Bizarre attack on Huckabee in Iowa alleges that he’s not a real Christian
posted at 11:48 am on December 5, 2007 by Bryan
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I’ve been burying Huckabee for a couple of days now on policy, but I’ll defend him on this:
A mysterious group calling itself Iowans for Some Semblance of Christian Decency has begun waging a campaign against former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, insinuating that not only is the Republican presidential candidate not a true conservative, he’s not a real Christian.
There’s a link to the flyer at the link. Gov. Huckabee made a tragic decision on the Drumond case, and as new information comes to light it may be that his actions are enough to derail his candidacy. But attacking him on faith in this manner is reprehensible.
The group is urging the media to take a closer look at Huckabee’s record, including the story of Wayne Dumond, a convicted rapist whom Huckabee urged the Arkansas Parole Board to release from prison who went on to commit at least one homicide.
In fliers put under the doors of reporters at the Marriott in Des Moines, where Huckabee was staying Monday night, the organization, whose members are unknown, lays out its interpretation of how the former Baptist minister’s views run contrary to the Bible.
Huckabee’s support of educational opportunities for the children of illegal immigrants is portrayed, for instance, as “justification for violating the 8th commandment (stealing from U.S. citizens).” A lighthearted video clip where he pretends to talk to the Lord (watch HERE) is portrayed as “sacrilegious mocking of God for political gain.”
Most pointedly, however, the raised the controversial case of Dumond, the flier also raises the controversial case of Wayne Dumond, a convicted rapist whom Huckabee publicly suggested should be freed from prison.
We do need to find out who is behind this attack. It looks like the group who launched it is lying about its membership. That ain’t Christian.
The organization lists the phone number for Arkansas’ Eagle Forum Director Betsy Hagan, however, she said she is not a part of this group.
Exit question: Is this kind of anonymous attack a McCain-Feingold legacy?
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why do they think hes not a Christian?
offroadaz on December 5, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Reprehensible.
And to answer the exit question – yes.
On the bright side, I wonder if this will lead Huckabee to be a bit more firm in his denunciations of the anti-Mormon attacks on Romney.
Slublog on December 5, 2007 at 11:54 AM
This is ridiculous. However the raging debates over Romney’s Mormonism on this site tie right into the valid question:
To what extent will one’s faith affect his policy decisions?
Valiant on December 5, 2007 at 11:54 AM
I’m no fan of Huck for President (I could probably live next door to him, though), but that attack is below the belt. It’s about as Christian as Fred Phelps’ little inbred hate cult.
ReubenJCogburn on December 5, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Well, I’m a Christian and I value faith in candidates, but I for one have had enough faith-based attacks in this race. As I’ve said before about Romney, we’re not electing a pastor-in-chief, we’re electing a commander-in-chief as well as a chief executive. Romney’s faith, which I don’t share, is irrelevant to his qualifications to lead imho. The question about him and Huckabee and the rest of them is: Are they qualified and do they exhibit the ability, judgment, ethics and strength to lead? Based on that criteria, from what I’ve seen I’d say yes to Romney and I’m leaning no to Huckabee. I’m also a yes to Thompson, McCain, Tancredo and Hunter, leaning no to Giuliani (ethics, mostly) but not a definite no. Any of them would be better than any of the Democrats, by miles, though Giuliani’s ethics are a valid reason to wonder. Definite no to Paul.
Bryan on December 5, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Good qualities to consider any candidate.
Sort of walking into the house and onto the carpet with crap still on your shoes.
Kini on December 5, 2007 at 12:07 PM
How would it be? It’s been a while since I’ve looked closely at McCain-Feingold, but hasn’t this sort of thing been going on long before it became law?
Hollowpoint on December 5, 2007 at 12:08 PM
I agree.
