Second Ad

Here's Mike Huckabee with a much more banal ad than his earlier Chuck Norris episode:

Ambinder remarks that the faith appeals aren't subtle, but as he says in a follow-up I think there are several subtle appeals to anti-Mormon sentiment here. The "Christian Leader" text seems like an effort to appeal to the notion that Mormons (i.e., Mitt Romney) aren't Christians. Similarly, when he says "I don't have to wake up every day wondering 'what do I need to believe'" he's specifically taking aim at Multiple Choice Mitt. And, indeed, even the distinction between being influenced by faith (which Huckabee rejects) and being defined by it (which he embraces) seems aimed at Romney. Rudy Giuliani's politics are obviously pretty independent on his Catholic faith, since he doesn't agree with them on the issues where the Pope's on the right or on the issues where the Pope's on the left.

Romney, by contrast, has been trying to seize the mantle of faith, noting the shared political principles of Mormons and Evangelical Christians. But Romney can't run a candidacy defined by faith anywhere outside of Utah. I tend to think Andrew's been too quick at times to raise the alarm bells about "Christianism," but with this add Huckabee really does seem to me to be flirting with an argument like "you should vote for me because we have the same theology" rather than a more generic religion-infused moral appeal.

Comments

Last week Chris Matthews had Huckabee on Hardball and he told Huckabee that he was like Martin Luther.

This was an odd compliment. Catholics -- especially ones from Matthews generation - don't think of calling someone Luther as a compliment.

But Huckabee did not back away from this odd complement. He embraced it. He referred to Luther as one of his heroes. Amazing.

Matthews is undoubtedly aware of Luther's anti semitic writings and other controversies surrounding him. So it was odd, to say the least.

Posted by Comment | November 26, 2007 1:11 PM

Huckabee really does seem to me to be flirting with an argument like "you should vote for me because we have the same theology"

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Posted by SomeCallMeTim | November 26, 2007 1:29 PM

Although I have little use for Huckabee and believe he is totally unfit to serve as president, I have to say that todays' column by fascist scumbag Robert Novak is to the formers' credit. If he is being bad mouthed by a piece of filth like cocksucker Novak, he can't be all bad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/25/AR2007112501547.html?hpid%3Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR

Posted by SLC | November 26, 2007 1:48 PM

This is a very interesting issue that you bring up. I can see how it would be very powerful for the Christian Right if they could convince people that the proper test was whose identify was defined by their faith.

Then you could eliminate the imposters more easily.

On the other hand, I think this strategy could also lead to a backlash and a (finally) clean break in American politics from religion. If the only real religious bonafides come from being a born-again southern baptist, we can dump all this mealy-mouthed faith crap from politicians that probably don't believe in God at all (because it doesn't benefit them anymore).

Posted by mpowell | November 26, 2007 2:14 PM

When I first read Matt's post I figured he was overreacting, but when I finally got around to watching the ad, it actually did creep me out in a way that calls to mind Sullivan's concept of Christianism. Obviously it's not targeted at people like Matt and me. I imagine it could be pretty effective for GOP caucus goers.

Posted by Ron | November 26, 2007 2:20 PM

Huckabee has zero chance of winning the nomination - The power elite in the GOP would end up kneecapping him if he ever looked to be winning.

A lot of liberals don't understand how Dubya winks "don't worry" to the socially liberal money elite. His arms-akimbo folksy rightist talk is just talk.

Posted by Comment | November 26, 2007 2:41 PM

There's a big difference between talking about faith, which many Americans are comfortable with, and putting the Religious Right's wishlist into law, which would less popular than flesh-eating bacteria.

Posted by American Citizen | November 26, 2007 3:50 PM

I think the key anti-Romney jab (and perhaps anti-LDS jab) in the ad is the phrase "Authentic Christian."

Posted by Drew | November 26, 2007 8:47 PM

Matt wrote: "...with this add Huckabee really does seem to me to be flirting with an argument like 'you should vote for me because we have the same theology" rather than a more generic religion-infused moral appeal.'"

That's *exactly* what the ad is doing. It is worded generically enough that non-evangelicals who are generally sympathetic to faith probably won't be offended. But it's real target is evangelicals.

"Christian" in evangelicalese does not have a broad meaning such as someone who is Protestant or Catholic (or non-Jewish, non-Muslim). Rather, when evangelicals ask whether someone is a "Christian" they are asking whether he is a "born again, Bible-believing Christian".

Huckabee can't out-crazy Rudy on security issues, and he can't out-spend Mitt. His only chance for success is to get a large portion of the evangelical vote--and so he is sending out the message that he is the only real, true Christian in the race. And is hope is precisely what Matt stated, that evangelicals will trust him with their vote as one of their own. A mighty cynical gambit for one so pious.

Posted by Jim | November 26, 2007 9:35 PM