Illinois black conservative leader Dr. Eric Wallace is the publisher of Freedom Journal's Magazine, has previously served on the Republican National Committee's and the Illinois Republican Party's Outreach Committee. Over the years, he also has run for Congress in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District, state senate and lieutenant governor. Friday morning, Dr. Wallace endorsed Republican candidate Mike Huckabee for President.
In a world that has many challenges, both foreign and domestic, I believe our next president should be a person who has been tried and tested politically, morally grounded and Constitutionally sound. I believe former Gov. Mike Huckabee meets these criteria.
Tried and Tested Politically
What I mean by this criterion is that with all the dangers from ISIS (Daesh), Russia and China we need someone who is not a novice. Don’t get me wrong anyone applying for the job of President will on some level experience on the job training, especially as it relates to foreign policy. However, we now have a president with very little experience, which has lead to some disastrous unintended consequences. So, I believe we need someone who has the moral fortitude, experience and backbone to not shrink back in a time of confronting our adversaries.
Gov. Huckabee has faced down and won against one of the most vicious, morally challenged, and ruthless political machines in the USA—the Clintons. As Governor of Arkansas he battled Hillary, Bill, and the democratic establishment controlling the state. He has had to work with a state legislature controlled by Democrats to get things done. It’s under these conditions that he served as Gov. of Arkansas from 1996-2007. You can examine his record of accomplishments here. The question we need to ask ourselves, is whom do we want facing down our foreign adversaries when “push comes to shove”? Huckabee has been tried and tested in his dealings with the Clintons and the democrat party of Arkansas. He has worked with those who disagree with him on policy, yet made strides implementing conservative ideas. The same temperament and experience will come in handy as the next president has to navigate turbulent foreign policy defending our friends and standing resolute against our enemies.
Morally Grounded
As an ordained minster myself, and a biblical scholar, I appreciate his background as an ordained minister who has entered the political arena. I believe that makes him less susceptible to the corruption in Washington D.C. I also think that it puts him in good company with the founding fathers who were minister’s of the gospel or at least men of faith. As John Adams said, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” To promote a “moral and religious” people it might be helpful if we had someone in the White House that actually believed and demonstrated these ideas with the courage of his convictions. Robert Winthrop, Speaker of the U. S. House said, “Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet.”
I believe Gov. Huckabee is a man controlled by the a power within him, the Word of God animated by the Spirit of God. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” We need a president who understands this and lives out his faith before us all.
Constitutionally sound
Our next president needs to be able to follow the United States Constitution. I truly believe Gov. Huckabee understands that this country is run by the rule of law, which distinguishes three bodies of government. The Legislative branch writes legislation not the courts. Nor, does the executive branch create law by executive fiat. There is a system of “checks and balances” that maintains stability that makes our country great. Gov. Huckabee has made it clear that he disagrees with the Supreme Court’s legislating from the bench maintaining Obamacare and creating same sex marriage without constitutional authority. His social conservatism is unrivaled understanding that our social norms should not be undone by the courts or the president.
However, there is another area of constitutional understanding that he brings to the table that has gotten very little notoriety. His support of the Fair Tax or consumption tax. The founding fathers spoke about this in the Federalist Papers. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay wrote short essays defending the constitution to help with its ratification in the New York convention. Hamilton refers to a consumption tax in Federalist paper #21. He talks about the federal government raising revenue and doing so fairly. He states, “It is a signal advantage of taxes on articles of consumption, that they contain in their own nature a security against excess. They prescribe their own limit; which cannot be exceeded without defeating the end proposed, that is, an extension of the revenue….If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds.”
In other words the consumption tax helps keep taxation low because if the tax is too high people will purchase less of the product and therefore less tax revenue will be collected. Hence, there is a built in balance with a consumption tax. The founding fathers understood this having been over taxed by the British whom they vanquished.
Huckabee supports a consumption tax that would bring economic prosperity to our nation that is especially vital now like at no other time before. To start with, the Fair Tax doesn’t care how much money you make. It doesn’t tax labor, income, productivity, savings or investment. It taxes consumption. The amount of tax paid is based on the amount of money you spend on products and services. This helps the poor in several ways: 1) They get to keep all their earnings; with no money deducted for federal taxes. 2) Under the Fair Tax, the poor pay no net taxes. 3) The cost of hiring new employees is reduced because businesses aren’t required to pay FICA. Thus, the cost for doing business is reduced for both the “Mom and Pop” store, as well as the “Big box” chains. 4) Easy compliance for everyone makes doing business more profitable and thus stimulates the economy. 5) Capital gains taxes are abolished, which brings home corporate money hiding overseas, which in the long run boosts the economy.
The Fair Tax also increases incentive to work for everyone. No longer will “Uncle Sam” unduly hold your money. Your earnings can work for you in savings and investments without worrying about capital gains taxes. Both poor and rich will be dealt with fairly. Prosperity will lift everyone’s standard of living. While it won’t ensure economic parity—it will increase opportunity and economic viability, which is what we really want. It will increase the incentive for the poor to move from poverty to prosperity. It will increase hiring, savings, investments, and more; and will with it, harness the earning potential and productivity of every American from the richest to the poorest. The dis-incentivizing of taxes on wealth creation will disappear opening the door to economic empowerment for all. One last thing, IT GETS RID OF THE IRS. There are already two bills in congress H.R. 25 for the House and S.B. 155 in the Senate.
Although a consumption tax is not in the Constitution, it was supported by its signers as evidenced in the Federalist papers.
