Huckabee vs. McCain?

I think it's obvious that Mike Huckabee is an ambitious guy, and like most ambitious politicians he has no doubt entertained the thought that a GOP loss in this fall's Presidential election might end up redounding to his benefit. (That is, assuming he isn't on the ticket, which seems pretty unlikely no matter what James Pethokoukis's sources say.) But it would take a lot more evidence than what Bob Novak musters in this column to make me believe that Huck - whose de facto alliance with McCain was one of the factors driving the Arizona Senator's primary victory - has secretly allied with "the bitter-end opposition" to McCain among his fellow Evangelicals. Here's the substance of Novak's reporting:

... the word is that some evangelicals dispute Huckabee's support. One experienced, credible activist in Christian politics who would not let his name be used told me that Huckabee, in personal conversation with him, had embraced the concept that an Obama presidency might be what the American people deserve. That fits what has largely been a fringe position among evangelicals: that the pain of an Obama presidency is in keeping with the Bible's prophecy.

As anyone who's ever had a "personal conversation" with someone pushing a peculiar point of view knows all too well, the requirements of politeness (of the "up to a point, Lord Copper" variety, if nothing else) make it very easy to leave your interlocutor with the impression that you've "embraced the concept" that they're pushing on you, when in fact you've done nothing of the sort. Maybe Mike Huckabee really does believe, with Patrick Henry's Michael Farris, that "an Obama plague-like presidency" is just what the Book of Revelation ordered. (Though it's worth noting that Novak's evidence that Farris holds this view is likewise based on hearsay.) But given the ample primary-season evidence that Huck has a major-league man-crush on the presumptive GOP nominee, I'd like to see a little more evidence before I "embrace the concept" that the Arkansas Governor might be part of McCain's "Christian problem."

Comments

as a liberal who on the eve of george bush's apparent election said, "maybe he'll do a really good job," i just don't understand statements like "plague-like presidency."

Posted by joshua | May 13, 2008 11:05 AM

Huckabee won't be VP, so it makes sense for him to try and sabotage McCain's campaign behind the scenes. Also, there is an incredible amount of hatred for McCain in the evangelical community, so Huckabee would be hard-pressed not to at least stay quiet.

Posted by Mike | May 13, 2008 11:19 AM

I remember being surprised more than once, over the last six or eight months, at the seemingly genuinely nice things Huckabee had to say about Obama.

As I write in my blog, which you should at least take a look at geez, perhaps some evangelicals actually like Obama, and are finding a backhanded way to support him that is at least plausibly consistent with their public religious rhetoric.

Posted by ethan salto | May 13, 2008 1:28 PM

"Plague-like presidency?"

Maybe the Austrailians have it right - "Thank God we got the convicts and America got the Puritans."

Plague-like presidency my ass. He must be blind to the Bush presidency:

"1 Land ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. 16:2"

Torturing prisoners, anyone?

"2 Sea it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. 16:3"

Relaxation of pollution controls?

"3 Rivers &
Springs they became blood. 16:4"

Bodies being dumped into the Tigris and Euphrates a dozen a day, every day.

"4 Sun the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. 16:8"

Threatening Iran with "all options on the table".

"5 Throne of the beast his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. 16:10"

Gitmo.

"6 Great river Euphrates its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 16:12 "

Refusal to recognize that global climate change is responsible for things like Atlanta almost running out of water.

"7 Air The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. 16:17"

If Farris doesn't see this he is a fucking idiot and a fucking fraud.
Katrina, the catastrphic conditions in any Iraqi city, the wilful neglect of our own cities. etc.

Posted by calipygian | May 13, 2008 2:14 PM

There is no way the Republican party can whin the November election without winning the southern states. Most christians are tired of the Bush\Cheney war machine spending american tax dollars on a war that will never end!!

Senator McCain must put a lot of distance between himself and George Bush if he expects to compete in this falls election. McCain's selection of a vice president nominee is very critical if he expects to win. One thing is for sure, indepenent senator Joe Liberman is not the candidate that McCain should select as a running mate. Liberman would help capture some of the Libeal votes in the Northeast, but not enough votes to make a difference in the election. I.E. Democrats will win the Northeast. Therefore, McCain should be focusing on the South and Southeastern states. The only way McCain can win votes in the South is to select a running mate with more conservitive values. The only candidate that can assist him in the South would be Mike Huckabee. Lets face it folks, McCain will have it handed to him in the election if he selects the wrong running mate??