For me, though, with Giuliani it is the pro-choice issue. I just wonder why our party has a platform, this guy does not hold to much of it, and we aren’t nailing him on it. Well – I suppose some are. Maybe because he is seen as our one hope against Hillary? Or, because of his handling of 9/11?
nailinmyeye on December 5, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Why is it that the first thought that pops into my mind on reading this moniker is “Catholics for a Free Choice?”
Sounds like another wannabe Christian group which adopts the name of a religion but holds tenets directly contradictory to those of the faith they purport to embrace.
BKennedy on December 5, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Those are the words I was looking for.
nailinmyeye on December 5, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Absolutely ridiculous. The one man I’d figure wouldn’t have his devotion to his religion questioned in this debate was Huckabee.
amerpundit on December 5, 2007 at 12:16 PM
These kinds of attacks often have the opposite effect they seem to intend.
Speakup on December 5, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Why would he, Romney’s hemorrhaging votes due to anti-Mormon sentiment, why wouldn’t he just wait till that wells tapped dry? This primary has turned me into a really sour bastard.
Bad Candy on December 5, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Because now, not doing so would make him look unprincipled.
But who knows, really?
Slublog on December 5, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Maybe Fred Phelps is behind it!
Buy Danish on December 5, 2007 at 12:21 PM
I think Giuliani is in the running is because he is well known.
And the media massages that.
As far as the ‘Christian groups’ getting involved in the race at all…..I, for one, being a Christian, wish they would be quiet.
Moral people, or Christian people are quite capable of voting people into office..without their help.
bridgetown on December 5, 2007 at 12:21 PM
This is dirty and wrong.
CP on December 5, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Does Harry Reid know about these phony [Christian] soldiers?
saint kansas on December 5, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Yeah, but he’s so nice! He’d get away with it, lets be honest.
Bad Candy on December 5, 2007 at 12:28 PM
These are not good ads. But, if you live by casting religious doubt (including by people under you), you die by having such doubt cast.
Romney is not running as a Mormon.
Huckabee is running as a Baptist.
Tzetzes on December 5, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Anyone but Huckabee apparently. I think I’ll go donate.
tizzidale on December 5, 2007 at 12:31 PM
I don’t want a Mormon president, a Baptist president or a Jewish, Catholic or agnostic president. I want an American president, who’ll fight illegal immigration, Islamic terrorism and governmental overregulation.
Tzetzes on December 5, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Because he’s a Methodist?
Dusty on December 5, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Whoops, Baptist.
Dusty on December 5, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Christians make mistake. We’re only human.
I’ve heard Huckabee speak and would venture that he has a closer relationship and knowledge of systematic theology than some candidates that carry Bibles around. (Democratic names of people from Arkansas withheld).
Hening on December 5, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Smells like Huckabee supporters trying to trash their own guy and blame it on the Eagle Forum.
gabriel sutherland on December 5, 2007 at 12:54 PM
I agree too. But if Huckabee’s faith leads us down a trail of compassionate conservative socialism, it affects his judgment as president. As an evangelical, this has always bothered me about Bush (amnesty, massive spending, etc.)
Valiant on December 5, 2007 at 12:57 PM
“As an evangelical, this has always bothered me about Bush (amnesty, massive spending, etc.)”
Isn’t Christian Socialism basically the Baptist creed? Rockefeller and friends thought so.
gabriel sutherland on December 5, 2007 at 1:00 PM
Well, HELLO!, obviously he is not a true conservative. As for not a real Cristian, what goes around, comes around.
He made a self serving, sanctimonious decision that lead directly to a girls murder.
MB4 on December 5, 2007 at 1:00 PM
New Hampshire NEA endorses Hillary and Huckabee… well, that isn’t going to help him much.
bnelson44 on December 5, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Christian Socialism is not compatible with the Constitution. That’s all I know about it.
If one interprets his faith in this way, it is relevant to policy.
