The Unintentional Irony of Gov. Huckabee

I stumbled across this story cited in dark_Christian, a livejournal community concerned with keeping an eye on Dominionists, an increasingly influential Christian heresy that believes that the "elect" -that would be them, of course - need to rid the world of all unclean things, and all
Unchristian ideas - like women's suffrage, abortion and "indecent speech" to establish the Kingdom on Earth before Christ can return.

I'm not going to bother explaining WHY this is a heresy, that's not my point. My point is that it's a very seductive ethos for those persons who seek ultimate power over others, for it soothes whatever remaining vestiges of conscience may lurk within their shriveled little souls.

Daily Kos: Gov. Huckabee & Reclaiming America For Christ

The Republican party has a problem. Some of its potential 2008 nominees want religion to replace the state. We saw this earlier with Senator Brownback. And now, let's examine Governor Mike Huckabee, who made a "powerful impression" during the Republican convention down in Memphis. Huckabee has been described as a "moderate" for the 2008 race. Sure, to a crowded room of die-hard Republicans, his rhetoric may not seem extreme. But consider how the following will play to the vast majority of Americans. This weekend, Huckabee spoke at a conference for the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ. The Center's mission is to "To inform, equip, motivate, and support Christians; enabling them to defend and implement the Biblical principles on which our country was founded." The five goals Huckabee aligned himself with are described as the "five key fronts of the modern-day culture war: (1) Religious Liberties, (2) the Sanctity of Life, (3) the Homosexual Agenda, (4) Pornography, and (5) Promoting Creationism." Huckabee made it clear at the group's conference that he shares their goal of dismantling the constitutional wall between church and state:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Faith is not present enough in politics as candidates and elected officials try to court voters too broadly, fearing their values will splinter their base, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister, said Friday at a Christian gathering.

Introduced as a "fine Christian American governor," Huckabee, who is considering a bid for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, said he will always remain true to his beliefs.

"I don't think most Americans are turned off by people of faith. I think they're turned off by people who are phony," Huckabee said to a small group. He added that Christianity is not represented "nearly enough" in Washington.

How can one man be so wrong and yet, so absolutely correct. Many would argue that Washington is absolutely infested with Christians. I say that you could likely turn the capitol into radioactive rubble and not harm a hair on a real Christian's head.

Yes, Governor, we need to send some Christians to Washington. We need to elect some people who's political philosophy is informed by faith, instead of predetermined by false doctrine.

Real Christians know that the words of Christ are what dictates their actions, and not the precise choice of words in a particularly bad translation, but the actual meaning of the words.

We are told to "Love our neighbor as ourselves." Well, some of these self-proclaimed Christian Leaders have as a fundamental point of doctrine the idea that all persons are fundamentally willful and evil, and given any real choice, will always choose evil over good. This of course means that the "elect" must force people to act in ways they see as good, whether or not there's any true virtue motivating their compliance.

The "elect" are those who have somehow escaped the paradigm of always choosing evil, despite being inherently evil due to the circumstances of original sin and having unavoidably touched their mom's booty during the birth process. Oddly, they have either a lot of money, a lot of political power or a lot of sway over gullible people - and this religion encourages to use that power to override the free choices of others "for their own good."

I don't much care for folks who abuse others in the name of Christ - or any other. I don't much care for people who's essential world view demands that they think the worst of their neighbor.

But here's what I think about Gov. Huckabee.

"I don't think most Americans are turned off by people of faith. I think they're turned off by people who are phony."

You know, Governor, I think you are correct. And that is why I will not support you, your candidacy, or anyone who considers a Dominionist to have an opinion on faith or politics that applies to anyone's conduct other than their own worth considering. Because what I don't believe for a second that you are stupid enough to believe the things you spout - and if you are that stupid or deluded as to think gay bashing, enforced ignorance and the talibanization of america are worthy goals for a President of all the people of these united states you don't deserve to be elected.