The John McCain, Mike Huckabee Flip Flop on Faith
February 6th, 2008 by eric
What is the tie that binds John McCain and Mike Huckabilly? Do they share a bond because they are both liberal Republicans? Do they share a bond because they don’t believe in enforcing the law in regards to illegal immigration? In researching this alliance between these two candidates I found that part of their bond has to do with religion and anti-Mormonism. Both McCain and Hucklebee are Baptists and they both share a strong hatred for Mitt Romney.
McCain, as recently as in a June [2007] interview with McClatchy newspapers, has consistently described himself as an Episcopalian. He was raised in the denomination and attended the prestigious Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. Biographical sketches in several well-known congressional directories — information that is usually provided by members of Congress or their staffers — list McCain’s faith as the Episcopal Church. –McCain’s claim of Baptist identity raises reporter, blogger queries, September 18, 2007
But it was just last September while on a campaign stop in heavily Baptist South Carolina that McCain decided he was a Baptist.
The Arizona senator, according to the Associated Press, answered a question about how his Episcopal faith affects his decision-making by saying, “It plays a role in my life. By the way, I’m not [an] Episcopalian. I’m Baptist.†–McCain’s claim of Baptist identity raises reporter, blogger queries, September 18, 2007
But is he telling the truth?
…the vast majority of Baptist churches stipulate that in order to attain full membership individuals must have made a public profession of faith followed by baptism by immersion.
By press time for this story, Dan Yeary, the church’s pastor, did not return several telephone and Internet inquiries about McCain’s membership or the church’s baptism policy.
A statement of faith posted on North Phoenix’s website says: “In Scripture, baptism followed the decision of a person to surrender one’s self to God for salvation in Jesus Christ. Through baptism, we announce our commitment to the church and our desire to live a life following the example of Jesus Christ.â€
McCain’s campaign also did not return ABP’s inquiries about his church membership. –McCain’s claim of Baptist identity raises reporter, blogger queries, September 18, 2007
It was during the 2000 campaign that Senator John McCain sharply criticized evangelical leaders like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson calling them “agents of intolerance” and saying that they were “corrupting influences on religion and politics.” He also strongly criticized Bob Jones University, a prominently Baptist university.
Mike Huckabee has problems as well regarding his “theology degree”.
In November, while appearing on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Huckabee said, “People look at my record and say that I’m as strong on immigration, strong on terror as anybody. In fact I think I’m stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamofascism. These are people that want to kill us. It’s a theocratic war. And I don’t know if anybody fully understands that. I’m the only guy on that stage with a theology degree. I think I understand it really well. And know the threat of it is absolutely overwhelming to us.”
Last month, during the CNN YouTube debate, Huckabee responded to a question to the candidates about their belief in the Bible: “Sure. I believe the Bible is exactly what it is. It’s the word of revelation to us from God himself. … And as the only person here on the stage with a theology degree, there are parts of it I don’t fully comprehend and understand, because the Bible is a revelation of an infinite god, and no finite person is ever going to fully understand it. If they do, their god is too small.”
Governor Huckabee doesn’t have a theology degree. He only spent a year in seminary.
In the recent MTV, The Associated Press and MySpace candidates forum, Mike Huckabee says, “I always get asked the God questions,” …”it’s really been frustrating”.
I would just like to make a comment on your posting. You claim that Bob Jones University is a “prominently Baptist university.” I graduated from BJU and 1971, and I taught there until 1983. BJU is not a Baptist school. Even though a majority of the students are Baptists, the school has always been non-denominational. Our students do come from a variety of conservative churches.
Currently, I teach at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. I am the Republican Party Co-Chair in Steele County, and in last night’s precinct caucuses, Mitt Romney received the most votes in our county, as he did in Minnesota statewide. My wife and I both supported Mitt last night.
I am a fundamental Baptist, but I am supporting Mitt for as long as he is in the race.
David McGuire
Owatonna, Minnesota
I’ve never went to BJU myself, but I I have a very high opinion of BJU, and I would agree, BJU is a conservative, but non-denominational school.
