IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
by
Selwyn Duke
December 25, 2007
NewsWithViews.com
There
is a candidate in the presidential race who has a serious religion
problem. No, it’s not Mormon Mitt or recently-religious Rudy. It is
Mike Huckabee.
Just
for the record, I share Huck’s faith in Jesus Christ. Not only have
I no problem with religion in public life, I also understand that
one can’t really separate a person’s world view from his politics.
The political is merely a reflection of the spiritual; our politics
doesn’t emerge in a vacuum.
So
what is my problem with Huck? Do I accuse him of false religiosity?
No,
what scares me is that his beliefs are all too real.
To
that enormous secular conservative voting block out there, I will
say, be not afraid. It’s not that Huck would impose religion through
government. No, his actions would truly offend you.
He
would impose statism in the name of religion through government.
While
Huck will say what you want to hear to win office, he will not hear
what you want to say once there. He will make tone-deaf Bush seem
like a maestro. How do I know this?
He
believes.
Belief
can be a great thing, of course. Our Founding Fathers’ unprecedented
respect for liberty was born of their Christian belief that rights
were bestowed by the divine king and not worldly ones. Mother Teresa’s
Christian beliefs inspired her to toil tirelessly to aid the destitute
and dying in India. But whereas the founders kept charity out of government
and Teresa kept government out of charity, Huck conflates the two
in a disastrous mix of bad theology and bad political science. Perverting
Christianity’s message and violating 2000 years of its tradition,
he believes it is his Christian mandate to do good works through government.
With,
of course, your money.
Huck
invokes faith to justify ambitions ranging from the insidious to the
idiotic. For the former, look no further than immigration, where Huck
espoused the Christian principle, “Do unto others as you would have
others do unto you,” while advocating an apparent open-door
policy. This, despite the fact that if any good Christian were
to find himself in a country illegally, he would expect its citizens
to demand he return home.
This
illegal-enabling attitude was also apparent in a deal to establish
a partially taxpayer-financed Mexican consulate office in Little Rock,
a scheme involving the lease of building space to the Mexican government
for $1 a year. Then there was Huck’s support of drivers’ licenses,
government benefits and in-state tuition rates for illegals and his
opposition to a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
What
was the motivation for these outrages? While some
critics assert that he created a “magnet” for illegals at the
behest of business interests, for certain is that Huck invoked his
Christian faith while attacking supporters of the proof-of-citizenship
bill. He labeled the measure irresponsible, un-American, anti-life
and un-Christian. This prompted one of the assailed legislators,
Jim Holt, to
say that “Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye
to lawbreaking.”
The
problem, according to many, is that Huck doesn’t agree. For instance,
Daniel Larison at the American Conservative wrote,
“.
. . Huckabee regards it as his Christian duty to help subvert and
liberalize U.S. immigration laws. Together [with Sam Brownback], they
embrace the notion that fidelity to the Gospel requires privileging
the interests of non-citizens over those of fellow citizens.”
(Note:
This is why immigration crusader Tom Tancredo just exited the presidential
race and endorsed Romney; he knows Mexicali Mike must be stopped.)
Huck
explicitly
cited the same “Christian duty” when explaining a lenient attitude
toward felons that would allow for twice as many pardons under his
Arkansas administration as those of his last three predecessors combined.
Among those pardoned was the notorious Wayne Dumond, a thug serving
25 years for raping a teenage high school cheerleader. But Dumond
had no feeling of Christian duty. He then raped and murdered a woman
named Carol Sue Shields.
As
for that ol’ Huck sense of Christian duty, “Thou shalt not bear false
witness” seems no more a part of it than does the imperative to protect
the innocent. He denied playing a role in Dumond’s pardon, but this
is contradicted
by the very man who had to sign the criminal’s parole papers, one
Ermer Pondexter. Said he,
“I
signed the [parole] papers because the governor wanted Dumond paroled.”
This
Clintonesque relationship with truth also evidenced itself in the
YouTube debate when Huck was asked about his plan for college tuition
benefits for illegals. Writing about this, columnist Jerome
Corsi has “identified five specific, easily documented misrepresentations
of historical facts” in Huck’s answer to the question.
Yet
there is another fact: In his quest to fill the schools, Huck hasn’t
forgotten citizens. No, not at all. Huck signed
a bill in Arkansas making it more difficult to homeschool your
children, perhaps at the behest of the left-wing National Education
Association (whose New Hampshire endorsement he captured). The homeschooling
families supporting him should take note.
But
what will concern all families is Huck’s philosophy on one of the
biggest issues of our time, terrorism. He has
some very definite ideas about thwarting it, and they’re probably
a bit different from yours. Said Huck,
We
must first destroy existing terrorist groups and then attack the
underlying conditions that breed them: the lack of basic sanitation,
health care, education, jobs, a free press, fair courts – which
all translates into a lack of opportunity and hope. The United States’
strategic interests as the world’s most powerful country coincide
with its moral obligations as the richest.
