The Massachusetts Goliath vs. the David from Hope

Republican nominee Mitt Romney is set to give the "faith speech" today and the Corner at National Review is all a flutter in the ‘Go Romney’ camp and a decided ‘boo’ ethos has taken root among the NRO team in the last 24 hours towards Huckabee. Romney, for those not in the know, is a practicing Mormon and within GOP circles; this issue is now coming to a head because of the remarkable Huckaboom going on across the GOP.

I don't remember which American political pundit said America elects a president that ordinary Americans would most like to share a beer and a hot dog with but in its simplicity it captures completely one essence of the unique American body politic. Americans like the idea of approachable Presidents. They want their presidents to either inspire them to higher heights or talk to them as equals no matter how lofty these man stand above them as their social and/or intellectual betters. Part of the JFK ethos was his ability to communicate warmth and goodwill to the 'common man' from his position of privilege.

A few months ago, I laid out my pet theory of the American political landscape circa 2008 with the pull factor. At the time, the Other Guy from Hope was polling pretty shabbily across the nation and the Huckaboom hadn't traveled very far across the GOP. I am probably one of the few Canadians who are not surprised to see Mike Huckabee's rather remarkable rise in the polls.

In some ways, I feel the pain of the American GOP. Their choice is to elect a Republican ticket which reflects a pure nature to American conservatism but leads to the road of electoral Pretoria. Or elect a nomination who will carry the Republican ticket all along the road to conservative perdition but stops directly at the Presidency of the United States.

Mitt Romney is a practicing Mormon but for the question of the presidency; he might as well be Scientologist, and you need to ask yourself if the American people are really ready to elect a Scientologist as President of the United States of America? My money says they are not. America is a land where you are free to believe whatever far-fetched notion takes your fancy with relative impunity or even start your own church/religion. You can even be a practicing 'whatever' and rise up in your community into a position of leadership and serve with distinction. In fact, you might even make it as far as the governor's chair - providing you are running in state with a high moonbat ratio.

But let's apply the beer and hot dogs litmus test to Romney and see how he fares. Ooops! - Romney fails there, and not because he's on the wagon which Joe America could forgive him for, but because his religion dictates no beer allowed. America may brew some of the most horrendous beers known to man on the face of the planet but there is almost un-American about the ability not to have a beer now and then. Huckabee might drink light beer and request his hot dog on a whole wheat bun but afterwards he’ll be able to sit in with the band and do a few licks to “smoke on the water”. Huckabee is how one spells AMERICAN.

No matter where one starts with Romney one always comes down to his belief in his religious beliefs. Many conservatives in the body politic are amoured of Romney because he “shares their values” if not their beliefs. Let us not even get on the slippery slip with Romney’s changing positions on gay marriage and abortion. But with Huck, he doesn’t have to share your “values” because he is your belief. Bush campaigned on compassionate conservatism while Huck is the compassionate conservative in action. I have no doubt that Huck is a Nanny Stater conservative but his brand of Nanny Statism will have incredible pull factor among potential democratic voters. Given a choice between Hillary and the Huck is like voting for beauty and the beast.

All of which is why Mitt Romney is about to make the second biggest mistake of his political career by giving the "faith speech". I have no doubt Romney will give a speech based upon the notion that American was founded on the principles of religious liberty and how the American forefather's enshrined religious liberty as a constitutional right of all Americans but its just not going to fly. The more Romney talks about religious faith the more the public will become curious about the theological basis for his beliefs. No matter how stirring his speech is it will probably lead to curiosity. And no one should want your average garden variety Christian taking a peek at Mormon theology during an election year. And I am not even going to get into the special role racism has placed in Mormon theology because it just gets downright ugly and nasty. I can’t think of anything better designed to make the GOP stay home or vote for Hillary. She maybe a shrewd but she is a shrewd you can understand and no one thinks she is white because she has less spiritual sins.

The more Romney talks about his faith, the better positioned Huckabee becomes and then everything takes on a Christian narrative. This puts Romney at a distinct disadvantage. Take Iowa for example. Romney has literally spent a king’s fortune trying to improve his position in the Iowa caucus from approximately 25% to 25%. Huckabee has nowhere near even a quarter of millions which Romney has already spent to buy advertising, and yet, Huck’s polling at par or better. Classic David and Goliath scenario, and who in America doesn’t root for the underdog? Not only that, but what would the Iowa caucus make of man who believes Jesus was born in Jerusalem and not Bethlehem during the height of the Christmas season?

I am starting to think there must be something in the water of the American South which makes southern men so utterly seductive and slick. I really know very little about the history of Southern politics but it does seem to breed politicians who while seemingly gentile on the surface but become downright hardcore when scratched.

For example, the Dumond case is now coming back to “haunt” Huckabee. The established media pundits are hoping to be able to deaden and muffle the sound of the Huckaboom with it, and good luck to them. They are going to need it because it once again reinforces the Christian narrative in Huck’s favour. And on one does remorse quite like a former Southern Baptist minister. Here is a prime example of what I mean. Bryon York’s column on Huckabee and the Dumond case. York comes down hard on Huckabee and nails him to the cross, and what does Huckabee do? He wraps himself up in basic Christian redemption doctrine and sings Amazing Grace; which makes the reader question why York wants to drive another nail into the guy already hanging on the cross?

Romney may give the speech of his career today on have the crowd standing and cheering, and the hearts at the Corner may all go a flutter, but after Romney gives the “faith” speech means Huck can now give one too. And when Huckabee gives the speech – it will put fire in their belly.