Huckabee: Faith in A Higher Power

Washington Post: Arkansas Native's Ministerial Calling Yielded To Political Aspirations

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Liz Clarke as part of a Washington Post series of profiles of the leading presidential candidates.

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When he climbed out of the car at Fort Robinson that morning in June 1972, Mike Huckabee found himself surrounded by 1,200 other high school juniors, each a leader in his Arkansas home town, each primed for an election. Several were carrying posters touting their platforms. Others were handing out cards.

Then as now, Huckabee didn't have the campaign apparatus of his peers. The 16-year-old arrived at Boys State, a prestigious and civic-minded youth camp run by the American Legion, from the small southwest Arkansas town of Hope with nothing but a suitcase and a gift for oratory.

By week's end he was its brightest star, elected governor in a landslide. He left Boys State with a network of high-achieving new friends who were eager to hitch their futures to his. And he'd soon have a letter from Gov. Dale Bumpers encouraging him to consider a career in public service.

It was a heady triumph for a teenager who already harbored big ambitions. But it wasn't enough - not yet - to lure him from his chosen path: preaching the word of God.

Three days after Boys State, Huckabee and two buddies from Hope piled into a car and headed to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where they joined 80,000 other teenagers at Explo '72, the first worldwide gathering of evangelical youth. Time magazine dubbed it "the Jesus Woodstock." There, Huckabee spent six days learning from the Rev. Billy Graham and Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, how to lead others to the Lord.

"It was transforming," Huckabee recalls. "Suddenly, I'm one of nearly 100,000 very young evangelical Christian believers who had a very fervent faith and wanted to change the world. Suddenly, I was confronted with a feeling of 'Wow! There are a lot of people like me, too.'"

Huckabee's decision to enter the ministry, announced before his senior year of high school, disappointed a number of admiring teachers and classmates. Why would he squander such obvious leadership potential, they asked, to be a preacher?

"But this is what he knew in his heart he was supposed to do," says his older sister, Pat Harris. "I don't think Mike ever quibbled or felt like he was giving up anything. He was totally committed to what he was doing."

It would take almost two decades for Huckabee's ministerial calling to yield to his political aspirations. And when it did, many of those closest to the evangelical Baptist minister were shocked. But Huckabee has always been comfortable navigating both the spiritual and secular realms. For him, one form of power has always fueled the other.

* * *

Huckabee's rise to political prominence - first among Southern Baptists, then among Arkansas Republicans and now among the candidates vying for the GOP presidential nomination - had an implausible beginning.

Huckabee was reared in a one-story brick rental house in Hope, the small town that also produced Bill Clinton. The Huckabees lived near Hope's railroad depot. Mike's father, Dorsey, a burly firefighter who never finished high school, was a "spare the rod, spoil the child" disciplinarian. Huckabee once referred to his father as a "patriot," saying: "He laid on the stripes, and I saw stars."

His mother, Mae, was a clerical worker at the local gas company. Every Sunday morning, she would take Mike and Pat to Garrett Memorial Baptist Church - a small Missionary Baptist congregation that stressed the inerrancy of the Bible, the memorization of Scripture and the importance of saving souls through mission work. Huckabee was taught as a child that Adam and Eve were real people, that God created the Earth in seven days, that evolution is a false doctrine and that homosexuality is a grave sin - all views he still holds today.

Huckabee says he was shy and insecure as a youngster. That began to change in fifth grade when he received a guitar for Christmas and, coached by an Assembly of God preacher, tackled basic chords and his fear of performing in public.

At 14, he got a job at the local AM radio station, where the station manager, a passionate, deeply conservative Republican, became his first political mentor. Haskell Jones gave Huckabee a copy of Phyllis Schlafly's 1964 book, "A Choice Not an Echo," written in part to promote Barry Goldwater's presidential bid. Schlafly railed against the moneyed East Coast elites who she argued were diluting the Republican Party's core values. Huckabee found the ideas in the book electrifying.

