ROBERT D. NOVAK -- that noted Dick Cheney protector and conservative
crimes cover-upper -- says that Mike Huckabee, far from actually
supporting John McCain this election season, is in fact hiding his
still much alive presidential aspirations -- for NOW anyway:
"Critics of Huckabee's 10 years as governor of Arkansas say he is
still all too capable of playing a double game."
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"McCain's Christian Problem"
By Robert D. Novak
Monday, May 12, 2008; A19
John McCain, who as the Republican candidate for president has spent
the past two months trying to consolidate right-wing support, has a
problem of disputed dimensions with a vital component of the
conservative coalition: evangelicals. The biggest question is whether
Mike Huckabee is part of the problem or the solution for McCain.
Some U.S. Christians are not reconciled to McCain's candidacy but
instead regard the prospective presidency of Barack Obama in the
nature of a biblical plague visited upon a sinful people. These
militants look at former Baptist preacher Huckabee as "God's
candidate" for president in 2012. Whether they can be written off as
merely a troublesome fringe group depends on Huckabee's course.
Huckabee's announced support of McCain is unequivocal, and he is
regarded in the McCain camp as a friend and ally. But credible
activists are spreading the word that Huckabee secretly allies himself
with the bitter-end opposition. That hardly seems possible considering
his public backing, but critics of Huckabee's 10 years as governor of
Arkansas say he is all too capable of playing a double game.
McCain and Huckabee were friendly rivals in this year's Republican
competition, sharing contempt for Mitt Romney. Indeed, McCain would
not be where he is today had Huckabee not mobilized born-again voters
to upset Romney in the Iowa caucuses. All of Romney's efforts to
overtake McCain in conservative Southern state primaries were stifled
by Huckabee's success in those contests. Huckabee quickly endorsed
McCain once he clinched the nomination. They bonded publicly in Little
Rock on April 24 during McCain's tour.
Nevertheless, the word is that some evangelicals dispute Huckabee's
support. One experienced, credible activist in Christian politics who
would not let his name be used told me that Huckabee, in personal
conversation with him, had embraced the concept that an Obama
presidency might be what the American people deserve. That fits what
has largely been a fringe position among evangelicals: that the pain
of an Obama presidency is in keeping with the Bible's prophecy.
According to this activist, at the heart of the let-Obama-win movement
is longtime Virginia conservative leader Michael Farris -- the
nation's leading home-school advocate, who is now chancellor of
Patrick Henry College (in Purcellville, Va.) for home-schooled
students. Best known politically as the losing Republican candidate
for lieutenant governor of Virginia in 1993, Farris is regarded as one
of the hardest-edged Christian politicians. He is reported in
evangelical circles to promote the biblical justification for an Obama
plague-like presidency.
In conversations with me, Huckabee and Farris both denied saying that
an Obama presidency should be inflicted on the country. Huckabee was
enthusiastic in his support for McCain, noting how well they had
gotten along during their primary competition.
Farris is another matter. A vigorous supporter of Huckabee for
president, he has not endorsed McCain and may never do so (though he
quickly adds that he never would vote for Obama or Hillary Clinton).
"I am concerned about what judges [McCain] may name," Farris told me,
"and the test will be who he selects for vice president." He made it
clear that Huckabee would be his choice, and ruefully added, "I
understand he is not under consideration."
At McCain headquarters, no doubt is expressed about Huckabee's
loyalty. "I feel we haven't used him [Huckabee] enough," McCain
campaign manager Rick Davis told me. McCain's strategists are more
concerned that the libertarian Rep. Ron Paul has not abandoned his
candidacy, keeps fighting for delegates and says he will not endorse
McCain.
Even taking Huckabee's professions of support for McCain at face
value, he is not leaving politics for the lecture circuit. He has
formed the Huck PAC to back Republican candidates, his supporters have
established a Web site (Huck4America.com), and Huckabee backers are
behind the Government Is Not God PAC, which aims to discourage McCain
from naming Romney as his vice president.
Mike Huckabee has emerged from obscurity to become a major factor in
American politics leading evangelical Christians. The McCain campaign
counts on him to energize supporters who would rather wait for
Huckabee 2012, not to encourage those dreams.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/11/AR2008051101786.html
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