What the Huck? Mike Huckabee's Darker Arkansas Record

Mike Huckabee may be the current flavor of the moment with the far right of the GOP, but behind this "aw shucks" Gomer Pyle small-town persona is little more than just another self-righteous Baptist preacher Bible thumper. There should be immediate concerns about the seperation of church and state and how Huckabee would impact civil liberties of the average American including censorship of entertainment to conform to his rigid right wing religious values.

Huckabee is not always the nice "Mayberry" type guy that many people think. He has been described as both "petty" and thinskinned" by people who know him. And he has not always been the poster boy of highest ethics either. Huckabee accepted a $70,000 gift of high furnishings from a wealthy cotton grower, and threatened a staffer for being critical of it. He destroted computer hard drives after leaving the Governor's office, preventing any future investigations into other gifts or conduct in office. The ARKANSAS TIMES claimed that Huckabee turned the Governor's mansion operating expense budget into his own personal expense accout. Inauguration funds were used to provide clothing for his wife.

Instead of following a real Christlike example, Huckabee has been known as a real moralistic stone-thrower at times. When Huckabee first ran for statewide office against Senator Dale Bumpers 16 years ago, he virtually smeared Bumpers as a "pornographer" for his support for the arts funding. This gives more than a clue into his views on popular culture and the serious threat that this religious right zealot represents to freedom of expression.

In addition, those concerned with fairness for Gay Americans against discrimination or other wrongs will find Huckabee's record alarming as will those who favor continued legalized abortion. Huckabee is firmly on the opposite side of both of these issues. Voters will have to examine their own values to see whether they really agree with these values or not.

Huckabee did present some fairness and compassion in some drug sentencing though, with a view to reward prisoners for better conduct in prison with the hope of early release in order to encourage better prison order. And with regards to illegal immigrants, Huckabee has taken a little more compassionate and moderate line than many in his party. However many of these views are likely inspired by his Baptist faith, and indicate just how mich it will guide his policies. Whatever Huckabee believes to be "immoral" or contrary to his religious views will only inspire his wrath for sure.

Unlike other GOP candidates, like Romney or Giuliani, whose records have been examined in the press, and serious contradictions are beginning to drag down their numbers, Huckabee has yet to examined. And unfortunately not all of it is good. The more you look at Huckabee, the less you really like the guy.