As the hopeless but energetic presidential campaign of Rep. Ron Paul
(R-Texas) builds momentum in name recognition, fundraising and
cross-ideology appeal, some conservatives are beginning to attack him in
earnest. A GOP consultant condemns Paul's "increasingly leftish" positions.
Syndicated columnist Mona Charen calls Paul "too cozy with kooks and
conspiracy theorists." Film critic and talk-radio host Michael Medved looks
over Paul's supporters and finds "an imposing collection of neo-Nazis, white
supremacists, Holocaust deniers, 9/11 'truthers' and other paranoid and
discredited conspiracists."
For the most part, these allegations strike me as overblown and unfair. But,
for argument's sake, let's say they're not. Let's even say that Paul has the
passionate support of the Legion of Doom, that his campaign lunchroom looks
like the "Star Wars" cantina, and that his top advisors have hooves instead
of feet.
Well, I would still find him less scary than Mike Huckabee.
While many are marveling at Paul's success at breaking out of the
tinfoil-hat ghetto, Huckabee's story is even more remarkable. The former
Arkansas governor and Baptist minister is polling in second place in Iowa
and could conceivably win there. He's still a long shot to take the
nomination and a pipe dream to take the presidency, but Huckabee matters in
a way that Paul still doesn't. One small indicator of Huckabee's relevance:
His presidential opponents are attacking Huckabee while ignoring Paul like
he's an eccentric sitting too close to you on the bus.
What's so scary about Huckabee? Personally, nothing. He seems a charming,
decent, friendly, pious man.
What's troubling about The Man From Hope 2.0 is what he represents. Huckabee
represents compassionate conservatism on steroids. A devout social
conservative on issues such as abortion, school prayer, homosexuality and
evolution, Huckabee's a populist on economics, a fad-follower on the
environment and an all-around do-gooder who believes that the biblical
obligation to do "good works" extends to using government - and your tax
dollars - to bring us closer to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
For example, Huckabee would support a nationwide ban on public smoking. Why?
Because he's on a health kick, thinks smoking is bad and believes the
government should do the right thing.
And therein lies the chief difference between Paul and Huckabee. One is a
culturally conservative libertarian. The other is a right-wing progressive.
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