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Whether secular Democrats like it or not, Evangelicals have much to say about politicians and their politics. Many prefer that the political talk stay outside of the sanctuaries of our churches. However, populist Pastor Mike Huckabee chose last Saturday to pitch his brand of politics to one of the largest Baptist churches in Lynchburg, South Carolina.

On Sunday evening, while preaching at the Apostolic Church in Michigan, Huckabee more than touched on politics. The preacher man will talk to you deaf, dumb and blind on any given day of the week. Did he hear a political clarion call from On High? It is safe to say that Huckabee wears his faith on his sleeve, while believing he should be president?

 If Huckabee just so happens to be your candidate, you might like to investigate where he stands before you give him your endorsement. The fact that he feels comfortable invoking the name of God should not give him a fast track to the White House either as President or Vice president. Under scrutiny, the man is no saint. So it is written: "That we all have fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Michael Huckabee thinks so highly of himself, that no one ought be surprised when he sets up another gifts registry as he did when he was governor of Arkansas. He and the Mrs. will be more than happy to receive your gifts. It's kind of their Clintonish tradition.

While governor of Arkansas, Huckabee used his office to exchange paid state positions for gifts. It leaves one to question why all of his past documents were destroyed. As it turns out, Huckabee had ethics troubles. An Associated Press article written 2006 provided the details about Arkansas' Ethics Commission admonishing him for five violations. There were other unproven accusations including taking money from an organization whose donors remain unnamed.

Excerpts from the Associated Press: Huckabee Eschews Politics For Preaching

"SPARTANBURG, S.C. January 14, 2008 — Republican Mike Huckabee spoke from the pulpit Sunday, not as a politician but as the preacher he used to be, delivering a sermon on how merely being good isn't enough to get into heaven.

"Huckabee is vying for support from the Christian conservatives who dominate the GOP in South Carolina, which chooses a Republican presidential nominee on Saturday. A former Baptist minister and Arkansas governor, Huckabee is competing for their votes with fellow southerner Fred Thompson.

"As in Iowa, where he won the Jan. 3 caucuses, Huckabee is rousing pastors to marshal their flocks for him. He pitches himself as someone who not only shares their views against abortion and gay marriage but who actually comes from their ranks.

"On Sunday in South Carolina, Huckabee avoided politics entirely, instead preaching about humility and trusting in Jesus to open the gates of heaven.

"'The criteria to get into heaven is you have to be not good, but perfect. That's the real challenge in it,' he said at First Baptist North Spartanburg, a megachurch with 2,500 members.

" 'On that day, when I pull up, I'll be asked, 'Do you have what it takes to get in?' Huckabee said. 'And if I ask, 'Well, what does it take to get in?' 'Gotta be perfect.'

" 'Well, I'm afraid I don't have that, but you know what, I won't be there alone that day. Somebody is going to be with me. His name is Jesus, and he's promised that he would never leave me or forsake me,' he said.

"Asked by reporters later if he thinks only Christians will go to heaven, Huckabee refused to say. He often says that as a minister, he joked that he doesn't even believe all Baptists are going to heaven.

" 'I'm going to stick to the things that make it critical for me to be president of the United States,' Huckabee said Sunday.' II have deep convictions about who goes and who doesn't, but as far as who makes that decision, it isn't me, it's God. I'm going to leave that up to him.'

"He argued that the Constitution forbids a political candidate from being subjected to a religious litmus test. And he claimed to be the only candidate who gets asked about specific tenets of his faith.

"However, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has also been asked about his Mormon faith. In fact, Romney got questions about his faith after Huckabee, in The New York Times, asked whether Mormons believe Jesus and the devil were brothers. Huckabee quickly apologized to Romney and said the quotes were taken out of context.

"In South Carolina, Huckabee didn't ask for votes or discuss the campaign, but senior pastor Michael S. Hamlet encouraged the congregation to vote according to how they try to live their lives, by the principles of Bible scripture.

"'I'm going to tell you something, when you go vote, you ought to follow those principles,' Hamlet said.