Valiant on December 5, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Immigration bill un-Christian, anti-life, governor says Friday, Jan
28, 2005
By Doug Thompson
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK – Gov. Mike Huckabee Thursday denounced a bill by Sen. Jim Holt that would deny state benefits to illegal
immigrants as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life.
Jim Holt (R) is a Cristian, an American, responsible, pro-life and a conservative, so he has got to be at least smilying a little about all this.
I know I am.
MB4 on December 5, 2007 at 1:18 PM
I looked at the “flier” and it looks like it was printed by some lone local agitator on a personal computer printer.
bnelson44 on December 5, 2007 at 1:27 PM
At least he’s not an Atheist.
JayHaw Phrenzie on December 5, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Krykee doodle.
In all fairness, from the looks of hotair over the last week, I think this place should be re-named ‘huck’s other place.’
locomotivebreath1901 on December 5, 2007 at 1:44 PM
At least half of that is true.
jaime on December 5, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Where is Huck getting his support? It ain’t from Romney. From the corner:
bnelson44 on December 5, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Huckabee’s entire campaign at this point is “vote for me because I’m Christian.” I think that opens him up to criticism of not being Christian enough. John Kerry’s 2004 campaign was based entirely on his Vietnam service. Because he chose that as the focal point of his candidacy, it was completely appropriate for the Swift Boat vets to call his service into question.
Notwithstanding this creepy “Iowans for Some Semblance of Christian Decency” group, I see nothing wrong with questioning Huck’s Christianity. If Huck thinks his faith is what qualifies him for the Presidency, his faith ought to be questioned. For example, I’d like to ask him why, if he’s such a good Christian, he allowed ANY executions while he was governor. Fair question, no?
Enrique on December 5, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Now you know what Mormons feel like when this happens; the shoe’s on the other foot, eh?
WasatchMan on December 5, 2007 at 2:40 PM
Good heavens folks…
Methodist = Christian
Baptist = Christian
Catholic = Christian
Mormon = Christian
All differing flavors of the same Apple. Internally Christians might argue over the minutae but when it all comes down to it there is one thing that ties us altogether and that’s the only REAL thing that matters….and even then some of us argue about that.
Pilgrim on December 5, 2007 at 2:58 PM
The only thing uglier than self-righteousness is when two contrary and competing self-righteousnesses collide. You are right to defend him Bryan; these attacks are low and reprehensible. But, in a very real sense, the logic behind the attacks is precisely the same sort that Huckabee himself both uses and inspires in others. My regret is limited to the damage this does to public discourse in general and the image it portrays of conservative Christianity in general. For the man and his campaign, I have little sympathy.
JackOfClubs on December 5, 2007 at 3:23 PM
Dear GOD, I am heartily sick of the whole Christian, schmistian, ANY relistian thing, PERIOD. I don’t give a rat’s ass WHAT your worship (or lack there-of) persuasion is and as soon as you wrap/unwrap yourself in the cloak of the carpenter (or WHATEVER), I tune OUT.
As I replied when a jeweler in tiny J-ville, N.C. introduced herself with “we’re a CHRISTIAN business”: “I don’t care if you’re Baptist, Buddhist or Venusian, orange, green, white or purple. Are you honest and can you fix my ring?”
Are you honorable, trustworthy, courageous, ferocious when this great country is threatened and a defender of every last individual right listed in a certain magnificent document? If you are, we’ll talk about my vote.
I could care less about where you are on Sundays, Saturdays or five times a day. Your ACTIONS will tell me the caliber of PERSON.
tree hugging sister on December 5, 2007 at 3:38 PM
Christians battle in the Hot Air Coliseum for the amusement of God-Emperor Allahpundit.
saint kansas on December 5, 2007 at 3:59 PM
Exactly let’s ignore these Faux Christian loons, if they don’t like the GOP – well there’s the exit door and don’t let it hit you in the butt on the wayout on your way into The Constitution Party, where ghost-grp-Faux-Christians are embraced and emboldened.
