This absolutely drives me nuts!!! Does anyone care that this man is riding on the coat tails of Jesus? What ever happened to the separation of church and state?

Please don't tell me that he is just preaching a sermon! YOU KNOW he is campaigning!

thats were 'huckatax' belongs….freds the 'real deal'…fred thompson

I am sad for the Constitution and the first amendment – there is the exercise clause and the establishment cause. Would a person of another faith be as blantly attacked as Huckabee. Huckabee was a pastor, is a person of faith, and does care about people – people who are hurting. He may not win the nomination but let's stop attacking him because of his faith. You see a lot of Politicians preach at church for example there is a Missouri representative that was a Pastor – oh I forgot he is a democrat and this attacks are saved for Republicans….

It is perfectly fine for me for Huckabee to take to the pulpit and preach the Word of God. It is not alright for me for Democrats to take to the pulpit and campaign for votes.

Hello "Read a Book"… your posting uses some pretty big words – which we can only hope you didn't have take time to look them up. I “believe” you are pitting religion against intellectualism and as you do it, you’re even saying one should be supported over the other. This action in itself is an “opinion”.

It should be mentioned that many intellectuals have also believed in a “Christ” or to reduce it to something you “intellectuals” can understand, a “supreme intelligence”. You have also used the term “Safe Sex”… which in my opinion demoralizes the action in itself. Is there any such thing as dangerous sex if you’re practicing it with the right person to begin with? Also, whether you believe in a God or not, your own common sense may tell you that it’s wrong to take another’s life. It just so happens that some people out there also have the same “common sense” telling them that men and women are born with specific body parts that fit together.

Of course, all of this may just be collections of opinions from many different people. But any time we force our own opinions on someone else, we’re just as wrong. We’re all born with agency… and we should and can have the great responsibility of acting in ways that enable our agency to remain.

If these candidates want to act and do as they are, more power to them. It only tells me who I like and don’t like and again, that’s only my opinion. I think elections are always eye openers for a large percentage of the people in America… it’s just hard for some of us to swallow when more than just a few don’t see eye to eye with us. We should all step out of our “zone” and continue building a nation that will stand together.

Finally someone who not only says that he´s a christian but acts like one. There´s a saying among christians in Germany that would be translated into english as follows: "A half christian is a whole nonsens".

McCain and Huckabee are honest persons – persons of integrity and not just talkers, persons who profess their faith.

That´s what everybody in Europe and US hates is that christians do the talk and don´t do the walk. What´s wrong with someone who stands for a fair tax system, who fights for the life of unborn babies as well as for more justice in general?

If Obama, Clinton and Edwards leave Iraq alone, the world would soon turn up into a whole mess.Terrorists would grow like mushrooms all over the world. That´s absolutely irresponsible. It would encourage Al qaida and Co. to enlarge their terrorist activieties. Who wants that, really?

Sorry folks – I've got no beef against any candidate's religious beliefs. It often helps make the man (or woman). However, anyone who say's it's time to "take back this nation back for Christ" has shown his primary alligence to his church and NOT his country. I don't trust this guy. He advocated rounding up HIV positive people in camps (remember the Japaneese in WWII?) He's just another evangelical who thinks that unless you believe as he does you should not have the same rights. Elect him and we will be walking down the same path as the countries of the middle east who embraced religious extremism.

I will choose the candidate that most embraces REASON and LOGIC not- superstition.

Mitt Romney has the least chance of swinging independent voters and winning the General Election. I am a Gulianni supporter and my wife is a Huckabee supporter, but we are both voting for John McCain in the Michigan primary to help get Romney out of the race.

I know that voting for Gulianni or Huckabee are wasted votes in Michigan, so MY WIFE AND I ARE VOTING FOR JOHN MCCAIN IN MICHIGAN TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE!

Guliainni will make his stand in Florida against McCain, but hopefully without Romney's negative ads financed with Romney's personal $$$. George Bush stole the 2000 election with negative ads and look at the mess our country is in now because of him. We don't need another rich guy buying the election with negative ads! We don't need negative Romney ads in this campaign anymore. STOP ROMNEY!

Everyone just needs to calm down.
I agree that no canidate should use the pulpit to talk solely about their campaign. But the truth is, they do. Hillary and Obama have both done this, as well as many of the others. The reason this is a big deal to the press, is because before he was govenor, Huckabee was a minister. Of course they're going to make a big deal about it.
The point is, Huckabee is the only canidate that has professed his faith and stood by it through all of the criticism. How can you be mad at that? Even if you're not a christian, you've got to admit, his faith is strong, he knows what he believes and he's going to stick by it. As govenor, he didn't impose it on the people, I don't think he'd do it as president either. What stands out to me is his unmoving faith, and I feel more comfortable with someone who has that, then someone who would dodge a tough question like "What do you believe"?

