Huckabee is a lunatic.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I fixed it tlg.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
“God Helps Huckabee Over Romney”
Oh, this is getting good…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Stretching it a bit, don’t you think?? Huck did not say he was endorsed by God.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Does this mean Huck’s opponents can claim Divine Intervention when Huck bows out of the race?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
UA,
When a candidate that is a Southern Baptist claims that God has helped him to take the lead, I don’t think anything here is stretching it.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:46 pm
This is where we will see a hugh faction in the Republican Party. We are seeing an attempt at a complete political re-aligning and that may be bad news for the future of the Party.
Religious conservatives should, and do, have a large and important role in the Republican Party. However, they should not dominate the Party and should not be elevated to a position in which their word is the end-all be-all. Unfortunately, it looks we are coming down to that.
I am by no means a history guru, but this seems to somewhat mirror the faction of the Democratic Party in the late 1960’s. We know how well that turned out.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Once again, this is why I am increasingly uncomfortable with Huckabee…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Huckabee is the ONLY candidate to field personal cell phone calls from God. No one else can lay claim to this fact.
Don’t believe it? Here’s Huckabee on the phone with God himself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yj_okz7ZwI
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
We will see if Huck has pushed this too far. He has for me. Time will tell for the voters.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
It is kind of like saying that by the Grace of God I was born in America. I would not be saying that all other people born in other countries are not privy to God’s Grace. I think it is a big stretch here from some pretty biased people who are realizing that their guy doesn’t have the race locked up anymore.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
*huge
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
This may sound kind of “hammy”, but the real Ham & Cheese is Romney(ham) and his campaign(the cheese).
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Huckabee is over-playing the religion card a bit too much here. I respect the values many religions enforce in a person, but one should not wear the ‘baptist preacher’ constantly out on his sleeve.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I think the last Southern Baptist who was “the annointed one” from God was Carter. If so, was that a curse on America?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I disagree with these types of comments, but it seems Huckabee is just doing and saying what he needs to get the nomination. And he may well believe it. So, how does that make him any worse than any other say-anything politician? Take the Clintons, for example. They will say anything and it matters not if its true.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
This reminds me of the exchange between Ben Harrison and PA Sen. Matt Quay after the tough election of 1888. Quay went in to talk about patronage and Harrison said “Providence secured us victory” Quay reportedly said two things 1.) “He ought to know that Providence didn’t have a damn thing to do with it and 2.) Let God reelect you then.
(Harrison lost in 1892 by a big margin)
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
And Huck’s god said to him: “I’m the real deal and I’ll give you the White House. The other guy’s God only promises love and redemption and eternal happiness in paradise.”
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Are you saying the Christian God is a false one?
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Jason,
1. Your initial quote is a paraphrase of what Huckabee said.
2. Huckabee flat out said on Fox News that he is NOT suggesting the God supports him, as there is no way for him to know that.
3. The third exposes a basic unawareness of evangelical prayer. I know the hands raised is supposed to make these people seem fanatical and spooky, the MSM does this bit all the time. The pastor in question asked for God’s “favor.” A Catholic would ask for God’s blessing. That isn’t the same as demanding or presuming God’s endorsement.
I guess now Christians aren’t allowed to pray for God’s blessing.
Are the Mormons getting all anti-Christian now?
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:18 pm
No, Fletcher. The Christian God is not false. But anyone who believes God is only guyikding the Baptists needs to have his head examined. The REAL God takes no sides in politics. So people who use God in politics are complete fools. It would be the Scopes Monkey Trial all over again.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:26 pm
MWS,
When you produce campaign ads, you usually identify things that differentiate you from the others. Now, Huckabee seems to be trying to differentiate himself from Romney and Giuliani based on religious credentials. This sotto voce approach he has taken is similar to his lack of firm public policy positions.
