ELDORA, Iowa, Dec. 17, 2007
Home-Schoolers Buoyed Huckabee's Rise
Washington Post: Early Backers Rallied Conservative Network In Iowa
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Photo
Republican presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, second from left, joined by his wife Janet, left, and Chuck Norris, right, sing "Happy Anniversary" to Janet and David Woodard, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary, during a campaign event Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, at the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Berlin, N.H. (AP)
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A "light-hearted" ad from the Mike Huckabee campaign features action star Chuck Norris saying why he backs the former Ark. governor. Huckabee: "My plan to secure the border? Two words: Chuck Norris."
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Huckabee Besieged By Opponents
Mike Huckabee's meteoric rise in the polls has drawn national attention. His Republican opponents have also taken notice, and now they're taking aim. Nancy Cordes reports.
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Photo Essay
Mike Huckabee
A look at the life and times of Mike Huckabee.
From Our Partner:
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.
© 2007 The Washington Post Company
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See all 190 CommentsHuckabee is a religious fanatic that has no place in main stream political life.
Done with the moral base in office!
The fact is that the Bornagain Endtimers think they are very much better than the rest of us. So much so that some space angels are going to save them and them alone while the rest of us go to hell. And they think their kids are too good to play with your kids. They''re just special little angels!
Although Huckabee is picking up on some of Paul''s ideas I doubt he''ll even try to follow through if he gets the nomination.
We need to quit being the world''s policemen and fix our problems at home before trying to dictate to the rest of the world.
Our economy is rapidly heading for the trash bin as well as the Constitution this country was founded on.
People who use RELIGION and being a preacher of ONE group over the others to gain power need to stick with THEIR CHURCH and NOT try to be "Caesar" as well.
It just causes MORE CONFLICT.
Romney''s been accused of having this conflict and he isn''t even an ordained preacher for his religion.
I won''t believe Huckabee unless he backs off one or the other. Keeping both is too much of a conflict of interest.
First of all let me agree with you and now I tell you why.
In 1994 when the Republicans swept to power Bill Clinton was a beat dog. But instead of just going on the same course (sound familiar) he jumped and listened to the voters. As the leader of the Democratic party he got all the the slaves in the Democratic party to jump. There by saving more loses in 1996. In turn he was rewarded by a second term as President (he was never appointed by the Supreme Court). Now forward 10 years.
In 2006 the Democrats swept to power and instead of jumping and listening to the voters the leader of the Republican party (he was appointed by the Supreme Court) didn''t just he and his hunkered down and said that they would do as they pleased. Now it is no longer 2006 we are heading into 2008.
See the difference between a great American President (who was elected twice and listened to the voters) Bill Clinton and a President who''s administration will go down in infamy as the worst American President ever.
Hope this explains why we are not happy with the Republican party.
Huckabee is a religious fanatic that has no place in main stream political life.
There is a MUCH larger DIVERSITY among home-schoolers than in Public schools.
MANY of us have chosen to home-school because of the DEPLORABLE conditions and teaching level their local district allows.
Sorry, but after my daughter was STALKED and HARASSED by the local DARE officer when we questioned her REPEATEDLY setting up stupid, gullible kids so she could "look good" and get news coverage; I REACHED MY LIMIT.
Yes, we''ve met some of the religious fanatics but as long as they have been at the forefront in a growing movement for MORE educational DIVERSITY I''ll both tolerate and appreciate them for that.
In turn the ones I''ve met also have been cordial and no less snotty than some of the PTA members I''ve known.
As far as the "isolation" BS - I much prefer the interactions my daughter has had with ALL levels of society over the "Lord of the Flies" arrangement of public schools where "cliques" rule and common sense is thrown out in favor of peer pressure.
Nearly ALL of her earlier public school girlfriends have become pregnant before graduating, many of them have and are using drugs, some have died.
She ironically is a counselor trying to help them avoid and deal with the consequences when they need advice.
She''s bright, articulate, athletic and SELF-MOTIVATED. No matter which direction she chooses to follow in life I''m positive she will do well.
I couldn''t have hoped for a better outcome than that.
You destroy your point showing Such unbelievable ignorance, hatred and intolerance toward a group you obviously know NOTHING about.
Nazis are for CONFORMITY, regimentation, everybody lining up and doing the exact same thing, lock-downs, strip searches and NEVER questioning authority - even if it''s wrong. Sounds more like some of the Public schools I''ve seen.
Hmm... NEVER met a home-school family like that. Most of them are too busy doing their own thing to DICTATE CURRICULUM and some one-track way of learning.
MOST of our Founding fathers were home-schooled. It wasn''t until the Robber Barons needed "good factory workers" that Public school was forced on American society.
Try reading about the "Dumbing Down" of America. I think you''re a victim of it.
"Nazis are for CONFORMITY, regimentation, everybody lining up and doing the exact same thing, lock-downs, strip searches and NEVER questioning authority - even if it''s wrong. Sounds more like some of the Public schools I''ve seen."
That paragraph sounds remarkably like our Federal Government today!
People who live in glass houses...
Let''s see there was Columbine and all the "copycats.
Now we have prison-like conditions in many of our public schools.
Then there are the myriad of mall, drive-by and workplace shootings.
Who says there is NO Domestic TERRORISM in this country?
The problem is NOT how these kids are "schooled" but the acceptance by our society of violence as a way to assert power and solve problems.