AprilOrit on December 5, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Sounds good to me…I’m Jewish and if I told everyone “We’re a Jewish business” I would be accused of being a radical Jewish separetist.
AprilOrit on December 5, 2007 at 4:19 PM
Whatever happened to religion being a deeply PERSONAL thing? When did it change to a first question during an introduction (”My name is Mary. What church do you go to?”) and a ticket you have to wave to get anywhere (”Vote for ME! Honestly, I’m a CHRISTIAN! See this AP photo of me at St. Wannabe’s? In the pew right there!” Halo not included.)
tree hugging sister on December 5, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Oh. And if you should answer Mary’s RUDE question wrongly…
tree hugging sister on December 5, 2007 at 4:39 PM
Thanks, Bryan.
I’m not a Huckabee supporter either, but this kind of attack is silly. I thought, with protestantism, that once a person accepted Christ as one’s personal savior that it was a done deal — you’re Christian and you’re saved, not perfect in works but perfected through Christ. So Huckabee may have sinned. Didn’t Paul teach that everyone has? Isn’t the point of Christ’s sacrifice that only he could save us from sin? I guess I don’t get it.
Folks like right2bright seem to say that one must also accept the Nicene creed (though I’m fuzzy on which version — before or after the schism between the roman and the eastern church), but I’m pretty sure Huckabee does, seeing that he is a protestant minister, so it seems this “semblance” group doesn’t have much of a foundation.
Jens on December 5, 2007 at 4:46 PM
It was started by Lee Atwater and Karl Rove continued the behavior.
Blame them, they made “being Christian” and judging who is and who isn’t a “Cottage Industry” within the GOP.
AprilOrit on December 5, 2007 at 5:08 PM
If I thought you knew the difference between the dozen different creeds, I would be impressed. But you obviously do not. But then you can alway Google them and say you do.
This attack is much like the attack “poll” on Mitt (phone call thing) it smacks of someone not very knowledgeable about faith and religion.
Like the phone poll, this looks like a clumsy attempt by a liberal group to smear a faith based candidate. Like an atheist arguing the scripture, it is very easy to see the insincerity and the “grade school” mentality. These groups just don’t get faith, like a guy listening to an iPod and singing out load…knows the words but out of tune.
right2bright on December 5, 2007 at 5:10 PM
I apologize if what I said offended you. I did not mean to offend.
I think you may be right about the source of the attack. It is probably a source that doesn’t understand the faith.
Jens on December 5, 2007 at 5:18 PM
I have been a supporter of the Governor, and yes I am starting to question some of his stances on some of the issues … but this is WAY OVER BOARD! I can only imagine that if this was used against Mitt Romney how the press would be reacting.
Dhornertx on December 5, 2007 at 6:28 PM
Argh, skullduggery raises its hoary head again.
Whoever had the most to gain by all of the consequences, not merely the printed message, had the most motivation; though to DO the deed, a self-righteous self-serving saboteur is required. The timing ALWAYS denotes the level of sophistication; and the level of sophistication would mask itself as another.
Coincidentally, Romney’s speech on faith occurs this morning.
Ignore the irrelevant as each American has the liberty of free speech.
No intelligent person needs to attack Huckabee with anything but his record in order to insure his loss. Republicans will vote conservative.
maverick muse on December 6, 2007 at 8:28 AM
No offense ever taken. Most just type, some go overboard on the personal attacks…but never, ever you.
The bible says “steel sharpens steel”, you can’t live your faith without it being challenged…that is one of God’s promises (feels like a curse), your faith will be challenged. But steep yourself in God’s word…and not any other substitute, and your faith will be sharpened. Men’s tongues will dull the faith, that is why pastor’s, priests, bishops, popes, prophets, are all taken with a grain of salt…it is the ultimate word of God, not man’s, that prevail. Study the bible without any other instrument and you will hear God’s voice…
right2bright on December 6, 2007 at 10:11 AM
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