Home-Schoolers Buoyed Huckabee's Rise

Washington Post: Early Backers Rallied Conservative Network In Iowa

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Peter Slevin and Perry Bacon Jr.

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Julie Roe, an early believer in Mike Huckabee, worked with what she had.

With no buttons, no yard signs and no glossy literature from his nearly invisible Iowa campaign, she took a pair of scissors and cut out a photograph of the former Arkansas governor. She pasted it on a piece of paper, scribbled down some of his positions, made copies and launched the Huckabee for President campaign in rural Hardin County.

Roe contacted friends in her home-schooling network and bought a newspaper advertisement for $38. She spread the word in the grocery store and the church foyer: "I would tell them about Mike Huckabee and they would say, 'Who's Mike Huckleberry?' I'd say, 'No, no, no, it's Huckabee.'"

Huckabee's name is no longer a mystery to Iowa's Republican voters, in large part because of an extensive network of home-schoolers like Roe who have helped lift his underfunded campaign from obscurity to the front of a crowded field. Opinion polls show that his haphazard approach is trumping the studied strategy of Mitt Romney, who invested millions only to be shunned by many religious conservatives such as Roe, who see the former Baptist preacher from Hope, Ark., as their champion.

While early attention focused on Romney and other better-known and better-funded opponents, home-schoolers rallied to Huckabee's cause, attracted by his faith, his politics and his decision to appoint a home-school proponent to the Arkansas board of education. They tapped a web of community and church groups that share common conservative interests, blasting them with e-mails and passing along the word about Huckabee in social settings.

It was the endorsement by prominent national home-school advocate Michael Farris that helped propel Huckabee to a surprising second-place finish in the Iowa straw poll in August. And it was the twin sons of a home-school advocate in Oregon who helped put Huckabee in touch with television tough guy Chuck Norris, who appeared alongside him in an attention-getting TV spot and on the campaign trail.

Home-schoolers could also prove to be a powerful force on caucus night. By one estimate, about 9,000 Iowa children are home-schooled. Their parents could form a sizable portion of the 80,000 or so Republicans expected to show up on Jan. 3.

"We have worked harder to organize, but folks like the home-schoolers are going to be pretty motivated," acknowledged Gentry Collins, who runs Romney's Iowa campaign.

In the first nine months of the campaign, Romney ran more than 5,000 ads on Iowa television. Huckabee ran none. Romney hired staff and paid dozens of "super-volunteers," while Huckabee's approach was less structured, to put it kindly.

"It's a lot of word of mouth, certainly," said Eric Woolson, Huckabee's Iowa campaign manager, who often hears from supporters that his e-mail inbox is full. "It was me until the end of April, all by myself. Until the last week of June, there were two of us. There were three of us from August 12 until October 1."

Home-schooler and business professor Erin Hartman put it this way: "There isn't all that much strategy. It's about common people coming to the campaign and saying, 'I like Mike. What can I do?' "

Roe first noticed Huckabee because of his dedication to home-schoolers and his anti-abortion work in Arkansas. When she met him in January, she had already read his books. She knew he had campaigned nearby for an Iowa politician last year, and she liked the way he seemed both steadfast and understanding.

"I feel Mike's best because he's comfortable with us, because he's one of us. We see a genuine authenticity," Roe, 39, said. "He had me when he said there's a section of America where people just want to be left alone."

The Aug. 11 straw poll was the first important test in what was essentially a race for second place against the hyper-organized Romney.

On the eve of the poll, Huckabee received a crucial boost from the Virginia-based Farris, who created the Home School Legal Defense Association. He touted the straw poll as "the first and most critical moment in the campaign," and he headed to Iowa to rally support.

Roe, Hartman and other home-school activists encouraged friends and relatives to attend. FairTax, which advocates a national flat tax supported by Huckabee, organized on his behalf. Together, the fledgling forces helped Huckabee finish a surprising second.

Yet he still had little money or organization. Roe was one supporter who felt Huckabee could still break through, and she kept at it. She persuaded an aide to send Huckabee to Eldora after the poll: "I begged," she said.

On the eve of the August visit, she e-mailed announcements to about 50 committed home-school families in the Hardin County Home Educators network. She posted notices on bulletin boards and tapped other connections, reaching Iowa gun owners active in the fight over the Second Amendment and speaking with evangelical Christian pastors.

[bennyblack1]

Oh,well, I guess I''m just speking for my state. Like I said, though, I don''t agree with blindly trusting, nowadays, that the parent is doing the right thing in homeschooling. I believe there should be public testing in the same room as other kids in their grade, while the parent privately teaches the child during the school year. I also think that they should be held to the same standards that schools must adhere to, or face closure. If the child fails a grade twice, it''s time to require that the child go to public school. The way I figure it, the parents got their chance. It should be mandated.

[bennyblack1]

Go Klingon!!!!

