On October 20, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee received a resounding 80% vote of attendees of the evangelical Family Research Council DC conference.
Another boost then the broadside
Though he placed a close second in the overall straw poll vote, including online voters, Huckabee received this big boost followed by an admiring piece of the New York Times columnist David Brooks who called him the GOP’s “unity” candidate. Warren Cole Smith of the Evangelical Press News Service believe Huckabee to be the evangelical dream candidate. Sandwiched in the accolades was a broadside from Wall Street Journal’s conservative columnist John Fund.
All three articles were convincing to a point. Then came Huckabee’s response to Fund’s criticism; this article seemed to have been the less convincing one for some conservatives.
The unity candidate
Brooks’ piece asserted that Huckabee’s social conservatism and moderate economic and governmental approach could unite the various factions of the GOP, thereby giving it a united front against Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democrat nominee.
The dream candidate
Smith's article noted that Huckabee is the dream evangelical candidate who is building his support and who can defeat liberalism (Giuliani) and Mormonism (Romney) then possibly go all the way to the White House seemed plausible. But Smith’s piece seemed long on hope and short on a few accurate details. He said, “Romney’s numbers are “not even in the teens.” In fact, Romney is leading in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and South Carolina. Another dreamy quote: “If current trends continue, he could overtake either McCain or Romney in the national polls within the next few weeks.” Smith needs to look at RealClearPolitics.com and its long term media polls to see reality clearly.
A liberal-populist
WSJ’s Fund used credible sources in advancing his view that Huckabee is socially conservative but liberal-populist on economic matters, while Huckabee’s disposition in dealing with a Democrat Congress is moderate.
Fund quotes:
1. long-time conservative Phyllis Schlafly: “He destroyed the conservative movement in Arkansas, and left the Republican Party in shambles;”
2. Republican conservative and former Colorado governor Bill Owens (a Romney supporter) said: “he took positions to my left” during the National Governors’ Association meetings;
3. Paul Pressler, a former federal circuit court judge over Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana and who led the conservative Southern Baptist resurgence said: "I know of no conservative he appointed while he headed the Arkansas Baptist Convention."
A moderate approach
These specific criticisms were not answered directly by Huckabee in his October 28 response. Some of the specifics he offered were his strong willingness to compromise with U.S. congressional Democrats regarding the SCHIP (a federal health program for children) and his commitment to reducing “our emission of greenhouse gases” by supporting “a cap and trade system.” Both issues are not front burner items for conservatives.
Huckabee listed his accomplishment in Arkansas, including providing $90 million in tax relief, a total of $380 million over 10.5 years while doubling the standard deduction for single and married taxpayers and creating health insurance coverage for more than 70,000 Arkansas kids.
An appeal for understanding
Huckabee appealed to his difficult position in passing Republican and/or conservative policies in an “overwhelmingly Democratic" state congress.
A social conservative, not a Reagan conservative
His answers were reasonable though not as effectively advanced as Fund’s criticisms. Hope, Arkansas’ Huckabee may be the hope for many evangelicals but may not be the highest hope for Ronald Reagan conservatives.
Showing posts with label Republican presidential candidates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Republican presidential candidates. Show all posts
Nov 3, 2007
Jul 17, 2007
Presidential Run for the Roses: The GOP (Part 3)
Run Rudy Run!?
(For background, please read the previous two blogs, part 1 and 2)
In the Grand Old Party's presidential run for the roses, while U.S. Sen. John McCain's horse is losing steam, who will get the advantage in this presidential Derby? Will it be former mayor Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani; former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney; the new white knight of conservatives, U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-TN; or, another candidate?
"America's Mayor," as Oprah Winfrey has dubbed Giuliani, has been on top of most national polls since last year. He is seen as the Republican's dragon slayer, homeland defender and the proven savvy spokesman during times of crisis, or does he, too, as McCain does, have a political Archilles heel, a horse shoe that will fall off?
As a big city mayor--none other than NYC--Giuliani handled the hot media debate on issues sucessfully, particularly during 9/11. In contrast, Iowa is retail politics: one-one-one or one-on-small group in the countryside, small farms and small shops. Can he endure small town America? Will he vigorously campaign in the Iowa hinterlands, during the cold caucus nights at the Hawkeye state? This is doable for Giulani as he remains focused.
Giuliani dealt with crime and criminals in NYC and was an articulate spokesman during 9/11, but can he stop Islamic Fascism? There is a vast difference of the two. Yet, dealing with NYC gangs and decades long criminals and criminal families, Giulani has proven more than anyone else (besides president Bush 1 and 2 and Reagan), that he is willing to face the forces of darkness. His background shows victories but also a pullout.
