[Politics] Words Matter II: Why the GOP Needs to Listen to Huckabee

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee may not inspire as much awe as Barack Obama, but the two candidates from opposing parties do have one thing in common: the right attitude and a positive message. But while Obama makes gains for the Democrats everyday, Huckabee is left trailing behind an unelectable pro-choice Giuliani and an unelectable Massachusetts Mormon in Mitt Romney. If the GOP is smart they'd be taking every chance they can get to put Huckabee in the national spotlight and cultivate him as the Barack Obama of the party.

I may be getting ahead of the game. Perhaps such a course of events is bound to take place. Salon.com's Michael Scherer reported on how Huckabee could just charm his way into contention. But still that seems unlikely to happen. Right now, it appears as though the cannabalization of the primary process will claim Huckabee, the GOP's best candidate as its victim.

Admittedly, I would be very unlikely to vote for Huckabee because I am quite sure we do not see eye-to-eye on social issues. But he represents his party and he has a positive message, one that is on many fronts bipartisan too. Huckabee references the leadership of Democrats such as John Kennedy and Bill Clinton when mentioning his idols and he seeks improved healthcare and education for children, specifically emphasizing the importance of the arts in educating our children.

Again, Huckabee does not represent many of my personal beliefs, but he represents something I will always support: an honest, straight-forward message. He said of Bush's handling of Hurrican Katrina that it "made his blood boil." No nuancing, no mincing words, Huckabee has an honest and hopeful message, and, along with Obama, seems to be the only one that wants to deliver bipartisan consensus. Words too often divide people, and it is always a pleasure for someone like me to see a poltician that uses words to unite people, even if he represents a different set of beliefs than mine.