His work at KXAR was equally transforming. He became a minor celebrity in Hope by announcing high school sports, reading the news and giving away tubes of Fostex acne cream to callers who answered trivia questions he made up.

"I didn't have to see my audience," Huckabee, now 52, explains, "but I had one. And it helped me develop a sense of confidence - a sense that I could do this."

But nothing supplied the confidence he found in Philippians 4:13, which he first read at 15. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," it says. God was telling him, he says, "that there were really no limits to what was ahead of me."

Soon after that, he preached his first sermon, titled "Watering Down the Blood of Christ," and he illustrated his message by holding up a pitcher of bright-red liquid and pouring plain water into it. "The point of the sermon was Jesus had died, and his blood was there to cover our sins," says his sister. "But because sin kept creeping in, it watered down his blood and diluted the purity of Christ, and we became less because we let sin in."

Huckabee's budding gift for oratory carried over at school. He was such a star in speech class that fellow students took him out in the hall at one point and asked him to quit volunteering to go first.

In 10th grade, he was elected class president. He started the Christian Student Union because he was concerned about the spiritual lives of his peers. It wasn't so much that he viewed them as sinners, he insists. "It was really to encourage Christian behavior," he says. "It was an 'anything goes' world at that time. And this was to offer an alternative to the alternative."

[logicanada]

I fail to see the relevance of this article.
Can someone help me out?

[abbe91]

"just another Republican in the bathroom.....tap, tap, tap
Posted by chimneyfish at 01:24 AM : Dec 17, 2007"

No, just people looking for a cure to chronic constipation ... LOL.

[mcvet]

All you libs make me laugh. Your so scared and angry because you know that Rudy is going to win in 08. You don''''t have one canadate who has done anything close to running a city like New York, when we get to the general electin, whoever you pick will be made to look like a fool, which they mostly are (I do like Obama though)

People like this are so sad. They do not have the intelligence to make normal and reasonable statements of fact so they do the only thing they know how to do. This poor freak hasn''t a clue what a "Lib" is, he only knows he has to support the "Party" and that''s the only method he''s aware of to do so. Never mind that over the last decade or so, 90% of us have been referred to by the Reich as "Lib''s". Never mind that those referred to as "Lib''s" are responsible for Rumsfield being gone from the Department of Defense. Never mind that if we had listened to "Lib''s" we do not make the mistake of Iraq... never mind any of that, this poor simple minded LOSER has got to have some sort of Wedge Issue and right now that''s all he''s got! Isn''t that how we ended up with the WORST PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY??? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[jedi08]

All you libs make me laugh. Your so scared and angry because you know that Rudy is going to win in 08. You don''t have one canadate who has done anything close to running a city like New York, when we get to the general electin, whoever you pick will be made to look like a fool, which they mostly are (I do like Obama though)

Too bad for all of you that Clinton was the man he was or you might actually be able to bring up Rudy''s multiple wives and shaddy dealings, but anyone that brings that up this time around will be laughed at. They''ll just say, well that''s just like Bill and you didn''t have a problem with it back in the 90s (at least Rudy is smart enough to not leave evidence on some womens dress, or doesn''t have to rape them to get what he wants.)

Also I love comparing the story CBS or (Clinton Broadcast Station) aired about Billary CLinton. Then compare that to Rudy''s Bio and the things they talk about in that. Bottom line, the drive by media is a joke and your all sheep being led to the slaughter.

Thankfully for the United States all we need is 51 percent, we don''t need any of the left wing nut jobs who beleive in things like Global Warming or Socialized Medicine or think nuts like Chavez are great leaders. Thank God for that at least!

Have fun crying over another election in a year suckers! (THEY STOLE THE ELECTION. TEAR!!"

[jerr11]

[My father] said you have to be there for people who are there for you even remotely. ... That was about loyalty for him. ... In my upbringing, I grew up seeing that.
Rudy Giuliani


Spoken like a true Republican liar!!

Just ask wives # 1 and 2 whether Giuliani understands the word loyalty!