He had the opportunity to defeat Hilary Clinton during her initial bid for New York Senate. Giulani backed out due to prostate cancer. Clinton went on to win handily. Giulani has another opportunity to do what he should have done earlier--defeat Hilary Clinton. His aborted campaign had other, perhaps hidden, reasons, which may point to his Archilles heal.
Giulani, before his NY Senate campaign, was warned by his then wife, to stop, within a year, his involvement with another woman. Apparently, after the one year period ended, Giuliani continued the affair. His wife came out publicly denouncing her husband's adultery. This announcement was followed by the announcement that Giulani had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Giulani then stopped his NY Senate bid.
To further complicate his moral disposititons, Giulani marched with NYC gay groups for many years while also marching lockstep with abortion rights groups. The "A" issue along with the gay and abortion issues do not sit well with social conservatives.
As more and more social conservatives, the largest voting block in the Republican Party, learn more about Giulani the man, how many will vote for him during the primary, particularly the South Carolina primary and later the in general election. Does he have other scandals yet to be revealed that Democrat opposition researchers will strategically leak to the media? With this moral Archilles heel, can he slay the dragon that will appear after the Democrat primary in 2008? Will their be a horse shoe that will drop during this lengthy presidential run for the roses?
He is seen as a hero to the nation, and particularly Republicans. He has led us through the wilderness of 9/11. In the end, is Giulani a biblical Samson, who led Israel for many years but had a moral weakness which led to his eventual downfall? Or will he be the St. George, saving the Republican village from a fire breathing Democrat dragon?
Your turn. What do you think?
For background, please read the two previous blogs, part 1 and 2.
Next Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and other candidates.
(For background, please read the previous two blogs, part 1 and 2)
In the Grand Old Party's presidential run for the roses, while U.S. Sen. John McCain's horse is losing steam, who will get the advantage in this presidential Derby? Will it be former mayor Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani; former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney; the new white knight of conservatives, U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-TN; or, another candidate?
"America's Mayor," as Oprah Winfrey has dubbed Giuliani, has been on top of most national polls since last year. He is seen as the Republican's dragon slayer, homeland defender and the proven savvy spokesman during times of crisis, or does he, too, as McCain does, have a political Archilles heel, a horse shoe that will fall off?
As a big city mayor--none other than NYC--Giuliani handled the hot media debate on issues sucessfully, particularly during 9/11. In contrast, Iowa is retail politics: one-one-one or one-on-small group in the countryside, small farms and small shops. Can he endure small town America? Will he vigorously campaign in the Iowa hinterlands, during the cold caucus nights at the Hawkeye state? This is doable for Giulani as he remains focused.
Giuliani dealt with crime and criminals in NYC and was an articulate spokesman during 9/11, but can he stop Islamic Fascism? There is a vast difference of the two. Yet, dealing with NYC gangs and decades long criminals and criminal families, Giulani has proven more than anyone else (besides president Bush 1 and 2 and Reagan), that he is willing to face the forces of darkness. His background shows victories but also a pullout.
He had the opportunity to defeat Hilary Clinton during her initial bid for New York Senate. Giulani backed out due to prostate cancer. Clinton went on to win handily. Giulani has another opportunity to do what he should have done earlier--defeat Hilary Clinton. His aborted campaign had other, perhaps hidden, reasons, which may point to his Archilles heal.
Giulani, before his NY Senate campaign, was warned by his then wife, to stop, within a year, his involvement with another woman. Apparently, after the one year period ended, Giuliani continued the affair. His wife came out publicly denouncing her husband's adultery. This announcement was followed by the announcement that Giulani had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Giulani then stopped his NY Senate bid.
To further complicate his moral disposititons, Giulani marched with NYC gay groups for many years while also marching lockstep with abortion rights groups. The "A" issue along with the gay and abortion issues do not sit well with social conservatives.
As more and more social conservatives, the largest voting block in the Republican Party, learn more about Giulani the man, how many will vote for him during the primary, particularly the South Carolina primary and later the in general election. Does he have other scandals yet to be revealed that Democrat opposition researchers will strategically leak to the media? With this moral Archilles heel, can he slay the dragon that will appear after the Democrat primary in 2008? Will their be a horse shoe that will drop during this lengthy presidential run for the roses?
He is seen as a hero to the nation, and particularly Republicans. He has led us through the wilderness of 9/11. In the end, is Giulani a biblical Samson, who led Israel for many years but had a moral weakness which led to his eventual downfall? Or will he be the St. George, saving the Republican village from a fire breathing Democrat dragon?
Your turn. What do you think?
For background, please read the two previous blogs, part 1 and 2.
Next Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and other candidates.
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