More Religion Questions for Huckabee
(CBS)
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DIKE AND WATERLOO, IA – Mike Huckabee spent about 20 minutes with reporters on the "Huck-a-Bus" fielding questions, many of which dealt with religion.
"It's not like [I'm] stepping from the pulpit last Sunday and running for president," said Huckabee when asked if people should be afraid he would impose his religion on the American public if elected president.
Huckabee pointed to his record and said, "They're not going to see me taking down Capitol Hill and putting a steeple in its place." He then recalled how, after September 11, he called together Muslim leaders to talk about how the tragedy was an act of terrorism, not of the Muslim faith.
"I don't think anybody is going to find that I'm some intolerant bigot when it comes to religion; if anything, it's the opposite because in my view of faith, it's only faith if it's voluntary...To try to force faith on somebody would to me violate the heart and soul of it as to what it should be."
Another reporter recalled how Huckabee once denounced calling tornadoes an "act of God," previously announced a "Christian Heritage Week," and displayed the Ten Commandments in his gubernatorial office. Would he do the same as president?
"Don't know why I wouldn't," Huckabee said. He pointed out the Christian Heritage week had been done in something like 37 states, although he felt he was put under more scrutiny than governors in the other states. He also said he "wouldn't hesitate" to put up the Ten Commandments, pointing out that they are in the Supreme Court as well and that they "form the basis for most of our laws."
In 1997 Huckabee objected to language in a bill describing natural disasters as "acts of God." On this matter, Huckabee said, "It was just a semantic issue."
"There were a lot of people who said we should have very secular language in our laws," he said. "I felt it was an inconsistency that if a tornado was deemed an act of God, it was as, if saying, that something really terrible happened, that was an act of God. I saw the act of God in all those volunteers after the tornado going and helping their neighbors dig through the rubble and putting their lives back together. I saw that the tornado was the result of nature unleashed in this world that was very destructive and I didn't want the government to say government does very destructive things and goes out there and indiscriminately kills little kids."
When asked whether he was imposing his religion on people by advocating for a anti-abortion amendment, Huckabee said having a faith and being anti-abortion were "not synonymous." Huckabee said that being anti-abortion was a moral issue, not a religious one.
"All laws impose morality on people," said Huckabee. "That's one of the fallacies when people say you can't impose morality. You can't impose behavior ... What law does, it is codifying what you determine right and wrong to be – the right and wrongness of what age you buy liquor, how fast you can drive, that you can't take property that belongs to your neighbor.
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Most importantly, Huckabee is ONE with the FairTax grassroots movement ( http://*****.com/fthuckabeeonirs ). Romney''s recent WEAK response to FairTax questioning on %u201CThis Week with Geo. Stephanopoulos ( http://*******.com/stephanopoulosdebate )%u201D 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. %u201CMain Street%u201D will have to demand ( http://*****.com/becomeamember ) that their legislators deliver the bill to Huckabee, if elected.
Look through his "Awe Schucks" act and see him for what he really is. Mike Huckabee is a wolf in sheep''s clothing that uses the religion card to push his own agenda.
FACT: Mike Huckabee%u2019s substantial tax hikes far surpassed his modest tax cuts, with the average tax burden increasing by a whopping 47% over his tenure. (Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 10/09/07)
FACT: Mike Huckabee opposed a congressional measure to ban internet taxes in 2003. (Source: Arkansas News Bureau, 11/21/03)
FACT: Mike Huckabee in 2004, he allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law. (Source: The Gurdon Times, 03/02/04)
FACT: Mike Huckabee supported in-state higher education benefits for children of illegal immigrants.
FACT: Mike Huckabee opposed a federal raid of 119 illegal immigrants at an Arkansas Tyson poultry plant, 107 of whom left the country either voluntarily or through deportation.
(SOURCE: Melissa Nelson, "Huckabee Risks Political Fortunes To Denounce Immigration Raid," Associated Press, 8/5/05)
FACT: The ethics commission fined Huckabee $1,000 for failing to report that he paid himself $14,000 from his 1992 U.S. Senate campaign and $43,000 from his 1994 lieutenant governor''s campaign.
FACT: Huckabee accepted more than 300 gifts worth at least $130,000, ranging from $3,700 cowboy boots to a $600 chainsaw.
Google: Huckabee rivals unearth ethics complaints (Source: POLITICO Kenneth P. Vogel Nov 21, 2007)
FACT: Mike Huckabee stole over $70,000 worth of furniture from the Arkansas governors mansion.
Google: Counting the furniture Huckabee takes his office furniture; a conflict on Mansion gift. (Source: Arkansas Times 12/14/06 Leslie Newell Peacock)
FACT: Mike Huckabee set up a nonprofit entity so he could give paid ``inspirational'''' speeches without having to disclose the donors.
Google: Huckabee''s Boom May Be About Ready to Bust: Margaret Carlson (SOURCE: Bloomberg Dec 12, 2007 Margaret Carlson)
FACT: Arkansas lawmakers criticized the registries, which were listed as "wedding" registries, even though the Huckabees have been married since 1974.
State bugdet grew from 6 billion to 16 billion. WOW.
Pardon 12 murderers, their location currently unknown.
Found guilty of ethics violations 6 times.
I have no agenda, other then to tell we do NOT want this man in the white house for 4 years...
Sure you agree with his religon, but we do not need him as President. He is a sweet talker who is good with a joke, and a little Jesus talk.
This is guy is a freakin mistake.
State bugdet grew from 6 billion to 16 billion. WOW.
Pardon 12 murderers, their location currently unknown.
Found guilty of ethics violations 6 times.
I have no agenda, other then to tell we do NOT want this man in the white house for 4 years...
Sure you agree with his religon, but we do not need him as President.
This is guy is a freakin mistake.