Months of hard work on a shoestring budget have brought former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee into the Republican nomination spotlight, and he is having trouble adjusting, it seems. First, he reacted strongly to a question over whether "creationism" should be taught in public schools, report Liz Sidoti and Libby Quaid for the Associated Press:
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, a Southern Baptist preacher who has surged in Iowa with evangelical Christian support, bristled Tuesday when asked if creationism should be taught in public schools.Huckabee -- who raised his hand at a debate last May when asked which candidates disbelieved the theory of evolution -- asked this time why there is such a fascination with his beliefs.
"I believe God created the heavens and the Earth," he said at a news conference with Iowa pastors who murmured, "Amen."
"I wasn't there when he did it, so how he did it, I don't know," Huckabee said.
Read the whole story at the above link. Much of Huckabee's progress has been among the Christian "social conservatives" many thought would flock to Fred Thompson once he entered the race. He's exploited the opening Thompson's slow start afforded him, and cannot easily alter course now. How can it be that he dodges the question? Either you believe public schools should teach "creationism," or you don't think they should. I can scarcely imagine a policy question upon which there is narrower "middle ground."
That's not the end of Huckabee's problems now, either. Last night he held an "on the record" dinner with journalists, and was blindsided by a question about the NIE report on Iran's nuclear program, according to Jonathan Martin of The Politico:
The transcript speaks for itself:Kuhn: I don't know to what extent you have been briefed or been able to take a look at the NIE report that came out yesterday ...
Huckabee: I'm sorry?Kuhn: The NIE report, the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. Have you been briefed or been able to take a look at it --
Huckabee: No.
Kuhn: Have you heard of the finding?
Huckabee: No.
The full exchange, and Martin's commentary, are at the link provided. It's hard to take someone seriously as a Presidential candidate when he had no clue about the biggest story of the day. The candidate obviously might not have time to listen to the news, but someone among his staff or volunteers has to be keeping up. Sure, it's tough on a limited budget - but, Mike: nobody forced you to stand for the top job.
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2008 Presidential Race, Huckabee, Iowa, Primaries, Republican, Special Interest Groups
Tags: foreign policy, Huckabee, presidential campaign, primaries, Republicans
Comments (9)
I'm not a Huck supporter, b... (Below threshold)1. Posted by wavemaker | December 5, 2007 7:47 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
I'm not a Huck supporter, but I don't think (based on the story) that he "ducked" the question -- I think he answered it correctly.
With every candidate on both sides chest-thumping about the strength of their faiths, why is it the preacher who gets asked the canard?
1. Posted by wavemaker | December 5, 2007 7:47 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 07:47
2. Posted by Charlie Quidnunc | December 5, 2007 11:39 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Huckabee did answer the question, as the AP story went on to say:
"That's an irrelevant question to ask me -- I'm happy to answer what I believe, but what I believe is not what's going to be taught in 50 different states," Huckabee said. "Education is a state function. The more state it is, and the less federal it is, the better off we are."
That's the right answer. It's not up to the President to decide what the curriculum is in the schools.
Now, his answer to the NIE is more troublesome. If he can't answer it tomorrow or the day after, that's a bigger problem.
2. Posted by Charlie Quidnunc | December 5, 2007 11:39 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 11:39
3. Posted by Charlie Quidnunc | December 5, 2007 11:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
That said, he scares the pants off me, too.
This is code to the evangelicals that he will enable them to include junk science in the schools. Not good. If we allow ID, what's next? The flying spaghetti monsters of Pastafarianism?
3. Posted by Charlie Quidnunc | December 5, 2007 11:43 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 11:43
4. Posted by bryanD | December 5, 2007 11:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"With every candidate on both sides chest-thumping about the strength of their faiths, why is it the preacher who gets asked the canard?
Posted by wavemaker"
Because the press thought they saw a slam-dunk wedge issue and glory for themselves, a'la Huckabee will play WJ Bryan while the reporters get to be Clarence Darrow.
But behind that, it's the corporate media method to induce retractions from candidates via "embarrassing" questions to further the "Lies; Everybody Lies; So What?" meme.
If unanimous flipping and flopping can be found among popular candidates, then it makes the promotion of future shit-hooks inside the government-media complex so much smoother. In effect, it makes dishonesty a non-issue since everyone can be seen to be "slippery" on some issue or another.
Anyway, first the meme. If that doesn't take (ie, Huckabee refuses to "switch") THEN it gets personal.
As for the subject of Creationism? The press files that next to UFO.
4. Posted by bryanD | December 5, 2007 11:47 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 11:47
5. Posted by bryanD | December 5, 2007 11:56 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"The flying spaghetti monsters of Pastafarianism?
Posted by Charlie Quidnunc"
Paging Doktor Freud!
5. Posted by bryanD | December 5, 2007 11:56 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 11:56
6. Posted by mantis | December 5, 2007 12:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The flying spaghetti monsters of Pastafarianism?
There is only one Flying Spaghetti Monster, blessed be his name.
And which candidate is willing to explain his/her policy for dealing with the shortage of pirates and its effect on the Earth's climate?
6. Posted by mantis | December 5, 2007 12:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 12:03
7. Posted by Glenn Koons | December 5, 2007 1:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It is time for all stripes of the GOP to stop asking a litmus question on angels on a pinhead. All 5 of our guys is better than any of the Dem candidates. Fact. All 5 will protect us globally, nationally. Some will even close the borders and ID illegals. Some will cut taxes and spending. All will select strict constructionists to SCOTUS et al. This nit picking of our guys while we forget any of the issues to hammer the Dems-leftists, is self destructive.
7. Posted by Glenn Koons | December 5, 2007 1:26 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 13:26
8. Posted by Jim Addison | December 5, 2007 3:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Huckabee did NOT answer the question directly.
His personal religious beliefs, his belief in federalism and state control over education, and his statement against "indoctrination" are NOT direct answers to the question he was asked.
In fact the latter formulation is often used by those supporting "creationism," but they are speaking of the "indoctrination" with evolution.
Is there something about the water in Little Rock which prevents former Arkansas Governors from giving straight answers?
8. Posted by Jim Addison | December 5, 2007 3:10 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 15:10
9. Posted by bryanD | December 5, 2007 8:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"...his belief in federalism and state control over education..."-ja
Huh??? Huckabee is hearted by the National Education Association! (That's bad. Mm'kay?)
"...and his statement against "indoctrination" are NOT direct answers to the question he was asked."-ja
Like the black mans' "prison knowledge", rednecks have folkways. These include publicly frustrating the effete.
You've heard of the Scythians being hectored to "stand and fight" by the Roman legions, right?
The Scythians" answer was always the pat response: "Go weep!"
And they remained free.
9. Posted by bryanD | December 5, 2007 8:31 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 5, 2007 20:31