Posted by Damozel |
This is my humble recommendation to the Huckabee campaign for a kick-ass campaign slogan, given that Huckabee himself believes that God has endorsed him Jesus would be way better than Brownback or Tancredo, and would be an old-fashioned sort of pre-Cheney hands-off sort of VP. And of course, Huckabee supporters will be used to Jesus being present only in spirit. Though if that somehow didn't turn out to be true---say Jesus gets tired of playing a background role--- "Jesus is my Co-President" would be way more reassuring than "Brownback/Tancredo is my Co-President." or (God forbid) "Giuliani is my Co-President."
Meanwhile, the Huck campaign is finding out that even when God is working for you, well-meaning friends will throw a spanner in the works. It's so very "small-town church" for this to happen by means of gossip and innuendo, which is all push-polling really is. A group of "apparent Huckabee backers" has allegedly been doing a bit of push-polling in New Hampshire, according to ABC News (via Memeorandum).
"Would you like to participate in a 60-second poll on the New Hampshire primary?" the automated voice asked.
Campbell, a West Lebanon, N.H., co-chair for the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., figured what the heck, it was just 60 seconds.
And naturally, one assumes, he wanted to add his voice to the pro-McCain ones and hear what the pollsters were up to.
The automated machine, which identified itself as being with Common Sense Issues, threw Campbell questions about whether he'd be less likely to support McCain if he knew the Arizona senator opposed a federal amendment to ban same sex marriage, or that he'd hurt the anti-abortion-rights cause by leading the charge for campaign finance reform. (Apparent Huckabee Backers Smear McCain)
I'm really curious about how McCain's endeavors for campaign finance reform----one of the things he's done that I admire---hurt "the anti-abortion-rights" cause, but never mind; I'll get D Cupples to explain this to me later. Before Campbell could even get a pencil to jot down notes, the call ended. (Apparent Huckabee Backers Smear McCain)
In Old Testament fashion, McCain's New Hampshire campaign vice-president chairman (former representative) Chuck Douglas thundered a demand that Huckabee "immediately condemn these tactics and urge his supporters to stop this activity attempting to smear John McCain or any other candidate, and allow this campaign to be waged on the issues and each candidate's merits." (Apparent Huckabee Backers Smear McCain)
But Huck has already done so. (Apparent Huckabee Backers Smear McCain) And his own campaign manager said, "Anyone who has the slightest understanding of the race ahead and the mindset of voters would know this sort of activity is extremely counterproductive. It takes the campaign off message at a time when Gov. Huckabee is resonating with voters as never before. It loses votes rather than gains them. It's an underhanded way of doing business that is not welcomed by the campaign."(Apparent Huckabee Backers Smear McCain)
I doubt that the "small town church" contingent does understand this. Most of them will tell you that gossip always works. Doubtless they are aware of the injunction against bearing false witness against your neighbor, but I remember being told by a small town church lady that gossip, like slander, is only wrong if it isn't true. I'm sure these people have convinced themselves that what they are saying is true.
I also doubt that Huckabee will have any better luck trying to control them than the minister of the aforesaid church had in controlling the members of his congregation who were keen to cast out the sinners.
Interestingly, the group to whom the "gossip polls" have been attributed is called "Trust Huckabee." "Earlier this month Common Sense Issues -- which is affiliated with supporters of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- set up an organization called Trust Huckabee, which began making calls in Iowa praising Huckabee and disparaging Huckabee's opponents."(Apparent Huckabee Backers Smear McCain) "Trust Huckabee," eh? Didn't it used to be "Trust Jesus"? You can see why I think Jesus would be willing to take the second chair.
The estimable blogger who publishes Graphic Truth---a Ron Paul, supporter, alas!---commented as follows on an earlier article:
Or in other words: "It's not our fault we are stupid and gullible... we ARE Christians and are supposed to be trusting followers, just like the sheep Christ compared us with."
My response: "And you think when Jesus called you sheep, it was a complement?" (comment)
Well, it was, of course, assuming that the shepherd is Jesus. And if Huckabee is the Lord's anointed as his supporters seem to think, you're probably safer being a sheep than voting for Huck and Jesus than Ron Paul.
Anyway, the sheep know that all Libertarians who follow the false prophet Ron Paul are going straight to Hell, where they will have to spend eternity trying to construct a more persuasive campaign slogan than "You are too stupid to vote for Ron Paul."
Here endeth the epistle. Let us pray, my fellow Democrats and liberal Christians!
Update, speaking of gossip, check out this Newsweek article on Huckabee's son's alleged involvement with the hanging of a dog at a Boy Scout meeting (at the age of 17). Yeah.
One issue likely to get attention is his handling of a sensitive family matter: allegations that one of his sons was involved in the hanging of a stray dog at a Boy Scout camp in 1998. The incident led to the dismissal of David Huckabee, then 17, from his job as a counselor at Camp Pioneer in Hatfield, Ark. It also prompted the local prosecuting attorney— bombarded with complaints generated by a national animal-rights group—to write a letter to the Arkansas state police seeking help investigating whether David and another teenager had violated state animal-cruelty laws. The state police never granted the request, and no charges were ever filed. But John Bailey, then the director of Arkansas's state police, tells NEWSWEEK that Governor Huckabee's chief of staff and personal lawyer both leaned on him to write a letter officially denying the local prosecutor's request. (Newsweek)
Ruh-roh! If true, this might lose Huckabee his key endorsement, though I'm guessing his evangelical supporters won't turn a hair. See also: Shakespeare's Sister, Riehl World View and TIME: Swampland
check out Memeorandum for more
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