[mcv57]

Gone are the days of Citizen Kane. Many Americans don''''''''t realized that the coupe has taken place. The Bushwacker has railroaded the U.S. Constitution very subtly and quitely with no resistence from the Justice Department/ U.S. Supreme Court, and the Corporations with the help of the National Security administration have manipulated the Truth to the point that all we see is deception.

Yes, the old saying "believe only half of what you read; nothing of what you hear." Well, today it''''''''s pure propaganda - corporations and the government dictate what our eyes and ears can have.

In the day of Rome, only the Generals and their armies could overthrow the Emperor - Bush always s*u*cks* up to the Generals. I am really surprized how these kids (soldiers) come back deformed and maimed just don''''''''t realize they have sold their bodies to the Beast.

You still stupid people who think its about Republican and Democratic leadership and party politics are really dopes. I have seen both Presidents betray their own ethics, politics and fellow Congressmen. These elected A*s*S*holes don''''''''t care about you. All they care about is their own wealth - just as the Romans did back in the day of brutal and deadly atritions.

In truth, Bush should be hanged for treason, falsying testamony, tappering with elections, violating the U.S. Constitution, profiteering, and murder. But the dictator has the U.S. Supreme Court in his back pocket.

[mcv57]

runningralph,
I rather stay and fight for my country (not a coward like you). I am waiting for a REAL leader who will restore this country''''''''s U.S. Constitutional Rights. Anyways, I am a true American Veteran (4 honorable discharge with Commendation). You know everywhere corrupt governments has breeded. I would not give military service to all these countries.

In my opinion, when John F Kennedy was shot we not only lost a President, we lost the country. Everything is corrupt and perverted: Government, Churches, Corporation, Military, Law Enforcement, Commerce, media (have I left anything out?). It''''''''s wonder this young society has turned to wickness for some type of political power (Gangs, Nazism, Anarchy), their own government has robbed them of their Constitutional rights.

No, running is not in my stick, coward. I''''''''ll wait till a REAL Leader shows-up; then, I''''ll join the military to take on the White House regime.

[mcv57]

runningralph,
I rather stay and fight for my country (not a coward like you). I am waiting for a REAL leader who will restore this country''''s U.S. Constitutional Rights. Anyways, I am a true American Veteran (4 honorable discharge with Commendation). You know everywhere is just as bad if not worst with corrupt governments, I would not give military for other countries.

In my opinion, when John F Kennedy was shot we not only lost a President, we lost the country. Everything is corrupt and perverted: Government, Churches, Corporation, Military, Law Enforcement, Commerce, media (have I left anything out?). It''''s wonder this young society has turned to wickness for some type of political power (Gangs, Nazism, Anarchy), their own government has robbed them of their Constitutional rights.

No, running is not in my stick, coward. I''''ll wait till a REAL Leader shows-up; then, I''ll join the military to take on the White House regime.

[mcv57]

runningralph,
I rather stay and fight for my country (not a coward like you). I am waiting for a REAL leader who will restore this country''s U.S. Constitutional Rights. Anyways, I am a true American Veteran (4 honorable discharge with Commendation). You know everywhere is just as bad if not worst with corrupt governments, I would not give military for other countries.

In my opinion, when John F Kennedy was shot we not only lost a President, we lost the country. Everything is corrupt and perverted: Government, Churches, Corporation, Military, Law Enforcement, Commerce, media (have I left anything out?). It''s wonder this young society has turned to wickness for some type of political power (Gangs, Nazism, Anarchy), their own government has robbed them of their Constitutional rights.

No, running is not in my stick, coward. I''ll till a REAL Leader shows-up.

[runningralph]

aintaken,
Did you read mcv57''s post? He says the three branches of federal government have been taken over in a coup. If that''s true what fighting can be done? It''s over. And I never said anything bad about veterans or taking away rights. I''m a veteran myself. As far as improving lots, mine is pretty good. How''s yours?

[runningralph]

mcv57,
I''m merely suggesting that since you hate America so much perhaps you would be happier somewhere else.

