The 2008 United States Presidential race has become interesting recently especially in the Republican Party. Mike Huckabee a former Arkansas Governor and Baptist preacher has, in the space of a month, gone from being 18 points behind the frontrunner Rudy Giuliani to tie with him in national polls.
Now although politically I find Huckabee’s populist approach to economics troubling because, as Alan Greenspan points out in his latest book, anything other than fiscal responsibility leads to economic difficulties on the back end.
However, the US economy may be strong enough to whether eight years of Populism. What is more worrying, however, is how religious affiliation has become the focus of the Republican campaign and the surge of Mike Huckabee seems to be a symptom of this.
Whilst it is true that Mr. Huckabee is a social conservative and on issues of Christian morality—different from Judaic morality—his record is impeccable, he also has some very liberal views when it comes to fighting crime, immigration, spending and foreign policy. Which leads me to ask why he is getting such strong support from Christian Religious Conservatives in the Republican Party? Some may say that it is his hybrid political positioning which makes him so popular. But if this was the case than John McCain is a more logical front runner. We may conclude therefore that his surge has to do with the fact that his religiosity appeals to the many Republican voters who identify with him religiously and respect the fact that he is both one of them and a former religious leader of their faith.
If I was an Evangelical Christian I may be happy with this but I am Jewish and history tells me to be weary when any religion gains real political power in a country. Now although there is a separation between Church and State in the United States, voters have the power to somewhat circumvent that by voting based of religion rather than on politics. This, it seems, is what is happening in the Republican Party.
We Jews have been tormented too often in history by leaders who have discriminated against us because we were not members of their faith. Because of this we should want a President who does not see race or religious affiliation as a factor when governing. With Mike Huckabee the indications are that he is not such a leader. He seems to wear his faith on his sleeve and his latest add where he states that this season is about the birth of Christ just proves that he sees America as a Christian country and has forgotten that other religions live here as well.
Mr. Huckabee’s main opponent in the early State primaries is a member of another religion. Mitt Romney is a Mormon. Because his religion was different to that of most other Republican voters he felt compelled to make a speech about how religious affiliation will not be a factor in any decision he makes as President of the Unites States of America. He said, “A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith..If I am fortunate to become your President, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.”
I would be greatly reassured if I heard similar words from the mouth of former Babtist Preacher Mike Huckabee. Sadly, judging the balance of power in the Republican Party today, I doubt that I will.