Huckabee Says Problem With Romney Is His "Inconsistencies," Not His Faith
Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee today commented on the efforts of some of his supporters in Michigan and Ohio to convince presumptive GOP nominee John McCain not to ask former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney to be his running mate.
"I think a lot of people, not just social conservatives, but a lot of the Republicans I know are not necessarily comfortable with Romney," Huckabee told CBSNews.com. "But it has nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do with inconsistencies in positions he's held, and that's it."
In response to buzz about the former Massachusetts governor becoming McCain's running mate, an alliance of Ohio social conservatives, many of whom are former Huckabee supporters, have formed a group called "Social Conservatives Against Romney." Romney had moderate positions on many hot-button social issues, including abortion, before his run for president.
Huckabee has also been discussed as a potential running mate for McCain, though he is seen as a long-shot possibility.
Evangelical leader Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, told CBSNews.com last week that Romney "would be an excellent choice" for McCain.
"There are people in the evangelical community who would have a problem with his Mormonism," he added. "I am not one of them. I mean, I'm very clear that I do not believe Mormonism is a Christian faith. But that does not disqualify someone from being President or Vice President. And my guess would be that, probably, about 15 to 20 percent of the evangelical community would have a problem with his Mormonism."
"I think a lot of people, not just social conservatives, but a lot of the Republicans I know are not necessarily comfortable with Romney," Huckabee told CBSNews.com. "But it has nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do with inconsistencies in positions he's held, and that's it."
In response to buzz about the former Massachusetts governor becoming McCain's running mate, an alliance of Ohio social conservatives, many of whom are former Huckabee supporters, have formed a group called "Social Conservatives Against Romney." Romney had moderate positions on many hot-button social issues, including abortion, before his run for president.
Huckabee has also been discussed as a potential running mate for McCain, though he is seen as a long-shot possibility.
Evangelical leader Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, told CBSNews.com last week that Romney "would be an excellent choice" for McCain.
"There are people in the evangelical community who would have a problem with his Mormonism," he added. "I am not one of them. I mean, I'm very clear that I do not believe Mormonism is a Christian faith. But that does not disqualify someone from being President or Vice President. And my guess would be that, probably, about 15 to 20 percent of the evangelical community would have a problem with his Mormonism."
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See all 79 CommentsSo John McCain''s backers don''t think Mormons are Christians.
Hope they bear that in mind in Utah and Nevada come November.
transcript 171.08-0.4 dated 8/13/08 @ 6:21pm EST
Secret sources used in high level poltical seasons have released another CODE word by Senator John McCain. This is the second CODE word released by the Senator to let others know of the pending VP announcement for Governor Mike Huckabee.
"Huckabee is one of the most decent individuals I have had the pleasure of knowing," McCain said.
The first CODE words released after his symbolic meeting with Mike Huckabee on 8/8/8 to coincide with the start of the Olympics in the Governor''s home state of Arkansas are as follows:
"McCain said Huckabee "has earned a very large role in the future of the Republican Party."
Sources are indicating the Senator will be releasing additional CODE words before the official annoucement is released to the public on Friday August 29th at 12:03 pm EST. It is said millions of viewers will be watching television, internet media sources and radio broadcasts during lunch time hours for his official announcement to maximize the energy and excitement for the Republican convention.
Confidential sources have also indicated another CODE word will be released on 8/24/08, but have indicated it will be a "special" CODE word to indicate Mike Huckabee''s new assignment as John McCain''s Vice President. Irontically, this coincides with another symbolic date as it is Governor Huckabee''s birthday.
end transcript 171.08-0.4 dated 8/11/08
It is unfortunate that reporters continue to stir up the religious controversy. The Constitution clearly states there is to be no religious test.
Better read your 10 Commandments Huckabee---you''re judging and shouldn''t be. LOL
And about 80% of the country has a problem with evangelicals!
Posted by Granny_T at 06:29 PM : Aug 13, 2008"
The constitution only says you have to be 35 years old and a native born citizen. Choosing based upon religion or any other criteria is entirely acceptable under the constitution. Indeed, only a fool would fail to weigh any criteria important to himself.
Posted by Granny_T at 06:29 PM : Aug 13, 2008"
Furthermore, I will bet you are one of the hundreds of millions of Americans who have never actually read, let alone understood, what the constitution actually says.
Oh well, good for you, Huckabee followers - thanks to your hateful words and behavior, if you get your way Obama will be our next president.
Thank you for losing the election because of your religious hate speak. Obama owes you a big THANK YOU!!
"I''m very clear that I do not believe Mormonism is a Christian faith... And my guess would be that, probably, about 15 to 20 percent of the evangelical community would have a problem with his Mormonism."
What''s the matter Huck, can''t stand it the people chose McCain as their nominee instead of you?
What''''s the matter Huck, can''''t stand it the people chose McCain as their nominee instead of you?
Posted by WellHell3 at 07:19 PM : Aug 13, 2008
Why do people who are so uneducated that they can''t read and UNDERSTAND what is being said always telling us what someone means. Could YOU read what Huckabee said? I certainly could and I, being and educated and intelligent person, could form my OWN opinion. But NO! This pathetic 6th grade drop out has to tell me what the man REALLY said. LOL GO figure!!
Posted by nrobyar at 07:01 PM : Aug 13, 2008
So YOU think winning like Bush and now McSlime have done is to be respected?? LOL I got news for you friend. NO ONE who has used the methods of Rove, Bush 1, W or McSlime will have ANY respect from anyone. Winning like they are will result in ANOTHER Worst in our history. What the Republican''s need more than anything is ONE honest Man. So far I haven''t seen on, Romney included.
