Back with a Bang

I'm burning with topics to write about, talk about, and shout about! I'll dive back into my blogging with a bang here: let's talk politics. I've kept abreast of the presidential race for some time now, and tend to be the one who keeps my parents — and some others too :) — informed. Some of you may recall my excitement a year ago at Brownback's candidacy early in the presidential race. Needless to say, since he dropped much has changed since then. So do I have a candidate? I do. And I'll come right out and say it: I am proud to support Mike Huckabee for President.

In the coming days, I hope to be able to offer facts and thoughts on this race. Every election is important, but I'm convinced this one is monumental.

For now, I'll offer the top ten reasons I'm backing Huckabee...

1. He is a man of Faith who knows the One ultimately in charge. Huckabee is not afraid to declare and defend fundamental Christian truths. He has openly asked for prayer, and is a man of prayer (for example, he reads Proverbs each morning as part of his daily devotions). Above all, we need men of Faith in government. These men rely not on their own wisdom, but on a higher wisdom. A nation such as ours needs much more than mere human wisdom to govern it!

"My faith is my life - it defines me. My faith doesn't influence my
decisions, it drives them." - Mike Huckabee

2. He is a dedicated family man. Huckabee has been faithfully married to his wife, Janet, for 33 years, including standing by her through a life-threatening disease. I love this quote (found here on Huckabee's website):

"My wife Janet and I celebrated our thirty-third wedding anniversary this
past May. For us, every anniversary is a miracle. When we were both twenty and
married just over a year, when I was in my last semester of college, Janet was
diagnosed with cancer of the spine. I can't tell you what a stunning blow it was
- two kids just starting out, you don't think something like that can happen
when you're so young. Yet there we were, staring death in the face. At first,
they told us that even if she lived, she might be paralyzed from the waist down,
so I'd be a young man with an invalid wife. After I learned she wouldn't be
paralyzed, I was told that because of the radiation she had to receive following
surgery, we'd probably never have children. I wanted children very much, I
couldn't imagine never being a father. During that time, a lot of things went
through my mind. But one thing never did - the thought of leaving her. If Janet
were in a wheelchair today, if we'd never had children, I can tell you this -
she would still be my wife." - Mike Huckabee

3. He is firmly pro-life. He believes than Roe vs. Wade should be overturned. He supports passage of a constitutional amendment to protect the right to life. He opposes research on embryonic stem cells. For Huckabee's clearly explained positions on the sanctity of life, visit this page. I love how prominent he makes the "Sanctity of Life" page on his website!

4. He understands and is ready to defend marriage as the union between one man and one woman, and supports passage of a federal constitutional amendment that defines the above. Another excellently explained page here.

"Our true strength comes from our families." -Mike Huckabee

5. Huckabee recognizes the benefits of homeschooling and supports the rights of parents to homeschool their children. He even appointed a homeschool parent to the State Board of Education in Arkansas! Check out this terrific video about some of what he did to help homeschoolers in AR.

6. Huckabee is the three "C's" that I look and long for in any politician: consistant, clear, and competant. He doesn't beat around the bush, water down his answers, or bow to political trends.

7. He is an outstanding and articulate speaker. Time and time again in the debates and in interviews, he has answered pointed and difficult questions with poise and passion.

8. Alex and Brett Harris, founders of The Rebelution and two young men whom I admire for their well-balanced, thoroughly-researched, highly-intellectual and very godly judgement, are supporting Huckabee. And are proving that by God's grace, a pair of 19-year-olds are capable of literally affecting the course of the nation.

Watch an outstanding ABC news video clip featuring the Harris brothers
Listen to a great radio interview with Brett Harris
Head over to the Harris brothers' blog: I Heart Huckabee
Visit "Huck's Army", the impressive nationwide network and forum founded by Alex and Brett

9. As a musician and Suzuki music teacher, I so appreciate Huckabee's acknowledgment in his own words that he is a "passion, ardent supporter" of art and music in education. At the Suzuki Institutue I attended this summer, a group of us teachers were lamenting the lack of government support/funding for music and arts, as compared to math and sciences. Huckabee's our man! See this page, and check out this video.

"Music and the arts are not extraneous, extra-curricular, or expendable - I
believe they are essential. I want to provide every child these 'Weapons of Mass
Instruction.'" - Mike Huckabee

10. He is a man of the people. Huckabee is not arrogant, self-centered, or power hungry. He is an American ready to serve God, nation, and people as our next President.

Won't you join me today in both supporting and praying for him? Let us all pray, fast, and sacrifice for God's will be to carried out in these elections.