2/5/08
McCain calls Romney a flip-flopper. Romney calls McCain a liberal. Clinton says Obama is inexperienced. Obama says he is not sure which Clinton he is running against. Amidst all the negative ads, under-the-belt blows, and character assassinations we have endured every time we turn on the news over the last few months, Mike Huckabee is like a breath of fresh air.
I can sit here and write about all of the flaws and weaknesses of each and every candidate in this presidential race. But that's not what Mike Huckabee is all about. While all the others fight about who is more conservative or more liberal – exasperating the existing partisan divide in this country, Mike is trying to lead the country in a different direction. He talks about vertical politics – bringing Americans together to make this country a better place – after sixteen years of administrations which have torn this country apart. We have spent too much time mocking Clinton and bashing Bush. We need someone who will unite us towards a common goal.
Change has become the 'buzz-word' of this political season, but for Mike it's a lot more than just talk. He has already achieved great things as a bipartisan governor in Arkansas, and he has concrete and realistic plans to make this country better as president.
Among other things, as governor, Huckabee pushed education reforms that greatly increased educational opportunities through charter schools; he passed legislation that provided 70,000 poor children with healthcare; he provided $90 million in tax relief for middle-class families; and most importantly, he created the Healthy Arkansas initiative, an effort to encourage Arkansans to stop smoking, exercise more and eat healthier.
For Mike, healthcare is not just about insurance premiums and hospital-accessibility.
He recognizes that this country has a serious health crisis, and you must go to the root of the problem to repair it. In 2003, Mike was diagnosed with Type II diabetes, and doctors told him that if he didn't make drastic changes in his lifestyle he would surely die young. Like millions of Americans, Mike was morbidly obese, and this was the wake-up call he needed. Through rigorous exercise and healthy eating, the governor lost 110 pounds, and competed in four marathons over the next two years. (He will also be running in the Boston Marathon on April 21st.) We need a health revolution in this country, and Mike is ready to lead it.
This is the kind of role model this nation needs, at a time when we are collectively in need of a wake-up call. We need a leader with unwavering principles, a leader who can provide inspiration, and - most importantly - a leader who will lead through example.
Mike is no ordinary politician. I had the opportunity to meet him in New Hampshire a few weeks ago, and I have heard him speak - in person and on television - numerous times. You are not going to hear many flashy slogans and political rhetoric from Mike. He is down-to-earth, genuine, and humble. If there is anything we desperately need in this country it's a leader with humility, honesty and integrity. Even if you disagree with him on an issue or two, at least you can always trust him.
Of course, issues are important as well in the elections, and everyone has their pet-peeve. Mike takes a very realistic approach to every one of them.
Abortion? Yes, Mike has consistently been pro-life, and wants to stop the use of abortion as a convenient form of birth-control. At the same time, he is committed to doing everything possible to help raise these children, and make sure the government does not abandon them at birth.
Immigration? Mike sees border security as a top priority. You can't fight terrorism overseas, while your borders are wide-open at home. As president, he is committed to building a fence on the Mexican border, enforcing the existing immigration laws on businesses which undercut their competition by hiring illegal immigrants, and force those who entered this country illegally to "get in the back of the line" if they wish to become citizens.
Education? We must provide children with the opportunity to develop the creative abilities that are necessary in the modern job market. We must allow parents to choose what is the best option for educating their child – whether its home-schooling, charter schools, or public schools. We must judge their success by the results, not by the money invested.
These are just a few examples of his views on the issues. (For more, you can go to www.mikehuckabee.com). As an Israeli-American veteran of the IDF with family in Israel, his views on Israel are very important to me as well. In my view, Mike is the only candidate who fully understands the nature of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and has a realistic approach to solving it. While everyone else says they are pro-Israel, all the candidates essentially support a continuation of the failed Clinton-Bush 'land-for-peace' formula of the last 15 years. Only Mike acknowledges that it is unrealistic to create a radical Islamic state alongside Israel in an area the size of New Jersey. There are 22 Arab countries, and they have to be part of the solution.
Everyone has their pet-peeve issue, but I look for the full package. Mike is smart, but he is humble. He is principled, but he is compassionate. He has the political skills to lead, but he has the humility to listen.
Today, I will be casting my vote for Mike Huckabee, and I encourage you to join me in helping lead America in a more positive direction.