“My Favorite Nut Job”
At the Hard Rock Hotel this weekend they had a complimentary copy of Rolling Stone in the room. I don’t regularly read Rolling Stone, but when I get a chance I usually leaf through it at least. Anyway, there was an article that I came across called “My Favorite Nut Job,” by Matt Taibbi, a political writer for the magazine.
The article was about Mike Huckabee, presidential candidate, who professes to be devout Christian. There were several things that captured my attention in Taibbi’s article:
(1) His undisguised contempt for Christians. In super-PC America, it seemed a little strange to hear a columnist refer to Christians as “nut-jobs” and “kooks.” (Okay, I guess I should have expected that from Rolling Stone.)
(2) I loved that even though the disdain for Christianity was huge, there is an attractiveness about Huckabee himself. I’d like to think that even if people think I’m a “kook” or “nutjob” for what I believe, they still respect me as an individual.
(3) At the same time, there are some pretty serious accusations against Huckabee, that while he was in the Arkansas governor’s mansion he acted in some ethically suspect ways. Is there any politician who is above reproach?
I am a Ron Paul fan. I can’t express in a short comment on a blog how important I believe his message of freedom is. I will go further and confess that he is a role model for me. He is a ten term Congressman who has a record that is unparalleled. He has lived his live by core libertarian principles and votes on those same principles every single time. He understands that the role of the government is to provide freedom and liberty here at home, not to force principles in other countries through force. That the purpose of the constitution is to restrain government and protect the secrecy of individuals not the secrecy of government. My words are inadequate. I ask that anyone interested, please go to You Tube and search for Ron Paul and listen to him speak. Even if you disagree with him on a few topics, it is an enlightening experience. He might not be a former Baptist preacher, but he lives his life by Christ principles and uses his actions to spread the message, not words which oftentimes are hollow when used by politicians.
Jason
December 12, 2007 at 9:32 am
Oh yeah…I want to be clear…this wasn’t an endorsement for Mike Huckabee…I’m afraid that the Christian community will hear “Christian” and throw all their votes at him…not sure at all who I’m voting for… I don’t know much about Ron Paul…but I’m definately intrigued!
Plus, if Jason, my libertarian mentor says “Ron Paul,” I’m listening!
charliedean
December 12, 2007 at 9:48 am
This election is pretty interesting to me, especially since we don’t have a TV and I’m not really a newspaper reader. I’m getting the majority of my information about candidates online which means that I see more about Ron Paul than anyone else. I haven’t made up my mind yet either but Ron Paul is certainly near the top of my list.
I think this may be the first time a candidate who has been deemed “unlikely” by the mainstream media really has a shot at winning. It cracks me up to see news clips where they refer to Ron Paul as “an internet sensation.” It’s like they think the people talking about him online aren’t real and it must just be some silly kids using that new internet thing.
Dave
December 12, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Sadly I’m not suprised by the reaction to Christians in Rolling Stone – I think that may be a lot more common than us in the Christian community want to think. Christy and I went to hear the author of the “Year of Living Biblically” and I was intrigued by his needing to explain how he really tried to approach people of different faiths and especially evangelicals as objectively as possible. He did this while at the same time referencing the struggles “we all have” with evangelicals. It was interesting to see how he was refeshed by his encounters with some believers and yet often his issues with believers seemed to be reinforced by the people he met.
By the way if you haven’t seen it yet there is a great Mike Huckabee commercial with Chuck Norris – go to you tube and just look up their two names – its a real ad that has been run in Iowa
Danny
December 12, 2007 at 5:30 pm
“When Chuck Norris does a push-up, he doesn’t push himself up, he pushes the world down.”
– Mike Huckabee
charliedean
December 12, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I have been reading on Mike Huckabee and here are a few points that have me believing that he is not the real deal – or at least not going to be able to retain his Christian values in a political setting.
“At an early debate, he indicated he does not believe in evolution, but at a more recent debate, when he was asked by Wolf Blitzer if the creation of the Earth occurred six thousand years ago and only took six days, as stated in the Old Testament, Huckabee said, “I don’t know. I wasn’t there.”
Makes me want to send Mike a copy of Rob Bell’s “Everything is Spiritual” DVD. If you cannot stand up for Creation and the amazing thing that it is with a pad answer like – “I don’t know. I wasn’t there.” – You are just plain weak in your faith.
“During a question-and-answer session with students at fundamentalist Liberty University last month, he asserted that his rise in the polls has an explanation that is “beyond human” and is due to the power of his supporters’ prayers. Afterward, he backtracked slightly, adding, “I’m saying that when people pray, things happen…. I’m not saying that God wants me to be elected.”
Why couldn’t he just say that he was feeling led by the Holy Spirit to this calling instead of playing round about games. Being a Christ follower is being fearless with The Word. Jesus spoke The Word knowing that it would lead to the Cross………Sometimes we have to speak The Word even though we know it may lead to our own Crosses.
Huckabee refused to sign legislation to assist storm victims because the measure referred to tornadoes and floods as “acts of God.” Putting his name on such legislation, Huckabee explained, “would be violating my own conscience” due to the bill equating “a destructive and deadly force” as “an act of God.”
Hmmmm….Did not Jesus heal the sick and weak? Did not Jesus serve the poor and homeless? Did not Jesus say “The least of these” ? Jesus didnt look at the man with the shriveled hand and say “Nope – Sorry…Thats and act of God”
At the core of the Word is serving the poor. How can the people who have more than enough provide for those with not enough. I would have rather that article end with Huckabee opening up the governor’s mansion to house the victims. Hvaing his staff feed and hand out clothing to those in need. But Naaah…..He is a politician at heart, and thats the problem – His heart is in the wrong place.
jschifo
December 13, 2007 at 8:43 am