Nice talk for a minister!

Strangely he pandered to African Americans at the Tavis Smiley sponsored debate. Now he panders to southern rednecks by bringing up this flag. A political chameleon. Shameless. But this issue is gonna dog him. The press won't let go. They smell blood. Especially if Obama wins.

Looks like Huck is always a couple of steps ahead of the press. While Mitt argues with them about registered Washington lobbyists who are/are not paid staff. Change? That's a good one.

The Huck is fine here. That Flag means different things to different people.

I'm not going to say that it is not time for that thing to come down. But how is it the responsibility of the Federales in the swamp know as D.C. to dictate how each and every flag of every state in the Nation looks like.

The Huck strikes the right tone here.

This is clearly an issue for the people of the great state of SC to grapple with.

If I was living there, I'd vote to fly it high over veterans memorials along with the Stars and Stripes.

i just don't think its big brothers place to boss everyone around.

Huckabee might think he's pulled a fast one which well may resonate with the remainder of South Carolina's segregationist white trash, but he just ruined any hope he has when the vote goes national on Super Duper Tuesday. Most of us enlightened folk who live outside the Mason Dixon line will be telling old racist Huck exactly where exactly he can put his Confederate pole.

What a disgusting scumbag! And he calls himself a Christian?

I knew it was just a matter of time before Huckabees's mouth would get the best of him.

His "pole" comment might play well to the low I.Q crowd in South Carolina, but the Huckster forgets that people in OTHER states will NOT be yuking it up.

Try to fix this, Ed Rollins.

people are not stupid about the flag LEE, you are. What was the flag before the civil war, huh? SC was and sorry to say stil is a state of prejudice and bigotry. It is time to remove a flag which reminds us of a time where those so-called men try to destroy our constitution which said ALL men are created equal

I actually had a lot of respect for Governor Huckabee before his Confederate Flag comments. Now I see him as fitting in the same mold as George W. Bush who went to Bob Jones University and lent credence to that racist institution and Richard Nixon whose 1968 triumph owed largely to his Southern Strategy with a wink and a nod to the "Silent Majority."

Republicans: Dinosaurs of a bygone era.

Huckabee and Romney are both in that "say whatever will get me elected" mode and I think if you really step away from the hype and look at them, neither one is a good candidate. I did have some amount of respect for Huckabee until he started in South Carolina. Many things that he has done there are both desperate and shameless. I really hope he does not win SC.

People should not be ashamed to wave the Confederate flag. It is a part of their heritage. Most Southerners can be proud of their roots and still know that it was a mistake to support slavery. Just as much as a black American can be proud of their roots in Africa and still be a proud American. I see a lot of people who have roots in other nations waving their national flag proudly in their cars and they were born in America! Some come from countries who have supported heinous things. So everyone can cut the crap on this issue. BE PROUD OF WHERE YOU ARE FROM AND YOUR ROOTS BUT ALSO REALIZE THAT NO COUNTRY OR REGION HAS A PERFECT PAST.

Huck didn't say to keep the flag or that the flag was good! The President shouldn't tell Ohio or Michigan or California what to do with their flag either. It's SC's flag, let them decide.

Judging by some of the comments here, in your minds maybe the American flag should be used as toilet paper!
I can be a proud American and realize that we don't have a perfect past nor a perfect present, but I still am proud to wave our flag!

We are with Mike Huckabee 100% We love Mikes honesty and integrity. Mike huckabee is a solid leader that received honorable mention in Time magazine for being of the 5 best Governors in America. Mike does the job right and stands up for the people.

We are absolutely voting for Mike Huckabee!

Huckabee gave the right answer. It's not up to the President to say who can fly what flag.

If this *is* the President's business, then why aren't people after Bush, Clinton, etc., for never issuing an executive order to outlaw the Confederate flag? Has every President since the Civil War been a closet racist for not outlawing it? I think not.

The oil companies are running America. When Mike Huckabee said that he would work to have America independent of mideast oil within 10 years, he made himself an enemy of the Republican establishment.

Every demeaning article about Huckabee by the media reflects the power of big oil. They need to be stopped dead in their tracks. The best way is to elect Huckabee.

Paul is a good man with the wrong ideas and he comes across as a crazy man. He is right or partly right on some issues. Huck has the complete package though and can lead this nation admirably.

