Huckabee: No Illusions About VP Slot

Former GOP Presidential Candidate Says He's "Not Sitting Around" Expecting A Call

(AP)  Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is keeping any future political plans under wraps.

In his first public appearance since dropping a stronger-than-expected bid for the GOP nomination, Huckabee on Thursday said he is "not sitting around" expecting likely Republican nominee John McCain to tap the former Arkansas governor as his running mate.

"I'm not one that has any illusions that he has some obligation to me," Huckabee told reporters before an ethics lecture at Columbia College, a small private school in central Missouri. "It's his decision to make. I'm going to support whomever he picks."

Huckabee, who won eight presidential primary states before pulling out on March 4, said he plans to "vigorously campaign" for congressional candidates he supports.

"I want to do as much as I can to help Republicans and conservatives get elected," he said.

In the meantime, Huckabee returned to a familiar topic during a 45-minute campus lecture on health care and ethics.

He described his personal struggles with obesity and poor diet before losing more than 100 pounds, and his subsequent transformation into a marathon runner and advocate for personal responsibility when it comes to good health.

"I was a complete victim of my culture," Huckabee said, describing the deep-fried foods he regularly ate growing up in rural Arkansas.

Rattling off statistics on the societal costs of obesity, smoking, heart disease and other ailments, Huckabee told an audience of several hundred that "the single greatest economic threat to this country is the health care crisis we face."

At the same time, he rejected the notion that a more expansive role by government can help solve that crisis, instead calling for an "incentive-oriented approach."

"The government's approach is going to be very expensive, and very intrusive," he said. "Let's pray to God it doesn't end up the government's (responsibility)."

Earlier Thursday, Huckabee spoke with students, professors and college employees, offering dietary tips and policy proposals before signing copies of his latest book.

He appeared on campus as part of the Althea and John Schiffman Ethics in Society Lecture series, an annual event started in 2003 with a $1.5 million donation from two former trustees. Previous speakers have included Robert Kennedy Jr., historian David McCullough and Arun Ghandi, grandson of Mohandas Ghandi.

[quetzal0666]

Good riddance.....

[candide777]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . ." First Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1791

Did I mention that that is the first clause of the first sentence of the first paragraph of the first right listed in the Bill of Rights? I guess they thought it was kind of important.

[candide777]

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

-- Tripoli Treaty, drafted in 1796 under G. Washington and signed by John Adams

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . ." First Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1791

[candide777]

those nations only are bleessed whose God is the Lord."
Abraham Lincoln
Posted by cluckhut at 11:28 PM : Mar 16, 2008

So, what is true today was true back in the 1800''s, if you want to be president, you must at least feign a belief in God. But, as I said before, most historians agree, Lincoln was at best agnostic. There are as many quotes from Lincoln to prove that as you can pull out political speeches where he feigned belief as was expected of any leader then and even now. The proof is in the pudding though, when it came down to the nitty gritty, our forefathers had the foresight to protect us from religious fanatics, and protect us they did. Just ask the U.S. Supreme Court!

[candide777]

When the issue of South Carolina''s racist flag came up, Huckabee''s response was "If someone told us what to do with our flag in Arkansas, we''d tell them where to stick the pole."

Abraham Lincoln would be appalled! If Huckabee wants the support of Christians, he better start getting good with God!

[cluckhut]

at best agnostic, but certainly NOT a Christian? "It is the duty of nations,as well as of men,to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are bleessed whose God is the Lord."

Abraham Lincoln

[candide777]

cluckhut, interesting you should choose Lincoln as most historians agree that he was at best agnostic, but certainly NOT a Christian, and you have to remember, this was at at time when admitting you were not a Christian could mean being completely ostracized if not killed. But don''t get me started on the great thinkers of the last 200 years, most were, again, at best, half-hearted in their belief in god. Einstein, for one is clear that he did not believe in any sort of god who cared one lick what people were busy doing here on earth.

[cluckhut]

as To canidate777 "We have been the reciepients of the choicest bounties of heaven.We have been preserved these many years,in peace and prosperity.
We have grown in numbers,wealth,and power,as no other nation has ever grown.But we have forgotten God.We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us;and we vainly imagined, in the decietfulness of our hearts,that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.Intoxicated with unbroken success,we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace,too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power,to confess our national sins,and pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Abraham Lincoln
April 30,1863
Proclamation for a National Day of ,fasting,humiliation,and prayer

[giantrobot2]

Mike Huckabee is leading by a huge margin (69%) in a national poll for Vice Presidential candidates for John McCain.

http://www.vicepresidents.com/who-should-john-mccain-choose-his-veep

The American people are voicing their choice for a VP. Let''s not let the media pundits and establishments twist John McCain''s arm to choose some body he doesnt want.

Only Mike Huckabee and John McCain were the most civilized and honorable candidates in the elections. Of course the media and the establishment will not show the American people these results because they want to force McCain to choose some body he doesnt want.

Let the American people talk, go to John McCain''s web site and encourage him to choose Mike Huckabee as his VP that the American people and McCain wants.

[candide777]

I don''''t see either of them Dems really caring one iota about you or me as long as they get what they want.
Posted by cwazywabt at 08:21 PM : Mar 16, 2008

I totally disagree. I think Obama is outside the establishment and represents the kind of change we need in Washington. He''s a good man who cares sincerely about this country''s future. And I''d have him over for dinner in a heartbeat. I''d be honored.