Ah,
true innovation: Giving social programs international scope. And,
I wonder, does Huck know that Osama bin Laden is worth about $300
million? I’ll also note that there is no moral obligation to use other
people’s money for your government-run charities.
Then
there are Huck’s silly health-police measures. He says he would favor
a national smoking
ban (not the role of the federal government – unconstitutional).
Then, many of us have heard about how Huck shed more than 100 pounds
after developing diabetes, a commendable achievement. But, not content
with personal victory in the battle of the bulge, Huck took his crusade
public, creating a program to test the body-fat index of every
student in Arkansas’ school system.
Is
this Huck’s conception of small government and proper use of tax money?
Does a 10-year-old child oft-teased as a double-wide need that assessment
affirmed through a taxpayer-funded program? Yes, Christy, just so
you know, you’re now officially, legally fat – signed and stamped
by the state.
Huck’s
puerile passions are understandable, but not excusable. He lost all
that weight, and he said his wife’s 1975 battle with cancer left him
“scared to death” of the disease. Thus, like gun-control nut Carolyn
McCarthy – elected to Congress after her husband and son were shot
in the L.I.R.R.
massacre – he is a statist who feels compelled to impose his passions
through government. But, I’m sorry, I don’t find the nanny state more
attractive because she’s dressed up like the church lady.
Protect
our borders, Huck; I can protect my own lungs and arteries, thank
you.
Perhaps
what’s most offensive about the Huck, though, is his clear message
that those opposed to his statist measures aren’t good Christians.
Yet I will cede that he’s half right, in that we should pursue charity
in ways that correspond with our gifts.
And
I hear that the Ghatal Missionary Baptist Fellowship in India is looking
for candidates.
As
for candidates, Huck is the only one who would bring not just missionary
zeal to the White House, but missionary intentions. This makes
him especially dangerous because, to use a variation on a famous Blaise
Pascal line, men never grow government so completely and cheerfully
as when they do it with religious conviction.
This
is why those who support Huck because he has religious conviction
ought to wonder what those convictions actually are. Is it enough
that he professes some version of Christianity? I will remind you
that Jesus himself said,
“You
will know them by their fruits. . . . Not everyone that says to me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. . . .
Nor
do simple pronouncements qualify one to enter the White House. Sure,
Huck now speaks in a tongue palatable to his audience; he’s Tom Tancredo
on immigration, Torquemada on punishment and the ancient Chinese on
border barriers. But you can believe the rhetoric or the reality.
He hasn’t changed his ways and in office would fulfill his statist
promise, not his promises. How do I know
Because
he believes.
As
a man of faith, I understand that when you believe your principles
reflect God’s will, you won’t bend.
Ever.
This
is the greatest asset; that is, when you have the right principles.
As
to this, it’s just too bad the Church of Huck has nothing to say about
lying to get elected.
Related
Article:
Huckabee
campaigning for 23% sales tax
© 2007 Selwyn Duke – All
Rights Reserved
priotupiliko 70 post
all about priotupiliko and top news
priotupiliko 70 post
all about priotupiliko and top news
priotupiliko 78 post
all about priotupiliko and top news
Soma.
Soma next day. Soma-fitness. Soma without prescription. Buy soma watson brand online 150 tablets. Drug soma.
Adderall.
Adderall xr headache. Adderall xr. Adderall purchase without prescription. Adderall san antonio. Adderall.
Adderall idiopathic edema.
Adderall xr price. Adderall side effects. Adderall treating anxiety in adults. Adderall.
Ambien overnight.
Ambien and pregnancy. Ambien sleeping pill. Generic ambien. Buy ambien. Ambien and brain injuries.
What is the street value for tramadol.
Tramadol.
Tramadol.
Ultram tramadol. Cheap comment message preview tramadol.
Soma petroleum.
Soma addiction and lying. Soma without rx. Aura soma products. Buy soma online. Soma. Soma cannabis.
Adderall xr heart.
Snorting adderall. Adderall xr. Adderall side effects. Adderall.
Soma review the retail church chris thron.
Soma without prescription. Soma.
Adderall.
Adderall forums. Adderall.
Soma labs serogen.
Soma plant. Watson soma.
Percocet.
Buy percocet online. Percocet. Percocet dosage.
grotokoli 90 post
all about grotokoli and top news
Photo of ambien cr.
Does ambien cause fetal birth defect. Generic ambien. Will ambien show up in a urine test.
Prescription medication side effects for soma.
Tramadol soma zoloft prozac onlineprescription.md. Drug soma.
Pictures of soma 750 mg..
Soma next day delievery. Soma. Soma san diego. Soma fm.
Adderall.
Adderall abuse. Adderall.
Ordering adderall.
Adderall abuse. Adderall. Who makes adderall. Buy adderall no prescription.
Drugs online cheap hydrocodone buy.
Hydrocodone and cheap. Drugs online cheap hydrocodone buy.
Buy cheap soma.