If asked a question about a "state" issue there is no reason that Mike Huckabee, as a man with nothing but "state" qualifications, can't answer. He is afraid and with good reason. If he expresses his opinion he'll have show himself for what it is and he's trying to be what everyone wants and he obviously doesn't have a consensus on how he should feel. He'll tell the reporter as soon as his staff tells him how to feel.

Wow! That "pastor" without a degree is going to tell them out-of-staters where to put thier pole. I bet his sermons are really inspiring - don't fall asleep or you'll get "the pole".

The Huck pole-vaulting the shark.

To The Commander Guy.....

"Most of us enlightened folk who live outside the Mason Dixon line will be telling old racist Huck exactly where exactly he can put his Confederate pole."

Do you even realize the contradiction in your statement? If not, no worries, we can.

Mr. Huckabee is abusing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His campaign would be dead if people didn't know he was Baptist. He has very little qualifying him to do anything. By the way that "ordained Baptist Minister" apparently doesn't even have a theology degree.
Ron Paul was our best hope for improvement. Mitt Romney is looking now like the best ooption. He is a strong Christian and a very very very smart man. You don't graduate Cum Laude from Harvard and BYU without being brilliant. Get behind him if you want to do more good than the harm that Huckabee would be to this country. He'd get toasted against Hillary or Obama.

Soldier wrote: "apparently doesn't even have a theology degree."

Oh the uninformed shall troll the boards of the world...

"While Ron Paul Pawns and other anti-Huckabee folk are salivating over this hopeful lie of Huckabee’s about this theology degree, but in the end they will discover it is only exposing their ignorance.. They (like even apparently media reporting this story) show a clear misunderstand the theological world and biblical education. Biblical education and theology were a part of Huckabee’s undergraduate degree–which he obtained with an emphasis in speech and communications as well. Courses on bible and theology are required in every Christian college and university–as core requirements, despite one’s emphasis or even major. Then Huckabee completed roughly 50 units of his graduate degree in seminary. In many seminaries an M.A. can be obtained by one year’s training–sometimes two–or the equivalent of 50 or so units. There are two year Master’s degrees. Then there is a three-year Master of Divinity. A doctorate in theology can either be a D.Min (Doctorate of Ministry) or Ph.D. (Doctorate of Philosophy), depending upon the specialty–the D.Min. can also be obtained in a fairly minimal amount of time on top of a master’s degree. Bottom line, when was says one has studied theology or a degree in theology (study of God), it can mean one’s major has incorporated theology (or biblical education in it)–which Huckabee’s B.A. or B.S. did. It can also mean (as some schools) that one has studied comparative religions. It can also mean that one has studied historical or biblical theology within a degree of another emphasis. Saying one has a “degree in theology” is a very general classification. There are many forms of theology–historical, biblical, patristic, medieval, modern, etc. It would not be a lie AT ALL for Huckabee to say he had a degree in theology, when he completed his B.A. or B.S. which had biblical education courses and theology in it. In the evangelical world, to say one has a degree in theology means one has a degree in which one studied God–that is it. Huckabee did that. EVEN MORE, he completed nearly 50 units in seminary–which could give him a one-year master’s degree in many seminaries. Of course his degree plan was not one of those one-year plans, but he still did the equivalent of them. Bottom line, as I said above, it was not a lie. He did have a “degree in theology” from his undergraduate work. Even Huckabee’s aide should have known the difference and clarified that the “theology” he was speaking about was that Huckabee didn’t have a “degree in comparative religions,” which was the context of those discussions.

Huckabee’s response is therefore ACCURATE….
“I have a Bachelor of Arts in religion and a minor in communications in my undergraduate work,” Huckabee answered. “And then I have 46 hours on a master’s degree at Southwestern Theology Seminary. So, my degree as a theological degree is at the college level and then 46 hours toward a masters – three years of study of New Testament Greek, and then the rest of it, all in seminary was theological studies, but my degree was actually in religion.” [“Religion” of course being “Christianity”—which is a THEOLOGICAL study!]"

That wasn't a "Froidian slip". I meant "option" not "ooption". "As you were".