I've seen comments on several posts here talking about Hillary and Obama preaching from pulpits, however, their messages aren't that women need to lose their right to choose or our constitution be amended to ensure that bias and discrimination are written into law if they are elected. I think it is great if our leaders have convictions of faith, but none of them should be using houses of worship to further their political careers and that covers both parties.

Plain and simple. If you don't want a president who believes in God, vote someone else. If you do, Huckabee is a good candidate that you should look into make your own decision.

Bigv: Thanks for being an example of what's wrong with the critical thinking skills of some of the members society.

Where Huck stands on the issues is directly related to his faith, therefore the rationality behind his faith must be considered. If he can't separate them, how can we?

To quote Bill Maher in his interview with Huck, "If someone believes that the earth is 6,000 years old and every scientist in the world is saying that it is billions of years old, why shouldn't I take that into account when I am assessing the rationality of someone I am going to put into the highest office in the land?"

The Office of President of the United States requires careful thought and examination of current social, political, economic and global issues. We cannot trust in the abilities of someone who so blatantly believes things to be true when in fact there is significant proof for the opposite.

Wanting something to be true does not make it true. If you really took the time to educate yourself and objectively look at the worlds data, you would plainly see that human beings evolved from ape-like ancestors that existed around 7 million years ago in the late Miocene epoch.

Nowhere is it stated in the constitution "separation of church and state". Nowhere. If a religious man brings himself to a public debate or forum and leaves his religion at home, he has left part of himself at home. He wouldn't be true to himself. No one needs to push their particular brand of religion on anyone, but basic religios tenants are the foundation of all law. I can bring my religiuos beliefs to the political table, not my church traditions.

Nowhere do I here Mike huckabee assuming if your a Christian you should vote for him. It is illegal for a pastor to say "vote for Mike Huckabee". The church could have their tax exmpt status removed. Mike Huckabee was at one time a preacher. Many conservative evangelicals believe if a man (or woman) has been called to preach, then that gift never leaves. It would be normal to invite him to preach on Sunday. Everybody calm down.

Those of you comparing Christianity to Radical Islamic extremism are wacko and offensive. Not all religion has violence on its mind.

I'm still making up my mnd on Mike Huckabee. He seems a genuine Christian, no doubt. I'm just not sure he is the best candidate for the job.

Huckabee is one of those people who calls himself a "Christian" (as if Catholics, Lutherans, Greek Orthodox are not). He's an Evangelical like Bush and one of the main activities of Evangelicals is attempting to convert others to their form of "Christianity". Bush tried this proselytizing with his Faith-based initiatives. The US air force academy was pushing this stuff on their students not too long ago. What do you think Huckabee will do if he becomes president? He will subtly try to push his religion on us anyway he can.

Huckabee has spent more time in Public office than he did in pulpits, yet everyone criticizes him. Maybe you should look back to all the pics and articles of Clinton, obama, and the other countless politicians who have been in the pulpits.

He gets attacked i suppose b/c he used to be a preacher. Yet there's nothing wrong with Hillary speaking from the pulpit and having her people villify Obama's past drug use from the pulpit.

That's pretty twisted Ed. In the same breath you accuse someone of being a radical and an extremist and then suggest that anyone with similar views that differ from your own be rooted out and destroyed.

America bless God NOT God bless America

Only 2 kinds of people in the world
Forgiven-cleansed by the blood of Jesus, accepted by God
Unforgiven (God is waiting for you.) will be rejected at the gates of heaven and sentenced for judgemt

No man is perfect. I think that if Mike Huckabee is truly following Christ then he will be blessed and so will America.

"You will know a man by his fruit" (what he does and says).
Just keep an open mind and vote.

I challenge anyone to look at Huck's record. He was a great conservative leader in a mostly democratic state. He gets things done and is a good man. By the way, I have heard several of his sermons. When he is behind the pulpit he talks about Jesus. It is not a violation of IRS rules for a political candidate to deliver a sermon. If fact, it is a protected RIGHT by the CONSTITUTION. Ever heard of it??

I guess all the hullabaloo about Huckabee being a former pastor is somewhat reminiscent of the ridicule Regan suffered about being a former B movie actor. The interesting aspect of the criticism above that I see is a pattern to bite and lash out at people who are reaching out to you. I see in Huckabee and Giuliani a certain inclusiveness that I haven't seen in the Republican party in a long, long time. Odd that one is from the South and the other from the North….a potential Ticket?

PS On the religious stuff. Don't forget Carter was a Sunday School teacher, fond of asking "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" What of James Garfield being a Minister? No pogroms or inquisitions then, eh?

Anyway I'm always hopeful to hear genuine contributions to discourse. The spewing of nonsense should be left to Rosie.

NO RELIGIOUS TEST!!!!

IF YOU ARE VOTING OR NOT VOTING FOR SOMEONE BASED ON THEIR RELIGION, YOU NEED TO READ THE CONSTITUTION.

Looks like Huckabee shot himself in the foot with this one. What's he doing accepting speaking engagements in a church during a political campaign? Some here have argued that he was talking about Jesus and not his campaign, and that may be true, but seriously, why get yourself entangled in that kind of conflict of interest?

