« Arkansas
April 28, 2008
Huckabee Not The Forgiving Type
A while back, we noted that Mike Huckabee had been mending fences with the likes of The Club for Growth and the Family Research Council despite the fact that the groups had been cool, if not outright hostile, to his presidential aspirations.
While Huckabee may be trying to make nice with some of the DC powerbrokers, it doesn’t look like he is quite as forgiving of those who crossed him back in Arkansas.
Back when his campaign was starting to pick up steam, former Republican state representative Randy Minton was among those who started showing up in the press bad-mouthing Huckabee to anyone who would listen:
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, suddenly a serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is “the biggest RINO I know,” according to former state Rep. Randy Minton.
…
“I call (Huckabee) a pro-life, pro-gun liberal,” says Minton, who says he himself belongs to “the Re-publican wing of the Republican Party.”
Minton says he is philosophically aligned with the anti-tax Club for Growth, which has begun running political ads attacking Huckabee as “Tax Hike Mike.”
…
“He says he’s pro-family. If you’re raising taxes on the families of Arkansas, causing wives to go out and get jobs to make ends meet, that’s not pro-family,” Minton said.
Minton was so opposed to the prospect of a Huckabee presidency that he even traveled to Iowa, on Ron Paul’s dime, to campaign against him:
Earlier this week, a group of Arkansans went to Iowa for three days of media appearances to lobby against Huckabee. Randy Minton, a former state legislator and chairman of the conservative Eagle Forum, was one of these new Travelers. “I will be going across the state raising awareness [of Huckabee's record],” said Minton before the trip. He cited Huckabee's record of raising taxes and his liberal use of pardons as two issues he planned to discuss.
Huckabee’s campaign eventually faltered and folded and Huckabee re-emerged as the head of a new PAC and, wouldn’t you know it, now that Minton has decided to run for a House seat in Arkansas, HuckPAC has likewise decided to back his opponent:
Despite his new status as national political celebrity, Huckabee is backing Minton's opponent in a very local legislative race.
Davy Carter of Cabot is Minton's GOP opponent for the House District 48 seat in the May 20 Republican primary. Sarah Huckabee, the former governor's daughter and executive director of HuckPAC, a newly created political action committee, confirmed Friday that her father is supporting Carter, and that the PAC would be supporting him, as well.
Minton did what he could to ensure that Huckabee’s candidacy went down in defeat and it looks like Huckabee has decided to return the favor.
Posted by Kyle at 4:18 PM | Permalink
June 6, 2007
Moderators, Huckabee Miss Point: Whether Creationism Taught in Public School
In last night’s Republican presidential debate, moderators returned to the subject of evolution, pressing former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee:
Huckabee gave an elegant answer to the inept question -- “I’m not planning on writing the curriculum for an eight-grade science book. I’m asking for the opportunity to be president of the United States,” he said. The idea that the president won't set science curriculum seems to echo the conservative view of federal versus state policymaking authority, but in practice the president may have a role doing just that.
In the midst of a heightened period of debate two years ago over teaching “Intelligent Design” creationism in public school science class, culminating in a federal judge repudiating the Dover, Pennsylvania school board, President Bush spoke out in favor of injecting creationism into curriculum, helping to legitimize ID proponents’ case. “With the president endorsing it, at the very least it makes Americans who have that position more respectable, for lack of a better phrase,” said Gary Bauer.
And the president’s role may even extend beyond shaping the terms of debate to setting actual policy. During congressional debate over Bush’s signature No Child Left Behind education plan, among the provisions considered was the so-called Santorum Amendment, containing language designed to make ID an integral part of science standards across the country. Although the amendment was rejected, confusion around the legislation caused many ID supporters (including Santorum) to imply that it was law. At the very least, this shows that a future president could potential be in position to implement an anti-evolution policy for public schools.
As we noted after the last debate, Huckabee expressed support for teaching creationism when governor of Arkansas. Last night, while Huckabee seemed to state that the theory of evolution is incompatible with belief in God, he correctly noted that his personal belief (much less his understanding of science) does not necessarily bear on public policy. But the policy question of whether creationism belongs in public school science class, on the other hand, is very relevant to the job.
(Via Ross Douthat.)
