Arkansas Blog: Huckabee bandwagon UPDATE III

It's rolling.

Here's a New York Times smooch of The Huckster, though the last paragraph quotes former Republican Sen. Joe Yates, once a Huckabee staffer, as saying he doesn't support Huck and that he's thin-skinned. Do tell. ... A blogger in Atlantic says Iowa is down to Huckabee and Romney ... American Spectator says he could shortly be getting the endorsement of James Dobson (another one I wouldn't want, but useful in Religious Right-influenced Iowa and elsewhere)

He also gets huge interview treatment in Salon. Exaggerations wanted? Here's one:

But you have got to understand, it's hardball politics in Arkansas. And the ultimate thing is this, that I remained un-indicted for all those years is in itself an incredible accomplishment in my state.

Yes, most politicians in Arkansas are eventually indicted.

Huckabee is also quoted as saying "a lot" of ethics complaints filed against him came from one newspaper columnist. I think the Ethics Commission considered 14 formal complaints and decided five adversely to the governor. In terms of formal complaints, my recollection is that I filed two and one resulted in a finding he had not filed a financial report properly. On the other, he changed a story on handling of his 2002 inaugural funds to avoid sanction.

UPDATE: An interview with NY Times blog reveals interestingly that Mike Huckabeer is NOT a strict Biblical literalist.

UPDATE II: Dobson "ferociously" denies plan to endorse The Huckster.

UPDATE III: He may not have Dobson, but he has a slew of Baptists. On the jump.

HUCKABEE NEWS RELEASE

Little Rock , AR – Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee proudly announced the endorsements of several influential members of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), a group representing more than 16 million members who worship in more than 42,000 churches in the United States . "I'm thrilled to have an impressive list of current and past Southern Baptist Convention leaders stand by my side," Huckabee said. The term "Southern Baptist Convention" refers to both the denomination and its annual meeting. Southern Baptists share a common bond of basic Biblical beliefs and a commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. The list of SBC members endorsing Huckabee includes:

► Dr. Jack Graham – Plano, Tex. ► Dr. James T. Draper Jr. – Colleyville, Tex. ► Dr. Jerry Vines – Woodstock, Ga. ► Dr. Daniel L. Akin – Wake Forest, N.C. ► Dr. Jay Strack – Orlando, Fla. ► Dr. Billy McCormack – Shreveport, La.

Dr. Jack Graham is Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

"Mike Huckabee is clearly the most articulate spokesman for conservative values in today's political arena. He is a wise and proven leader," Dr. Graham said. "He is a man who lives and governs by principal and is, in my view, uniquely prepared to lead our nation."

Dr. James T. Draper Jr. is a former president of Southern Baptist Convention and former president of Lifeway Christian Resources.

"I support Mike Huckabee for President because I have known him for over 30 years and know him to be a man of absolute integrity and sterling character," Dr. Draper said. "He has the strength of convictions that will enable him to be a great leader."

Dr. Jerry Vines twice served as president of Southern Baptist Convention and is former pastor of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla. He is founder of Jerry Vines Ministries in Woodstock, Ga.

"Having known Governor Mike Huckabee for 30 years and observed his character, convictions and courage in public life, I wholeheartedly endorse him in his bid to become President of the United States," Dr. Vines said.

Dr. Daniel Akin is president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.

"Mike Huckabee is the kind of man our country needs in a leader. He believes in those things that exemplify the best in our nation," Dr. Akin said. "His values and convictions make him a leader worth following. I am delighted he is running for president and he has both my prayers and support."

Dr. Jay Strack is president and founder of Student Leadership University and a world- renowned Southern Baptist communicator and minister in Orlando, Fla.

"Mike Huckabee has brought clarity, compassion, and competency to every assignment and role he has been given," Dr. Strack said. "He does not blink answering hard or tough questions and does so in a manner that does not alienate the inquirer."

Dr. Billy McCormack is pastor of University Baptist Church and founding National Board Member of Christian Coalition.

"Mike is not only well equipped for the presidency, he has demonstrated godly and righteous leadership in government which commends him to every evangelical who wants a firm and resolute hand on the helm of our ship of state," Dr. McCormack said. "He will unify evangelicals nationwide in one giant move toward the nomination at first and the general election to follow. He is America's logical choice."

Comments

Click on my name to compare the Tennessee support of Fred Thompson to the Arkansas support of Mike Huckabee.

Posted by: Born Red | November 9, 2007 07:39 AM

from Gerson column/interview/puff in today's WaPo...

"I'm a conservative," Huckabee told me. "But if that means I have to close my eyes to poverty and hunger, I'm not going to do that." This, he said, would be to "refuse a larger allegiance, to my own soul, and also standing before God."

fine words, well and true, needs to be said more often by every candidate on both sides,

but, if that "larger allegiance" requires you to raise your hand when asked "do you NOT believe in Evolution?" my only conclusion is that you are either a cynical poser/liar or way too stupid to be POTUS.

Posted by: muleboy303 | November 9, 2007 08:10 AM

wow. i completely agree with the huckster: "the ultimate thing is this, that I remained un-indicted for all those years is in itself an incredible accomplishment"

Posted by: devilsadvocate | November 9, 2007 08:54 AM

"I'm UN-indicted, and I just can't hide it, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know you want ME, you want ME" - MH

(my apologies to the Pointer Sisters)

Posted by: muleboy303 | November 9, 2007 09:07 AM

Not a lot of news there AT on the "literalist" front. Not much of anybody thinks Revelation 17 is speaking of a literal woman and a literal seven-headed beast with ten literal horns. Shoot, the passage even describes its own metaphor. The news might be that Huck really believes in inerrancy and infallibility.

Posted by: Theodosius | November 9, 2007 10:27 AM

***Mr. Huckabee has a homespun approach that draws heavily on the story of his climb from humble roots - a generation, he likes to say, from "dirt floors and outdoor bathrooms" to the governor's office, where he served for more than a decade in a largely Democratic state ***

Dirt floors?

I am older than Huckabee and I never heard of anyone living with dirt floors, not even from my mother. I was born in 1949. This is not a part of the post-war world. It is a silly lie.

Did Huckabee grow up in a cave? Now that I can believe.

Posted by: Polecat | November 9, 2007 10:40 PM

Arkansas Blog

Huckabee bandwagon UPDATE III

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