The Huckabee Problem

Why his religious roots make some conservatives uncomfortable.

By Howard Fineman | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Jan 14, 2008

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  • Posted By: dstroud560 @ 02/11/2008 11:39:12 AM

    Evolution is not a science it is a THEORY - An unproven theory with none of the millions of missing links needed to prove it is viable. Mr. Huckabee has stood his ground against the best of the media traps and bickering that has caused the democratic candidates to fall so easily. We need a strong man to be our president not someone who falls in the simple pressures of a campain. His ideas are new and solid - we tried letting our country swing to the liberal side and we are suffering greatly for that mistake.
    Dave

  • Posted By: momoffaith @ 02/07/2008 4:55:50 PM

    lorie.smock@
    Christianity is a relationship with Jesus Christ not a religion. This country would do well to remember that and to seek to have a relationship with the one and only person who can bring about change. We cannot expect any one person to restore this nation. It starts with us as individuals. If our nation as a whole would seek to follow God which, like it or not ,is our heritage we would begin to see " Real Change".

  • Posted By: preacherman @ 02/06/2008 2:30:30 AM

    if we as a nation would would pray and turn from our wickness and repeat.we can see a change.we as people can change things by prayer. prayer works. its just like this . when we was sinners ask forgiviness the master forgave us.there was a change.if we will learn to put our trust in god . there can be a differnets. we need to all come together pray before it to late.

  • Posted By: sellis43 @ 02/05/2008 5:33:22 PM

    Maybe Mike HuckaBee does't talk about his religion so as not to offend anyone or matbe , just maybe, he realizes that religious views and political views don't mix.

  • Posted By: sellis43 @ 02/05/2008 5:29:35 PM

    The right to worship as we as individuals see fit, and NO RELIGIOUS TEST to hold public office. This is our freedom of religion stated in the bill of rights. Get over it.

  • Posted By: sellis43 @ 02/05/2008 5:27:04 PM

    There shall be no relious test to hold public office. This was one of the meanings in the bill of rights, the other to worship as we as individuals see fit. This is the freedom of religion.

  • Posted By: kevin_kelley @ 01/26/2008 10:52:37 PM

    You dont have to be a rocket scientist to figure out Columbine and the like, Just an evolutionist. If you really beilve that you are an accident , there is no God, and no one to answer to after death, if you belive in the survival of the fittest...and someone tics you off.....well.Like I said, you dont have to be a rocket scientist....sad that we make theory fact, and call it science.....you have more faith than me if you do......I really dont want to hear anything else about religion being shoved down peoples throats.....unless you are talking about evolution...that you force me to shove down peoples throats by the use of my tax dollars for it. When tragedy hits, we pray.....when peace comes as we stray......all just so we can play...come on America...its time to remember where we came from...and its not the goo to the zoo to you.....it is Gods blessing....and mercy on us.....remember, or just monkey around. If so whats to point of anything? Whats your point? I just point up.

  • Posted By: kevin_kelley @ 01/26/2008 10:39:49 PM

    My Religion is based on indisputable and historicle facts. What you sow you reap. OK. Look at Islam, you get afgahnistan.....look at Christianity , you get the USA,.. womens rights, and freedom. Compare that to hinduism or whatever you want....look at some fruit...then you might just guess if the tree coresponds with the reality you live in....where people pursue happiness and find it. Evolution is still a theory, mind you. You cant prove it, only repeat it so many times till everyone believes it.....now that it blind faith. My faith is like sitting in a char...I sit here because I have faith that it is real.....I am a believer, not a make believer. Evolution is make beliefe...look at the callendar, it testifies, historic testimony, that Christ came and split time in half....Evolution has never clamed a sorrowfull heart, or dried a tear.....it doesnt line up with reality, and the needs of people.... you want purpose, and you throw that away by telling everyone that they are just a complicated accident ....just to fulfill your sexual mores.....come on. I am not going to tell any kid they are an accident...and you wonder why the sucide rate for kids is so high...they believe what you say when you dont....

  • Posted By: blueskybluesguy @ 01/26/2008 9:10:51 PM

    Why is Huckabee's religious affiliation an issue? Why wouldn't we explore Hillary Clinton's beliefs on creation or Obama's or McCain's? The answer... Because it has no bearing on how they would operate as president. Are you saying that a US President must be an athiest to be qualified?

  • Posted By: polimel4me @ 01/23/2008 6:36:58 PM

    Hey he seems like a nice guy. I'm just now starting to research the candidates, but haven't heard much about Mike's war views. Can anybody enlighten me?

  • Posted By: Macglass @ 01/10/2008 8:29:54 AM

    Please do not talk of the science of evolution when ever thoese following biblical creationism are prepared to admit the subject of origions is faith based. All old age science is carried out in the light of pre suppositions, this means scientists who like evolution seek to prove evolution while those who follow the bible seek to prove its accuracy. There is good science carried out on both sides but a bias will flaw the findings. Origions is the vital issue anyway, where are you from and where will you go? Huckabee needs to answer the same question, and the press is unqualified to answer the question.

