Catholic Online Says Run Huckabee Run

I thought this was a good article from Catholic Online as to Huckabee. I will post in full.

EDITORIAL: Huckabee – Stay on the Ride or Step Aside?

Huckabee – Stay on the Ride or Step Aside?Mike Huckabee says he will stay in the race. Some ask why he doesn’t just accept defeat. Sometimes it’s not about votes.WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) –

Another Tuesday of primaries has come and gone, with Arizona Senator John McCain winning big on Wisconsin, Washington, and Hawaii. As election results poured in so did the comments. Political pundits and news anchors openly commented on the need for the former Arkansas governor to now step aside as a candidate.

Those who are calling for Mike Huckabee to step back are missing the point of his campaign at this point. It is not about votes but about voice. The race is no longer about overtaking McCain for the nomination, but preserving the voice of Republicans on issues that concern them.

According to many profiles, McCain and Huckabee look very similar on the issues. With many Republicans, however, concern continues to arise that the Senator will not represent their views and will take the party and Presidency farther away from the core values that they hold as important in dealing with issues of the economy, immigration, health care, and even some family values.

Though both candidates have proven themselves as strongly pro-life,Huckabee is stronger, supporting protection ofr human embryonic life from deadly experimentation. Catholic and other values-oriented voters are now able to probe other issues more aggressively. They are taking time to look for indicators on where McCain will take the party.

They are also trying to get a handle on the candidate’s true character. In recent primaries, as well as those yet to be held, a vote for Huckabee is not necessarily a vote for the candidate, but a vote for his values. It is a clarion call to the Republican Party; a warning shot across the bow. These voters still have a choice in November. Is McCain their candidate?

Many are still not convinced, saying that there have been lapses in his conservatism. Others point to his liberal connections with men like Joe Lieberman and wonder about a possible veneer of values that may be hiding something else. Doug Kmiec, in an article reprinted on Catholic Online from “Slate Magazine,” indicated "...a good number of the Catholics I know are not certain to light candles at the Republican political altar.”

Again, in this election cycle, the Catholic vote is going to weigh-in heavily to determine the outcome and being pro-life may not be enough to assure the Arizona Senator that he has their backing. Catholics historically have seen the Democrats as the party of choice for many reasons.

As those reasons were abandoned, the GOP gained a large number or reluctant Republicans, who stood for life but never wanted to abandon the causes of the poor and working class Americans. In recent political history, the Catholic vote has consistently ended up on the side of the candidate winning the popular vote, whether Republican or Democrat. For some, the distance back across the aisle in November may be a short walk.

Over the past few months Catholic Online has tried on numerous occasions to get John McCain to respond to our questionnaire on issues close to the hearts of Catholic voters. So far, we have not been able to get a response. On the same questionnaire Governors Huckabee and Romney responded very quickly, providing answers and insights to the topics placed before them.

This information was significantly helpful to many voters and we are hoping to still hear from the McCain committee that a greater understanding of his candidacy, from a Catholic perspective, will be forthcoming. I believe the Catholic vote holds the golden ticket for November. We are going to be wooed in the months to come, as both sides begin to look at the swing vote – of which Catholics hold a strong place.

We are going to hear a lot of targeted rhetoric. In the war of words that is forthcoming, particularly after the conventions, it will be easy to get lost in the spin. We need to know where the parties and personalities stand on the essentials of leadership. We need to have confidence that the one for whom we vote will work for the common good and not cave in to personal preference.

We also need to know that those values we hold as Catholics for life, family, freedom, and solidarity with the poor will become more than just promises of a politician but participation in a change of direction. Obviously, there are those in the Republican Party who are not convinced on where the front-runner will ultimately stand in some of those issues, as well as others.

Until the magic number of 1191 delegates is reached, I say “Keep going, Mike!” Keep underscoring the subtle differences in position, the core essentials that you see as necessary for change, and your platform concerns before the people. Let your party know that there are serious concerns still to be addressed in unifying a constituency for a serious campaign in November. Let the people speak; let them speak through you.

Good article. Also let me say I live in a media TV market that also broadcast to Texas. the dem ads are starting big time. If Huckabee has money to promote a Republican Conservative message let him do it!!! He can't give the money to McCain and right now our voice needs to be heard among the media blitz.