The Republican National Committee recently conducted an?online straw poll?identifying 32 candidates who could get its nomination in the 2016 presidential race. Each of the 32 has quite a questionable history, though, that contrasts with the GOP’s consistent claim of it being the ?moral? option for voters.
Philander, racism, thievery, bribery, and combinations of these and other?sins?are?found across the slate, in fact.?In this series on the 32 potential candidates (updated every other day), Liberal America will offer a quick rundown on the hypocrisy clouding each one’s ?holier than thou? claims.
Mike Huckabee
Former?Governor of Arkansas and 2008 Presidential Candidate
Mike Huckabee wasn’t just a minister; he was a classic, country-style televangelist, too, broadcasting his sermons on 24-hour TV channels, and was even the president of one station. He was also president of the Arkansas State Baptist Convention from 1989 to 1991. And anyone who is so deeply steeped in faith and religion has to be an honorable guy, right?
Not in Huckabee’s case. As Arkansas governor from 1996 to 2007, Huckabee was investigated 14 times for ethics violations, delayed providing documents to aid those investigations, and was penalized for five of the charges, all of which involved him or his wife accepting questionable gifts (one of $80,000). In other cases, he spent $60,000 of taxpayer money on personal expenses like restaurant bills, boat supplies and dry cleaning. He even claimed that he could take furniture from the governor’s mansion when he left the office. His associates used a moral argument to defend these immoralities, too, claiming gift-giving was a natural and expected part of Huckabee’s cultural class of Southern minister.
Maybe he could use his faith as the basis for the over-1,000 pardons he issued as governor ? more than the twice the number of pardons from his three predecessors combined. But some of those pardoned only wound up back in jail for the same or worse crimes, including one who went on to kill four police officers in Washington State, and a convicted rapist who sexually assaulted another woman, even killed her, after Huckabee arranged his release.
In his 2008 presidential bid, Huckabee started strong, winning the first race in Iowa and claiming six southern states on Super Tuesday. His fundraising fell short of needs, though, and his apparent inexperience left him subject to ample criticism from political organizations and other candidates.
Since then, Huckabee seems to have swayed away from his moral background, and not just due to the negative, tabloid influence acquired during his long run on Fox News, but also because of the even farther-right he’s moved. For example, he’s claimed all Muslims are evil, Obama was raised in Kenya, sexual harassment charges are like mere orders for fried chicken (?), and forcible rape is okay. And, oh yeah, women who use birth control are immoral and ?can’t control their libido? (see video below).
Watch the video below. Visit Liberal America for future updates on?the other?GOP 2016 hopefuls.
What’s your take on these?hypocritical Republicans? State your case on?Liberal America’s Facebook?page.
See previous posts on GOP 2016 hopefuls:
Kelly Ayotte??|?Haley Barbour?|??John Bolton?| ?Jeb Bush?|?Hermain Cain? |?Ben Carson?|??Chris Christie??| ?Ted Cruz??|?Mitch Daniels??| ?Newt Gingrich??| ?Nikki Haley?|