[klingon69]

As for home schooling... I have nothing against it, but I think that home schoolers tend to lean conservative and Christian and don''''t like the fact that religion is not taught in public schools. Also from personal knowledge.
Posted by AR_Teacher at 02:57 PM : Dec 17, 2007
It isn''t that religion is not taught in school. It is that both sides are not presented to a child, so thney can decide for themselves. Creationism is verboten, but evolutionism is.
Also, can you answer for me, why must we have gestapo guards at our public schools now? The school district that we live in has an ex-city cop, who was booted off the force for using excessive force in multiple cases, terrorizing the kids. Those that are different, free-thinkers, goths...etc are singled out for harrassment and ridicule, not only by this cop and his entire force, but also by many teachers and administrators.

[klingon69]

And I agree, home schooling means it will be heavily biased with religious views. As religiously diverse as we are now (compared to the 1900s), eveyone would be biasing thier kids differently. Society would be a fragmented mess.
Posted by CultureChang at 02:56 PM : Dec 17, 2007
And I submit to you, that society is a fragmented mess. That is what society is. A melting pot of different cultures, beliefs, lifestyles...etc. As a homeschooler, my child is taught the educational basics, as well as the Bible. However, he is also taught different belief systems as well. He asks questions that we attempt to answer as unbiased as we can. Nobody, I mean nobody knows everything, unlike some who act as if they do. We, as parents are charged to provide necessities for our children, this does include education. However, I submit to you, that a parent(properly motivated, with proper materials) can provide as good as if not better instruction as most of the teachers in today''s public school system. At least, we know that they will learn more than THE STATE''S REQUIREMENTS!

[klingon69]

"Home schooler" typically is a euphemism for "rabid Christian end-timer", so it''''s no surprise they support Hucksterbee, a man who claims total ignorance of the fundamental principle of modern biology.
Posted by MyIDonCBS at 02:48 PM : Dec 17, 2007
You, friend, are obviously a person with limited mental capacities. As a homeschooler, I DO NOT support Huckleberry Hound, or for that matter any of the candidates currently running. I would much rather see Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny running this country, as they could not destroy it anymore than the bush baby currently ensconched upon his velvet throne. However, I do believe in evolution, and modern biology. So, please do not paint every7one with the same brush, because you lack the capability to homeschool your children, if you have any.

[klingon69]

The state board of education is not stupid. They''''re not going to trust that the parent has done the right thing, and their not going to gamble on it either. So, in general, a parent/teacher will not administer the tests.
Posted by bennyblack1 at 02:16 PM : Dec 17, 2007
In my state, the only test given is if you want to reenroll your child in public school. The only requirements are:
1)Must inform school sytem that you are going to homeschool.
2)Must have a recognized curriculum that follows the state requirements.
3)Be a highschool graduate.

Yearend tests are given by the parent/teacher.

[cfin5]

If you want to increase your children''''s chances of achieving an eigth grade reading level in only twelve years... public schools are where you need to send them.

Posted by Prinzowhales at 01:32 PM : Dec 18, 2007--------------------You got that right,......if they survive it.

[prinzowhales]

If you want to increase your children''s chances of achieving an eigth grade reading level in only twelve years... public schools are where you need to send them.

[standlee5]

Homeschoolers in general are very open minded. That''s why they''re doing what they''re doing. It used to be illegal in some states and parents had to fight for the right to de-intitutionalize their kids. They''ve come a long way from the fringe grassroots humble beginnings. Homeschool kids are usually more inquisitive, creative and polite than their public school peers. IMO

[bennyblack1]

mudrose;

Good views. I''m sure that there are more than a majority on this board that can identify.

[mudrose-2009]

I can''''t help but wonder if all these evangelicals think they are voting for a president or a pastor?

Again, anyone who is going to vote for anyone because of their religion is doing a huge fatal disservice to this country. This country is a country based on laws, not men. And certainly not the faith of any any particular candidate.

Voting with religion as the primary qualification is single issue voting with the worst consequence. Haven''''t we learned anything from the last seven years of quasi-religious governance?
Posted by ObservantX

We don''t like the direction the SPs are pulling the country toward. The main issue isn''t religion as much as it is moral values. We are tired of porn clubs in our neighborhoods, no fault divorces, allowing children to have condoms and birth control pills while not even out of elementary school, abortion on demand, abortion across state lines without parental knowledge and on and on. So if you think religion is the problem, think again. The majority of Americans are faith minded people and they don''t like their country given over to Mr. Potter types.

[observantx]

I can''t help but wonder if all these evangelicals think they are voting for a president or a pastor?

Again, anyone who is going to vote for anyone because of their religion is doing a huge fatal disservice to this country. This country is a country based on laws, not men. And certainly not the faith of any any particular candidate.

Voting with religion as the primary qualification is single issue voting with the worst consequence. Haven''t we learned anything from the last seven years of quasi-religious governance?

