Archive for January 6th, 2008
Hucksterism
We know that John Big Hair Edwards is a phony, touting a “we just plain po’ folks” mantra while living large. But Mike Huckabee? Say it ain’t so. But, sadly, it is. In part, that is.
When the Huck is preaching about the power of Christ, he resonates with those of us who agree with that power. The so-called social conservatism that logically flows from the Christian message of salvation to all, with a preference for the humble, appears genuine. Which may scare scripted candidates such as Mitt Romney and his undead zombie Morman hordes (neat Google phrase, that; apologies to any actual Mormons not taken in by Plastic Mitt).
What can best be described as fake about the Huckster is his populism. His notion that the Republican Party is, somehow, torn between “Wall Street and Main Street,” to coin a phrase.
A phrase, actually, not terribly new or original. Or having any meaning whatsoever. In case Reverend Mike hasn’t noticed, Wall Street and Main Street have some pretty strong ties, and very similar goals: wealth creation and expansion.
George Will clearly has no love lost on Mike Huckabee, and takes him, along with the other faux populist Edwards, to task in his column today. Turns out that Main Street, for which one may read, “middle class,” is doing fairly well:
Economist Stephen Rose, defining the middle class as households with annual incomes between $30,000 and $100,000, says a smaller percentage of Americans are in that category than in 1979 – because the percentage of Americans earning more than $100,000 has doubled from 12 to 24, while the percentage earning less than $30,000 is unchanged. “So,” Rose says, “the entire ‘decline’ of the middle class came from people moving up the income ladder.” Even as housing values declined in 2007, the net worth of households increased.
Is Huckabee a credible Republican? Not to George Will, and here’s where I’ve got to agree with him. Might I not-so-humbly suggest that today’s Republicans ought to be strong proponents of the following:
- strong national defense
- free markets and free trade
- minimal government interference
- maximum personal liberty
- personal responsibility.
What about abortion? What about gay “rights,” most especially same-sex “marriage?” I’m against them, but not because that’s a political issue to be solved by government. My opposition to both stems solely from my Christian faith. Let me rephrase: my faith drives my so-called social values, but has nothing to do with my view of secular government. A moral populace will give rise to a moral government. Never the reverse.
George Will states this differently, but seems to be reading from the same score as I am:
Social conservatives, many of whom share Huckabee’s desire to “take back this nation for Christ,” have collaborated with limited-government, market-oriented, capitalism-defending conservatives who want to take back the nation for James Madison. Under the doctrine that conservatives call “fusion,” each faction has respected the other’s agenda. Huckabee aggressively repudiates the Madisonians.
Count me as being with James Madison on this one.
