Huckabee on the Spirit of Giving
LONDONDERRY, N.H. -– Mike Huckabee and actor Chuck Norris stopped by a fund-raiser for a charity delivers supplies to troops overseas.
"The greatest thing about this country has always been the extraordinary things ordinary people do for their neighbors," said Huckabee.
Highlighting the challenges of hunger and poverty, Huckabee said the "best way" to tackle these issues would be "to take care of it at the family level, the neighborhood level, the church level, and if we did that, we wouldn't need the government getting involved in those things."
Huckabee celebrated the patriotic spirit of charity, volunteerism, sacrifice, and military service in his short speech. He wore what looked like the same red sweater he wore in his Christmas ad.
Instead of emphasizing his anti-abortion rights and pro-marriage views, Huckabee alluded to his faith when mentioning the church's role in charitable giving. Huckabee donated a box of soccer balls for children in Iraq.
"Let's remember, every time the government gives something to us, they first have to take something from us." Continuing, he said, "I would love to see a day ... when we did such an incredible job with taking care of the needs of our neighbors, that we can tell the government, thanks, no thanks, your handling challenges are way to inefficient to ever trust you with charity."
"I dream of the day when we are doing such an efficient and effective job taking care of our families and our families and neighbors that the government can do what it does best and that's protect us, not have to provide for us."
On the topic of sacrifice, Huckabee talked about the service of veterans and revisited the lackluster homecoming Vietnam War vets received.
"It's never too late to say thanks, said Huckabee and, with Norris, unrolled a "Welcome Home" banner for Vietnam War veterans Steve Costa and Chuck Mitchell. Norris lost a brother in Vietnam.
Costa said he felt "very happy, emotional, tears" to be recognized for the "forty years we never had." He served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971.