Wendy, while I will agree, the McCain / Huckabee "alliance" is a bit peculiar (and favors McCain much more than Huckabee), I just can go with you on "McCain will say do anything to become the Commander and Chief of this nation."

While he did not get my vote in MI, the man does not win Republican of the Year awards from his peers and often disagrees with constituents.

Sean is right about McCain. He has his own opinion and that is what he takes to washington. Not a real good "representative". Most people who liked him in Arizona don't anymore because he doesn't do his job - represent the state.

As an African American, I can say that the flag ticks me off royally and I am being kind. HOWEVER, I do realise that people who are alive today have relatives who fought under that flag and though I disagree with their position, it does not mean I should be able to wipe out their history. The civil war was about much more than slavery and there were blacks who fought under that flag. Those are little known but historical facts. It is a States issue and Huckabee is wise NOT to express his opinion because a President's opinion carries more weight (like it or not). And both sides just want to have that opion on THEIR side. Let the people of SC decide and let's not say that just because someone wants the flag to stay they are automatically a racist (most may be, probably are). Maybe they just don't want their history trampled on. There really is such a thing as being TOO POLITICALLY CORRECT!

Well put Robert...

Soldier, love him... hate him... Huckabee is qualified Theologian. The irony for me is I'm agnostic and arguing for the proper cred for the man.

Robert wrote:"As an African American, I can say that the flag ticks me off royally and I am being kind. HOWEVER, I do realise that people who are alive today have relatives who fought under that flag and though I disagree with their position, it does not mean I should be able to wipe out their history. The civil war was about much more than slavery and there were blacks who fought under that flag. Those are little known but historical facts. It is a States issue and Huckabee is wise NOT to express his opinion because a President's opinion carries more weight (like it or not). And both sides just want to have that opion on THEIR side. Let the people of SC decide and let's not say that just because someone wants the flag to stay they are automatically a racist (most may be, probably are). Maybe they just don't want their history trampled on. There really is such a thing as being TOO POLITICALLY CORRECT!"
Well, Robert, it is nice to hear a voice of reason from a black guy (I am guessing you are black because I have white friends from Africa who could be called "African Americans"). As an American of no particular continental ancestry I think Mike side stepped the question. You are right that it is not a Presidential question but it would have been a good opportunity to weigh in on and tell about his perspective as a man from the South.

Thank you Sean for your comment on the last post.

There are no perfect candidates out there. I am already "wierd" in a lot of circles because I'm a repub and an African American. I think Gov Huckabee shows the right balance on Social and economic issues. People concentrate on his being a pastor but he was a Gov for 10 years and surely the people of Ark aren't crazy enough to keep a "christian Zealot" in office that long. Maybe he means what he says and works at what is best for the people. I believe that to be the case and that's why he gets my vote tommorrow. I hope he wins but please. ANYBODY BUT MCCAIN!

Soldier, yes I am black, colored, african American all those things we have been in America over time. Anyway, it would be nice if the Gov could be that transparent but he can't because the media would take his position and run with it, disect it and make into what they want, not to mention what the side to which is opinion benefited would do. He is no longer just a man from the south. He is a man from the south running for president. That's the reality and the fact that he was aware enough not to be sucked in by the reporter should speak volumes in a positive way. Oh by the way, there are plenty of us black folks we just don't have the forum of Jackson & Sharpton et al.

Agreed Rob, the question is Bush League and is politically loose loose if answered.

As always, the huck is nothing more then a snake. He push polls,then denies he's doing it. He shows an attack ad to the media he's not going to use because he's too nice of a guy. He makes snide comments and then tries to act innocent about it. He lets criminals go and pays for illegals benefits [not their tax money] now he wants to send em all back. This guy is a joke. This crap may have worked when he was the media liaison for his religious organization, and his followers may think he's being clever, but the rest of us view this puke with ever greater disgust. He's bad for the republican party and he bad for the image of evangelicals.

Robert, he (Mike H.)was wise to sidestep what may have been a trap but I would still like to know how he feels about it. There seem to be a lot of things that he avoids. What I like about Mitt is that he isn't afraid to talk and reason through issues - whatever they are.

If all that is true, why did the voters in his state have him as governor for over 10 years? Why did he win Iowa? Why does he have the 2nd most delegates? Why will he win SC?

