Political positions of Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee is the former Governor of Arkansas and currently a candidate for Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Huckabee is considered both economically and socially conservative.[1]
Social issues
Abortion
Mike Huckabee is an outspoken opponent of abortion in all forms, and has said that it will certainly be a good day for America when Roe v. Wade is repealed.[2] He has also said that being pro-life means improving life after birth, and that public funding for abortion organizations needs to be eliminated.
Embryonic stem cell research
Huckabee has said that embroyonic stem cell research creates life only to end a life.[2] He applauded President Bush’s veto of legislation meant to loosen federal funding for embryonic stem cell research in June of 2007, saying that the bill was wrong on moral grounds and based on inconclusive science. He also said that he expected scientists to develop other types of stem cell research that would not require the use of a human embryo. He said that "vital scientific research can and is being conducted without the destruction of life."[3]
Civil rights
Mike Huckabee has voiced support for marriage to be limited to one man and one woman. He says that we should respect gay couples, but no gay adoptions should take place. He signed legislation outlawing same-sex marriage in Arkansas. He has called for more federal funding of IDEA for disabled education, and supports principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment.[2]
Crime and drugs
Huckabee said that he supports the death penalty, but only reluctantly. He believes that eliminating parole gives no incentive for rehabilitation, and believes that more prisons should be built, and their management should be privatized.[2] He supports flexible federal block grants for crime programs, and supports tougher juvenile crime penalties, but believes that the states should set them. Huckabee supports drug courts for non-violent drug offenders, believes that drug education fails and drug punishment works, and that stricter penalties for drug-related crimes should be enforced.
Education
Huckabee does not believe in evolution.[2] He believes that incorporating character education into school curriculums is necessary, and that when schools fail, the whole school board should be replaced. He supports charter schools, and the displaying of the Ten Commandments in schools.
Environment
Mike Huckabee believes that Americans should follow the Boy Scout rule: "leave the earth better than we found it." He supported conserving the Buffalo River in north Arkansas against dams, ans supports the State Revolving Loan Fund for flexible clean water.[2] He also supports the national drought policy.
Gun control
Huckabee has voiced his support for self-defense and the castle doctrine, and has generally taken an anti-gun control stance. He believes that the concealed carrying of weapons should be allowed.[2]
Immigration
Huckabee sees problems with the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform. He believes that the rule barring immigrants from running for president should be changed, and that costs of legal immigration should be shared between the state and federal government.[2]
Economic issues
Budget and economy
Mike Huckabee has a pro-business record, and has said that Wal-Mart is the case study in the genius of the American marketplace. He believes that consumerism is addictive but tranquility is immaterial.[2]
Tax reform
Huckabee has voiced support for the FairTax system, and wants to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service. He has called FairTax the flatter, fairer, finite, family friendly overhaul. He was the first Governor of Arkansas in history to lower taxes. He raised taxes 5 times as Governor, but lowered them 94 times. He supports the removal of the poorest taxpayers from the tax rolls, and believes in no national sales tax. He also believes that states should independently determine estate taxes.[2]
National security
Mike Huckabee is supportive of the War in Iraq, and says that the war should not be judged while we're in the it. He believes that opposition of the President's troop surge is dangerous, and that the job in Iraq must be finished and finished right. He believes that states should be included in anti-terrorism planning[2] Huckabee said that the Iraqi government has been disappointing, but we can't get up and pull out. He has insisted that neighboring countries should assist the effort militarily and financially.