    • Posted By: rick986s @ 01/22/2008 10:15:26 AM

      I've not seen any science from ID (or any other creator / God based) "scientist".
      The reason: Science begins with a hypothesis. That hypothesis makes predictions, and then it is tested. Evidence is collected that either validates or falsifies the hypothesis. Only then can conclusions be made.
      Religion and ID do not do this; instead they begin with conclusions and form a hypothesis from the conclusion.
      Religion (including creationism) is faith based - it is not based on reason or evidence.
      If religion was based on reason (or was a rational belief system), then one could argue that there is evidence that will validate or falsify the belief system. If religion is rational, then what evidence would prove to you that it is false? What data points from science (astronomy, geology, paleontology, archeology, etc) would you accept as evidence that your religion is false? If there are none, then you choose to believe your religion no matter what, and that is blind faith. That is not science. That is not rational. That is not reason. Furthermore, that belongs in a church, not in the White House.

  • Posted By: thevoiceofreason3:16 @ 01/22/2008 10:10:33 AM

    If we had a president that would lead this country on his knees and by that i mean praying for God's direction this country would make a dramatic turn for the better. I believe Huckabee is that man.

  • Posted By: thevoiceofreason3:16 @ 01/22/2008 10:08:00 AM

    If we had a President that would lead this country on his knees and by that i mean praying for God's guidence, this country would make a dramatic turnaround. I believe Huckabee is that man.

  • Posted By: Tivoli @ 01/09/2008 12:09:32 AM

    Why is Huckabee's religion a problem? Mitt Romney was a lay bishop in the Mormon church. Kennedy was a Catholic. No problem.

    Where I work in Atlanta, blacks like Huckabee, whites like Huckabee, women like Huckabee, men like Huckabee, younger people like Huckabee, older people like Huckabee, non-Christians like Huckabee, Christians like Huckabee, liberals like Huckabee, conservatives like Huckabee. If that isn't a winning coalition, then the Republican Party does not have one.

    • Posted By: rick986s @ 01/22/2008 10:05:05 AM

      I'm a non-christian Republican, and I do not like Huckabee. IMO, he is the most dangerous candidate in this election (barely edging Hillary).

    • Posted By: wyocby @ 01/09/2008 12:20:03 AM

      Now, if the Presidency were a popularity contest I would say you had an argument. But if Liberals like Huckabee I won't be voting for him!

      • Posted By: Tivoli @ 01/09/2008 12:22:42 AM

        I didn't say Liberals, I said liberals. The candidate who will win the presidency must attract independents, not just Republicans.

        • Posted By: wyocby @ 01/09/2008 12:36:53 AM

          A Liberal is a liberal is a liBeral...and McCain is Mr. independent.

  • Posted By: Tivoli @ 01/09/2008 12:12:39 AM

    Mitt Romney was a lay bishop in the Mormon church and no one makes a big deal about that. Mike Huckabee's campaign slogan is not "Vote for me, I'm an evangelical".

    Where I work in Atlanta, blacks like Huckabee, whites like Huckabee, women like Huckabee, men like Huckabee, younger people like Huckabee, older people like Huckabee, non-Christians like Huckabee, Christians like Huckabee, liberals like Huckabee, conservatives like Huckabee. If that isn't a winning coalition, then the Republican Party does not have one.

    • Posted By: rick986s @ 01/22/2008 10:01:43 AM

      I am a non-christian republican. I don't like Huckabee at all. I think he is the most dangerous candidate of the bunch (barely edging Hillary).

  • Posted By: blurmon @ 01/07/2008 3:50:59 PM

    Fineman reveals his own ignorance and lack of any journalistic ethics in assuming that the theory of evolution is no longer a theory, but a proven fact. A check with any leading scientist will tell you that it is still a theory and not a concluded proven fact. As such, how does Fineman defend his thesis that the theory of evolution is the only solution out there without any alternative? Would he say that scientists know everything there is to know already? Would he concede that there yet many more things science does not yet know and can prove? Why then the rush to condemn anyone who reserves the right to believe in something other than the THEORY of evolution? Congrats, Fineman for another of your attempted and dismal hit job on another person.

    • Posted By: TheBicyclingGuitarist @ 01/15/2008 6:13:31 PM

      Not so, blurmon. Evolution IS as much a FACT of nature as gravity is, as any leading scientist will tell you. There are theories to explain evolution just as there are theories to explain gravity. That doesn't make evolution itself a theory. It is a FACT. Get over it.

  • Posted By: TheBicyclingGuitarist @ 01/15/2008 1:59:17 PM

    Excuse me, dgirl, but your grasp of history is faulty. America was most definitely NOT founded as a Christian nation. In fact some of our founding fathers were anti-Christian and made no bones about it. Do some research and you'll see how ridiculous your claim is. Huckabee would be a dangerous person to have as our leader, because of the ignorance and bigotry associated with a fundamentalist mindset.

  • Posted By: dgirl @ 01/15/2008 12:41:33 PM

    Dear BoGilles, wow, just wrong thinking on your part. Funny our nation was founded on Christianity!!!! Luke12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. In order to have victory and succses in this nation we need to turn back to God. We have become a wicked nation. Why would God want to bless us.

  • Posted By: BoGilles @ 01/15/2008 10:49:29 AM

    We don't elect a President for his religious belief, but for what he stands for on the vital issues that this country are facing.

  • Posted By: magnets @ 01/14/2008 10:48:33 PM

    Howard, you just don't get it. Security (including economic security) is the most important aspect of this election. The IRS has cost me 10 years of my life and close to $90,000. That's what happens when things turn to *** before you can pay taxes due. Huckabee is the only candidate that understands we need to get rid of the IRS.

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