Soldier, Mitt is kinda like a pancake to me. you know it's good to eat but you have to admit that you have to flip it a few times before it's ready to consume and is it REALLY good for you or just good! Mitt seems a little to slick in some cases. Like he is trying to hard and is talking seems most of the time trying to see if the person he is talking to is nodding his/her head and then he'll know how or what to keep talking about. But with all that said, he is my second choice because I think he could win in November and I think he probably would be a good president. I just wish he came across a little better.

Wow...as someone who has been totally Pro Huckabee and Pro Bush ...I have too say I am disappointed he would even make mention of that issue. And I agree that as someone representing himself to be a Chrisian Leader that that kind of talk about where they can put the pole in unneccasary, inflammatory, and in really poor taste. I speak as a fundamentalist, evangelical...I am really disappointed in some of Governor Huckabee's remarks as of late and think I may throw my support behind Ron Paul who seems to be a little more thoughtful and weighs his words before he speaks.

What comments Tim?

"Hickabee will soon be back in Arkansas, anyway.a beautiful state. He is not ready for prime time."

So they said of Bill Clinton...

Soldier
He won Iowa because Iowa is the belt buckle of the bible belt. [I'm in Iowa so I know] His support in Iowa was purely the evangelical vote. This is not speculation, the numbers bear it out. [He tried the same trick in MI, but you have to give the folks there credit for intelligence] He'll win in SC for the same reason. [unless Mc Cain kicks his heinie, then he's done]. He won because evangelicals don't believe in the seperation of church and state ans so pastors will publicly encourage their flock to support hucky.He panders to the evangelical vote. But they can't elect him on their own, so I don't think he can carry a nomination off. and in the unlikly event he does receive the nomination, the dems will have him for lunch. Why else is the liberal media giving him a pass, the Dems would love to have this big ol target.
huck wasn't elected for the first term as gov of Arkansas. Why he was elected after that is anyone's guess. [espically considering the tax hikes and ethics violations] I know there are a lot of folks from Arkansas who dont like him. BTW he rewarded the good citizens of Arkansas by cleaning out the gov's mansion and destroying the hard drives of the state owned computers when he left office.
But of course I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know.

Sean - i referred to "they would tell them where they could stick the pole"...but whatever...The more I read about Ron Paul I just think..hey this guy is willing to go against the tide and not pander to political pressue. I went down to the Iowa victory celebration for Huckabee and they are good people and Huck is a good guy but I think he has to be a little more careful with his quips. I do think he means well but he likes attention a little too much maybe...don't we all sometimes. But for instance ...you don't need to have Chuck Norris on the campaign trail with you at all times...it's a little tacky...don't get me wrong..I like chuck very much..but people want to see you stand on your own 2 feet. There are some other issues...like he is against vouchers and school choice. I think that is a bad direction. I was going to be a Huckabee deleate...and still may be...but when you are representing people especially the way he is...he needs to be real careful about what he says. None of us are perfect though, ven non-politicians so I will cut him a little slack. I will say I was impressed with some of the things I read on Ron Paul's Website. I still like them both. Plus, in regard to the war- I don not think you can plant a democracy in a Muslim dominated nation. It's just not realistic. The Muslim religion by nature does not allow for self criticism like Protestant christian religion. The very fact that we are religiously rooted in "PROTEST"ant ideology which is more conducive to a democracy better allows for freedom of expression even though we do not have to agree. The Protestant religion is a much better foundation for democracy than any other because while it understands the true "sin"nature of man to seek out his own interert, in even the best Christian men sometimes, and hence the need for the seperation of powers to keep this "nature" in check with the 3 branches of government and the balancing of Powers.

Well...Fred isn't bad but he only seems to be runnning for President when the cameras are rolling. I like the idea of getting back to the constitution and just because we violate for "good" reasons seta a bad precedent for a future administration who violates it to support their "good causes"..ie enforcing what they call hate crimes and what we call biblical teaching. If we violate it doing wire taps to "fight" terrorists then they may justify themselves in fighting the culture war. Bush(Cheney) has really put the republican party in a bad spot in some ways. Out of control spending etc.
You can't get more "evnagelical/fundamentalist" then my younger brother and I. IE. we believe that Jesus was the real deal(more than any politician WILL EVER BE! He is a pastor. So yesterday I was somewhat shocked when he told me that he was supporting Ron Paul. My point is evangelicals unlike the media tries to portray them, are all over the map in relation to who they are voting for. I hate how they try to pigeonhole us. Why doesn't the media ever talk about how Hillary courts the homosexual activists vote or the secular/atheists vote. There is such a hatchet job going on in the media towrds evangelicals it is sickening...but yet to be expected.

