The Case for Huckabee

The 2008 election may be one of the most important elections in American history.
I believe the power of the Holy Spirit has a greater purpose than simply providing us with more fulfilling lives. He empowers Christians to change our world in two ways—by spreading the gospel and by influencing the culture around us. And one significant way we can influence our culture is by electing godly leaders who share our values.

Thankfully Spirit-filled Christians are making it possible for us to do that by running for political offices at every level of government, from the local school board to president of the United States. At the national level, I believe the presidential election of 2008 will be one of the most important elections in the history of America. With the dangers of international terrorism threatening us from without and the radical left humanistic agenda threatening our values from within, we need godly leaders.

America is a very diverse country that allows religions of all types to flourish free from government interference. But the values of our top leaders determine policy that will either help our country or lead it down the wrong path.

The coming election is more up for grabs than any in recent history, and there is perhaps more “God talk” among the candidates than during any previous campaign. Even liberals are using faith-based language to lure voters.

Several candidates are in fact outspoken Christians—principally Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California and former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. In the July/August issue of New Man magazine, we look at all the candidates and make the case that Huckabee is a man who not only supports our values but also could actually win. Of course you’re not going to read that prediction in the mainstream press, which has relegated Huckabee and the other believers to second- or third-tier status. But consider these facts:

»Four of the last five presidents were governors, three of them from Southern states. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both came out of obscurity to win. I believe Huckabee can do the same.
»Huckabee is an outstanding communicator who has a proven track record of success as governor of Arkansas. For 10 years, he served as a Republican in a state where 85 percent of the office holders are Democrats, and where he garnered more than 43 percent of the African-American vote.
»Huckabee is a former Southern Baptist pastor who learned many of his communication skills working with James Robison, head of LIFE Outreach International, for four years in the 1970s.

I urge you to pick up a copy of New Man or log on to either the New Man (newmanmag.com/candidates) or the Charisma (charismamag.com/candidates) Web site to read the articles about Huckabee and the other candidates, including my editorial, which suggests that conservative Christians have time to get behind Huckabee and support him financially.

I’ve asked 1,000 New Man readers to each contribute $1,000 to his campaign, and I’m asking Charisma readers to do the same. (You can contribute online at teamhuckabee.com.) Most of you have given hundreds or thousands of dollars to ministries that cast a vision for saving souls or improving the world in some way. I suggest that giving money to a political candidate you believe will govern with godly values could do more to change the world than supporting many ministries with a similar-sized donation.

My wife and I have made the maximum contribution allowed by law—$2,300 each. Now the only way I can help Huckabee is to motivate hundreds of thousands of readers to also support him.

Huckabee is a good man. But he needs believers who care about America’s future to get behind him at this critical stage.

Eighteenth-century statesman Edmund Burke is credited with saying, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We don’t want evil to triumph; so let’s do what we can to change the moral direction of our country. Is it possible our joint efforts will send a faithful Christian to the White House who can help us return to our Judeo-Christian roots?