Posted by
LowDownCentral on Monday, December 17, 2007 11:57:16 AM
By Rose Pedenko and Tanya Simon
In Air Force-speak a bogey is defined as “…an unidentified aircraft or missile, esp. one detected as a blip on a radar screen.” And to have a bogey on your “six” is trouble; it means he’s on your tail and closing fast. The acronym IFF (for “Identification: Friend or Foe”) is also used by the military for when an unknown blip appears.
In today’s political aerial show, all three terms can be used to describe Mike Huckabee “the Huckster from Hope.”
(1) He’s a blip that’s appeared out of nowhere;
(2) His campaign on the religious platform is threatening to overtake more qualified Republican candidates who do not play the religion card; and
(3) Most important, we cannot say with clarity whether he can be identified as friend or foe to the conservative party. He self-describes as a “different kind of Republican.” Mike, that’s called a Democrat.
There is little or no mention by Huckabee in his campaigning about his position or even his views on national security or foreign policy. This is probably because he has yet to exhibit or claim to have any experience in foreign policy. Rather, Huckabee is investing far too much time projecting his remarks toward his preferred constituency: Evangelical Christians. This maneuver is like sinking all his money into a hot stock on the promise that its value will skyrocket overnight and then bail out with a fat profit (no pun intended, Mike). This is commonly referred to as a “quick kill.”
Huckabee is seeking that “quick kill” to the White House by making inflammatory statements meant to influence those who are “on the fence” about Mormons and the Mormon religion. This smash & grab tactic should automatically negate Huckabee’s (or any candidate’s) eligibility as a serious presidential contender. We hear nothing from him about how best to secure our borders, how to deal with the influx of illegal aliens, gang infestations, over-spending, term limits, the Iran issue, the rebirth of enmity by Russia towards America, Hugo Chavez, or pledging not to raise taxes (and Huckabee is notorious for raising taxes).
Huckabee is preaching for his religion (and against others’) from a political pulpit that is rife with hypocrisy. This is dangerous and, coming from an ordained minister, unacceptable. Mixing religion with politics is a very messy and volatile cocktail that harms those who listen and swallow his messages.
Just like another glib gent from Hope, Arkansas, Governor Huckabee has mastered the art of turning a clever phrase or the cultivated “Aw shucks” one-liner to his advantage. This can be a good thing. However, his carefully crafted public character fades quickly when his skin thins and his attitude turns vindictive, as recently described by J.J. Vigneault, a former Huckabee consultant. Vigneault further stated: “A lot of folks out there felt his [Huckabee’s] wrath over 10 years.” (Vigneault may well end up being Huckabee’s Dick Morris.)
After each Republican debate, Huckabee has treated us to denials of prepared “off-the-cuff” clever remarks. Perhaps his funny quips are the product of a genuine quick wit – perhaps. Or perhaps a Marjoe Gortner slickness we have yet to fully understand. Once he is asked a direct question about the source of his humor, his answers seem to mimic those of a previous occupant of the Arkansas Governor’s mansion. The quips have nothing to do with party passion.
Can this pastor, himself once a paradigm of the Seven Deadly Sins (go ahead, guess which one), overcome his shortcomings by preaching the “Word” to Iowans just in time to run away with the nomination?
Will the good people of Iowa see through his “Chautauqua tent” transparency of shameless self-interest by belting Bible verses to a select, though important, few?
And will those important few come to realize that nominating Huckabee for the Oval Office is the same as putting the fool in charge of the fortune?
http://www.lowdowncentral.com/feature-article/2007/12/17/pastor-in-chief.html