Mike Huckabee

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Mike Huckabee was born in Hope, Arkansas in 1955. At age 14, Mike began his first job as a radio deejay. Following high school graduation, Mike became a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Ark., where he founded a broadcast television station. By 1989, Mike was president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention; in 1992, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. Following Bill Clinton’s successful presidential bid, Huckabee ran for lieutenant governor; he won, and he was later re-elected. Huckabee later decided to run for Governor, and he won due to the whitewater, democratic scandal.” Huckabee was later re-elected to a second term. Most regard Governor Huckabee’s tenure as a success. Mike was named by Times Magazine as being one of the top 5 governors in America.

Ideology

Though governor Huckabee’s political ideology is generally conservative on social issues, he is often regarded as a populist due to his support for helping the poor and illegal immigrants. This has led many to refer to Huckabee as being a “liberal in disguise.” Much of his support for conservative social issues comes from his deeply religious faith. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Governor Huckabee “periodically injects faith into politics, and he is a conservative who’s willing at times to make government bigger. Mike has also tended to be more popular among black voters compared to most southern republicans.

Presidential Campaign

Though most people wrote off Mike Huckabee early in the race, Huckabee proved to be a force. Despite being significantly outspent by former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee managed to win the Iowa primary. Governor Huckabee’s communication skills are often attributed to his late success. Though Huckabee has lost many state primaries as of late, he has done very well in the south which is often regarded as the republican stronghold. Though Senator McCain has nearly won the republican nomination, Huckabee has remained in the race. Many consider Mike a viable vice presidential candidate, especially for someone like Senator McCain who tends to do better among moderates and less so among evangelicals.

Currently, Governor Huckabee has suspended his campaign.

On the Issues

• Mike is very pro-life
• For taxes, Huckabee supports a national flat tax or as he would call it, “a fair tax.”
• Believes racial profiling is un-American.
• Supports a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
• On the environment, Governor Huckabee supports energy independence, and he supports most conservation efforts.
• Does not support gun control.
• Supports border security.
• Supports the death penalty.
• Supports funding for NASA and preventative medical funding.
• On the Iraq War, Huckabee supports the War in Iraq, but has concerns for the Bush’s foreign policy.
• Supports McCain’s anti-torture policies.

Controversies

• Aids controversy: in 1992, Governor Huckabee asserted that people with AIDS should be quarantined. Though Mike claims he no longer believes this, he has refused to apologize claiming that if the U.S. knew what is known now about AIDS, he would not have made the comment he made.
• Illegal immigrant controversy: Governor Huckabee has been criticized by many GOP candidates and commentators for awarding scholarships to kids of illegal immigrants. However, Mike stands by his decision; he claims he did not want people living with their head down in his state in fear of deportation. Huckabee also noted that it was the parents who broke the law, which would not make the kids guilty of the offensive. Huckabee additionally states that illegal immigration was a federal, not a state responsibility
• Confederate Flag controversy: During the 2008 Republican South Carolina primary, the confederate flag question sparked a debate. According to the Arkansas News Bureau, “Senator McCain claimed he opposed the confederate flag. Huckabee attempted to sway conservatives to vote for him citing his support for state rights to fly a confederate flag. When referring to the confederate flag, Huckabee said ‘Well tell them, you’re going to tell us what to do with our flag? We’ll tell you what to do with the pole.’ Huckabee would not say whether he thought it was personally offensive to fly the confederate flag.”