Handy Guide: Mike Huckabee on the major issues

[zulchzulu]

OK...I just wanted to show the contrast... :rofl:



Hometown
Hope, Ark.

Age
52

Religion
Baptist

Education
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A., 1980
Ouachita Baptist University, B.A., 1975

Candidate Website
www.mikehuckabee.com

Candidacy Status
Formed exploratory committee Jan. 28, 2007.

Political Experience
Governor of Arkansas, 1996-2007
Chairman, National Governors Association, 2005-2006
Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, 1993-1996

Professional Experience
President, Cambridge Communications, 1992-1996
President, KBSC-TV, 1987-1992
President, Beech Street Communications, 1986-1992
Baptist Minister, 1980-1992
President, Arkansas Baptist State Convention, 1989-1991
President, ACTS-TV, 1983-1986
Advertising Director, Focus, 1976-1980

Family Information
Spouse: Janet Huckabee
Children: John Mark Huckabee, David Huckabee, Sarah Huckabee

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ON THE ISSUES

Abortion
Huckabee is anti-abortion but says that some in the "pro-life community" put "undue focus on the gestation period" instead of caring for children throughout their lives. Huckabee has said that Roe v. Wade should be overturned but that its reversal would not eliminate abortion laws. "Some states would have very liberal abortion laws, other states would have very strict abortion laws," he said.

Church and State
Huckabee has said that his faith "explains" him and affects his decision-making process. He has said: "I'm not as troubled by a person who has a different faith. I'm troubled by a person who tells me their faith doesn't influence their decisions." He has said that the government "should have a hands-off attitude" toward religion, and he has called efforts to ban religious displays on public property "absurd." Huckabee says he believes that the U.S. is "a nation of faith it doesn't necessarily have to be mine."

Death Penalty
Huckabee supports the death penalty. In his book, From Hope to Higher Ground, he described the death penalty as "a tough issue." He wrote that he believes "some crimes deserve it, but that does not mean I like it." He also described carrying out the death penalty as the worst part of his job as governor of Arkansas. In a December 2005 interview on PBS that he said that he has had to "carry out the death penalty more than any governor in the history of my state" and that "it is not something I'm proud of."

Education
While Huckabee says that he does not believe in evolution, he has no problem with schools teaching evolution as a theory. "We shouldn't indoctrinate kids in school," he has said, adding, "I wouldn't want them teaching creationism as if it's the only thing that they should teach.'' Huckabee has said that if a family prays together outside of school, it doesn't need to worry about whether children are allowed to pray in school. In response to questions about why he sent his children to public schools rather than religious private schools, he said that he felt it was not the schools' job to teach his children how to pray. In response to the Sept. 11 attacks, Huckabee proclaimed a "Student Religious Liberty Month" in Arkansas and encouraged students to "turn to their faith and pray."

Environment
Huckabee says that "there may be" a human role in climate change and that protecting the environment is a "spiritual issue." He also says that "our responsibility to God means that we have to be good stewards of this Earth, be good caretakers of the natural resources that don't belong to us; we just get to use them." He favors working toward alternative energy sources and American energy independence.

Faith-Based Initiatives
Huckabee created the Governor's Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives in Arkansas in 2004. He also issued an executive order forcing Arkansas compliance with federal "Charitable Choice" laws in order to allow faith-based organizations to compete for funds from state agencies.

Gay Marriage
Huckabee opposes gay marriage. When asked if he believes that homosexuality is immoral, he said, "That's their business don't agree with it." He believes in a traditional definition of marriage where "the rules are one man, one woman for life." While he says that "people have a right to decide how they live their lives," he also believes that "they have to respect not changing the definition of marriage."

Health Care
After losing more than 100 pounds in two years while he was governor of Arkansas, Huckabee focused on eliminating obesity and improving public health. Huckabee calls the American health care system "irreparably broken" and calls for more preventative care. He is against universal health insurance coverage and says that the U.S. needs a system "where there are incentives for healthy behavior and for management of one's health-care expenses." While governor, Huckabee created the ARKids First program to provide health insurance for many uninsured children.

Immigration
Huckabee says that he does not believe in amnesty for illegal immigrants in the U.S. "There does need to be restitution and a way to make sure they don't jump in front of people who have been trying to get into the country legally," he says. He has also said: "There is a need for people who will do jobs after our citizens have had first crack at them." Huckabee favors increased border security. "I've never really worried about someone slipping across the border to pluck chickens or pick tomatoes or make beds, but it does worry me that somebody could also slip across the border with a shoulder-fired missile launcher," he said. Huckabee also has spoken out against what he calls "sanctuary cities."

Iraq War
Huckabee says the war in Iraq is part of a "World War III" against Islamic fascism, which he describes as "a perversion of Islam." He said that President Bush's 2007 plan to increase troop levels in Iraq should be given a chance to work, adding, "I'm going to have to trust the people over there sucking that sand into their lungs and putting their boots on the ground every day." Huckabee favors gradually transferring power to the Iraqi government, though not on a timetable.

Poverty
Huckabee says one of his priorities is to address poverty because it's "consistent with me being pro-life." He calls his desire to fight poverty a "faith position" rather than a political position. He says that it is impossible to address poverty without prioritizing stable homes and families, which he sees as "critical economic issues."

Stem Cell Research
Huckabee supports research on existing stem cell lines but does not believe in "creating life for the sole purpose of destroying it." He says that embryonic stem cell research may not be necessary "because recent discoveries have shown that stem cells from the umbilical cord may in fact be as useful as the embryonic stem cells that were previously created."

http://pewforum.org/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=10

Note: This is all I can stand on the Repugs... :puke:

[ingac70]

1. "undue focus on the gestation period"...

Nice to see a fundie tell it like it is for a change.

[calmblueocean]

2. Huckabee is really unique for a modern Republican candidate

Where most of the GOP is falling all over themselves to show that they're tougher, harder, and meaner than the next guy, Huckabee makes a concerted effort to push the Republican party towards different goals. He talks about environmental stewardship, about how many people are struggling to get by today, about how health care needs to be focused on wellness and not just catastrophic injury.

He's wrong on huge areas of policy, of course, but he talks a good game, and I think he's good for the Republican party, and good for us, because I know we can beat him :)

[Bishop Rook]

3. Should have done it on Ron Paul

Just for the fun of it.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. I'd like to have a beer with Mike Huckabee, but I don't want him anywhere near the White House