In contrast, Hillary Clinton has made it clear in the last couple of weeks that she still supports amnesty. All you do by unfarly dumping on John McCain is to help the anti-military socialist Hillary Clinton get elected. Not smart.

He wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work.

Enrique on November 26, 2007 at 10:20 AM

Yup. In a nutshell. It’s just smart politics. Arguably pandering, arguably divisive, arguably ultimately self-destructive, for the party in the general, for him specifically in the general.

But in the primary? It’s just smart. Nothing else he can really do. Not if he wants to win.

He got us talking about him, didn’t he? Meanwhile … is Fred! still running? Anybody know? Other than some discussion of what a she-beast his wife is … I haven’t heard anything lately.

Bet he shows up at a photo-op in church tomorrow.

Have you seen a single ad that doesn’t have the subtle message that he should be President because he’s black? Why do you think he makes a big deal about having Jesse and Oprah on his side?

highhopes on November 26, 2007 at 11:35 AM

Huckabee tried to release a “Black Leader” commercial. But it didn’t do well with focus groups. Also, the Klan felt “excluded.”

And the fact that Oprah and Jesse are endorsing the only Black candidate? Pure coincidence. Gotta be. Heck, I didn’t even know Obama was Black until you mentioned it.

Professor Blather on November 26, 2007 at 12:40 PM

Yes. Thanks.

Funny thing is, I’ve never even considered voting for Mike.

Defense Guy on November 26, 2007 at 12:43 PM

I have.

It’s just that the way he puts his faith forward like this seems tacky and cheap.

Eh. Maybe I am overreacting. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If my comments seemed over the top, please accept my apology. I suppose I can get a little defensive about this subject.

Funny thing is, I’ve never even considered voting for Mike.

But Christian leader screams exclusion. I don’t follow a christian leader, just a leader. I guarantee you I won’t be alone among the public in responding this way.

JiangxiDad on November 26, 2007 at 9:35 AM

I feel you. I’m not exactly fond of it myself.

But you’re applying the personal to the political – doing your own version of Pauline Kael. (”Nixon couldn’t have been elected! Nobody I know voted for him!”)

You may well have felt excluded. But I guarantee you tens of millions of recently apathetic evangelical Christians will hear that message and feel – for the first time recently – INCLUDED.

It’s politics. He’s taking a political gamble, and a pretty smart one, if you ask me. There’s a massive Republican voter bloc out there that feels disenfranchised, and those folks are not impressed with Rudy or Fred! or Mac, and are unsure about Mitt. If Huckabee makes YOU feel excluded, but gains two new primary voters – he’s doing it right.

Huck has this one thing that sets him apart. He is, in fact, a Christian leader. So he’s using it. And it seems to be working for him. Thus far. Nobody was saying his name two months ago.

Whether it will continue to work … or whether you “excluded” folks will create a backlash … or whether it will backfire enormously in a general election, if he got that far – remains to be seen.

For now, you might want to try looking at it from the perspective of the average Republican primary voter. Especially those in Iowa.

As Mike Huckabee gains ground on his rivals for the Republican nomination, opponents have quietly begun highlighting the slew of ethics issues the social conservative faced during his political career in Arkansas.

I guess, my point is that it doesn’t bother me that he could do both.

Also, and this is not really directed at you slu, but my opinion isn’t any more or less selfish or hostile than any of the others being expressed here.

For me it comes down to the idea that the relationship between an individual and God is a very personal and private thing, which by definition can not be fully known or understood by others. To bring up the “Christian Leader” stuff in a campaign ad makes it seem like he’s comparing the quality of his faith to that of others, even though it is something that neither he nor the rest of us can truly judge, especially as distant observers. I’m not saying that we can’t have discussions about the role of faith in politics, or that we can’t decide to advocate policies according to our views of the world (limited by the Constitution, of course.) It’s just that the way he puts his faith forward like this seems tacky and cheap.

Or are Christians who respect the separation of church and state and reject religious pandering also de facto nonbelievers?

Allahpundit on November 26, 2007 at 12:03 PM

All are unbelievers who will be cursed and tormented for the rest of eternity.
- Mohammad

**Rudy calls Romney a “not outstanding governor” in an interview conducted by Philip Klein. Go read the whole thing, not only because Philip had to cut his Thanksgiving weekend in NY short to go to New Hampshire and get it…….

Also, why is it religious pandering to point out that he is in fact a Christian leader?

Because we’re not electing a “Christian leader,” we’re electing a political one. I think Huckabee is using his faith as a smokescreen to hide his regrettable positions on taxation, spending, the limits of government power and immigration.

If Huckabee wants to impress me, he’ll talk about issues, not theology.

Hey Huckabee – the last time God made a political appointment:

A: The man wasn’t really a politician

B: It was a really long time ago

C: That man was not ethically challenged.

EricPWJohnson on November 26, 2007 at 9:45 AM

Or are Christians who respect the separation of church and state and reject religious pandering also de facto nonbelievers?

You’ve been around for too long not to know that the words you choose to use have an impact in and of themselves.

So now, because I don’t have a problem with a candidate pointing out his Christian bona fides means that I don’t respect the “separation of church and state”? Also, why is it religious pandering to point out that he is in fact a Christian leader?

I’m going to start referring to Hot Air as Heavily Atheist. AP, why don’t you request the domain name be changed to that

Read through this thread again. It’s not the atheists who are leading the charge here. Or are Christians who respect the separation of church and state and reject religious pandering also de facto nonbelievers?

My reaction to seeing that Huckabee ad with the words “Christian Leader” spelled out was gut wrenching. You have no idea how excluded I just felt. It’s fine when he talks about his faith. But Christian leader screams exclusion. I don’t follow a christian leader, just a leader. I guarantee you I won’t be alone among the public in responding this way.

JiangxiDad on November 26, 2007 at 9:35 AM

I’m Christian, and I agree with you 100%. And I agree with Slublog, this is such a shameless pander its insulting.

Hey, good luck with pissing off a critical Republican voting block.

As I said, pent-up anger. I didn’t piss anyone off. Aim before you shoot.