I would make one correction. Huckabee didn’t spend one year in seminary. He spent 2 and a half. And from what I’ve heard, he finished his degree in 2 and a half years. If you don’t have anymore information indicating otherwise, I think it’s safe to conclude that Huckabee does have a theology degree.
Brokered Convention = Mitt decides after we have a discussion about what it means to be a Republican.
1) Republican Brokered Conventions result in wins!
Abraham Lincoln – 3rd Ballot - Won Presidency
Rutherford Hayes – 7th Ballot - Won Presidency
James Garfield - 36th Ballot - Won Presidency
Warning Harding – 10th Ballot – Won Presidency
Dwight D. Eisenhower – “2nd Ballot†– Won Presidency
2) A Brokered Convention gives conservatives a voice. A Brokered Convention gives Mitt Romney a voice. A Brokered Convention keeps media attention on the Republican party for the next 6 months for free! If we just roll over and go to sleep the media will almost solely focus on the Democratic contest.
3) McCain has to win 467 more delegates (44% of remaining delegates) to secure the nomination. Huckabee needs 639 delegates (57% of remaining delegates) to force a Brokered Convention.
4) On Super Tuesday McCain got 42% of the vote in Blue States and only 26% in Red States. Over 60% of McCain’s delegates have come from Blue States. Do we really want our candidate picked by States that we have very little chance of winning in the Fall?
5) 71% of the remaining delegates are from Red States. If we unite we can force this to a Brokered Convention.
6) During the 10 days leading up to Super Tuesday, Mitt asked Huckabee to drop out and for conservatives to unite behind him. The Golden Rule asks for “you to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.†For the sake of conservatives please support a Brokered Convention and encourage your supporters to back Huckabee. All of the Moderate and Liberal Republicans that have dropped out have endorsed McCain. Please gather the courage to rally your supporters to the conservative cause to push this to a Brokered Convention.
7) Conservatives Unite! There is still time! Win the Red States and we go to the convention for a discussion about what it means to be a Republican.
Hope this brings encouragement and hope. It is not over!
Spread the word. Feel free to repost this as a Blog Topic at will.
Please help us get John McCain into office.
Feel free to contact Michael Schuyler, National Co-Chair for Blog Out-Reach if you would like to join us.
His email spambot proofed is
Michael (at)mccainvictory08(dot)com
Thank you Pet Campbell
http://www.petsgardenblog.com
Just because Huckabee graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ouachita Baptist University in 2 1/2 years, does not mean he did not get a degree in theology. That is a terribly ignorant deduction. He went from there to Southwestern to continue his education, post-grad, degree in tact.
I highly distrust McCain because of his antievangelical words toward Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. These are people that gel their conservative political beliefs with their religious convictions. How dare he treat them as enemies.
I also graduated from Bob Jones University, and found McCain a very dishonest man. I lived in Greenville, SC when McCain dishonestly criticized Bush for speaking at BJU in front of 6000 students, when in truth he wanted to speak there as well. The truth be known, there was not a slot to add him to speak in the Amphitorium, although the shool would have allowed him the opportunity. McCain dishonstly made Bush out to be immoral by speaking there. Corrupt in my opinion.
Huckabee and Romney I both like. I wish they could be less critical of each other, especially since their stand on the issues are nearly exact. McCain is the left-winger.
Just because Huckabee graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ouachita Baptist University in 2 1/2 years, does not mean he did not get a degree in theology. That is a terribly ignorant deduction. He went from there to Southwestern to continue his education, post-grad, degree in tact.
I highly distrust McCain because of his anti-evangelical words toward Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. These are people that gel their conservative political beliefs with their religious convictions. How dare he treat them as enemies.
I also graduated from Bob Jones University, and found McCain a very dishonest man. I lived in Greenville, SC when McCain dishonestly criticized Bush for speaking at BJU in front of 6000 students, when in truth he wanted to speak there as well. The truth be known, there was not a slot to add him to speak in the Amphitorium, although the school would have allowed him the opportunity. McCain dishonstly made Bush out to be immoral by speaking there. Corrupt in my opinion.
Huckabee and Romney I both like. I wish they could be less critical of each other, especially since their stand on the issues are nearly exact. McCain is the left-winger.