Tim, while I would like to see the Muslim Democracy experiment have a bit more time, I really cant disagree with anything else you said. Nice post.

Tim, I agree with you about the hatchett job on we who believe. I too am an associate pastor of a local church in Rock Hill, SC. I don't think we should all vote as a block, however, Ron Paul has some decidely unbiblical views, especially is non support of Israel which as an evangelical you know is not what we should do. Look on You Tube and find his comments concerning this. That along with his wanting to legalize drugs, not overturn roe v wade and others make it very difficult to see how any evangelical could vote for him. It's like I say to my friend and family who fit the sterotype of being democrats. Why? Does the person you support agree with you on the fundamental principle ideas that you have. Tim, I just can't believe that you or your brother would agree with turning your back on Israel especially in light of what the bible says about those who stand with her. I ask you both to do further research. However, thank God we live in a country where we a free to agree to disagree and can still vote as we choose without fear.

I'm black and I don't see it as a racist thing, I see it as a national unity thing. The confederacy lost. This is the United states, you have yoru state flag for your identity, you don't get to have another national flag.

Rob, I do vote in fear... Hillary's running ;)

TOUCHE' Sean...good point indeed! Louis, your point is well taken too, however it is no longer a national flag. It is a state flag. Yes, it stood for a nation but no longer. We do fly the flag of the U.S. because we are still part of the Union. However, like every state, we have a seperate state flag that we are discussing and the people of this state should decide its fate.

I have enjoyed our discussion. Gov Huckabee will be in our city tonight and I am on the greeting committee for his last appearance here before the primary tommorrow. I ask that, if you are so inclined, you pray for our nation. I believe Hillary and Bill Clinton are dangerous...truly dangerous and while Barack stirs some pride within me because we share a common heritage, his views are far to liberal and damaging to this nation (though there is something about him that does draw you...). So we are left with looking, from my opinion, at the Repubs. I am a proud Huckabee supportor but more than that I am for a country that will allow its citizens to live free from undo government intervention. The government is not our mother, father or God and such should stay out of our personal business. Keep our taxes as low as possible, our military as strong as possible and make sure that we abide under the principles outlined in the constitution. We don't have any perfect candidate out there, however I implore you to do all YOU can to keep the Billary out of the White House. God Bless all of you and God Bless America!!

Sean, I'll tell the Gov Huckabee you said hello!!

Whether or not it's a Presidential issue
or not, the question is Relevant!
Just give an opinion Mr Huckabee!
The answer should be very simple:
the Confederate flag may be a part of
South Carolina and Southern History in general but it should Not be Flown anywhere in 2008!
It should be shown in a museum but not flown! real simple, Huck!

Wow Robert. I'm not sure what kind of "christian" you are but asking every person to pray for God to decide our election is pretty scary. And you want us to all pray so Huckabee can, among other things, "lower our taxes." Don't you think the good Lord has better things to do than worry about the size of our taxes? You really are nothing more than a Christian version of the Taliban. Pretty scary stuff. The God that most of us pray to (about alleviating sickness, poverty, and suffering and not our 1040s) isn't taking either side in this or any other of our elections. You should be ashamed of yourself for invoking God's name in vain.

Facts....inconvenient things. The reality of this manufactured controversy:

In the first place, the official State flag of South Carolina has nothing to do with the Confederate flag. It is a blue flag with a palmetto tree and crescent moon on it, and it dates back to the Revolution.

The Confederate battle flag was flown over the SC State house, beginning in 1961, on the centennial of the beginning of the War Between The States, as a memorial to the many Confederates (black and white) from South Carolina who died in that War. It flew there for nearly 40 years without causing comment, until a political organization decided it could make a divisive political issue out of it. They also attacked the official flags of the States of Georgia (adopted 50 years ago) and Mississippi (adopted over 100 years ago), which incorporated the Confederate battle emblem on them. Mississippi was the ONLY State where the people were allowed to vote on the issue, and they voted overwhelmingly to keep their flag, even in predominantly black districts. In Georgia, a considerable amount of political trickery by dishonest politicians lead to the replacing of the State flag twice....and also to the defeat of two governors. The people were not allowed to vote.