We know the generals, but unlike Fred, Romney and Giuliani who have outlined in speeches and writing the firm stances they would take as President on a wide variety of issues, Huckabee simply quotes the bible and gives platitudes and pontifications. Concerning illegal immigrant welfare/in-state tuition: “Why punish the child for the sins of the father?” And the list goes on from there.
Look I’m sick of the truthiness and fuzzyness of politicians. One reason why I support Romney is because even when he is wrong (as it was in 1994 on abortion), he still takes clear, understandable positions.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:32 pm
23 – “he still takes clear, understandable positions”
romney recently said “the more the merrier” regarding Cubam immigrants.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
There is a big difference UA between other immigrants is that the Cubans are not immigrants they are refugees, do you want to stop letting them come here and send them back to Castro? i would hope not
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
they are still illegal
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
If they land a foot on U.S. soil, they are granted refugee status and are accepted in the U.S.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
I find it sickening that people who so readily play the victim card when it comes to religion, will so readily mischaracterize others’ beliefs.
If you want to attack someone for their religion, that’s fine. I know the religious test clause isn’t meant for voters. But at least get your facts straight before you starting gunning for someone’s faith.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:01 pm
“Remember I reported earlier how Huckabee claims to be endorsed by God”
Just so there is no ambiguity, Huckabee never said that.
Let’s not start a holy war right before Romney’s big lecture on tolerance, okay guys?
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:28 pm
MWS:
If you hope to not start a Holy War, you should be disavowing the over-the-top and needless religious overtones that Huckabee is employing.Huckabee is the one making religion the issue.
As a Republican, I am extremely turned off by his tatics as I believe many will be.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:33 pm
As a Christian, and as a conservative, this effort to foster a “Christian Candidate” label bothers me, and it took me a bit of time to figure out why.
It’s pretty clear that evangelical Christians are to the Republican Party what African American voters are to the Democrats. They’re viewed (and, sadly, many behave) as a block of voters easily manipulated by symbolism and emotional appeals. The Democrats play the “race card;” most Republicans play the “family values card.” Like blacks in the Democrat Party, evangelicals in the Republican Party are taken for granted, and it’s assumed that they’ll fall in line whenever “culture wars” is raised. As Democrats shamelessly pander to the black voter, without much substance, many Republicans, and clearly Mike Huckabee, pander to evangelicals, without much substance.
I’m not saying that evangelicals should bolt the GOP and vote for the Democrats. But I am saying that the shallow pandering of the GOP to evangelical voters is an insult, and the fact that one of our own is now one of the chief panderers, is even more offensive.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Huckabee’s fanaticism in religion can be a huge liability.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Wait a second. Romney talks about faith and “moral” values as much as, if not more than, any other candidate. Romney talks about “life,” in the religious sense. Just because Huckabee declares what his faith is does not make it any better or worse than what Romney does.
What I see is Romney wanting to use values issues against Giuliani and Clinton, but does not want to have to face the same scrutiny.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
#33
Romney is *forced* to talk about religion because that’s all anyone wants to talk about.
I have read over and over and over again (even on this site, and by some of the bloggers)
how Romney can’t be elected because he is a Mormon, and Mormonism is a cult, etc., etc.
Don’t you think Romney is sick, sick, sick, and tired, tired, tired of having to answer
over and over again for his religion?? I know I’m sick of reading about it. He’s done
his level best to avoid talking about it, but he keeps getting nabbed for it again and
again. Personally, I think the patience of the man is simply amazing!
On the other hand, Huckabee is promoting himself as the “Christian Leader” candidate, an
all too obvious dig at the Romney campaign, because right or wrong, many people believe
that Mormons are not Christians. That’s just plain pathetic and poor taste. Huckabee
has no class. End of discussion.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Sorry, the facts don’t agree with you. I have watched Romney events and in his introductory remarks he does not fail to stress values. Indeed, if you are as familiar with his talking points as I am you know he talks about strengthening America – the economy, the military, and the family. Its also on his website.
