Jonah Goldberg, editor at large for National Review Online, has been hitting the talk show circuit peddling his new book. This morning on Morning Joe he actually put into words why the Republican establishment HATES Mike Huckabee.
To paraphrase Goldberg, Mike Huckabee is “Compassionate Conservatism” on steroids. According to Goldberg, George Bush used “Compassionate Conservatism” as a marketing slogan, but he didn’t really believe in it. Mike Huckabee on the other hand really believes it, and that makes him dangerous.
UPDATE: I just got the audio from MSNBC and here is Goldberg’s exact quote:
I think [Huckabee] represents Compassionate Conservatism on steroids. He really believes this stuff. At least the defense of Bush’s Compassionate Conservatism was, well, it was just a marketing slogan. I think Huckabee really does believe that the government is there to do whatever he thinks is good, and whatever he thinks is just, and nice, and kind, and all that kind of stuff. And so for me, I think it’s a kind of right wing progressivism and I don’t like it. I think he is an economic liberal.
There you have it: National Review’s Jonah Goldberg applauding hypocrisy in the Republican establishment, revealing the arrogance of those opposed to Huckabee. Bush’s talk of helping the poor was just that: talk. What worries establishment Republicans is that Huckabee might actually help the poor.
Of course the candidate of choice for people like Goldberg – Mitt Romney – can offer the auto industry a $20 BILLION DOLLAR government bailout, yet they still view Romney as an economic conservative. Giving your tax dollars to corporate America is ok, but God forbid we should use tax dollars to help the poor.
The review was neither an endorsement nor condemnation, but rather a stimulus for thought. Also, define a “heretic”, and in light of this definition what should our reaction be as Christians, to a heretic? Again I take neither a pro or con position for this discussion. Do you believe that he is “saved”, a child of God, being “used” of God, or just another charlatan down the pike? BTW the book was an easy read, it took about two hours.
Thanks for the input.
Don,
Unfortunately I have read parts of John Hagee’s book and was further convinced that he is a heretic. Not only are his dispensational views faulty, he also misrepresents his opponents.
Update:
As I said previously I would, I have read the book “In Defense of Israel” by John Hagee. The position the author takes on the matter of the Messiah-ship of Jesus Christ is this; At the first coming he came as a lamb of sacrifice not accepting the position of Messiah, thus the Jews were unable to reject “Messiah” as he was not being offered in that capacity at that time. The author takes the position that at the second coming, IS when Jesus the Messiah will be offered to Israel. He also rejects “replacement theology” ( the belief that the church replaces Israel due to their rejection of Christ as Messiah) and that the covenant of the Old Testament with the Jews is not, nor ever will be void, but that the New Covenant fulfills and reveals the will of God. Now we have something to discuss. Why this update now? Mike Huckabee appeared in the Cornerstone pulpit several weeks ago and all this attention to him triggered my memory of this prior discussion.
Cheers fellas!