In South Carolina, the people were not allowed to vote, either. As a "compromise" amongst the politicians, the flag was removed from the State House dome, and placed near the monument to the Confederate dead on the State House grounds in 2001. Despite the fact that the anti-flag people had first proposed this "compromise," once it was done, they continued to protest the presence of the flag anywhere on the State House ground....You see, they'd found stirring up antagonism and unnecessary controversy quite profitable.

At the time all this started, I stated repeatedly that if we allowed the lies about the flag to stand, if we allowed people to falsely defame it, and force us to remove it....and dishonor our ancestors, then NO monument to the Confederacy would be safe....up to, and including, the graves of dead Confederates. At the time, I actually thought I was exaggerating a bit....However, to my shock, I've learned I was exactly right. There have been demands that a dead Confederate general and his family be DUG UP and moved from a park in Memphis. There has also been a greatly increased amount of vandalism of Confederate monuments and CEMETERIES all across the South.

Even the dead aren't safe from this vicious, bigoted hatred. And the sad and tragic thing about it is that all of it is based on lies about what the war was really about....and an ignorance of the many brave Southerners, of ALL races, who fought, bled and died for that flag.

In memory of: John Stearns (1829-1865, dead at Petersburg), Dulin Stearns (1836-1863, dead at Petersburg), Jacob Stearns (1839-1863, dead at Chancellorsville), Brown Stearns (1843-1863, dead at Chancellorsville)....four brothers from a family who owned no slaves. And Joseph Beachum (1833-1865, dead at Elmira), James Alexander Beachum (1827-1865, dead at Elmira), William Henry Beachum (1840-1862, dead at Stones River) and James Martin Beachum (1845-1862, dead at Goldsboro), also from a family that owned no slaves. And James Simpson Van Pelt (1822-1864, dead at Richmond) and Hugh Franklin Van Pelt (1835-1863, dead at Chancellorsville) also from a family that owned no slaves. And William Benton Field (1836-1865, dead at Bentonville), Gavin H. Lindsay (1832-1866, dead of mistreatment while a prisoner, one of "the immortal 600"), James Gretter Lindsay (1844-1864, dead at the Wilderness) John Henry Morehead (1830-1863, dead in Virginia), Robert Henry Lindsay (1838-1861, dead of fever in Virginia), John Austin Lindsay (1842-1864, dead in Virginia), Benton Craven (1836-1862, dead in Virginia), Lydia Field Noland (1863-1863, dead at Vicksburg).....and Mary Starnes King (1814-1865) and Sarah McLendon Taylor (1805-1865) who died of starvation in the wake of Sherman's March. And that's just a sampling of SOME of my relatives who died for that flag.

Huck's an idiot! The State flag of South Carolina looks NOTHING like the Confederate flag. The Confederate flag was placed on top of the State House in the 60's to show solidarity for State sponsored segregation in the South. It was placed their as a racist symbol. When people argue that it is heritage not hate is the biggest crock of s###. Heritage of what, a war that THE SOUTH LOST? Is that why Southerners fly it, to remember their beat down? I think not. Yeee Hawwww!

The republicans conquered that flag during the Republican War of Northern Aggression.

Correction:

IT HAS NOT... BEEN THERE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR IT WAS PUT THERE IN THE 1960S!

One more thing. To the press.. stick around in South Carolina come Monday for Martin Luther King Day. Watch how much they love to show their heritage on the back of their trucks that day!!!

The only people offended by the CONFEDERATE flag are LIBERALS. Most people really don't care.

"The only people offended by the CONFEDERATE flag are LIBERALS"

that's one big ol' idiotic umbrella, there.How fitting that you call yourself Southern. I'm a >gasp< liberal, and I'm not necessarily offended by the confederate flag, at all. As with any flag it means different things to different people.
No comment on the Huck - there's just something that isn't right about him - and that's all I can say - he's just like almost everyone else you CONSERVATIVES vote into office.
(how's that for an umbrella?)

Huck is a fruit cake.