Loading ...Welcome to Election 2012
flockwoodIt’s a beautiful fall day in the nation’s capital, and I’ve spent the morning at the Values Voters Summit, a gathering of leading Christian Right political activists.
They’re holding the first big “straw poll” of the 2012 presidential election today and tomorrow and I wanted to hear Arkansas’ native son speak.
Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was described by the emcee as a “statesman and big-time TV celebrity” got a rousing welcome and gave a speech full of biblical allusions: Joshua, David, Goliath, Saul, Elijah and the prophets of Baal were all mentioned.
Huckabee didn’t mention his arch-nemesis: Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who will speak here tomorrow morning. But he did mention that under the Massachusetts health care plan (which was championed by Romney), abortions are covered after a $50 co-pay. Huckabee also suggested that health care in Massachusetts is a mess, with costs rising like crazy and with most systems dissatisfied with the public system.
Huckabee spoke immediately after U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, another possible presidential candidate who quoted from the Psalms: If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do?
Pence drew applause by denouncing gay marriage, abortion and Obama and after mentioning the year he became a born-again Christian.
Other contenders scheduled to speak include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
The straw poll results will be announced Saturday and I’ll let you know the outcome.
September 19th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Social conservatives talk a lot about freedom too, but that always seems contradictory. They want the freedom to restrict the rights of others who do not follow their beliefs. They want the freedom to use government institutions and funds to promote their religion above others. If you hear these folks talk much about freedom I would like to see how they try to reconcile it with their mission to impose the conservative Christian morality on everyone.
September 19th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Yes, Jose, but as long as we’ve got that Second Amendment to protect us, that’s all the constitution we need! Lock and load!
September 19th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
New motto, Caleb. “Who Would Jesus Shoot?”
In case anyone else was curious, here are the results from the Value Voters straw poll in 2007:
http://www.usastrawpolls.com/2008/straw-polls/Values-Voters-Straw-Poll-District-of-Columbia-2007-1020.html
Future GOP nominee John McCain came in ninth place (tenth, if you count “Other”). That was dead last among the Republican contenders. McCain finished just one position ahead of Barack Obama. That is funny.
These early polls are sometimes entertaining and interesting, but are nearly worthless in terms of predicting winners of the nominations and the general elections.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:43 am
It constantly amazes me that “values voters” consistently love Fred Thompson, a womanizer and a drunk who has never done anything “values oriented” in his life other than plan a prosecutor on TV. That tells you that these folks aren’t exactly thinking logically.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:43 am
That would be “play a prosecutor,” not plan one . . .
September 20th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Thompson was a good example of a candidate who was popular for his platform instead of his abilities. The problem of course is that the voters do not elect platforms; we elect people. Thompson not only failed to live up to the values that he espoused, but he also failed to show any proof that he was capable of handling the responsibilities of the Presidency. Palin is similar in that regard. Former President George W. Bush too.
It really doesn’t matter where the person stands on the issues if they can’t– or won’t– make anything happen.