[wardoglrs]

Rudy sold us out.

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/grassi/070504 .

http://www.whowouldtheworldelect.com/ .


The Federal Reserve .

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6507136891691870450

[mcv57]

Gone are the days of Citizen Kane. Many Americans don''''t realized that the coupe has taken place. The Bushwacker has railroaded the U.S. Constitution very subtly and quitely with no resistence from the Justice Department/ U.S. Supreme Court, and the Corporations with the help of the National Security administration have manipulated the Truth to the point that all we see is deception.

Yes, the old saying "believe only half of what you read; nothing of what you hear." Well, today it''''s pure propaganda - corporations and the government dictate what our eyes and ears can have.

In the day of Rome, only the Generals and their armies could overthrow the Emperior - Bush always s*u*cks* up to the Generals. I am really surprized how these kids (soldiers) come back deformed and maimed just don''''t realize they have sold their bodies to the Beast.

You still stupid people who think its about Republican and Democratic leadership and party politics are really dopes. I have seen both Presidents betray their own ethics, politics and fellow Congressmen. These elected A*s*S*holes don''''t care about you. All they care about is their own wealth - just as the Romans did back in the day of brutal and deadly atritions.

In truth, Bush should be hanged for treason, falsying testamony, tappering with elections, violating the U.S. Constitution, profiteering, and murder. But the dictator has the U.S. Supreme Court in his back pocket.

[mcv57]

runningralph,

anyway, I don''t know how to run like a coward. I am here to fight for my rights. Your name suits you very well, running.....

[mcv57]

runningralph,

Don''t care about your opinion, you don''t even read newspaper. You are as stupid as they come . . . trailor trash.

[runningralph]

mcv57,
Bush has railroaded the Constitution very subtly and quietly in cahoots with the corporations, Justice Department/Supreme Court, and the National Security Agency. The Republicans and Democrats are stupid. Bush is a criminal with the Supreme Court in his back pocket. Does that just about cover your view of the US? That the coup has already taken place? Does the government still allow people to leave the country? Maybe you better high tail it before it''s too late.

[stevex47]

"I pledge allegiance to my latest squeeze"......

[merlgrey]

so am i to understand that girliannis dad had a case of the larry craig bathroom syndrome?? awesome! that might help explain the crossdressing.

[mcv57]

Gone are the days of Citizen Kane. Many Americans don''t realized that the coupe has taken place. The Bushwacker has railroaded the U.S. Constitution very subtly and quitely with no resistence from the Justice Department/ U.S. Supreme Court, and the Corporations with the help of the National Security administration have manipulated the Truth to the point that all we see is deception.

Yes, the old saying "believe only half of what you read; nothing of what you hear." Well, today it''s pure propaganda - corporations and the government dictate what our eyes and ears can have.

In the day of Rome, only the Generals and their armies could overthrow the Emperior - Bush always s*u*cks* up to the Generals. I am really surprized how these kids (soldiers) come back deformed and maimed just don''t realize they have sold their bodies to the Beast.

You still stupid people who think its about Republican and Democratic leadership and party politics are really dopes. I have seen both Presidents betray their own ethics, politics and fellow Congressmen. These elected A*s*S*holes don''t care about you. All they care about is their own wealth - just as the Romans did back in the day of brutal and deadly atritions.

In truth, Bush should be hanged for treason, falsying testamony, tappering with elections, violating the U.S. Constitution, profiteering, and murder. But the dictator has the U.S. Supreme Court in his back pocket.

[drivelphobe]

Giuliani is pro-illegal alien, supports anchor babies, supports sanctuary cities, and that''s enough for me to eliminate him from the competition. He is not loyal to the American citizenry nor the American laws.

We can''t tolerate another administration which refuses to enforce our laws while ignoring the will of the people. Is he pro-life or not? How does he feel about illegals receiving Social Security benefits? Where''s our fence? How did he allow that Muslim school to continue operation in New York? How about English only?