EDITORIAL: Mike Huckabee is Correct on Civility in Political Discourse

Catholic Online is a for profit business. We have no restrictions on our political writing. We will ask important questions of both candidates. We will do so with civility.

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - In the early stages of what has been a very lively and interesting Presidential campaign in the United States, one of the most intriguing participants on the Republican side was the former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee.

I wrote extensively on this candidate and his committment to the right to life, marriage and family and a host of other important issues. He was a great speaker and possessed two traits which are too often rare in politicians, humility and humor.

He was also gracious enough to grant Catholic Online two exclusive interviews.

The interviews were prompted by a misguided and factually mistaken effort to paint this former Governor, a devout evangelical Protestant Christian, as being "anti-Catholic".

He was not then and he is not now anti-Catholic.

My contention, both then and now, is that when it comes to having a concern for the poor and the marginalized, Governor Mike Huckabee was more in line with Catholic Social teaching in showing a love of preference for the poor than many of the other Republican candidates.

And, unlike any of the Democratic candidates, he also heard the cry of those whom Mother Teresa accurately called "the poorest of the poor", children in the first home of the whole human race, their mothers womb.

This love for all of the poor, in all of their manifestations, at every age and stage,certainly comports with the Gospel mandate found, among many places, in the stirring and challenging teaching of the Lord Jesus which is recorded in Matthews Gospel,Chapter 25.

Whatever we do to 'the least of His brethren", we do to the Lord Himself. Huckabee's concern for the poor and genuine compassion for the economically downtrodden was refreshing.He was often called a "Populist" because he cared about working class people. We need more politicians in both major parties who do.

Unfortunately, Mike Huckabee was also painted with another "label" which was intended to harm his chances in the primary campaign with some "conservative" voters.

This may have been done by those within the Republican Party who were threatened by his call to make this concern for the poor and the needy a greater part of Republican Party politics.

He was sometimes called a "liberal", a term of disparagement in certain Republican circles.

Governor, join the club. The way I figure it, to be called a "conservative" and then a "liberal" in the same election cycle simply means that we are considering the issues first and are less concerned about the increasingly meaningless political labels.

The treatment of Governor Huckabee demonstrated, I believe, exactly what is wrong with the climate accompanying the current US Presidential campaign.

There is a growing lack of civility, and a near absence of charity, in our public discourse.

At a recent speaking appearance, the Governor spoke the following words which I set forth for our readers. I affirm much of his sentiment, though I have not yet decided whom I can support.

I share them now because they speak to the issue of concern I am addressing, the lack of civility in our political discourse. I will share some of my own thoughts at the end:

"My speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club a few days ago seemed to have generated some buzz both here and back home when I mentioned that it would be a "fundamental if not fatal mistake for the GOP to demonize Barak Obama" in order to win the election.

Some seem to have taken that to mean I was all but endorsing Obama! Quite the opposite.

I believe his ideas are totally wrong for America and many of his plans would take us the opposite direction from where I think we need to go.

He is an ardent supporter for the most liberal and indefensible positions on abortion, including his refusal to support a ban on the most vile forms of all, partial birth abortion.

He has stated that he would be an activist in seeking to push for what the anti-life forces euphemistically call "reproductive rights."

His plan to raise taxes would be an economic disaster for our nation. We would lose jobs and investment and see the economy really squeeze the working class with even higher fuel and food prices.

He would implement more government control on everything from health care to small business and that's not the right direction for us.

What I am saying is that we need to challenge Obama on the basis that his ideas are the wrong ones--not attacking him personally.

If people spend their time repeating a bunch of internet driven drivel about his middle name (he didn't choose his anymore than I chose mine), or his race (I do sincerely celebrate that our country has moved to a place where a person's race doesn't limit him from aspiring to the highest office in our land, but I just believe that due to his proposals and lack of substantive experience, he's gone far enough--not because of his race, but because of his sincere, but misguided proposals), or his church (there are far more important reasons for us to elect Senator McCain than where Obama went to church).

Politics ought to be VERTICAL and Obama's ideas will not take this country UP, but DOWN. I think he is a sincere and obviously a very intelligent and charismatic person.

For us to deny that is foolish.

Our focus should be to logically and systematically explain why ideas really do matter and why some are bad for those struggling as it is to pay the rent.

Elections ought to be about elevating the best ideas and exposing the worst ones--not engaging in character assassination with half truths, innuendoes, and disputable 'internet facts'."

Governor Huckabee is correct on this important point; elections truly should be about elevating the best ideas and not personally denigrating people running for office.

For example, on a daily basis I receive E-Mail missives from a Doctor who is commendably Pro-life. I share his conviction that this issue is the fundamental human rights issue of our age. However, he has apparently decided that it is also his life's mission to insult and villify the Nominee of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama.

Frankly, his manner is not only uncharitable; it is also a huge tactical error. That is if he intends to engage the candidate on the issues which matter most so as to change his mind or at least declare his position with clarity. It is also important to do so if he hopes to persuade anyone to the truth of his position on the sanctity of life, beside those who, like me, already agree with him.

This E-Blaster uses the internet to spew some very vile accusations. I have been subjected to reading every kind of allegation against Senator Obama. I will not repeat them. I have also received some very rude and uncharitable E-mails about my own writings from him.

Like Governor Huckabee, I believe that we should engage the Senator from Illinois on ideas. However, as I have written, I believe that we should also engage his rival in the Republican Party, Senator John McCain, on the issues which matter most, on ideas as well.

I try to do so regularly with my pen and will continue to do so throughout the General election campaign.

Catholic Online is a for profit business entity. This means that we have no restrictions on our political writing. I am particularly glad about that as this General Election campaign begins.

Just as we issued a series of questions to all of the candidates during the Primary season, we intend to engage the vital issues that should matter most throughout the General Election Campaign.

Neither Senator McCain or Senator Obama answered the questions we sent to them. Neither of them responded to our continual requests through their intermediaries. They will hear much more from us as the General Election unfolds.

There is simply too much at stake in this election.

However, we will do so based upon the real issues that matter most. We will not engage in the lack of charity which is becoming increasingly evident online.

Governor Huckabee is correct, it is time for civil discourse.

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