I knew the moment I saw what Huckabee said that you'd go nuts over it, however unfairly.

Jesus was an extremely militant figure, even as portrayed in the Bible. Maybe you're familiar with this passage from Luke:

He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:35-38)

Even Obama has stated that Huckabee is a decent man. He also happens to be a decent man with a strong religious background that informs his rhetoric and his politics. While you're pretty clearly antireligious, the fact is that this informs your rhetoric and politics, too. You and Huckabee are little different in that respect, and perhaps it'd be to your betterment to recognize this.

It does the progressive cause no good to pull quotations out of context and hurl misguided insults, just as it does no good for those on the other side of the fence to do the same. You say you're an Obama supporter, so act like one: don't sling mud, but instead make a reasoned case for your position.

Sam -- You're right, to a point. Huckabee seems like a decent man with a good sense of humor (I won't mention how I feel about his animal-abusing son). I seriously have no problems with him as a man. In fact, I posted something yesterday underscoring his comedic side (see the post titled "Hoo-hoo!").

But when an evangelical Christian who is running for President of the United States begins to talk about God's Army, I get a little nervous, i.e. the Crusades, Islamic jihad and the Spanish Inquisition, to name a few. I get a little nervous when I read about his possible ties to the Christian Reconstructionist movement (replacing the Constitution with Christian dogma). I get a little nervous when I hear that he doesn't subscribe to the science of evolution and believes that the Earth was created 5,000 years ago. This is not a man who I would trust anywhere near my daughter's public education (which is already jeopardized enough by NCLB).

Speaking of my daughter, I understandably get a little nervous when Huckabee talks about banning all abortions -- ostensibly telling my daughter (AND my wife for that matter) that if they should ever have an abortion FOR ANY REASON that they will be arrested and convicted for murder (since, after all, Huckabee amended the Arkansas Constitution to say that life begins at conception and therefore should be protected as such).

There's also this thing about separation of church and state -- the Establishment Clause of the Constitution -- which I believe ought to be taken a little more seriously by our current public servants.

But these are all smaller points in an overall narrative I'm documenting and discussing on this site and Huffington Post. My view is that Huckabee is George W. Bush circa 1999/2000. My support for Senator Obama's hopeful message notwithstanding, I can't allow another aw-shucks, sometimes-funny, southern, Republican, Christian evangelical governor to slip on by... again... just because he's funny and he seems like a swell dude. Couple that with Huckabee's very sketchy view of the Constitution as it applies to the presidency and his view that America is a Christian Nation, and you have the very real potential for George W. Bush's "third term."

Then there's my role in here. My place as a writer and blogger is to filter the news through my own opinion and weird sense of humor -- to present the issues in a way that reflects my political priorities. If I were running Senator Obama's campaign, that would be a different story. But for now, this is what I do and this is my style. I try temper my anger and cynicism with some fairness and respect (for example: honoring elected office by using titles, not just last names and colloquialisms), but at the same time, I refuse to ignore this on-going cavalcade of Bush Republican crapola just because the candidate I support is campaigning on an admirably positive message.

Bob, I really don't have a problem with your humor most of the time. I wouldn't read or link to your blog if I did. What bothers me in this case is that you've done two things that the right has indulged in for years: juvenile name-calling and distortion of the facts. But more on that in a second.

From what I'm reading, you don't have a problem with the man, but you do have a problem with his faith, and that problem has colored your view of his political life, as well. I don't see much discussion of Huckabee's public record, which includes no attempts to force Christian dogma on schools and significant efforts to increase children's healthcare and educational opportunities.

Calling Huckabee a Bush Republican is, quite frankly, an unfair criticism, as there's very little common ground between those men, despite their both being Republicans and both (supposedly) being Christians. And if you're going to lump them together based on their professed religious beliefs, then you haven't paid much attention to how little active religious participation and faith play in Bush's life.

But I'm not asking you to like Huckabee. I don't even care if you like Huckabee. Hate his guts if you want; that's your prerogative. What bothers me is the way you're going about expressing your disagreement with him. Huckaboner? Please, that's just childish. And then twisting his soldierly religious rhetoric, made in church, when such rhetoric is echoed in the Bible itself (as mentioned)... that's dishonest.

Funny is funny and when you're funny you are funny, but name-calling and flagrant displays of ignorance -- or maybe it's just contempt, which is just as bad -- don't fall under the rubric of humor. Or did Larry the Cable Guy suddenly become a laugh riot? Don't be that guy.

Sam -- We're never going to agree on this and I'm sorry you were so offended. Being from a Catholic family, and surrounded by religious people, I have nothing but respect for people of faith. Just as long as they don't force me to believe what they believe. As for Huckabee...

-Huckabee supports the criminalization of abortion based partially on his religious beliefs.

-Huckabee funded private Arkansas Christian schools with public school money.

-Huckabee supports teaching intelligent design and creationism in public school science classes.

-Huckabee has close ties to the Dominionist (Christian Reconstructionist) movement.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20071223_the_evangelical_rebellion/

-I never said Huckabee was similar to *today's* George W. Bush, but think back to the *very different* GWB of 1999/2000. The so-called compassionate conservative. The so-called "uniter." The dude who people wanted to have a beer with.

-And we're going to have to disagree with our views on Jesus. He wasn't a militarily violent man and your quote doesn't prove otherwise.

Meanwhile, on the words "God's Army" -- I get nervous because of this group:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_God

Now let's get Senator Obama into the White House.

Cheers!

Bob,
Disagreement time!
Sam is absolutely right about the name calling. I mean, REALLY! Huckaboner? come on! It's Huckaboob or Huckafuck. Please!
Also, I differ from you in that while also raised Catholic, I dont have much, if any, respect for people of faith. They're feeble minded. They believe in myths and shadows and childhood stories. Unfortunately, they are also legion.

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