"But Huckabee did wade into politics Sunday evening in Michigan, telling members of the Apostolic Church of Auburn Hills about his opposition to abortion and gay marriage, and expressing his concern about job losses in the state. He played bass guitar in the praise band and, before he spoke, the organist played a few notes of "Hail to the Chief." Huckabee's shoestring campaign has relied on pastors to encourage their flocks to vote." Full Article

There are those who are willingly giving this presidential candidate their blind allegiance because he is a Christian who holds up the big letter E (for "Evangelical"). Political pundits compare Huckabee with another southern Baptist liberal minister, Jimmy Carter — the worst president America ever had to endure. Somehow this particular pastor wandered into the GOP camp. When it came to foreign policy, President Carter was spineless and totally incompetent. Is Huckabee cut from the same cloth?

Jimmy Carter gave America double-digit inflation and interest rates — and near double-digit unemployment rates. Carter was viewed as being responsible for the worst economy since the Great Depression. During his presidency we suffered an inflation-adjusted gas price of $4.50 a gallon. How could that have happened? It wasn't Carter who was in the oil business.

Are Evangelicals ready to sacrifice conservatism because Huckabee is correct on certain social issues but dead wrong, or even derelict, on other issues such as defense? He lacks the wisdom needed to fight the War on Terror. If you want liberal foreign policy, he's your man.

Unfortunately, there seem to be too many Evangelical voters who are swayed by pastors — who need to stay out of the business of tickling the ears of their congregation. Ministers are there to feed their lambs, not tell people how they should cast their votes. Some Evangelical churches are becoming more like the religious left who attend churches where they are besieged with sermons intermingled with politics.

God's Word should be apex, and not merely used as sprinkled-in filler. Church services should carry the tone of reverence, not that of worldly chatter-politico. "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5:12-13 KJV) As it is in matters of faith, so it is with politics. It is time to stop drinking milk and ask "where's the beef?"

Like a Democrat, Huckabee wants to raise your taxes. Also, he will give us Babylon for foreign policy. As he rides the media wave, he feels right at home appearing on every evening venue. Progressives, such as comedian host David Letterman, view him as a laugh and a half, and probably think he is a slick flim-flam orator.

If you want a Democrat, vote for one. Why bother with an imitation? The Democrat Party embraces all the social moral issues that Evangelicals refute.

Huckabee is not a true conservative; he stands for big government along with all the trappings of a nanny state. The smiling preacher is nothing more than a tax-and-big-spender. While governor, he was responsible for the parole of a rapist-murderer who should been kept in prison. It is astounding that Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, endorsed Huckabee to manage and correct the problems of our southern border, a man who is in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens.

Listen to Hillary Clinton who has just now "found her voice." At least progressives are honest when it comes to telling us what they want for America. Liberals will only be content when they live in the world envisioned by socialist billionaire George Soros. They are hell-bent on changing the United States into another Sweden.

By giving presidential candidate Huckabee your vote, you'll be joining those who find it convenient to blame America first. His words sound just like any other liberal suffering from Bush derangement syndrome. He did not blink an eye as he bashed President Bush. His remarks were out of line, insulting as well as disrespectful.

"The Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad. American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out. In particular, it should focus on eliminating Islamist terrorists, stabilizing Iraq, containing Iran, and toughening its stance with Pakistan." — Michael D. Huckabee

Many conservatives were quite struck by the words of conservative candidate Fred Thompson, who, finally, with fire in the belly, said that Huckabee is a Christian leader with socialistic baggage, and not a conservative.

The Reagan Revolution train has left the station with Mike Huckabee standing in the dust with more than a smudge of liberalism on his nose. Evangelicals need to back a viable candidate who is capable of winning the bid for the White House.

Want some good advice? Stop voting for those who come in sheep's clothing bearing the name conservative and Christian. Do your homework before giving them your personal endorsement. Mike Huckabee was caught lying about the reason he raised taxes when he was governor. What else does he fib about?

Do not to stay at home come Election Day. Vote for the candidate that the Republican Party chooses. If you were to meet Michael Huckabee, you would find him attractive, engaging and persuasive — but the same might be said about Barack Obama. Please pay attention and you'll not be misguided. Use your own discernment in the voting booth, not that of your church affiliation.

Marie Jon'

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