He has a picture perfect family and he uses that as a selling point and also as a wedge. No one forces him to do it.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I am really turned off by Huckabee on his blatant use of religion, and I am a family values person. Tried to trackback, but couldn’t make it work, so am putting up my link to this post with more commentary:
http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/huckabees-hutzpah.html
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:21 pm
all Chris Mathews and Bill O’Reilly asked Huckabee about was his religion.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Jerry Falwell just called and said that Mike Huckabee is God’s judgement on the U.S.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:35 pm
This is the rising of the Ayatollah Huckabee. If the repubs are becoming religious fanatics the better for America is elect a democrat.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Huckabee is using religion to win Iowa. I don’t think it will work, but it might. The problem comes in the general, where the Democrats would have a field day while exploiting this issue. He is tailor-made to be portrayed as a bigger redneck troglodyte than he is. And, in a sense, he would have asked for it.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
If you happen to support Mitt, his supporters are hosting a huge “money bomb” event the day after he gives the “Faith in America” speech on Thursday. Check out the event at http://www.Deceber7thforMitt.com
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:06 pm
#35
I didn’t say he doesn’t stress values. I’d be concerned if he didn’t. But family values does
not equal religion. You are arguing my point exactly. Mitt stresses values and downplays his
religion. Huckabee, on the other hand, trumps his religion in the face of the other candidates.
That’s just lame, IMHO.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:25 pm
So Huckabee position is that Jesus would not run for political office but God works part time as a campaign manager?
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Huck lost my vote, oh wait, he never had it…
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
That is pathetic. The man is full of himself.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Jason, or over anyone, as God is no respecter of the person.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Feltcher (#17), it is fine that Huckabee acknowledge the hand of God in his affairs. It is a different thing to go around, telling people he is an anointed one. O Barak often talked about the importance of God in his life — how he had hands in everything in his life. But O.Barak does not go telling people it is he who God wants to lead us in the present time. There is a line you cannot go across, and Huckabee is starting to go over.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:04 am
I’m still waiting for God to tell me to vote for Huckabee…maybe he speaks through Chuck Norris
December 4th, 2007 at 1:17 am
How about if we elect several presidents this time around – the Mormon president,
the Muslim president, the Jewish president, the Catholic president, the
Christian president,etc. – each of us represented by our faith candidate of choice and our
candidate endorsed by his appropriate God. The religious divide Huckabee is promoting
by his religion specific language begs the question – As our country’s “Christian Leader”
would a President Huckabee represent all of us, or just his “Christian followers”?
December 4th, 2007 at 1:18 am
How about if we elect several presidents this time around – the Mormon president, the Muslim president, the Jewish president, the Catholic president, the Christian president,etc. – each of us represented by our faith candidate of choice and our candidate endorsed by his appropriate God. The religious divide Huckabee is promoting by his religion specific language begs the question – As our country’s “Christian Leader” would a President Huckabee represent all of us, or just his “Christian followers”?
December 4th, 2007 at 3:22 am
Oh brother.
Can you find something real to report please? I think we’ve all heard Huckabee say he relies on God for strength and encouragement… but he’s never said anything like “God’s helping me win”… or “God’s on my side…”
That would be Pat Robertson who makes comments like that… not Mike Huckabee.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:43 am
My favourite line is:
“I believe that Sen. Huckabee is the David that you’ve brought in to be a head over this nation’s
house,†Huch said, misstating Huckabee’s political rank.
Huckabee SHOULD run for the US Senate. He seems convinced of the need for a Human Life Amendment
and a Federal Marriage Amendment. If he check’s the Constitution he will find that a US Senator
can propose an amendment to the Constitution whereas the President has no role in this. And, of
course, he would have a 50:50 chance of being elected to the Senate, which is WAY better than his
chance of being elected President.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Don’t forget the other Baptist in the race that Divine Providence favors! (Ron Paul)