November 25, 2007
Huckabee: a tax-and-spend evangelical
Mike Huckabee has surged ahead in Iowa, largely because of his unabashedly evangelical self-identification. On his website, the first topic in his "Issues" section is "Faith and Politics." I quote:
My faith is my life - it defines me. My faith doesn't influence my decisions, it drives them.
This public display of religiosity is probably a sound strategy. Pat Robertson beat George Bush 41 in Iowa in 1988; and the religious right has since become one of the dominant voices in the GOP. Even Rudy Giuliani, himself a non-evangelical, felt compelled to accept a recent endorsement from Pat Robertson.
I am one of those libertarian Republicans (yes there are still a few of us left) who believes that religion, while important to an individual's private life, has no role in the inner workings of the GOP.
Meanwhile, Huckabee opponents describe the former Arkansas governor as a tax-and-spend fiscal liberal who funneled state dollars into his own pocket. (Huckabee was fined $1000 by the state ethics commission.)
Sadly, for many elements of the GOP, overt Bible-thumping now trumps traditional Republican values like fiscal responsibility, caution in international affairs, and small government.
As I watch Huckabee climb the polls in Iowa, I still hope that social libertarian Ron Paul can come from behind in the primaries; but I were I a betting man, I would not lay down good money on his prospects.