Oh, and to all you "separation of church and state" people who are up in arms, what about Hillary and Obama blantanly campaigning in churches accross America for the past two years? For any politician to stoop to using the pulpit for political gain is dubious at best– are we willing to hold both sides of the aisle equally accountable?

Not all Christian conservatives support Mike Huckabee!

Some of us do not need our pastors to tell us who to vote for and can think for ourselves. Some of us realize the difference between a man who can give good sermons and a man who is qualified to be the leader of the free world!!!

I AM INSULTED THAT MIKE HUCKABEE THINKS THAT BECAUSE HE IS A CHRISTIAN, I SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM, RIDICULOUS!!

Hey Huckabee,
You keep your religion out of my government and I'll keep my government out of your religion.

why do you people not say anything about it when Democratic candidates speak in churches? Obama does it so do Clinton 1 and Clinton 2, Kerry did it and the list goes on.

As noted by others here, Huckabee is not the only candidate to have been invited to the pulpit by churches in violation of IRS tax exemption rules. My previous comments are also directed at the churches inviting Clinton, Obama, and any other candidate to the pulpit- no double standards, all are in violation of IRS rules and should loose tax exempt standing.

One often hears Christians as the question "What would Jesus do?" Well, if Jesus were to show up at a church consecrated to Him and found anyone of these candidates at the pulpit for obvious self-serving purposes, what would He do? I think the story of Jesus casting the money changers out of the temple would serve as a good precedent to follow.

I disagree with previous comments alluding to a fear Huckabee would seek to create a theocracy. I also think the comment pointing out that other candidates have appeared in churches is worth remembering before criticizing Huckabee's pulpit showing.

It is important every candidate seek to engage in a dialogue with people of faith. The fact that Huckabee has a history of having been a pastor only means he is A) more at home in that milieu and B) more conscious of higher leves of scrutiny as a result: both in terms of overall ethical scrutiny and ecclesiastical scrutiny with regard to adherence to biblical precepts.

My research and exposure to Huckabee leads me to conclude he is honorable and as qualified as any to run and to serve. McCain disappointed with his waffling and dissolving into a Bush apologist in 2004. Romney is beholden to corporate interests.

Michigan and the nation need vision, strength and fairness with regard to domestic issues. Huckabee's pragmatic populism makes sense.

Second times a charm!

“No man can serve two masters. Either he will cleave to the one and forsake the other…” Which one will Huckabee forsake, God or country? Either answer is wrong.

Mike Theocracy is the scariest republican this nation has ever seen. 1st off why wont he make public the transcripts from his speeches while speaking to the southern Baptist conventions???? (Yet, the republicans can cry over some cattle deals in Arkansas from over 25 years ago can you can double standard) 2nd he is SO unelectable my 93 year old grandmother who votes straight ticket republican and who only voted once for a Dem president (FDR in his third term) stated she would not vote for him. If he somehow won the nomination a vote for Mr. Theocracy would be a vote basically for Clinton. Why do you think no one on the left is attacking him?? Also, we are already 43 in science as rated against other nations ( China 27th, India 4, IRAN 23rd!!!!) how low do you think science standards would fall under a Mike Theocracy can you say national security threat!!!!! What Mr. Theocracy needs to go do is be a tour guide at the Creation Museum. Let me guess the comments of those supporting Mr. Theocracy “He is restoring this nation back to its Christian identity” “I pray that Mike Huckbee is the next president” go back to home schooling your kids and crawl back under your Calvinist/ End of Times Bunkers

It sickens me to think that someone would vote because of religion and the thought that he is standing in church parking lots or from the pulpit for speeches makes me want to throw up. I certainly hope they find more to him than just religion. He is not a conservative where it counts, on the issues!!!!

If Mitt did this they would be all over him. Mitt doesn't interject his religion into politics, but has had to struggle to keep it out because everyone else wants him to address it.

And no, I don't think ANYONE else is going into churches. Although they might if they didn't fear and expect the backlash.

I'm voting for Mitt Romney no matter what. I know his record and I'm behind him 100%.

How much did Hucklebee get paid for this sermon? $10,000 again like the church in Dallas? That is for me a big reason not to vote for the man.

After reading these posts attacking Gov. Huckabee I believe he is exactly the person we need in the White House. America's education system is worse than I thought. He brought Arkansas from 49th in the nation to 8th in education. If ever we need a competent, effective, leader it is now. Particularly, in light of these biased, uninformed, ill-thought, comments attacking a good man. Check out MikeHuckabee.com and read what Mike stands for. That is, if you can read or comprehend anything beyond a 30 second television spot.

what a joke! Hick-a-bee

I love people who forget that the 'separation of church and state' clause was originally designed to keep the state out of the church, not the other way around.

Go Huckabee, keep on keeping on. We need a change, a new drection for America

Hillary Clinton said she was proud of Obama following her attendance at a service at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, SC.

