Faith and Politics--Mike Huckabee

“Mike Huckabee is out to show people that the American dream is still alive,” proclaims the opening of the Huckabee for President website. Now, I love a good “American Dream” story—as all of my friends will tell you (I love the stuff). However, Huckabee’s blatant beginning to his website caught me off guard. As a second tier Republican candidate, running behind both Giuliani and Romney it makes me wonder: Is third place the American Dream?”

Okay…I guess that isn’t really the point. The point is that Mike Huckabee really could be considered the American Dream to some. He has come from behind in the polls, even taking second in the Iowa Straw Polls, ahead of some who have spend millions more than he has.

In an article to appear this week in the New York Times Magazine, Huckabee is interviewed while taking a commercial flight from Boston to Chicago--something Obama or Giuliani probably wouldn't be caught dead doing. Although he appears a humble candidate, his recent emergence in the polls may get him into a private plane sooner than expected.

Huckabee is a former Arkansas Governor (sound familiar?) and is looking to change the way the government, education system and the nation’s infrastructure are running, including changing what he calls a “failing energy policy.”

Huckabee served as Arkansas’ Governor for eleven year (1996-2007) and capped off his term with the obligatory presidential-exploratory book tour for his 2007 book, From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 Steps to Restoring America’s Greatness. In his book, Huckabee explains that America can return to its former glory through clear and honest leadership.

Although he doesn’t have the spending power of Romney and Giuliani, Huckabee is winning votes for being a true conservative. A former minister, Huckabee will be able to appeal to conservative Christians in a way that neither of the aforementioned candidates could.

One of his most important issues is Faith and Politics claiming, “My faith is my life-it defines me. My faith doesn’t influence my decisions it drives them.” This will certainly go over well with religious voters however his ideas of public forums for faith may be a non-negotiable for secular voters. Huckabee believes that real faith breeds humility and allowing others to share their views as well. Huckabee says that he cannot separate his faith life from his personal or professional life and hopes that it will be a tool for him during his presidency.

Although I don’t usually identify with Republicans, I do appreciate this portion of Huckabee’s platform. As a religious person, I do think that faith has a place in politics as long as it encompasses all faiths. America is a religious nation. With around 80 percent of Americans believing in some sort of “higher power,” Huckabee may stand to earn some votes with his Faith and Politics platform.

Although he certainly doesn’t have the star power of Rudy Giuliani or Hillary Clinton, Huckabee may be able to sell himself to the American faithful on his religious values. As it was shown in the polls…its certainly isn’t hurting him.

Chris Dodd

Chris Dodd is making the most of the last days before the First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses begin. However, many people may not be paying that much attention. Many people (myself included) have a hard time distinguishing Mr. Dodd and his look-alike candidate Joe Biden. However, the two Democrats would like to get past being candidates who “cancel each other out.”

Dodd will be spending the next week canvassing the state of Iowa and reaching out to voters in this month before the caucus. With stops in Pella, Oskaloosa, Cedar Falls, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Johnston and Iowa City, Dodd certainly may see more of Iowa than some life-long residents do. However, is his exposure to Iowa voters going to win him votes?

Especially for students, it is hard to see past the shiny candidates like Obama, Giuliani, Clinton and Romney; all with large amounts of money and funding to get their message to the young, media savvy demographic. However, Dodd a Senior Senator from Connecticut has spent years in government and heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Although he may not be as glamorous or as newsworthy as some of his opponents, his stance on ending the war and creating a safer environment are things that students can relate to.

Dodd’s father was one of the lead prosecutors in the criminal trials at Nuremberg and helped to “set the standard for America’s moral authority.” His inspiration from his father, outlined in his book Letters from Nuremberg, he developed his own stance on foreign relations as well as human rights. Dodd also spend time in the Peace Corps during the late sixties that taught him about open engagement with all nations. Although he acknowledges that there are pressing issues with the war in Iraq there are also issues such as the world struggle with HIV/AIDS that needs as much attention.

Also, Dodd touches on the energy crisis on his “issues” page; but lets face it, no viable candidate wouldn’t since Green issues seem to be a necessity in this election. Dodd proposes a Corporate Carbon Tax to keep companies accountable for their emissions as well as his projection to be independent from foreign oil by 2015. Although these are lofty goals they are something that will certainly appeal to the post Inconvenient Truth electorate.

Even though Dodd seems to be flying under the radar and may have little chance of winning the party’s nomination; his experience is nothing to look down upon. It makes me wonder why some of the most experienced, probably most qualified candidates for the presidency seem to be sitting at the bottom of the nomination? Lets just hope whomever wins give some of them a place in the Cabinet.