Echoes in Eternity

[Updated Jan. 25, 2008: corrected missing third paragraph]

Just before Christmas, I promised a blog post on why I would NOT be voting for Mike Huckabee (at least in the primaries) and why I think other evangelical Christians should likewise abstain from the Huckster (though it appears that he is now assured of not being able to win the nomination, and will possibly not be around come caucus day in Minnesota).

Well, that post (or should I say, posts) has arrived at the station. Hopefully it has some semblance of clarity and order, since I am borrowing from different sources. For the sake of space, to get all the details, one will have to follow the links I have provided. Please understand this isn't intended as a personal attack on the man; for all I know, he is a very genuine believer and a nice guy. But "a nice guy" or "good Christian" doesn't necessarily make him the best candidate. And here's why:

Michael Huckabee is NOT a conservative.

Yes yes, I know Huckabee is a pretty solid abortion opponent, and supports almost all socially conservative positions. Yippee. Guess what? There are at least a couple other candidates of whom I can say the same. As the title of the reality show in the opening scene of the movie "The Stepford Wives" reads, I CAN DO BETTER!

This letter by an Arkansas man (and self-described "conservative, evangelical, politically-active father of four") lays out seven reasons why he will not again vote for his former governor. In his first reason, he says

It’s hard to go after Democrats with a conservative message when your Republican Governor is out front releasing violent criminals, providing state benefits to illegals, pushing tax increases, expanding government spending and programs, and constantly walking an ethical tight-rope.

A column in the Wall Street Journal quotes Phyllis Schlafly, one of the premier conservative Christian pro-family voices in America, as saying that Huckabee "destroyed the conservative movement in Arkansas, and left the Republican Party in shambles." Betsy Hagan, a key backer of his early runs for office, was very disappointed with his record. "He was pro-life and pro-gun, but otherwise a liberal," she says. "Just like Bill Clinton he will charm you, but don't be surprised if he takes a completely different turn in office."

“I think if they knew [his record] it would totally de-energize them... his policies are just wrong.” – Former Republican Arkansas State Senator Jim Holt

Just what did he do to acquire the ire of these committed Christians? For one, he released a shocking amount of criminals.

"Over the course of his 10 and a half years as governor, Huckabee granted a staggering 1,033 clemencies... That was more than double the combined 507 that were granted during the 17 and a half years of his three predecessors: Bill Clinton, Frank White, and Jim Guy Tucker."

Another paper reported this scary statistic:

Here are the figures for neighboring states since 1996, when Huckabee took office (and keep in mind the population of these states is nearly 20 times [Arkansas']):
>> Louisiana – 213.
>> Mississippi – 24.
>> Missouri – 79.
>> Oklahoma – 178.
>> Tennessee – 32.
>> Texas – 98 (includes 36 inmates released because they were convicted on drug charges with planted evidence).

Total: 624 vs. Huckabee's 703.

This disgusting disregard for the justice system and wanton abuse of power is exemplified in his handling of the Wayne Dumond case. For a fantastic write-up of the entire case, go here. Basically, Huckabee pressured a parole board into releasing a convicted rapist, who then went out and murdered two women. The apparent motive for his desire to release Dumond was that his victim was a distant relation to Bill Clinton, and thus Huckabee let his dislike of President Clinton overwhelm his common sense. What's worse, Huckabee has repeatedly LIED about his involvement in the Dumond case, claiming that he did not exert any pressure on the parole board, something FOUR members of the board contradict.

And his proclivity for commuting sentences wasn't just from a naive willingness to believe in some inherent goodness in mankind (though I'm sure that's part of it). It also stemmed from Huckabee's easily-led nature:

A 2004 investigative article by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette found that prisoners had a better chance of being granted clemency by Huckabee if they had a mutual acquaintance, labored at the governor’s mansion under a prisoner work program, or a minister intervened on their behalf. Prosecutors say Huckabee was more inclined to release or reduce the sentences of prisoners if he had direct contact with them or was lobbied by those close to him.

What this says to me is that this is a man who abuses power, misunderstands the depth of deprivation in man, is a lamb easily led to slaughter, and is profoundly dishonest when caught (kinda reminds me of a different former governor of Arkansas). If he had merely made a mistake and had owned up to it immediately, then I might cut him some slack (though after reading the full story linked above, I don't think he deserves any leniency). But when he, a professing Christian, blatantly and continually lies about a decision that later cost two women their lives...

Next time, I will further discuss Governor Huckabee's less-than-stellar record on other issues, including immigration, taxes, his own corruption scandals, and education. Also, I will mention the utter lack of support from his own state. If you're thinking of supporting Huckabee, please reconsider! Remember, anti-Christs and false teachers don't come from without, but from within the body of believers... let me be clear, I'm not calling Huckabee an anti-Christ, but that if someone is going to politically fool Christians, it's going to be a professing Christian, am I right? So we have to show extra discernment of those in our midst.

For my third and last installment, I intend on giving my alternative candidate choice (now that Fred Thompson has left the building) and my reasons for choosing that person. Suffice it to say, I can do better!