America's major issues that have NOT been addressed:

1. War in Iraq
2. High Fuel Prices
3. Health Care
4. Social Security
5. economy (recession)
6. Illegal immigration
7. Real Estate Bailout

George Bush has perform unsatisfactory in most of these areas and his 32% approval rating can contest to that. Americans are tired of the same old Washington politics where the most critical issues are overlooked. I personally don't believe Obama or McCain can solve the most important issues mentoned. However, one of them is going to be the next president and we will all have to live with it. Why hasn't McCain already selected a running mate? Because he is waiting to see who wins the Democratic nomination? Once that's resolved, he will decide. Tough decision and will be the deciding factor on who wins the election? Good luck to everyone in making their choices!! I hope for the best for America...

Posted by Scottie | May 13, 2008 2:27 PM

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Transcript 235.89

In the latest national opinion poll, 56.57% of Democrats are on the verge of voting Republican this year if Obama is the parties nominee.

"This survey was the most comprehensive survey put together since March 2007. We are talking in the magnitude of millions of voters in this survey. It's unlike any of survey of it's kind." said our professor of Law.

Isn't odd that you see such a huge percentage against Obama, although he is being reported in the media as the nominee of choice?

"Your exactly right, we have some people pulling strings in the media trying to portray Obama as some kind media giant, which he is not at all from this enourmous survey we have in our hands."... bang.. you can hear all 47 pages hit the table.

Why do you see the media trying to portray Obama like this?

"It's their strong desire not to see Hillary become President. When Bill Clinton was in Office there was a rift going on between him and the media, you know the story. That caused a lot of angry feelings between each party."

"Oh and let me say another thing, our survey is also indicating very strong support for Governor Mike Hukcabee on the Republican ticket. In fact, John McCain winning the election with Huckabee as his running mate are at two to one better than another VP candidate out there."

Then why do you see so many bloggers talking bad about Huckabee then?

"One reason, the media. Simple as that. They are trying ever so frantically to shut the lid on the McCain / Huckabee ticket. They can read between the lines and they are deeply worried that combination can knock Obama off his feet. So they have people spend all day long blogging giving a false impression."

What are Huckabee's chances of being tapped as VP by McCain?

"Huckabee is on the short list for sure. McCain's been in politics for quite some time, I'm sure he clearly recognizes Huckabee's potential as his running mate. I heard from another professor in law, this election will not be about money, it will be about charisma. Huckabee is blessed with such great communication skills he can be the Republican's prized possesion this year keeping them in the White House another 4 years."

"The Huckabee supporters are a charged up group. Mr. Huckabee really lite the fire in them. Each month that passes by, his supporter's base grows quadratically larger and larger. You are talking about a firestorm of Huckabee supporters that can tilt the election in favor of the Republican party this year if McCain chooses Mike as his running mate."

End transcript 235.89

Posted by News Source | May 13, 2008 6:27 PM

Huckabee definitely supports McCain and he would be an outstanding VP candidate for McCain. Besides helping in the South and with Social Conservatives Huckabee presents the right imagae for this years election. A Country Club Republican image will not win - Huckabee represents main-street not a wall-street image.
This is the best combination possible.

Posted by Rich Allen | May 13, 2008 6:58 PM

Yesterday, Huck denied the Novak accusations and hinted that Romney is the one who started the rumor. Heh, heh. The poor man cannot get over his Romney-envy, and throws mud at him every chance he can work it into the conversation.

It is obvious that Huck is running for 2012, and wants McCain to lose to Obama. It has nothing to do with the Book of Revelation and everything to do with Huckabee's political ambition and desire to out-do Romney. He knows very well that he is NOT on the VP list and that Romney is at the top of it. (And for good reason.)

FYI - Yesterday, Rollins admitted that the "Christian Leader" and floating cross ads, and the negative ad fakeout were all specifically designed to grab headlines.

Shuckies, Huckies, your guy was lying all along! What a surpirse.

