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Feb

9

Huckabee: “I didn’t major in math. I majored in miracles…”


Okay – that quote is in this brief post from The Caucus. It’s a really confidence-boosting statement (sarcasm) from a person who wants to govern a nation of 300 million people, with a reputation that is in the gutter, and with at least 37 million people living in poverty and 47 million without health care, isn’t it?

Just how often will GOP presidential nominee wannabe Mike Huckabee rely on the course of action called Making Miracles once he’s elected?

What does the curriculum for a major in miracles look like anyway?

You know what – don’t tell me.

When it comes to who I want to be the president and how I’d want them to govern, miracles as a general proposition for how to get things done just doesn’t cut it.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:25 am February 9th, 2008 in Campaigning, Elections, Flip, Government, Mike Huckabee, Politics, Primary, Quotes, WH2008 

Comments

13 Responses to “Huckabee: “I didn’t major in math. I majored in miracles…””

  1. 1 Paul Lambert on February 9th, 2008 10:09 pm

    I know you probably wouldn’t want the Dalai Lama to be President either (nor would I), but I doubt that you discount his spirituality in the same way you do Huckabee’s. The Huck has never said that he would attack a national problem simply by going into his office and praying. But he wouldn’t be afraid to include a little prayer in the mix either.

    Funny how spirituality is cool as long as it’s anything but Christianity…

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on February 9th, 2008 11:02 pm

    Paul – that’s not fair re: spirituality is cool so long as it’s anything but Christianity. At least – I don’t think it’s fair to level that at me. I like my religion but I would never seek to have anyone else like it for themselves the way I do for myself.

    I think you were being overly cheeky there.

  3. 3 Paul Lambert on February 9th, 2008 11:33 pm

    Well, it sure feels that way on most days – like I have to choose between being intellectual and being Christian.

    The way you blew off Huckabee in this post is insulting to his faith and mine. He may have (does have) flaws, but being Christian isn’t one of them.

  4. 4 Jill Miller Zimon on February 9th, 2008 11:39 pm

    Paul – I’ve expressed what it sounds like to me. His reliance on his faith is overwhelming to me as someone who expects elected officials to be secular.

    How do you suggest I express that sentiment?

  5. 5 Ben Harrison on February 10th, 2008 1:09 pm

    Paul – I wouldn’t say the choice is between being Christian and intelectual – I’d say rational.

    You say Huckabee “wouldn’t be afraid to include a little prayer in the mix either” and you phrase that like it’s a virtue in a modern world leader. What if Huckabee wanted to perform rain dances to end droughts? Or make sacrifices to Poseidon to prevent hurricanes and tsunamis? The only reason you defend his religious irrationality is because it’s similar to yours.

    I don’t know why critical thinking skills don’t seem to be a prerequisite for being president. You’d think that would come in handy.

  6. 6 Paul Lambert on February 10th, 2008 10:58 pm

    So I have to choose between being Christian and rational??? Your comments are astonishingly condescending and insulting. I see no further purpose for this dialog.

  7. 7 Jill Miller Zimon on February 11th, 2008 9:20 am

    Paul, no one has “to choose between being Christian and rational” to acknowledge that Mike Huckabee’s statements strike some people as lacking or expressing the critical thinking skills, in part because he is relying on religion as the answer to problems. I’m not I understand why you think it’s one of the other.

    The issue is that he routinely stumps in that style and, speaking only for myself, and I know you know this from other things I’ve written, I am completely uninterested in hearing about people’s faith on the political campaign trail. I am not someone who wouldn’t vote for an atheist because I think such people have no moral code.

    Religion is very, very personal and I do not like it uttered as much as it is, if at all, in the political realm. Huckabee’ constant infusion of religion really turns me off.

    Why do you think anyone is saying that it is an either/or proposition for you?

  8. 8 glen on February 11th, 2008 2:20 pm

    I’ve heard this argument before from friends of mine that are not Christian. “I don’t want to hear about religion on the campaign trail!” Ok great to hear, but there are millions of Americans to whom a candidate’s spirituality IS important. There are millions of Americans who share his views on alot of issues because, they too, have a Christian belief system/background. Catering to them in stump speeches as they are his strongest and most crucial base is about the most logical and intelligent thing he could do. Just because there are people who want things more secular in a public forum does not mean he cannot relate to as many voters as he possibly can through the use of his religious beliefs. It’s like bashing Hillary for harping about being a woman and how tough it is when she’s speaking at some pro-woman organization, or bashing Obama for talking about being black while speaking in Harlem. If you can take a look at Huckabee’s webpage, read his posted stands on issues, find real issues to disagree with him and come back here to complain about THOSE, then you’d have a point. Just don’t write a guy off or count him out because first and foremost he counts himself a Christian and is not afraid to say it.

    I wonder if anyone would have a problem with an Atheist candidate who talked about NOT believing in God…

  9. 9 Jill Miller Zimon on February 11th, 2008 2:57 pm

    Glen – you wrote, “Just because there are people who want things more secular in a public forum does not mean he cannot relate to as many voters as he possibly can through the use of his religious beliefs.”

    He certainly can choose, as can any candidate, whatever mechanism they believe will work best for them. Unfortunately, it makes their campaign seem just that: mechanical and calculated – and yes, I would apply that to all the candidates – every single one of them.

    The risk is that he loses or fails to gain the support of other voters and Americans. And all candidates are also welcome to take that risk.

    Frankly, if a candidate really isn’t interested in meeting my needs or really doesn’t share my philosophies, it’s just as well that I know that.

    And I would say that Senator Governor Huckabee and I don’t share too much.

  10. 10 tallasiandude on February 11th, 2008 5:33 pm

    As far as “performing rain dances to end droughts,” perhaps you saw this headline a few months ago:

    “Ga. governor turns to prayer to ease drought”

    It seems there are parts of this country that (sadly) are just fine with that sort of public policy.

    btw, for the record, it’s Governor Huckabee.

  11. 11 Jill Miller Zimon on February 11th, 2008 5:59 pm

    Ooo – thank you Tall Asian Dude re: Senator v. Governor – definitely typo. I’m correcting it but noting that yes, I did make that error – thanks again for noting it. And thanks for reading and leaving a comment – I love your about page on your blog.

  12. 12 Eric on February 11th, 2008 11:04 pm

    This SHOULD end any chance Mike would have (as if he has any) of being President:

    “I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that’s what we need to do — to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.”

    Christians even, should bristle at such comments. The guy is delusional and catering to a very narrow demographic. If you want to modify The Constitution to model more closely your religious writings (whatever they be) you should be immediately stripped of your citizenship. Can we put that one up for consideration? Can I get a co-sponsor?

  13. 13 Jill Miller Zimon on February 12th, 2008 8:34 am

    Agreed, Eric – completely agree.

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