Ron Paul or Mike Huckabee, Who’s Scarier?

Scary Pumpkins & Scary Politicians

Jonah Goldberg asserts in his Friday article, titled “Ron Paul isn’t that scary", that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is scarier than Ron Paul. Why is this so? I agree with Goldberg that Ron Paul’s ideas on foreign policy are why I would not vote for him. He does have some good ideas related to reducing the size and scope of government, however. I also like his ideas regarding abolishing the IRS and withdrawing from the UN.

I am more interested, however, in what Goldberg had to say about Huckabee, because I have strongly considered voting for him in the presidential primary election. Here are a couple of things he writes about Huckabee:

“. . . What's troubling about The Man From Hope 2.0 is what he 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 to bring us closer to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. "

Frankly, I have had quite enough of President George Bush's so-called compassionate conservatism these past 7 years. It has expanded government far too much and has not accomplished much more than deficit expansion.

Goldberg continues. “Whatever shortcomings Paul and his friends might have, Paul's dogma generally renders those shortcomings irrelevant. He is a true ideologue in that his personal preferences are secondary to his philosophical principles.”

By contrast Goldberg contends that Huckabee’s overall philosophy, like most politicians, is ruled more by his personal preference and less by principle.

“ . . . Huckabee's philosophy is conventionally liberal, or progressive. What he wants government to do certainly differs in important respects from what Hillary Clinton wants, but the limits he would place on governmental do-goodery are primarily tactical or practical, not philosophical or constitutional. This isn't to say he -- or Hillary -- is a would-be tyrant, but simply to note that the progressive notion of the state as a loving, caring parent is becoming a bipartisan affair . . .”

I think Goldberg makes some good points about Huckabee in his article. What attracted me to vote for Huckabee at the Value Voters straw poll last month was his strong stands on the social issues. I am finding out more and more that he is weak on immigration, the role of the federal government and his apparent proclivity and susceptibility to the persuasion of environmental radical ideas.