[keithle1]

Home-schoolers! They make the news when one of their kind wins the National Spelling Bee.

Can''t imagine anything worse. Having my mother teach me! Glad I avoided that. Hoo boy. Only thing worse would have been my father teaching me. Day after day after day stuck in the house.

That''s what schools are for, people. You can''t protect little Timmy & Cindy Lou from the big bad world forever. What happens when they want to go to university? Or is Mom going to become a university professor in all disciplines?

To heck with the home schoolers. Who do the 100 million Evangelical Christians want to vote for?

[wogerwabbit]

I''m looking for Mitt Romney
Posted by perception5

Ronbo was as out of his league as Bush is... you puppies just don''t get it... the president is a figurehead... a dummy with a hand up his a$$. Because your economic scale tends to give you some immunity from the enormity of what your fellow citizens are presently going through, you lamely push your la la land view of present day politics and economics and completely space out the reality around you. Let me clue you in... your day is over. America is a far better country than the one you''re trying to sell us, mr. preppy never been to war, boy. Braver by the thousands than the skirt clutching fear mongers you''d have us be with your insidious ********* paranoia and the sky is falling mentality. As a recovering Republican, let me tell you that you and your treasonous bretheren who support the Bush tyrancy, are subverting the very meaning of this country to further a political agenda that should scare the poop out of any real American. You hate that you were wrong, so you won''t make it right, you wretched a$$holes. Be a real right winger instead of a Taliban-like fanatic the neocons trained you to be and stand up for your country and not the glorious leader you so pitifully bow before.

[homespunlady]

pakaal I''m NOT condemning ALL school districts but they are like the lottery some are winners but many are losers.

The district I grew up in was GREAT, the district/state we were in with my oldest was so deplorable I put everything I had into 2 years of private school until we were transferred out.

Here, My biggest regret is that like your mom I had little choice - NO private school and another deplorable district.
I taught my 2 sons AFTER they came home from that school but it didn''t help that the conditions they faced IN school were horrendous and the Administration despite having a "fund" well into the tens of millions ran the place like something out of a Dickens story.

My younger son BEGGED for me to home-school him and I regret I didn''t.

When my daughter became a target I reached my limit. The SAFETY, health and well-being of my family overrode my reservations.

For us it''s been the best thing I could have done.
For others it may not be a good choice.

I just want to preserve that option since it''s been threatened in so many ways.

[homespunlady]

Posted by pakaal at 09:06 PM : Dec 17, 2007

I AM a single parent.

Have several degrees and worked my backside off at 3 jobs for 20 plus years - one being military.
I now have a VERY small pension but it''s enough IF we shop at yard-sales, bargain bins and discount outlets and NO "keeping up with the Joneses" or other wasteful things. Don''t even see charity and help support my mother to boot.

It''s tough sometimes but for me WELL WORTH the sacrifice.
She''ll be on her own soon enough and then I''ll try to "make up for lost time" in the job market.

[pakaal]

hamiltongrad wrote: Did anyone see the picture of Hillary on Drudge ?? Wow. I don''''t want to be mean...."

Then you should ask yourself why you were mean, if you didn''t want to be? If you don''t want to be mean, then don''t. That''s not so hard, now is it?

[sparkbox]

Squint your eyes and Huckabee looks and sounds like Nixon.Excellent future prevariacater.

[pakaal]

homespunlady wrote: "ALL the REAL home-schoolers I know have loving, caring parents.... I can''''t say the same for all too many of the parents of the Public school kids I know."

Must be nice to have two parents with enough money to be able to take that route. I was raised by a single parent who probably wouldn''t have minded home-schooling me except she was busy doing that whole "working to pay for food" thing.

I can only thank God for our U.S. public education system myself, since those great alternatives I keep hearing about like private education or home education were financially out of our reach - as it is for a tremendous number of working families.

[cfin5]

Home Schooling (RON PAUL''S STATEMENT ON THIS ISSUE)

My commitment to ensuring home schooling remains a practical alternative for American families is unmatched by any Presidential candidate.

Returning control of education to parents is the centerpiece of my education agenda. As President I will advance tax credits through the Family Education Freedom Act, which reduces taxes to make it easier for parents to home school by allowing them to devote more of their own funds to their children''s education.

I am committed to guaranteeing parity for home school diplomas and advancing equal scholarship consideration for students entering college from a home school environment.

We must have permanency in the Department of Defense Home School Tier 1 Pilot Program, providing recruitment status parity for home school graduates. I will use my authority to prevent the Department of Education from regulating home school activities.

I will veto any legislation that creates national standards or national testing for home school parents or students. I also believe that, as long as No Child Left Behind remains law, it must include the protections for home schoolers included in sec. 9506 (enshrining home schoolers%u2019 rights) and 9527 (guaranteeing no national curriculum).

Federal monies must never be used to undermine the rights of homeschooling parents. I will use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to encourage a culture of educational freedom throughout the nation.