Rudy Giuliani asked the congregation of El Rey nondenominational church in Miami for their prayers after he quoted from the book of Joshua in the Bible.

Obama will play a special part in the service next week at Dr. Martin Luther King's Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

You want to talk about not mixing religion and politics? Or Obama not playing the race card?

How is it that a church should lost its tax-exempt status because they have a pastor speak who is also running for president? I believe most of those commenting here are simply showing their colors as people who hate Christianity or any form of religion at all. Every candidate has done this, so I'm not sure how Huckabee is being singled out here. Among them all, he's the one who has the best reason to be behind the pulpit on Sunday since he's an ordained minister. I also don't see how this is hypocritical.

Michelle, AL –

You asked why people are focusing on Huckabee at the pulpit and none of the other candidates. CNN didn't run this story to try and make Huckabee look bad, they ran it to try to make him look good. They want the evangelicals out in droves tomorrow to get Huckabee the nomination. CNN wants Huckabee to run against Clinton or Obama in November because he doesn't stand a chance against either one of them. They will do anything to make sure the Dems. get the Whitehouse back. I bet the moderator doesn't have the guts to put this on the blog. Come on moderator, prove me wrong!

Wayne, Greenville TX January 14, 2008 8:56 am ET

What part of "separation of church of state" does Mike Huckabee not understand???

He probably understands that "separation of church and state" doesn't exist in the Constitution. Please, be like Dennis Kucinich and pull out a pocket Constitution. You will not find "separation of church and state" there. Even my liberal law professors had to admit to that. I am not a supporter of Huckabee, but he doesn't have to understand "separation of church and state".

If people want to argue the Constitution please take a look at the only candidate who will bring up the Constitution–Ron Paul.

By the way, this article also leaves out the fact that Huckabee did not speak about anything political. He was essentially a guest preacher in this church. I would suggest that everyone who reads this article do their research before taking everything CNN has to say as gospel (no pun intended.) They are leaving out 75% of the story here. As I mentioned earlier, look up where Giuliani, Clinton, and Obama were yesterday morning.

Let the illegals stay in the U.S. We'll deport the bible thumpers south of the border instead !

So what if he is using his faith to run for President. If you look back thru out our History we have had men of great faith. To many now are, or seem ashamed to say they believe in God. And that there faith is what drive's them.
The bottom line…is to go and look at what he stands for on issue's..
One thing is I can trust a man of faith much better than person with out it.
We have been a blessed country. Lets not forget who has played a role in blessing us…GOD.
Now if you have trouble believing that…..then you must be the same people that believe you ancestors came from Ape's…

I'm convinced 75% of people have no idea what Separation of Church and State actually means.

Huckabee has been a guest speaker from time to time, EVEN BEFORE HE STARTED THE CAMPAIGN. He came to Easley SC about two years ago and gave a sermon at a church. Look folks, if a sportsman who plays golf happens to be running for president and go for a golf on Sunday, nobody would have complained. So why then, a Christian, who happens to be running for president, comes to worship on Sunday?

McCain cannot be GOP nomination because he is to left-leaning to the extend that Joe Liberman endorsed him. He has his own records for people to look at.

Mitt Romney is the same. He changes his positions whenever it suits his political climate. He will be a very good weatherman, though.

Comparing him with Jimmy Carter is ridiculous. Carter left a state with deficit; Huckabee left AR with surplus. Carter loves big government; Huckabee builds efficient government. Carter loves abortion; Huckabee cares about human lives (both before and after birth). Fair Tax is the best thing to happen for EVERYONE. If you spend wisely, you will be fine. Plus EVERYONE get tax rebates. What a day to come when the government has to do the tax (and give me back money) so I can enjoy my weekends before April 15.

I don't need to go further.

@ Chris from Middletown, CT:

Thank you for speaking the truth! If in fact 70% of Americans are "moderates" in that they are socially liberal, fiscally conservative (i.e. libertatian-leaning), then Huckabee is in fact utterly unelectebale, being the exact opposite of that (as he is socially conservative, fiscally liberal)! I am not sure the percentage of socially liberal, fiscally conservative citizens is as high as 70%, but I do believe them to be the majority (with doctrinaire left-liberals and hard right conservatives minorities). One thing is for sure, while libertarian-leaning centrists may be the majority, 70% of Americans ARE currently opposed to the disasterous war in Iraq.

Having said that, I think you are on the right track but are dead wrong on Giuliani. Rudy is quite fiscally conservative, but calling him a social liberal is a huge stretch. Sure he is pro-choice and sides with the Democrats on other social issues, but overall, Rudy is a police-state authoritarian. And he is pro-war! Rudy Giuliani is the most hawkish top-tier Republican besides John McCain, and unless you are one of the 30% of people left in favor of the war in Iraq, you would not vote for him. I am thankful you mentioned Ron Paul, but you dismissed him as a Libertarian! Thanks for demonstrating that you know not what a Libertarian is. Ron Paul served 20 years as a REPUBLICAN and ran for Texas Senate as a REPUBLICAN. He only ran for president as a Libertarian in 1988 when George Herbert Walker Bush, the first modern neoconservative Republican, ran on the GOP ticket. Ron Paul is not a doctrinaire Libertarian, but even so, by your own admission 70% of Americans are moderately libertarian!

