A Caring Man
The most important event of the year, and perhaps, of our generation is fast approaching. This event has been heralded since the summer of 2007 as a definitive turning-point in American history. This event has captured the attention of young and old alike. This fast approaching turning point will certainly bring record turnout and international attention. This definitive turning point is the November 2008 elections when millions of Americans-of all ages, races, and faiths-will choose their candidate to lead our nation into the murky waters and unknown lands of America’s future.
Mike Huckabee, a man known for his sense of humor and comedic timing as well as his successful improvements to the state of Arkansas, is the most capable and experienced candidate to lead our country. After Hurricane Katrina around 70,000 people fled to Kansas. Huckabee ordered “state agencies to take care of them,” and in response, “State parks offered discounts, waived pet restrictions, and bumped other reservations in favor of evacuees. Pharmacists were given emergency authority to dispense prescriptions and provide access to dialysis machines. Shelters opened up in nearly every portion of the state” (Wikipedia.org). Huckabee’s capability of handling major disasters and strains on infrastructure is made evident through that difficult time in our nation’s (and his state’s) history. Huckabee has in various situations and occasions proved to be a capable and reliable leader in times of hardship and peace. His unwavering opinion on issues proves him to be a hardy and strong leader, which is the type of person our nation desperately needs to lead us into the foggy future of our nation.
At the beginning of the race to lead America, the virtually unknown Arkansas governor was cast aside by the national media as a man that would go nowhere in the race. A little under a year later Huckabee has many Americans wrapped around his finger. His inspirational tales of weight-loss success strike a chord with the millions of Americans seeking to improve their health. His moderate views have isolated him from some of his colleagues in the Republican Party and have certainly not created bonds of friendship in the Democratic Party. Those moderate views, however, have captured the heart of America-the middle class.
One of the most recent attacks Huckabee has come under is the accusation of being one of the Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” of 2007. This accusation, brought by the Judicial Watch Group, alleges that Huckabee was charged with 14 ethics complaints and a volley of questions about his integrityàö These accusations include his inappropriate use of money from his campaign and money used from his income to destroy computer files while leaving the governor's office. Their charge further alleges that Huckabee tried to shut down the State Ethics Committee so they could not investigate the allegations (JudicialWatch.org). These charges of mismanagement of money and ethics violations were never proven. The Judicial Watch organization also listed presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) of corruption. Due to the organization's inability of proving the allegations, their charges never captured media spotlight and have been shouldered off by the candidates as mere gossip.
One of the most telling pieces of evidence that points to Huckabee's capabilities as a leader is his recent success at protecting this nation's most valuable possession-our children, the future leaders of America. ARKids, a program aimed at insuring Arkansas's low income and uninsured children, has been successful at achieving just that. The program cut the number of uninsured children in Arkansas in half from 18% to 9% in 2003, compared with a rate of 12% nationally (Ripley and Tumulty TIME Online). Huckabee has reduced taxes affecting every class of citizens in his state and succeeded in passing a $70 million tax cut in 1997. In 2001 and 2002 he saved taxpayers over $300 million and was named ôFriend of the Taxpayerö by Americans for Tax Reform, an organization aimed at lowering nationwide and state taxes (Rubin NRO). While governor of Arkansas the state's economy grew by 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2 % (Ripley and Tumulty TIME Online).
Due to Huckabee's drastic measures in reducing the tax-load on Arkansas's poorest citizens welfare rolls declined by nearly half (Amanda and Tumulty).Huckabee's success in reducing taxes in the state of Arkansas should not be solely looked at, however, to see his potential achievements in leading America; he has advocated persistently for equableness among races declaring that no one should ôharbor anger, hostility, prejudice, bigotry and racism toward any person.ö Huckabee has also proposed legislation that would increase governmental funding for the research of a cure for AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria (ONE.org). Huckabee's constant efforts to improve the lives of others serves as evidence of the courage, persistence, and capability he would display as leader of our nation.
Matthew Frye
