Huckabee: Liberalism Cancer on Christianity

The New York Times Sunday Magazine is out with its profile of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Here are some excerpts from "The Huckabee Factor":

Huckabee on Liberalism: "In fact, as he wrote in his book ‘‘Character Makes a Difference,’’ he considers liberalism to be a cancer on Christianity. Huckabee is an admirer of the late Jerry Falwell (whose son, Jerry Jr., recently endorsed his candidacy) and subscribes wholeheartedly to the principles of the Moral Majority."

On Romney: "He mentioned how much he respected his fellow candidates John McCain and Rudolph W. Giuliani. The name of his principal rival in Iowa, Mitt Romney, went unmentioned."

On Mormons: "'Don’t Mormons,' he asked in an innocent voice, 'believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?'’’

His Primary Chances: ‘‘'He’ll get hammered in New Hampshire,' the Republican consultant Mike Murphy told me. 'A primary campaign is like a book. Iowa is just the first chapter. After that come more chapters. Opponents will hit Huckabee for being soft on immigration, Arkansas allegations, that kind of thing. And at some point, Republican elites will begin to ask, Is what we need a smallstate governor who doesn’t believe in Darwin?'’’

Foreign Policy Advisers: "At lunch, when I asked him who influences his thinking on foreign affairs, he mentioned Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist, and Frank Gaffney, a neoconservative and the founder of a research group called the Center for Security Policy."

His Secretary of Defense: "The only name he mentioned was Representative Duncan Hunter of California. 'Duncan is extraordinarily well qualified to be secretary of Defense,' he said."

On George W. Bush: "Huckabee was eager to separate himself from George W. Bush, who, he complained, often visited Arkansas without bothering to notify the governor’s office. 'Clinton was much better at letting us know his plans and including us in his activities. He was always gracious and respectful.'’’

On Richard Land: "At the Olive Garden he spoke with bitterness about Richard Land, the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. 'Richard Land swoons for Fred Thompson,' he said. 'I don’t know what that’s about. For reasons I don’t fully understand, some of these Washington-based people forget why they are there. They make ‘electability’ their criterion. But I am a true soldier for the cause. If my own abandon me on the battlefield, it will have a chilling effect.'’’

Huckabee's Popularity in Arkansas: "Which is why many were surprised when, at the end of October, the University of Arkansas published a poll in which state voters, asked an open question about their presidential preference, chose Hillary Clinton. She got 35 percent. Huckabee, less than a year out of the governor’s mansion, tied Rudy Giuliani for second place with 8 percent."