Here is to hoping that Ron Paul is the ONLY choice for the Republicans and that Rudy Giuliani is a fascist hack with no experience in national politics. At least Obama got elected Senator, even if he has yet to complete a single term. What is Rudy's claim? 9-11! Not to mention, Giuliani would easily lose, even if he is more electable than Huckabee, Thompson, or Romney.

you, sir, are at the pulpit. this church should lose tax-exempt status. and, Huckleberry, are you still so dumb to think that it's anyone but the evangelicals that keep you afloat. that's your majority pal. I don't know any moderates that even mention your name. you need to get a clue. but then it looks like you need to get a clue about many things.

The question is: Why can't Mike talk about his faith in Church? If not, should he talk about his faith on the street? He didn't talk about politics in that Church. Nobody says president candidates are not allowed to practice their faith during their campaign period. As long as he didn't talk politics in Churches, he is keeping his promise that he won't mix religion with politics!

Go Mike!!!

I do not trust Hackabee in the slightest.

Isn't it sad that out of nearly 300 million citizens these candidates are the best we can do?

From Jeferson, Hamilton and Adams to these 2 bit fools. My have our standards slipped.

"No man can serve two masters. Either he will cleave to the one and forsake the other…" I wonder who Huckabee will forsake God or country? Either answer is wrong.

It's so interesting to read that people get their morals from Christianity. As if people wouldn't steal or kill each other without the bible telling them not to do that. I'd say one would be a very rotten person if the only reason one doesn't kill or steal is because they are afraid of what will happen to them in the "after life".

I have no problem with people who want to gather in churches and profess their faith in a god…..much like I have no problem with people talking about vampires or leprechauns or unicorns. However, I do have a problem when those people leave the churches and begin to push their beliefs onto other people and attempt to include their beliefs in the laws and policies of my country.

The people who support Huckabee are the same who support the teaching of creation science and intelligent design in schools. They are the same who want to overturn Rowe Vs. Wade, who want to prevent our children from learning about safe sex, who think homosexuality is a sin and who fear anything outside of their narrow realm of understanding.

I cannot in good conscience allow this country to be further degredated by such and anachronistic and unreasonable way of thinking. The evangelical populous is truly behind the times and as intolerant as they come. Furthermore, they do nothing to abolish their ignorance and continue to revel in the indoctrination they have received. Is it any wonder that this way of thinking has the highest occurances in the poor and undereducated communities?

Huckabee is a step backwards. His supporters will watch this country march on without them. They can only resist truth and reason for so long before the very fire feeding their myths is extinguished forever.

Excuse me….but the last time I checked its not the place for pastors to preach politics from behind the pulpit, but religion.

Hucklberry (i use that intentionally as an insult this bozo) is just a sleazy
salesman..It doesn't matter if he's selling used guitars or his fairy tale
ghost in the sky..Thats all he is..Most of his life he's been a leech on society,
like every other religious con man.He's made his money off the work of other people. Preachers don't "produce" anything, they just take money from other people. They beg and plead on a stage for money for the "church". But these
people are really begging for money for themselves. The people who attend these
side shows are paying the bills for the people on stage to put on a show for them.
It doesnt matter what religion it is..Huckleberry is a huckster, a showman, a fraud,
a a con man,a second story man, and any other phrase you'd like to stick to
someone selling fairy tales for gold..I don't want some clown like this trying
to dictate my life, via the government, based on his beliefs. He needs to go back
to the big piney woods and sell it to the 7 toed hicks that will belive this kind of gibberish..

** Vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE ** Political parties are corrupt and useless..

Clear Conservative choice…Fred Thompson…..accept no substitution for the real thing!

Guiliani was in church yesterday also in Miami asking for their prayers. Obama and Clinton were in church yesterday quoting the Bible and speaking. So why is this article leaving that out and only focusing on Huckabee, trying to pit people against him as a religious fanatic. I hate only getting part of the story.

Something people are tending to forget: The next president will appoint supreme court justices who will change the makeup of the bench and influence it strongly for the next several decades. If you really want your kids to be taught creation alongside evolution, go ahead and vote for this guy! While most other developed countries with restrictive laws on abortion are loosening them (e.g. Portugal), Roe v Wade will likely get overturned – and regardless of how you feel about the issue, it should NOT be up to the federal government! This election is far more important than most people realize. Wake up, folks, we need a leader, not a preacher.

Shame on Clinton and Obama, too! Let worshipers worship God, not the presidential candidates, who most think they are God.

HUCKABEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HUCKABEE!!!!!!!

HUCKABEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

They would not because mixing God adn polictics is the worst kind of Pharishee.

Remember, voters…..he has promised "…not to be TOO intolerant of other faiths."

