The former frontrunners in the Republican race for president are attacking Huckabee, accusing him of being fiscally liberal. Joe Carter at the Evangelical Outpost points out:
In my new role as the Director of Research for the Huckabee campaign, I have to respond, ad infinitum to claims that Governor Huckabee is a “fiscal liberal” and an invenerate tax hiker.
If you asked 90 percent of the people who make such a claim how much he actually increased the taxes, they’d have no clue. So let me enlighten them.
Huckabee was Governor of Arkansas from July 1996 to January 2007. During that 10 1/2 year period, taxes that affected all citizens increased by the following amounts:
- Increase in the income tax rates: 0 percent
- Increase in the sales tax: 1 cent
- Increase in the gas tax: 3 cents a gallon
- Increase in diesel fuel tax: 4 cents a gallon
Next time you encounter a “fiscal conservative” claiming that “Huckabee is bad on taxes” ask them if they know these numbers. They won’t. They never do.
Note: I knew that the truth would eventually get out (since I push it on people ever day). But I thought that it would come from an honest conservative journalist/pundit/blogger. Instead, it came from The New York Times.
While I agree with Iggy on many of his stances regarding Ron Paul. I do have to say that I don’t think that Colin was necessarily saying those things himself, he was simply pointing out that it is a rap that “others” might give Ron Paul, right or wrong. Ron Paul have a very huge and dedicated following, it will be interesting to see what happens. I wonder deep down if he realizes that the Rep party will do everything in their power to not nominate him and then when they do have their guy he will go independent. The money is coming in like droves. He know politics he has to realize the control of the elite in the Rep party, they want a guy in the mold of Bush, Guliani, etc. Someone that will continue to make the rich, richer, continue to pass laws that consolidate power to the top 1% in this country, continue the unnecessary warmongering in the middle east, furthering the path to the North American Union, National ID cards to track everyone(See Real ID Act) etc, etc, etc. I tell ya, I don’t like what the dems stand from on the abortion issue, immegration and marriage, but it certainly seems like they are in lockstep with the common man on many other issues that effect this country. If Ron Paul doesn’t go independent I have actually contemplated voting Dem. Esp if Guliani is the guy on the Rep. side.
Colin,
I know you were addressing Pixelmaster but I have had conversions with him about Ron Paul. The conspiracy theorists thing is garbage. All the stuff he talks about is factual. He talk about a North American Union, it is happening, there is legistation against it, if it didn’t exist that would be no need for legislation. What do you think George Bush 1 and 2 were talking about when they mentioned the New World Order? What do you think Gary Hart was talking about when he said that 9/11 could turn into an opportunity for Bush 2 to implement what his father(Bush 1) talked about “a New World Order”? I get sick an tired of hearing that about Ron Paul, He addresses stuff that the sleeping Americans need to hear because the media will not address it. Another thing that bugs me is that he is associated with 911 truthers, Ron Paul has said nothing about 911 being an inside job yet people think that he has. You cannot judge a candidate by his supporters. I myself think that there needs to be another investigation simply by the fact that there was a tremendous amount of shady things(and huge amounts of missing testimony) that took place during the 911 commission. Anyway, that was my soapbox, thanks for listening.
Pixelmaster,
I don’t think that the reason most Christians don’t support Ron Paul has anything to do with a theocracy. The vast majority of evangelicals do not want theocracy and do not vote on those standards. I think most evangelicals reject Ron Paul because he is an anti-federalist. In other words he will not use the federal government to enforce abortion or marriage laws, but will actively keep the federal government from forcing abortion or gay marriage to be legal and allowing the states to regulate those issues. He has also gotten a back rap for being a “conspiracy theorist” for standing against the “New World Order”. I personally think Huckabee will has a better chance, but Ron Paul is courageous for doing what he does.
Anthony,
The freedom message that Ron Paul promotes is a tough one for people to discard. There are those who love war (most have never served) who think Paul’s ideas are crazy. Our track record in the middle east speaks for itself, the more we engage in their business the worst things are going to get. On the home front he is for sound money and against government secrecy, spying and imposing on the will of our lives. I have researched this since I started supporting Ron Paul and the reason why many on the Christian Right will not support him even though he is a principled candidate is because they feel that a theocracy is best for the United States. Some might not look at it that way but when you feel that the Bible is the source that all should live by; and you feel that the government should use the Bible as its standard for moral authority then you feel a theocracy is best. I feel that the Bible is a great moral guide for my life. However, I don’t think that all people need to abide by my standards. The further problem with a theocracy is interpretation, there are still people who take the laws in the old testament literally, stoning aduterers, killing gays, etc, not very humane. Let me freely worship whom I choose, and stay out of my life. This is Ron Paul’s message.
Pat Robertson is one of the worst endorsers of a theocracy because his dominionism theology feels that Christians must take over all forms of government and leadership to setup this world for Christ’s return. The concept is loony and unbiblical. Many who follow Robertson are not aware that this is his stance but his book New World Order indicates that this is his position.
I’ve been a Ron Paul supporter for a while now, very much to the dismay of many who look at me cross eyed when I tell them. When I ask if they’ve even investigated Paul for themselves, it always “yes”, and then I ask what specifically they think is out of line and have yet to receive a decent answer.
Pragmatism, Keyes and Bauer don’t stand a chance because they are so religiously radical. The reason why people like Paul (and others) have latched on to Huck is 1. they like his stances on Abortion and Gay rights, 2. there is a possibilty that he could win, in their eyes.
The issue for me is that Christians should be voting for candidates that support the consitution (See Ron Paul) which involves freedom for all no matter the religious background. We are NOT a “christian nation” as in a theocracy, even christians shouldn’t want that. We should be free to serve God in our own manner, even if some feel that God id Buddha or Allah.
You are right about Huck’s stance on immigration, he is flawed on Taxes as well which, as I have pointed out is the reason why Dems LOVE him. Cons should think twice about Huckabee, Abortion and Gay rights are not the only issues that face this nation….
The issue I have with Huckabee is that he is weak on immigration, which I think is of paramount importance in this election cycle.
A serious question to Paul and others: How do we balance and choose between candidates like Huckabee and the rest of the field when there may be others who we agree with in faith and principle, but do not share our views on some of the most important issues facing our country (i.e. immigration).
If the answer is to simply vote with our brothers and sisters in Christ, then why haven’t Alan Keyes or Gary Bauer enjoyed any support in past elections?