Cheap soma. Watson soma cheap. Cheap soma indice.
Side effects of valtrex.
Adhd and valtrex. How does valtrex affect coumadin.
Buy valium.
Buy valium with mastercard. Buy c.o.d. valium. Buy valium. Buy valium c.o.d.. Beamto buy link online valium pharmacy forum. Buy valium online.
Hydrocodone.
Hydrocodone online.
Online pharmacies that offer fioricet.
Fioricet online. Buy fioricet online without a prescription.
Hydrocodone apap.
Hydrocodone. Hydrocodone drug testing. Snorting hydrocodone. Hydrocodone and online and prescriptions.
Buy tramadol.
Buy tramadol.
Buy vicodin online no prescription.
Buy vicodin dr consultation. Buy vicodin online. Buy vicodin.
Soma prescription medicine.
Soma.
Cheap lexapro.
Cheap lexapro.
City of refuge gardnerville gamble.
Gamble music. Procter and gamble. Proctor and gamble coupons. John dyer proctor and gamble. Meghan gamble. Proctor gamble toronto. Proctor and gamble. Gamble house.
Buy percocet and greece.
Buy percocet. Buy percocet online. Buy percocet online no prescription. Buy percocet and greece.
Flight tickets.
Cheap tickets and flight. Discounted flight tickets. Discount flight tickets orbitz. Flight tickets. Cheap flight tickets. Air canada airline tickets flight network.
Cheap lexapro.
Cheap lexapro.
Buy ephedra online.
Buy ephedra online yellow swarms. Buy ephedra stackers. Buy online yellow jackets with ephedra. Buy ephedra stackers cheap.
Ambein.
Ambein. Ambein suicide.
Buy ambein.
Buy ambein.
Generic xanax.
Buy 180 xanax 2mg. Xanax xr crushed. Xanax. Generic xanax 2 mg no prescription.
Hydrocodone.
Effects of hydrocodone. Hydrocodone guaifenesin syreth.
Buy valium.
Buy valium.
Buy lexapro.
Buy lexapro.
Cheap soma.
Cheap soma.
Ambein suicide.
Ambein dizziness. Ambein.
Buy percocet online.
Percocet online. Buy percocet online no prescription. Buy percocet online without office visit. Order percocet online.
Buy vicodin without a prescription.
Where to order vicodin with no prescription. Hyrocodone extracting from vicodin. Vicodin. Vicodin consultation. Pharmacy online no prescription vicodin. Easing symptoms of vicodin withdrawal.
Cheap ambein.
Cheap ambein.
Valium overnight cheap.
Cheap valium.
Cheap tramadol fedex overnight.
Cheap tramadol. Cheap tramadol cod. Buy online cheap and fast tramadol. Cheap tramadol fedex overnight.
Flight tickets online.
Flight tickets online.
Buy xanax.
Buy 180 xanax 2mg. Buy xanax. Buy xanax valium online florida. Buy xanax online. Can you buy xanax without a prescription. Buy xanax without prescription in usa. Buy cheap xanax without prescription.
Buy gnric viagra next day.
Buy viagra online. Buy cheap viagra online uk. Buy uk viagra prescriptions buy uk viagra uk. Buy soft viagra. Buy viagra uk.
Buy percocet online.
Buy percocet online. Order percocet online.
Drugs online cheap hydrocodone buy.
Hydrocodone ovwenight cheap no medical records. Hydrocodone and cheap. Cheap hydrocodone with no fees. Drugs online cheap hydrocodone buy.
Hydrocodone how to administer safely.
Hydrocodone. Hydrocodone guaifenesin syreth. Hydrocodone apap 5 500.
Xanax.
Beer and xanax. Buy xanax without prescription in usa. Cheap generic xanax 2mg bars. Xanax. Buy xanax with no prescription. Xanax while pregnant.
Free porn clips.
Free online porn. Free amateur porn. Free porn videos.
Gay sex.
Gay sex.
Free animal sex movies.
Animal sex pics. Animal sex free.
Incest.
Incest.
Airfare.
Lowest airfare available. Discount airfare. Cheap airfare. Airfare http://www.greattravelsecrets.com.
Vicodin dependence.
No prescription vicodin. Vicodin. Vicodin addiction. Dangers of vicodin. Overseas vicodin. Buy vicodin without script. Snort a vicodin. Pharmacy online no prescription vicodin.
Cheapest viagra prices.
Viagra side effects.
Cialis best price buy online.
Cialis.
Percocet.
Potent lortab percocet darvon. Buy percocet online no prescription. Dosages for percocet. Percocet. Percocet and nightmares.
Furniture.
Lazy boy furniture. Furniture http://www.theprettiestonline.com. Outdoor furniture. Ashley furniture. Modern furniture. Stanley furniture. Baby furniture.
Ultram pain medicine.
Ultram. Generic ultram.
80 mg oxycontin.
Oxycontin addiction. Oxycontin withdrawal. Oxycontin where to buy buy oxycontin. Oxycontin.