Ed from New York, you are quite mistaken in your statements here. If you look at any empire of the past it was certainly not religion that destroyed it, but the economy and greed. This country was founded by men who were devoted religiously, not necessarily Christian, and religion has continued to show itself to be an amazing driving factor in happiness, economic productivity, and generosity. Though religious extremists have certainly caused much destruction, Huckabee is most assuredly not one of them. If the aim is to claim that Huck is a religious extremist because he uses a Sunday to address believers about God and not even address politics (as many Democrats have from the pulpit), I can only hope that the majority of voters in this nation are not so completely off base with reality.

Craig, Susan et al,

There's a difference between candidates giving a speech at a church and a minister giving a sermon. The latter has far more influence among the congregation and could possibly use religion as a basis for garnering votes (e.g. vote for my values or you will go to hell). While I don't particularly like any candidate to speak at churches for the reasons you raise, it's much more of an issue in the case of Huckabee. Frankly, the reason I stopped going to services was because of political messages in the sermons. Mixing spirit and politics makes for a bad cocktail.

I would hope that all people look at the issues that the candidates are trying to run on to get the nomination. The important question is how can people demonstrate how their religion plays a part in their life with it being viewed as their religion being the sole influence in their life.

Because of Huckabee's past a pastor, this makes people nervous because of the possiblity that he could impose his religous views on everyone. The same could be seen of Romney. We should all reflect on what JFK talked about; the Catholic Church wouldn't control him. We trusted that to be true and it was for his short presidency. Have we had other presidents been all controlled by their religion? I have a feeling that the answer is most likely no to that.

Huckabee is completely out of his league in this race.

Let him go back home to his congregation, his pulpit and worship band.

Free the nation from the worst ever comic-wannabe Presidential hopeful.

This is a serious race and he's making a mockery out of it.

He also happens to be the most hypocritical of all the candidates on either side, most people are seeing through him now, I saw it right away here in Iowa.

He's a Fake.

Ed. You sound as an extreme as a Stalin. I hope your simplistic thinking grows up sometime soon.

ROMNEY CHECKED WITH THE HIGHEST LEADERS OF HIS CHURCH BEFORE RUNNING. So all you Romney people are talking out of both sides of your mouth.

Huckabee has a track record of being a good public servant and you should not impugn his character that way. However, he would probably be like another Carter in the White House so I probably won't be voting for him.

MCCAIN 08.

Wayne in TX: "separation of church of state" …

The candidate probably fails to overtly recognize it, because it isn't in the constitution. What is there is: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …" With all due respect to the various Supreme Court decisions …

JohnKing : " … the only candidate with a solid track record of living and voting in accordance with biblical principles."

Scripture is clear; those who will bless Israel in word and/or deed will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed. The candidates stand on the need to withdraw support for Israel from the region is clearly in conflict with scripture.

Lief – the problem is I do not fear religion – I fear intolorance for other religions. Our country was founded on freedom from religion – and this guy feels as if we should all be Christian's who believe in HIS God. Sorry, pal, that's not the way it works here in the USA.

Steve, Pinkston, GA – No they were NOT in the pulpit each in every Sunday!!! There is a big difference between attending church and being acting Pastor (Preist, Preistess, Bishop, etc.) of a church.

Huckabee is going to loose a lot of votes if he keeps pulling the religion card. Not only from Jews, Mormon's, Agnostics, Johova's, Muslims, Buddists, Scientologists, and Athiests [et. al.] – but also people like myself who are Christian and feel he is being intolorant of others.

Lief-no nation has withstood destruction by religion. It has ruined every civilization on the planet and Huckabee has stated his intention to pursue "taking back this nation for christ" as well as destroying the separation of church and state that protects this nation from it's worst enemy. They are not "good people" they are the enemy of our country and all that we stand for. Radical religious extremists are anti-american subversives and need to be rooted out and destroyed, regardless of which brand.

Nancy, Darryl ( your other brother Darryl), Gundy and Bob……

Strange you are so against Mike Huckabee in the pulpit but yet Obama, Clinton and Edwards were ALL in the pulpit each and every Sunday!!!!!!!!!!

Huckabee is just vote pandering, avoiding real issues.

Ron Paul is the only candidate with a solid track record of living and voting in accordance with biblical principles.

I don't necessarily agree with candidates using the pulpit to garner support, but I hope anyone who would speak out against it is also willing to add every Democratic candidate who has ever spoken in front of a black church to the list of culprits. For some reason, when the Republican candidate does it, we are inching ever closer to a Theocracy, but when the Democratic candidate does it, they are shoring up their base.

But then again, I lost all hope long ago that politically informed people would speak without hypocrisy.

Leif, are you talking about a different Huckabee? This one said he wanted to make this country uncomfortable for non-Christians. Great, just what we need! Will he be putting the Jews in camps this time, or just the Catholics and Mormons? And how exactly will that end the war and bring the economy back and drop the price of gas? Face it, Huck's a loon. We need leadership, not slogans. And after 9-11, yeah, we're a bit scared of people who think they talk to God.

