Huckabee's Link To TV Preacher Questioned

GOP Hopeful Has Close Bond With Televangelist Targeted By Senate Investigation

(CBS)  Last fall, Mike Huckabee taped an appearance on Kenneth Copeland's popular television show. The theme: "Integrity of Character."

"Treat people like you'd want to be treated," Huckabee said.

Now some are raising issue with Huckabee's character, principally his judgment, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

They are focusing on his association with the televangelist, who has refused to cooperate with a Senate investigation into his ministry's finances.

At issue, as reported by CBS News last week: whether millions of dollars in tax-exempt church donations have been used to bankroll a lavish lifestyle and a slew of private, for-profit businesses.

"Mr. Huckabee has terrible judgment because not only is he being closely associated with someone under this ethical cloud, but he's refusing to distance himself," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics In Washington.

When Huckabee appeared on Copleland's show, the evangelist said "Gov. Huckabee is not here in any kind of political role."

After his appearance, like many guests, Huckabee stayed overnight at the ministry's lavish 18,000 square foot lakefront home.

"All I know is he's a delightful human being," Huckabee said of Copeland.

But, before the show aired, Grassley's probe went public. So Copeland went back to the ex-Arkansas governor with an offering.

"I said, 'Governor, if this will negatively impact your campaign in any way, I won't run it,'" Copeland said. "He hollered at me on the phone and said, 'Are you kidding me?'"

CBS News has learned that Copeland's family has donated more than $29,000 to Huckabee's campaign.

And just three weeks ago - when Huckabee was on the financial ropes - Copeland helped raise thousands more from hundreds of ministers attending a meeting at his West Texas headquarters. Nobody is saying how much.

"If it's legal, legitimate, honest contributions, I'm not sure what the premise would be for giving that money back," Huckabee said.

For some, it may well be the premise of a presidential candidate not practicing what he preaches.

[amanoffaith-2009]

I am tired of the news medis bias. Until All the votes are counted------that will be the winner. Mike Huckabee is a Man of God. Kenneth Copeland is a Man of God. Stop with attacks on Good people. McCain is not the winner yet. Let the people of faith decide who is right for this country. I believe this country needs a good God-fearing man to lead us. Someone with morals and sound judgement that is strong in his beliefs.

[lubeoc]

Anyone making a comment about Copeland, Huckabee, or anyone else on this here chat....do you personally know any of them? Do you know them or are you simply making a judgement...an evaluation based on what you think or what someone else said? The same holds true to God, if you don''t know him personally, why make a cooment as if you do?

[lubeoc]

boo boo

[katia327]

One other thing. I like John McCain. Just don''t want to see him as President, for MANY reasons. One of those is, he is TOO old. Too old to begin a Presidency, in my honest opinion.

So, Go MIKE!!!!

[digdafunk]

veteran71, thanx for a good laugh ''an I says agin,"AMEN!!!! lol;)

[katia327]

They are grasping to find ''something'' against Mike Huckabee. What people are not SEEING is that this is a GOOD and genuine man. He''s smart, completely honest, says it like it is, and has some extremely intelligent plans for this country.

I am sorry there are those out there, threatened by a man of God. I feel sorry for any of you who feel that way. There is much you need to learn.

Mike Huckabee
President 2008

[adylan77]

I''m so glad CBS is reporting this. Copeland, "The Godfather of Prosperity", should not be allowed to get away with what he''s doing and I''m disappointed that Huckabee would associate it. The way Copeland spends other people''s money on himself is grotesque. Can we assume that his new bedfellow Huckabee will spend our tax dollars the same way?

[docadams3]

As the saying goes, "I seen my opportunities, an'' I took ''em."

[sigotratando]

For one you aren''t even a Christian so you cannot discern what a Christian is or isn''t.
...singinrick

Actually, the Bible says we can know them [Christians] by their fruit. One need not use the word ''hate'' to demonstrate it.

You also said, "But you cannot say that you didn''t know better in the end, because you did." Better than what? Reading every single word of the Book does not automatically result in understanding; and in Job, God says that he has measures that you cannot even be aware of. The Bible also speaks of there being 3 sources of revelation: the Spirit, Nature, & the Word. Have you accounted for these things in your conclusions?

When I asked one gentleman how he could shut himself off from the continuing growth in his knowledge of an infinite God, he told me: I know all I need to know to make the judgments I''ve made. This is the epitome of crediting oneself with knowledge, attainment, and merit he neither possesses nor has gained if he is to claim to be on a "path" that actually goes somewhere, like growing in knowledge of God.

[quetzal0666]

Kenneth Copeland, just one more corrupt, Teletubbie.