Posted by Martha | May 13, 2008 7:33 PM

I love how everyone touts a recession, despite GDp growing .6% last quarter--it's like why even bother debating a liberal...they don't even try to understand what Huck is saying--just jump out and say 'gotcha!' Tolerance? Diversity? Please...today's 'progressives' (libs) are facists.

Posted by Economics Major | May 13, 2008 8:45 PM

I love how everyone touts a recession, despite GDP growing .6% last quarter--it's like why even bother debating a liberal...they don't even try to understand what Huck is saying--just jump out and say 'gotcha!' Tolerance? Diversity? Please...today's 'progressives' (libs) are facists.

Posted by Economics Major | May 13, 2008 8:45 PM

The bottom line is that John McCain is a weak candidate. He alienates conservatives fairly readily, his speeches on subjects like global warming or Guantanamo or most of his other 'maverick' positions infuratiate his base and leave Democrats unmoved. McCain-Feingold has not been forgotten or forgiven, nor has the McCain-Bush-Kennedy Amnesty, or the Gang of 14, or any number of other things. He thinks his reaching out to Kennedy is a selling point, in fact it makes Democrats consider him a useful dupe and conservatives think of him as a fool at best.

Normally, McCain would be doomed before he started, especially given how his own campaign-finance laws hamstring him. Luckily for McCain, Hillary and Obama are also weak. That gives him a chance. Not a wonderful chance, but a chance.

On the other hand, there's enough anger at McCain among Republicans that there could be a big chunk of his base stay home or vote for Barr. Either is a disaster for McCain.

Posted by HC | May 13, 2008 9:05 PM

I am afraid to find all of you really really misguided.
This country was founded by and by all accounts has become the greatest society in history exclusively due to the efforts of we the people, not presidents or congressmen or kings , and especially not lawyers.
All of the comments so far above criticize somebody else for our real or perceived mistakes or hardships.
If we continue to allow those we elect to make decisions for us, we will go the way of all failed great societies.
Get off your duffs, and fix your own problems first.
If you are depending on us ,the taxpayers to bail your collective lazy incompetent butts out of every problem you cause, and then expect the likes of your incredibly stupid state and federal officials to spend our money wisely,...
Then we deserve what we have coming.
We have, out of shear laziness:
allowed to have the "government" support, educate and discipline our children.
We have allowed the government to tell us what food to buy, what fuel to burn, what words are correct, how to drive,... how to everything,
Taking back America does not mean to me , to give it to another demagogic idiot, the likes of Obama, Hillary or McCain, but to reduce that elected function to one of administrator of the executive branch with very limited authority and power, ditto to our pandering representatives in both houses.
Individuals, States , and local governments must ween themselves of the now oppressive power of the federal government, just like the founding fathers envisioned
So...get involved, write, email or call your representatives and insist on local autonomy...or die as a free country.
The ony way to do that is to take away the unlimited power they have of taking our money.
We need to take taxing power away from congress, by either going to a flat tax or the "fair tax" which is a tax on consumption only.
We will have only ourseves to blame if we continue to allow others make our decisions and run our lives.

Posted by Robin | May 13, 2008 10:16 PM

I am afraid to find all of you really really misguided.
This country was founded by and by all accounts has become the greatest society in history exclusively due to the efforts of we the people, not presidents or congressmen or kings , and especially not lawyers.
All of the comments so far above criticize somebody else for our real or perceived mistakes or hardships.
If we continue to allow those we elect to make decisions for us, we will go the way of all failed great societies.
Get off your duffs, and fix your own problems first.
If you are depending on us ,the taxpayers to bail your collective lazy incompetent butts out of every problem you cause, and then expect the likes of your incredibly stupid state and federal officials to spend our money wisely,...
Then we deserve what we have coming.
We have, out of shear laziness:
allowed to have the "government" support, educate and discipline our children.
We have allowed the government to tell us what food to buy, what fuel to burn, what words are correct, how to drive,... how to everything,
Taking back America does not mean to me , to give it to another demagogic idiot, the likes of Obama, Hillary or McCain, but to reduce that elected function to one of administrator of the executive branch with very limited authority and power, ditto to our pandering representatives in both houses.
Individuals, States , and local governments must ween themselves of the now oppressive power of the federal government, just like the founding fathers envisioned
So...get involved, write, email or call your representatives and insist on local autonomy...or die as a free country.
The ony way to do that is to take away the unlimited power they have of taking our money.
We need to take taxing power away from congress, by either going to a flat tax or the "fair tax" which is a tax on consumption only.
We will have only ourseves to blame if we continue to allow others make our decisions and run our lives.