What part of "separation of church of state" does Mike Huckabee not understand???

Religion belongs in the churchhouse, not in the Whitehouse or the schoolhouse.

I guess most of you won't vote for Obama or Clinton either. I just saw clips of them being introduced at churches. The big difference being, they went to talk about POLITICS, where Huckabee spoke about Jesus.

BIG DIFFERENCE!

Well said Leif! He was asked to come and minister to this church. He didn't mention his campaign. The government isn't stupid. Do you really believe these religious institutions would jeopardize their churches for one man.

I don't think politicians should ever stand behind a pulpit in a Church. The protection that separation of Church and State was not enacted to protect the State, it was enacted to protect the Church. This simple fact gets missed all the time… there's nothing wrong with having a Pastor as President, but there's everything wrong with having a President act as a Pastor.

I see Mr. Huckabee as a fantastic presidential candidate. He seems like a REAL Christian to me, not just someone who's tagged Christ's name on to his campaign.

Further, Mr. Huckabee is smart, caring, "presidential" and honest. As for his international experience I have two questions – Does the world really need another President sitting in Washington who thinks he's got it all figured out? Or would everyone be better served by a President who is keenly aware of his need for relying on a good team of people?

Kevin

if you dont call running for president and giving a serman on sunday all day about your god then what is it? yeeeeeh ha!! huckelbee, i think you can put a fork in it now, god should have told you not to do it! why dont you start your own church after the election, and teach bible studies on wed /frid and sat/ night?

The Hippocratic oath? How about the Hypocrite oath?

In many interviews, he has denied that his role as a former preacher would play a role other than being the foundation from which he gathers his values and therefore his moral vision for the nation. I am turned off by his approach.

On the other hand, you have to give it to him. He is playing his cards at the right table…

God please save us from these complainers and fake alarmists here who are rattling on against Mike Huckabee. I am sure they are just as critical or more so of those who speak ill of their favorite football team or mobile home. Wake up American! These people are the reason why our country has moved in the wrong direction for the last forty years.

GO HUCKABEE!

Since he has such a dismal record as a Governor, raising all those fees and letting all those felons go, he will hopefully fall by the wayside, preacher or no. Romney's not much better, far worse if you consider his religious factor and their lack of equality for women! Two losers, neither served in the military, neither has any foreign policy expertise at all and seem to be lacking in the intestinal fortitude department (guts) as well.

Sounds more and more like John McCain is the Man!!! Thanks for serving, John. Thanks for being willing to serve some more!!!

A recent poll showed that the country (70% of them) consider themselves "moderate" – socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Nobody should be embarssed of their religion – but we need someone who will represent the melting pot known as the United States….someone who will speak for the 70% majority (and thats Democrats/Republicans and unaffiliated) – we need that moderate….and theres only one running…Giuliani (other than Ron Paul…who's really a LIbertarian…Giuliani is the only social liberal fiscal conservative)

Just what we need. Another right wing religous zealot in the white House. But like true "Chrisitans" none of them bother to examine his record of unethical behaviour. As long as you can spout the "Christian" line of hatred and bigotry, ethics dont matter.

Numerous gold stars awarded to Bob Sadler and the thoughtful people who posted after him …

If Mitt did this, kindly Preacher Mike would be wondering if Mormans believe Jesus and Satan are brothers and whipping his pastors into a frenzy about a "cult."

Hypocrisy unlimited: Hucklebee so firmly believes in forgiveness, he pardons rapists and murders to go forth and do it again – then blames everyone but himself! In a dark sort of humor, he names the pheasants he killed after the top three Democrats …

There will be many here who point out why Preacher Mike is so unqualified to be president … and a few who will whine that anyone against Mike is a religious bigot – and a few who will just say "I like Mike – because my pastor told me so."

why do so many people in this country fear religion? huckabee has stated many times that he has no intention of pushing his faith on anyone. I'm not christian, but I think that they are good people… relax folks.

Can John McCain pull conservatives together with his prior liberal voting record? Not a chance!

Can Fred Thompson pull conservatives together with his prior record absent of him improving programs and systems that improved the every day lives of all Americans? No way!

Can Mitt Romney buy the White House? Maybe!

Avoid the elite media’s “Rush”, study Mike Huckabee’s real record, and support the “Huck” early!

Huckabee and McCain are as hypocritical as they get. "No, we're not going to be negative" … what a joke. At least Romney has never said as much. Right after saying words to those effect, both Huckabee and McCain begin mailing attack pamphlets to SC residents. Huckabee should do what apparently he does best: stay behind the pulpit. And McCain should do what apparently he does best: get his military uniform back on. Neither one of these guys is 'complete' enough to become president.

Excuse me – did any of you complain when Hillary "preached" from the pulpit? I've seen plenty of pictures of Obama preaching from church pulpits, also. I'm sure most of the candidates have been in churches across the country preaching.

