The Red and Black

Why close an insightful column about a candidate's policies with an endorsement from a washed-up celebrity? Who cares?

He is an interesting candidate but...
From his site:
"I support and have always supported passage of a constitutional amendment to protect the right to life."
"I support and have consistently supported passage of a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman."
"I consistently opposed banning assault weapons and opposed the Brady Bill."

I guess these might be good things for some people. I don't really like people trying to amend to constitution to restrict people's actions.

"With his recent endorsement by Chuck Norris, Mike Huckabee is shaking up the presidential primaries."

Are you kidding me? Chuck Norris? This is supposed to make Huckabee a viable candidate? He's viable because he is a baptist preacher. He's viable because he's southern. He's viable because he's conservative. He's viable because he's easy to relate to for Iowa and NH voters. He's viable because he seems like an "everyman", playing an rock band and such. But he is definitely not viable because of Chuck Norris.

umm... he was joking with the whole Chuck Norris thing. Don't read into it. Great article.

Day by day, increasingly, Mike Huckabee is what Leadership looks like ( http://snipr.com/leaderlook ). He's an adroit public speaker; he's all about calling his listeners to "do something," to awaken them to their own empowerment, and summon them to action in order that "Main Street," and not "Wall Street," will prevail in guarding the values and beliefs upon which the Republic was founded.

Huckabee puts his listeners at ease, and reassures them, articulating clear concepts in a natural, easy style (no doubt something well-cultivated as a pastor). He's not as "mechanically-scripted" as Romney, nor angry or demanding, like a Ron Paul, and his large brown eyes, peering through a humble demeanor, draw a striking contrast to a unconvincing, tired-looking Thompson. One can easily imagine sitting comfortably with Mike over a cup of coffee at the Main Street Cafe.

Most importantly, Huckabee is ONE with the FairTax grassroots movement ( http://snipr.com/fthuckabeeonirs ). Romney's recent WEAK response to FairTax questioning on "This Week with Geo. Stephanopoulos ( http://snipurl.com/stephanopoulosdebate )" drew a sharp contrast between Huckabee and all other presidential front-runners who will not embrace it. Huckabee understands that what's wrong with the income tax can''t be fixed with "a tap of the hammer, nor a twist of the screwdriver." That his opponents cling to the destructive Tax Code, the IRS, preserving political power of granting tax favors at continued cost to - and misery of - American families, invigorates his campaign''s raison d'etre. "Main Street" will have to demand ( http://snipr.com/scrapthecode ) that their legislators deliver the bill to Huckabee, if elected.

Alumnus...that's spoken like a true democrat. Abortion is such a weak and feeble argument. Is abortion really the only issue you care about above all the others facing our country (muslim extremism, socialism, social security, socialized healthcare...)? Oh wait, you're probably concerned about gays in the military also, right? Roe vs Wade will never, ever be overturned in our life time. And if it is ever overturned, we'll be long since dead. At least Huckabee has strong opinions and doesn't waver one bit about what he believes. Long live the republic...not the democracy.

To Scott: "Why close an insightful column about a candidate's policies with an endorsement from a washed-up celebrity? Who cares?"

The Chuck Norris ad is hilarious. It isn't about the fact that Norris endorsed Huckabee, and the political weight that Chuck Norris carries. It's just damn funny. That's why I closed the argument, to hopefully add some humor to the discussion. I think you'll find that Mike Huckabee does that, too (which is why he did such an ad in the first place). Hope that helps, glad you thought my column was insightful.

Alumnus, if abortion is the only thing you care about, then I can't help you. We are at odds. That doesn't mean that I won't fight against it. I'm sure you'll fight for it. That doesn't bother me, we just disagree.

To BC: "Are you kidding me? Chuck Norris? This is supposed to make Huckabee a viable candidate? He's viable because he is a baptist preacher."

That's the joke, BC. Looks like you missed it. No, it's not that he's a Baptist preacher. It's that he has personal appeal, and his views resonate with many Americans. Maybe they don't resonate with you, but that doesn't mean he's not viable. ;)

To UGA Student: "umm... he was joking with the whole Chuck Norris thing. Don't read into it. Great article."

Thank you for your honest intelligence. I'm glad you got the joke, and glad you enjoyed the article.

Ian from Ann Arbor: Great video clip! I'm glad to not be the only Huckabee supporter here.

To the republic: Don't worry about Alumnus. He/she is a person with a single mind: lack of consequences. He/she wants to be able to have sex minus the lifetime consequences that may result from said behavior. He/she doesn't want to spend money on readily-available contraceptives. He/she would rather perpetuate the murder of unborn babies, simply because he/she doesn't want to face the consequences (or you could look at more optimistically: blessings) of raising children. The argument is moot, which is why it should end. You will not convince him/her, and he/she will not convince you. Abortion is one of those topics that just needs to be dropped in terms of conversation. Fight against it, but don't bring it up at the dinner table.

Huckabee is a Big-government conservative, plain and simple. I suppose you could call him a "Progressive Conservative." I just don't see much of a difference between him and Bush.

Not to mention he doesn't believe in evolution. That's almost reason enough not to support the guy.