Posted by Robin | May 13, 2008 10:17 PM

The very nice things that Huckabee has said about Obama isn't surprising.

Once upon a time, social conservatives were William Jennings Bryan Populists and New Deal Democrats. In fact, many have compared Huckabee to William Jennings Bryan. Social conservatives have always been economic populists. They were never "The business of America is business" Old Guard Republicans. And they were never "suck it up, loser" ice veined libertatians like Robin because being Christians they buy into things like caring and compassion and whosoever shows mercy to the least of these shows mercy to me.

I believe that social conservatives are fed up with being used by Republican cheap labor libertarians and are about to turn back into Yellow Dog Democrats on economic issues. The hostility with which the monied elites of the GOP treated Huckabee shows social conservatives that they were meant to be the "snake handler fundie yahoo" foot soldiers. Never the generals. Just as Wallace in 1968 was a sign that they were fed up with liberal elites, so Huckabee is a sign that they are fed up with conservative elites.

The Democrats who won in Illinois, Louisiana, and Mississippi were culturally conservative Yellow Dogs who ran on economic issues.

And by the way, Economics Major who obviously slept through class, GDP can increase even as per capita income drops. After all, if I have to work two jobs to make ends meet, doesn't unemployment drop and the GDP rise ? Won't GDP rise as credit card use increases by 7% because people can no longer afford to pay for gas and groceries with cash ? Lamebrained Economics Major, if you want to see how an economy is doing ignore GDP. Look at loan delinquency rates. Look at bankruptcy rates. Look at mortgage foreclosure rates. Look at how people are actually keeping up with their bills.

Posted by Charles Warren | May 13, 2008 11:59 PM

Re: Social conservatives have always been economic populists.

Today, unfortunately, they are led by men who have become multi-millionaires and who run large religio-corporate empires so that they identify thoroughly with the interests of the buiness elite. The rank and file will first need to throw their own leaders overboard if they are going to return to earler popuylsit traditions.

Posted by JonF | May 14, 2008 6:33 AM

This is an interesting election year to be sure. I believe that the GOP is almost at odds with itself as much as the Democrats are. McCain's positions frankly ticks off the base, and I think there are a lot of people almost willing to give the DEMs the election this year, calculating that either Hillary or Obama will make Jimmy Carter look good (no, I'm not a fan of Mr Carter). Regardless of who McCain puts in the veep slot, some portion of the GOP base (either fiscal or social) will still be upset.

Huckabee has shown that he is in it for the long run, and just like the Obama/Clinton battle has peeled back the nasty DEM reality of race and gender, Huck peeled back the veneer of moral/religious civility in the GOP. I would frankly be happy to see it morph into a three or even four party system at this point (almost an impossibility thanks to McCain-Feingold advantages to incumbents, and another reason why the conservative base does not trust that guy...)

Posted by Geoff | May 14, 2008 7:33 AM

To the person who used Revelation 16 to describe the Bush presidency- you have no idea what Revelation 16 means. I can assure you that Bush did not fulfill it, because Rev 16 is the final wrath of God against an unbelieving world before the return of Jesus Christ. Be warned, Revelation has a curse on it that condemns all who add to or subtract from it! You have added to the book by saying that global warming is responsible for the rivers drying up and calling it fulfilled when no such thing has happened, and neither is global warming responsible. Neither has anyone taken the Mark of the Beast, because no such system exists yet.

As for a plauge presidency, God always gives us the government we deserve, and He commands all authority to do His bidding.

Posted by Andrew | May 14, 2008 3:00 PM

Romney is the LAST person I would want on the McCain ticket. Americans have been screwed enough by corporate elite. Huckabee is FOR THE PEOPLE.

TAX REFORM PLEASE

Posted by lilly | May 15, 2008 10:17 AM