In Conclusion
I am aware that there are a number of good candidates running for the GOP presidential nomination. This endorsement is not to disparage any of them. This article is to proclaim that one man stands head and shoulders above the rest if you’re comparing apples to apples. I’d hate to see conservatives, in general and the Christian conservatives, in particular, run after candidates who have not proven themselves in the past. Or as a party, do what the Democrats did in 2008 and run after the promise of “hope and change” that nobody really every received. It’s time, instead, to pay close attention to whom we want to lead the free world. We need to remember that popular opinion and bloviating does not make for good parameters in picking a president.
I also understand that the polls have others in the lead, but I’m not one who follows the crowd. I hope your aren’t either. I am reminded of when Israel was trying to pick a new King after Saul. The Prophet Samuel went to the house of Jesse and began to call forward the elder brothers of David. Then God spoke to Samuel, “…Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Our prayer should be, ‘Lord help us select our next president by his/her heart.’ I believe I have seen the heart of Mike Huckabee. I see a man who loves the Lord, his family and his country. He is ready to lead the free world. I see a person who has been tried and tested politically, morally grounded and Constitutionally sound. That’s why I’m endorsing Mike Huckabee for President of the United States.
Please just ask yourself one question and answer it honestly. When Mike Huckabee was governor of Arkansas, did he govern like a conservative or did he raise taxes and play along with Democrats in the legislature to duck important issues of conservative principles? The honest answer is that he talks a good game now but when he had the chance to govern he was not a conservative.
Give specifics Mark. HUckabee’s website says he was: The first Governor of Arkansas to pass a broad-based tax cut in the history of the state.
Doubled the standard deduction for individuals and married couples, doubled the childcare tax credit, and eliminated the marriage penalty.
Eliminated the capital gains tax on the sale of a home.
Eliminated the state income tax for families below the poverty line.
Reduced the capital gains tax for businesses and individuals.
Indexed the income tax to protect people from paying higher taxes because of “bracket creep.”
Left the state with almost a $1 billion surplus – a state record.
Urged that the surplus should go back to the taxpayers in the form of a rebate or tax cut.
Is he lying about his record? Exactly what taxes did he raise and what conservative principles did he duck?
Regardless of what he did as governor, some of which smells of big government, does his share of responsibility for the rape and murder of a Missouri woman count for nothing?
http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/web-special-dumond-case-revisited/Content?oid=862759
Regardless of what he says now about illegal immigration, as governor of Arkansas he built a facility for the Mexican Consulate in Arkansas using tax payer money.
He supported President Bush’s diabolical comprehensive immigration scheme.
It’s not what he says, it’s what he has done in the past
Sam, I wasn’t aware of this story. It’s very sad and unfortunate. But here is Huckabee’s response to the allegations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1d9t534C_E
With regard to the “big government” comment please enlighten me to what you are referring. Are you talking about these actions:
Cut the state capital gains tax rate by 25%.
Abolished capital gains taxes on home sales.
Abolished the state marriage penalty tax.
Pushed a $90 million tax cut package through the Arkansas legislature in 1997.
From 1995 to 2005, cut taxes 90 times, returning nearly $400 million to taxpayers ($378 to be exact).
Indexed income tax brackets to inflation, thus protecting taxpayers from being pushed into higher tax brackets by inflation.
Doubled the child-care tax credit.
Increased the tax deduction for single individuals to $2,000.
Increased the tax deduction for married couples to $4,000.
Proposed cutting the executive branch from 50 departments to 10.
Banned illegal aliens from getting drivers licenses.
Reduced state welfare
Helped pass an unborn child amendment to the state constitution.
Helped pass a traditional marriage amendment to the state constitution.
Pushed through a property owners’ bill of rights that limited property tax hikes and protected homeowners from unfair tax assessments.
Pushed through homeschooling-friendly legislation.
Limited the increase in the overall rate of state spending to 4.9% (AFI)–not bad, considering that he was dealing with a Democratic legislature.
Protected gun manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits.
Removed restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders.
Pushed through legislation that allowed the state to fire school boards and school superintendents in school districts that were chronically performing badly.
When faced with a $227 million deficit for fiscal year 2002, refused to call for a tax increase and instead called for a massive cut in state spending.
(Taken from http://www.thetruthaboutmikehuckabee.com/)
If this is big government give me more of it. So someone, anyone, please list for me and others what big government things Huckabee did or how he ducks conservative principles?
Rick, I asked his campaign about this allegation and here is the response: “This spurious attack is fabricated based upon remarks made by someone in his administration at the time about a bill that never came to fruition. The heart of this attack is that Governor Huckabee is some how an advocate or supporter of illegal immigration which couldn’t be further from the truth. It is an outrage that Governors all across the nation have been forced to deal with the consequences of the federal government’s blatant disregard for the law and failure to secure our borders. As President, Governor Huckabee will oppose amnesty and government benefits for illegal immigrants who violated our laws, repeal Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders, and secure our border. He has gone so far as to commit that he would secure the border in a single year and to move the DHS Secretary to Laredo and not allow a return until the border is secure. That is why he has the support of leading immigration reform activists like former San Diego Congressman Duncan Hunter, Sr who spend a career on the front lines fighting to secure our borders.”
If Gov. Huckabee was so ‘big-governmant’, as suggested by some commenters above, why has the State of Arkansas changed so much from the ‘state of Clinton’ to the State it is today, where the Democrat Party is nearly abandoned?
[ http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4528649 ]
During hurricane Katrina Governor Huckabee opened every camp in the state to take those who had lost everything. This was thinking on your feet. He is who we need for president