So much for separation of church and state.

Are we electing a Pastor-in-chief or a Commander-in-chief????

Is Gov. Huckabee campaigning as Commander-in-Chief or as Pastor -in-Chief?

This kind of ploy triggers my gag reflex. This is NOT the kind of political leader our founders envisioned–a preacher who can't leave his church out of his public life. I fear for the public lives, the freedoms and rights we assume are permanet, if such narrow-minded people as Huckabee make it into national office.

This is a joke. I am christian and am offended by his assumed automatic support for people of his faith. If Mitt Romney pulled a stunt like this,,,, amen to his campaign. Talk about issues and supposed credentials – stay away from the pulpit!!

Religion versus religion. Huckabee might as well be an Islamic extremist. The underlying premise of his campaigning in churches is against IRS regulations, and I hope the IRS investigates the churches who have illegally used their pulpits to mingle church with state. It's another one of his "I'm not the bad guy" talks. Can you imagine what would happen if Mitt Romney spoke in an LDS Regional Conference in Michigan or elsewhere, and mentioned his candidacy? It's unfortunate that Huckabee is practicing his priestcraft that he hopes to foist on to the American public en masse. Sounds like Ayotollah Khomeni when he bound Iran into the terrorist sponsoring state it now is and ruined a country that had great prospects. Ayotollah Huckabee? I don't think so. America's faith in God will keep that from happening.

Romney '08!

Huckabee talks like he walks on water.

Huckabee got slaughter in the last primary

Lets see if his Campaign can be raised form the dead.

I'm not a suckster for the Huckster.

So much for that pesky Constitution…….

Ladies and gentlemen………..Preacher/President/Commander-in-Chief……………GOMER PYLE!

So much for separation of Church and State!

It seems that most evangelicals are like lemmings and will blindly follow their leaders off of a cliff. If only they could actually stop for a moment and look at the issues and then make a decision on their own without their supposed leaders telling them how to vote. If they did that they would soon realize that Huckabee will lead America "to the gates of Hell." Huckabee is a bigot, a liar, a hypocrite, and a thief.

God gave us our free agency for a reason people. Use it to make the right choice, not a choice that will take this country back a few steps. I promise you we won't go to Hell for not choosing Huckabee, in fact we may as well be in Hell if we did, because that is where he'll take this country.

Dear Lord,someone save us! Why must politicians invoke religion. As a non- participating Catholic I'm tired of it. What does this say about us in the eyes of the world?

I would vote for him just to hear four years of his humor – shallow, I know – but it helps that he is so strong on the issues I value …. strong national defense, strong immigration policy, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Israel and YES, a ban on smoking in workplaces. BTW: reports that Huckabee supports a nationwide ban are misleading. He does not believe cars, homes, restaurants should be subject to a ban, but does believe it needs to be implemented in all work places. I agree. Why should my rights be violated to give smokers the right to smoke? If they want to get lung cancer, let them do so in their homes and cars. Don't make me sit and breath death just because politicians are afraid to offend smokers. There's a nationwide ban on shooting people. What's wrong with a nationwide ban on cancer-causing smoke being blown in the faces of those who don't smoke. Mindless.

Huckabee seems to be a good honest man and a capable public servant.
But the more I think about his candidacy, the more I think it would be exactly like Jimmy Carter was in 1976.

Even though Carter was smart and savvy he was not a good president. Hopefully, Huckabee finds his niche but more and more I am convinced he is not best suited to be president.

McCAIN 08!!!!!

"Why wouldn't they?"

Is "state and federal law" a good enough answer or do you consider that a personal attack too, Mr. Huckabee?

This is the same patronizing tactic employed by Democrats nationwide in black churches, but I can guarantee you the GOP will not get the same slack if Huckabee ends up on a ticket.

Anyone who votes for this man, who has been nodding out for way too long on the Opiate of the People, will need God's help when they discover they're wasted their vote on a guy who can't even defeat a pathetic feel-good-about-diversity candidate like Hillary or Obama, both of whom are grossly inexperienced in managing anything other than their own grandiose ambitions to covert us to their takes-a-village social agenda.

Leave it Pastor Huckabee to continue his "Christian Leader Tour". I want a President who will respect the melting pot of America. That means loving Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Lutherans, Jehovahs Witnesses, Budhists, Muslims, Hindhus, Athiests and Agnostics. I am tired of Pastor Huckabee trying to fracture the spirit of America by his pulpit bashing of anyone different then him.

I will be voting for Mitt Romney a uniter who can solve problems and loves all Americans.

"It’s a matter of urging them to use the influence they have to get their people out to vote, and I hope they will. Why wouldn’t they?”

This is why:

A. It is border line illegal

B. As the founding fathers said: It is unethical

C. You haven't said why anyone should vote for you. "I am an average joe like you" really isn't much of a platform. Your only origional campaign idea is the Fair Tax, which in no way possible.

So Mr. Huckabee why would anyone vote FOR you?