Posted by Ezra at 5:44 PM | Permalink
May 8, 2007
GOP Candidates Wrestle with Creationism
Last Thursday, the American Enterprise Institute hosted a debate on “Darwinism and Conservatism” in which Discovery Institute fellows John West and George Gilder sought to persuade conservatives that the scientific theory of evolution is incompatible with their political ideology, no doubt by attempting to link evolution to eugenics and abortion. That same night, the idea was tested in a more practical theater: the Republican presidential debate. John McCain was asked whether he believes in evolution – his answer, after a pause, was yes. Then the co-moderater asked for a show of hands:
Tom Tancredo, Sam Brownback, and Mike Huckabee all indicated they did not believe in evolution. (According to Janet Folger, Duncan Hunter later said the same.) But more important than whether a candidate believes in or even understands evolution is whether he would make efforts to counter evolution a part of public education policy. Indeed, John McCain – who reached out to the creationist Discovery Institute recently – has apparently said he supported teaching “Intelligent Design” creationism in science class alongside evolution (although he backed down a little bit).
Huckabee elaborated on his answer in the presidential debate, saying “he has no problem with teaching evolution as a theory in the public schools and he doesn't expect schools to teach creationism” as the AP reported. He added, “I wouldn't want them teaching creationism as if it's the only thing that they should teach.” More specifically, as governor of Arkansas he responded to concerns that students weren’t learning about evolution by advocating the teaching of creationism:
I think that the state ought to give students exposure to all points of view. And I would hope that that would be all points of view and not only evolution. I think that they also should be given exposure to the theories not only of evolution but to the basis of those who believe in creationism …
As for whether evolution is compatible with conservatism: at least one far-right activist says No. Watching the debate, Faith2Action’s Janet Folger whittled down the field of contenders based on their positions on abortion, stem cell research, national ID cards, and evolution:
When McCain was asked about evolution, he said: "I believe in evolution. But, I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also." McCain didn't want to look so "foolish" as to suggest that God could have actually pulled off a creation such as the Grand Canyon, but wanted to throw Him a bone with His "hand" in the sunset. Mighty nice of him. …
Liberal moderator Chris Matthews [sic – Politico reporter Jim VandeHei], in a "surely no one actually believes the first verse of the Bible" tone, asked, "I'm curious. Is there anybody on the stage that does not believe in evolution?" While the news reported three, after a round of calls, the forth [sic], Duncan Hunter (not Ron Paul), was among those who stood for Creation:
· Brownback
· Tancredo
· Huckabee
· HunterHow about this? Let's have a debate with the men still standing.
Posted by Ezra at 5:53 PM | Permalink
March 30, 2007
Janice Rogers Brown Warns Critics of Religious Right Seek 'Permanent Revolution' of 'Secular Humanism'
Federal Judge Janice Rogers Brown, a far-right nominee who was appointed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2005, recently spoke to students at Harding University in Arkansas. Brown, known for her strident legal views on the “socialist revolution” of Social Security and other topics, set her sights on critics of the Religious Right and our supposed “demands”:
Brown said those who attack the religious right “essentially argue (that) the true American religion demands acceptance of, indeed submission to, a common political vision — their vision.”
In the 20th century, secular humanism crept into American and Western governments, promising openness and tolerance for diverse groups, religions and philosophies, she said.
“What we got was narrow positivism, moral relativism and the totalitarian reign of the radical multiculturalist,” Brown said. “It promised peace. What we got was a process of permanent revolution, tumult, strife and a ceaseless assault upon the foundations of faith, family and civil society. It promised if not the pursuit of truth, at least rationality and acknowledgment of objective reality. What we got was postmodernism.” The battle, in her view, is not political but theological: “Contrary to the prevailing secularist dogma ... a society cannot exist without a fighting faith. Where society has nothing to die for, it has nothing to live for and cannot long survive.”
Brown is occasionally touted by the far Right as a future Supreme Court nominee.
Posted by Ezra at 5:57 PM | Permalink
February 7, 2007
FRC Attacks Arkansas ERA Efforts
“[A]ggressive strategy to obliterate the traditional family.”
Posted by Ezra at 11:59 PM | Permalink
October 27, 2006
Focus on the Family Affiliates Release State-by-State Voter Guides
So-called “family policy councils.” More here.
Posted by Ezra at 11:59 PM | Permalink
October 3, 2006
Huckabee Repeats Anti-Gay Line
This time at Jerry Falwell’s church, the pastor-turned-Arkansas governor again cracks wise about Moses and Brokeback Mountain. Watch: Broadband or Dial-Up.
Posted by Ezra at 11:59 PM | Permalink
September 15, 2006
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Race to Focus on Preventing Gay Families from Adopting
Despite apparent agreement of candidates.
Posted by Ezra at 5:43 PM | Permalink