-Posted by exCoachKen at 12:22 PM : Dec 17, 2007
Sorry to break it to you like this, stupid, but homeschooling is the best thing you can do for your child. Most people don''t have the time or the resources to do this, and it''s a shame. Until public schools get their act together, which will never happen as long as teachers unions exist, the only options parents have is either homeschooling or private school.
-Posted by newsjunky5 at 12:00 PM : Dec 17, 2007
"Intolerant"?? Look at some of the comments posted here by the left. Not exactly prime examples of "tolerance" and "diversity". Leftist bigots.
They will try anything to steal Ron Paul''s thunder...
There is the general public who has only a need to know certain tax laws. The reason is that knowledge is powerful, and foolish people tend to exploit that knowledge for their own benefit.
If people want to know what the benefits are, they generally have to be in a position that warrants them to find out tax law for their specific situation. For instance, EIC is a prime example of the government trying to award struggling parents for raising their children. However, there are many people that who exploit this benefit by somehow gaining the social security numbers of children not their own, then coming down to file for EIC.
???? Frustration with the Incompetent in charge - George getting to you?
I''m an Independent and proud of it. Both major parties have flaws and the biggest is people that DON''T think for themselves and just vote party line no matter what.
I suspect THAT is what has contributed to this country''s problems.
But what do you expect with this nation addicted to video-games and TV where whoever "CONTROLS the TRANSMISSION" as some old series warned is SPOON-FEEDING whatever manipulation they want to our "dumbed down" society.
READ AND THINK FOR YOURSELF - you DO have that right left -for now.
Hey, remember what you said when you target a person or a specific group of people in order to isolate them. Don''t you think Christians feel like they NEED to be isolated from the rest of society? From the contents of this board, I''d say people are at war with Christians who have EVERY right to not only believe in it, but also have a right to expect a voice in government. We have, it seems, neither.
Posted by mike71067 at 12:40 PM : Dec 17, 2007
Sorry to break the news my wife is a Medical Doctor and my Sister is a Psychiatrist and only under very rare circumstances would this prove to be true. Both find that kids raised and schooled under this environment have major problems in life.
On sale at all major bookstores now the Idiots Guide to being a President, authors George Bush and Bill Clinton.The seventeen wantabees have purchased over a million copies, guess they did not understand it the first time.
Yes, and promoted by the extremist Right-wingers who have taken over the US government. Oil in Iraq--we want it, so we can kill to get it. The Colorado mega-churches are also notable for the "Christian soldier" militias they have spawned--heavily armed groups who want to Kill for Krist!
It is this cult that is the heaviest promoter for home-schooling. Bornagains who think they''re too good for the rest of us. Bornagains are every bit as dangerous as Muslim Jihadis, and have much the same mindset. A pesky flock of skypilots who think they can tell everyone what to believe and how to live.
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Posted by bennyblack1
No Christians are not being attacked those who pervert Christ''s words are being attacked. Those who live in glass houses and are always throwing stones at everyone else as if they are the sole interpreter of Christ''s words.
Guess by your assessment our Founding Fathers and EVERYONE PRIOR to the Robber Barons instituting "public school" were REALLY messed up.
Your wife and sister both have jobs. Maybe they can speak for themselves on this forum.
So, what do YOU do other than overgeneralize and condemn?
Very well said. And then add that people who are supposed to be leaders say if you disagree with a person or group, or are scared they might do something to you, instead of talking with them, you shoot them. But violence is wrong. Talk about mixed messages. Kids who are confused, depressed or violent may be just too sane to smile and accept the doublespeak that defines America today.
Oh blubber, blubber! You righty religious fanatics pretty much have owned the US government since the Bushit took over. Frist diagnosing Terry Schiavo over the TV. The most anti-science president in decades!
A lot of us are tired of having to suck up the propaganda boolsheeyit you sky pilots spread around, it''s true.
But we''re the ones who are denied a voice under the Darth Bushit administration, not the Right-wing Religious Nutcases!
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Posted by antoniof123
Any non political unbiased studies to support this?
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Posted by gkc99
Who said I ever supported Bush? Or the Pat Robertson''s of this world or was even a Christian? You assume alot and as I have always said one can take the last three letters of of the word and it fits.
Stand up and defend your right to be who you are. Don''t allow evangelical religious fanatics to replace the Constitution with phony religious quackery.
Well, it seems that if people were to read the Bible at face value objectively (like we were all taught in school), that they wouldn''t NEED an interpreter. In the words of Frederick Price, "If you just listen to what I tell you, and do what the Bible says, you won''t NEED to call a counselor." He specifically stated that he was a TEACHER, not a preacher. His job is to arm us with specific knowledge so that we will better be able to live this life. Everything he teaches is correct. As well as Creflo Dollar. And Joel Olsteen.
Agreat deal of time is spent listening to what other people think about what the Bible says rather than going to the source. It''s like whispering in someone''s ear to pass a message on to the last person in a group of ten. By the time the message gets to the last one, the message has changed. The last man has to get up and go to the ORIGIN of the message to find out what he really said.
Who said I ever supported Bush? Or the Pat Robertson''''s of this world or was even a Christian? You assume alot and as I have always said one can take the last three letters of of the word and it fits. "--Posted by radiob
Huh? Say what? My post was aimed at Bennyblack1, not you radiob.
I would agree. I''m still, at 41 years old, trying to recover from the down-dumbing of students between the years of 1976 and 1982. These were the years in which self-esteem and comradery became more important than competence and knowledge. I came out of the public school system worse off than those whom I knew were home-schooled. I do believe that it is important that parents protect their children from every evil for as long as they can, then teach them how to avoid it when it is appropriate.
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