Religious Discrimination

religion, religious, huckabee, commutation, clemency,
The fundys spend every day from the middle of November to Christmas Day itself howling that if you're not screaming "Merry Christmas" at the top of your lungs 18 hours a day, then you're persecuting the hegemony. Mike Huckabee, however, regularly practiced a rather vile form of religious discrimination, with utterly tragic results (not related to the discrimination end of things, but still utterly tragic), and the reaction from everyone is "meh".

I understand that in the wake of mass murder, discrimination seems minor, but this is a big deal.

As you are no doubt well aware by now, Huckabee as governor commuted more sentences than a number of other governors combined. It's not just the commutations themselves that bother me (some people deserve 100 years in prison, clearly), it's how Huckabee, in his secular position, made the decision to commute sentences. He based it primarily on religion. In fact, he jettisoned our legal system to make way for biblical principals of justice (must be New Testament or something)- but only for Christians. I find that just a bit disturbing.

In a 2007 story, the Associated Press noted that Huckabee granted 1,033 pardons and commutations in his 10 1/2 years as governor of Arkansas. The acts of clemency benefited the stepson of a staff member, murderers who worked at the governor's mansion, a rock star and inmates who received good words from their pastors.

"It seems to be true at least anecdotally that if a minister is involved, (Huckabee) seems likely to grant clemency," prosecutor Robert Herzfeld said in 2004 after successfully battling the then-governor over the release of a killer.

Also in 2007, Garrick Feldman of the Arkansas Leader raised questions about a convicted killer named Glen Green, who was granted clemency by Huckabee. "Huckabee may not have realized it," he wrote, "but every prisoner knew how to get on the governor's good side. Call it Huckabee's religion test. It's a sure ticket to freedom: Tell him you've found religion."

So, tell him that studying philosophy has shown you the error of your ways and no clemency. Tell him that you're a devout Buddhist (a rather gentle people) and you can rot. Praise Jaysus and you're on your way. "Justice" for the Christians, none for the rest. Lovely.

Religion and politics: discriminitory and dangerous.

That Can't Be Good

huckabee, religion, atheism, abortion, islam, homosexual, marriage, president,
Rasmussen's latest survey shows Mike Huckabee as the front runner for the GOP in 2012.

Though Rasmussen Reports’ last survey in July concluded with a nearly three-way tie between Huckabee and former Govs. Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin, Huckabee came out on top in their latest survey, which found 29 percent of likely Republican voters nationwide saying they would vote for Huckabee in 2012, while 24 percent prefer Romney and 18 percent Palin.

. . .

For Rasmussen’s survey, the only candidates survey participants could choose from were Romney, Palin, Huckabee, Gingrich, and Pawlenty.

Why do I qualify this under "notgood" news? I don't really think that Huckabee could win against Obama in a general election, but you never know. If the economy takes a nosedive or somebody bombs Israel off the map, public opinion will likely turn against Obama, and if Huckabee rides into the Oval Office on that wave, it won't be a good thing for me or you. Or agnostics or Muslims or women or homosexuals or the transgendered or, well, anyone.

A few relevant quotes:

In November, 2007, Huckabee said he was best qualified to battle Islamic extremism and America's culture wars because he was the only GOP candidate with a theology degree: "I think I'm stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamo fascism. These are people that want to kill us. It's a theocratic war. And I don't know if anybody fully understands that. I'm the only guy on that stage with a theology degree." The Huckabee campaign later admitted that Mike Huckabee has no theology degree.

So, he hates Muslims and he's a liar.

Although Mike Huckabee may not have a theology degree, he has been and continues to be an ordained Baptist minister. Why did he make the move from the pulpit to political life? According to Huckabee, he wanted to bring Jesus Christ to the nation: "I didn't get into politics because I thought government had a better answer. I got into politics because I knew government didn't have the real answers, that the real answers lie in accepting Jesus Christ into our lives." He also said "I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ."

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has openly advocated amending the U.S. Constitution to transform it from a secular document designed to create a secular, civil government into a religious document designed to reflect "God's standards."

Separation of church and state? Not so much.

In 1998, Mike Huckabee joined 130 Southern Baptists who signed a USA Today advertisement calling on wives to submit themselves graciously to the servant leadership of their husbands — a standard part of Southern Baptist theology.

Hope you don't expect to make your own choices, ladies.

According to Mike Huckabee, "I support and have always supported passage of a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. As President, I will fight for passage of this amendment. My personal belief is that marriage is between one man and one woman, for life."

So, no gay marriage, and no divorce.

Unsurprisingly, Huckabee also opposes sex ed, contraception and abortion- even in cases of incest and rape.

Yeah, that's something we might want to keep track of- if only to know when to leave the country.