In his most recent attack on Mike Huckabee, Hugh Hewitt implies that the former Arkansas governor is an anti-Semite and an anti-Catholic bigot:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Posted by: Hugh Hewitt at 8:41 AM
No word yet on whether the former Arkansas governor asked if the Jews killed Jesus or if Catholics pray to Mary as a god
When your campaign is in trouble, it is better to focus on the trouble and fix, not set it ablaze.
If asked about this I hope Governor Romney responds that “It is unfortunate that Governor Huckabee wants to turn a Republican primary into a theological shout down, but I won’t be participating. Questions about Mormon doctrine can be addressed to Church officials. I’m not sure what kind of endorsement he is seeking with that sort of remark, but I am content to get the endorsement of the editors of The National Review.”
My email to Hugh:
Hugh,
With all due respect, your most recent post on Huckabee crosses the line. To accuse him of being an anti-Semite and an anti-Catholic bigot merely because he questions precisely what EVERY orthodox theologian in conservative seminaries in America questions about Mormonism is really grasping. You owe Governor Huckabee an apology and a public retraction on your blog should be forthcoming.
You are one of the finest minds in the Salem family. Your enthusiasm for Romney, however, has clouded your judgment. Endorse Romney, but be fair to the other candidates. My hope is that, upon careful review, you will see just how unfair and unfounded many of your most recent posts on Huckabee have been. You are sounding more like the MSM than you are the objective voice of reason I have been so accustomed to turning to.
I have a real issue with the Christian right myself, the idea that one or two issues determines a candidates worthiness of a vote is ludicrous. There are many great books on this issue written from Christians like Jim Wallis, Brian McClaren and Frank Schaffer, who was on Paul’s show last month (Great interview). These guys are able to step back and see the tragedy of the right’s influence on this country over the last 40 years. The top tier are getting more and more wealthy, the middle class is becoming an after thought, we are polluting more than any other country in the world, we are plundering nations for their energy resources. All because we don’t want to invest in the sciences and we are catering to Oil and Energy companies. When I say we, I mean mainly our republican leaders who have enormous ties to big oil and energy. It is a tragedy and needs to change.
Bill Clinton is loved in the progressive movement and I agree, there are many who think that if they get Hilary then they will get Bill again. Though I like Ron Paul over Huckabee, I am glad to see that he and Romney are leading Rudy. Rudy would be the worst choice of any, if it were him and Hilary I would vote for Hilary. While I am not so hot on the social stances that the Dems take I do like that they want to regulate corporations for their blatant abuse of money, power and the environment. I used to be a far right because I equated God with Christian right. When I began to think about it I am certainly left of center now, I like the slogan the “Christian Right is neither”.
Iggy…
I’m just hoping that Hillary is not the Democratic candidate. She’s like Bush, in that the only reason she’s being taken seriously is because she shares the name of a previous president.
Wow, the right certainly is divided during this coming election, this along with the fact the 70% of the US will not support a candidate that is for War is the reason why the Rep party will lose with one of its “leading” candidates. I hope Ron Paul goes independent and really messes things up for the elite in the Rep and Dem party.
Skeptimal,
I think it is clear that Hugh believes Huckabee was implying about Mormons what Hugh believes to be false, in the same way Hugh believes “Jews as Christ Killers” and “Catholics as Mary Worshippers” is false. The problem is, it is TRUE that Mormons believe Satan to be the brother of Jesus.
Hugh is certainly IMPLYING that Huckabee is a bigot in the same way anti-Semites are bigots. What Huckabee said and what anti-Semites say and do aren’t even in the same ballpark.
Paul,
I didn’t read Hewitt’s statement the way you did. I didn’t see him accusing Huckabee of anti-semitism. He was trying to draw a parallel that would have made more sense if Mormons *didn’t* believe Satan was Jesus’ brother.
And do you really think this was anything but a cheap shot on Huckabee’s part? Does anyone believe that Huckabee didn’t know darned well what Mormons believe about Jesus? Huckabee may have helped himself with the Republicans in Iowa, but he also demonstrated his true colors to those who don’t share his faith.
On the other hand, it’s difficult to feel sorry for Romney, a man whose speech on religious freedom was designed to cozy Mormons up with Evangelicals at the expense of nonChristians. You might even say he got what he deserved on that front.
Politicians need to start learning that religion divides and does not unify. Playing the religion card is going to alienate more people than it brings into the fold.