WAY RIGHT... MAGIC UNDERWEAR?
"I''m better than You, Religion"
...we already have enough of the that kind of crapp...we don''t need it nor him.
This is not a time for divisiveness and backbiting.
Romney is McCain''s smartest pick, and you are just making things harder on the Republican ticket.
If I were McCain I would decide quickly and end this unfortunate, unproductive squabbling.
My picks at this point for McCain to win would be Romney and Rice, and Rice doesn''t want it.
The great threat of Mitt Romney is that his good example will help reveal the deep lies and misrepresentations that Baptists have told for decades about Mormonism.
If McCain has the sense to pick Romney in spite of these charlatans, he will gain not only my vote but my respect.
America needs Mitt, and this, as far as I am concerned, is the first test of whether McCain will put America''s needs first.
Mormons are not better, but different. They are different because they choose to follow Christ instead of the mob.
Are they perfect? No way, but they set a higher standard and do a pretty good job of sticking to it.
bdribus,
The idea that Romney has paid trolls at this stage of the game is ludicrous. Try committed fans, some of whom have met him and know his decency and intelligent answers to contemporary questions.
That isnt racist. That is just an observation.
That will marginlize the ticket even more...
But to say the latter comes BECAUSE of the former is a case of POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC.
My opposition to Mitt Romney comes because of his INCONSISTENCIES (translation: flip-flops) on a variety of issues. They include: (1) Abortion, (2) Gay rights (ENDA), (3) Gun rights (a federal assaults weapon ban, and the Brady Bill)
This list is not intended to be complete. Romney has flip-flopped on a MYRIAD of issues. THAT is what makes me very uncomfortable with the thought of him being VP.
That isnt racist. That is just an observation.
Posted by MrsP6
And I''m uncomfortable with the fact that you vote!
Sorry, the christian "right" won''t win this time--religion has no place in politics.
That isnt racist. That is just an observation.
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Posted by Verified-CBS at 10:13 PM : Aug 13, 2008
+ report abuse
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Well, the sun revolves around the earth. That isn''t a fact. Just an observation.
Posted by MrsP6
What about all of McCain''s flips and flops?
What flips and flops? You ask?
Here''''s a partial list of McCain Flip-flops, to see more, go to www.crooksandliars.com, where 4 weeks ago McCain had over 60 flip-flops. Yeah John, we really want you for president!
1. Social Security Privatization.
2. Raising - and Slashing - Defense Spending
3. First Term Balanced Budget Pledge.
4. The Media%u2019s Treatment of Hillary Clinton.
5. The Estate Tax
6. FISA, Domestic Surveillance and Telecom Immunity.
7. Restoring the Everglades.
8. Divestment from South Africa.
9. Fighting Job Losses in Michigan.
10. Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations.
11. Alternative minimum tax, was for repealing it, now wants to phase it out.
12. Litmus test for judicial appointees, was against it, now he''''''''s for it.
13. 1999: was against off-shore drilling, now he''''''''s for it.
14. 2001: "Cannot in good conscience support tax cuts"
15. 2005: McCain anti-torture amendment, 2008, voted against the ban.
16. 2006: McCain immigration bill, 2008 DID NOT vote for it!
17. 2000: Called Jerry Falwell and Pat Roberts "Agents of Intolerence"; 2006, pandered to Falwell and spoke at his college
Yet it "isn''t about Romney''s religion". Please!
Again, by YOUR logic.
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Posted by linymo at 11:58 PM : Aug 13, 2008
AMEN.
Google "Huckabee Obama gun". You WILL GET A MILLION HITS !!! Huckadumb made a HUGE colossal irreparable gaffe suggesting the assassination of the Dem''s messiah! McCain wants to win this election--thus HE WILL NEVER SELECT THIS HUCKABEEN DISASTER!!! Go away losers!
Google "Huckabee Obama gun". You WILL GET A MILLION HITS !!! Huckadumb made a HUGE colossal irreparable gaffe suggesting the assassination of the Dem''s messiah! McCain wants to win this election--thus HE WILL NEVER SELECT THIS HUCKABEEN DISASTER!!! Go away losers!
Huckabee, the guy who stayed in the race until the New York Times piece on McCain''s affair broke, is suddenly badmouthing the apparent front-runner? Because overall don''t more evangelicals support Romney than the Gov. of Minnesota don''t they, so isn''t that kind of odd?
What''s his deal - you think he''s trying to do a ''Hillary'' so when Magoo/Romney loses he can swoop in in 2012 on the ''I told you so'' platform?
Or is it just personal . . .
I can''t imaging McCain''s going to choose based on comfort because he doesn''t really have that luxury . . . like doesn''t winning come first? :o
Please don%u2019t attempt to speak for all Christians regarding Romney. Your statement %u201CRomney will not work for Christians%u201D claims to represent the opinion of Christians everywhere and your bigoted remarks certainly do not represent this Christian.
Mitt Romney appears to me to be a man of outstanding intellect and class. Unlike Huck, he gracefully withdrew from the race when it was apparent that McCain would be the nominee and since then has done everything to help McCain in his quest for the White House. Romney holds three degrees; two from Harvard and everything he has touched, has been successful. He is lauded for his skills in turning failing organizations around. I believe the Nation needs his skills. And, while I do not share his religion, our Constitution prohibits imposing a religious test on candidates seeking the Presidency and none of the 43 men who have served before has ever been considered Pastor-in-Chief in addition to Commander-in-Chief. Not one has ever attempted to establish a National religion and they have come from varied backgrounds including Deists, Congregationalists, Methodists, a Catholic, and a Quaker.
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