Huckabee - John Stewart: on Abortion
Watch it.
My take is that Huckabee accomplished his goal of making Mike Huckabee seem like a nice, reasonable guy to people leery of Christians. He did not do a good job of advancing the pro-life position. I know that many pro-lifers are just happy that there is anybody out there taking their side at all. Still, Stewart successfully threw the Gov. off track every time he started making progress in the discussion. Plus, Huckabee let Stewart go with this "let's find common ground" crap. Common ground that always seems to wind up with a million dead babies a year without government protection.
The problem with pro-aborts is their anti-God premises. Human life does not just "have value", but it is sacred because it is created in the image of God. People who don't share that premise are not going to treat the inconvenient helpless the same way as those who do. The bottom line is whose premise are we going to accept- liberal's premise that human life merely has some unspecified amount of "value" for some unspecified "reason", or that human life has enough value that it deserves the protection of the law because the foundation of our culture and government in that the right to life is unalienable and God-given.
Mike Huckabee was trying to be popular, not evangelize. The problem is that our culture desperately needs to be evangelized. John Stewart knows what a baby is, and he still wants to leave them to the scalpel. Civil discussions are a good goal, but they are not an end in themselves. Truth should be the end. That was a barbarian Huckabee was talking with the other night. A well-spoken barbarian in a suit and a tie, but a barbarian never the less.
My take is that Huckabee accomplished his goal of making Mike Huckabee seem like a nice, reasonable guy to people leery of Christians. He did not do a good job of advancing the pro-life position. I know that many pro-lifers are just happy that there is anybody out there taking their side at all. Still, Stewart successfully threw the Gov. off track every time he started making progress in the discussion. Plus, Huckabee let Stewart go with this "let's find common ground" crap. Common ground that always seems to wind up with a million dead babies a year without government protection.
The problem with pro-aborts is their anti-God premises. Human life does not just "have value", but it is sacred because it is created in the image of God. People who don't share that premise are not going to treat the inconvenient helpless the same way as those who do. The bottom line is whose premise are we going to accept- liberal's premise that human life merely has some unspecified amount of "value" for some unspecified "reason", or that human life has enough value that it deserves the protection of the law because the foundation of our culture and government in that the right to life is unalienable and God-given.
Mike Huckabee was trying to be popular, not evangelize. The problem is that our culture desperately needs to be evangelized. John Stewart knows what a baby is, and he still wants to leave them to the scalpel. Civil discussions are a good goal, but they are not an end in themselves. Truth should be the end. That was a barbarian Huckabee was talking with the other night. A well-spoken barbarian in a suit and a tie, but a barbarian never the less.
posted by Mark Moore (Moderator) at Saturday, June 20, 2009
17 Comments:
Although it pains me to ever agree with Mark Moore, he is right on this one. Huck did not advance the Pro-Life cause well at all.
Thank you. It pains me to agree with myself when I write about how upside down things are in this world.
Whoa - fellas, calm down. Huck DID do a good job of responding to Stewart's glib statements/questions, and at least he's out there articulating the pro-life position beyond just saying "it's more than just tissue" and "life begins at conception", which is about all most pro-life TV talking heads say when discussing the issue with liberals. He delved deeper, although perhaps not deep enough to suit you. Keep in mind, too, there were several times when Stewart interrupted and cut him off mid-sentence. I agree it is an issue that needs evangelizing, but there's a level of difficulty to overcome when on Stewart's turf. Under the circumstances, I would say Huck did as good a job as anyone with a national voice could have against Stewart. When I see the Huck on shows like that, I'm reminded of the contrast between him and Mark Pryor, who, when confronted by Bill Maher, folded and simply stated, "Well, you don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the U.S. Senate." While Pryor's statement is painfully true, at least Huck can articulate more than a bumper sticker slogan on the issue. Do a Mark Pryor/Bill Maher search on YouTube to see it. I'm not saying you're entirely wrong, but in that forum, Huck did fine.
"I would say Huck did as good a job as anyone with a national voice could have against Stewart."
Perhaps the issue should be who the corporate media allows to have a national voice.
I have seen Ron Paul do better, using that kind of non-confrontational style in that kind of loaded setting. I know a half dozen people that I think could have done better- not at winning approval from barbarians, but definitely speaking the Truth plainly. It makes people who love lies angry, and we need to accept that.
With all due respect, I agree with Chuck. How many times has there been a calm 20 minute discussion about abortion on national television, especially on a show so popular with non-conservatives?
Even though Governor Huckabee was interrupted several times in mid-point, he still managed to say enough to make people think through the implications of abortion - even Stewart admitted at the end of the conversation that this is one issue he struggles with. I doubt he would have admitted that, even to himself, if Huckabee had not disarmed him by treating him with respect and grace.
Huckabee has mastered the Apostle Paul's admonition to "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
Besides, as Teddy Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena . . ."
Governor Huckabee is actually in the arena - and most of time in an arena filled with lions who desire to tear him apart. For that fact alone he deserves a great deal of credit and respect, in my humble opinion.
Well damn. Now they're going to make me pull out the Ron Paul video-link.
I believe Huckabee did a good job in the interview. While I consider myself pro-life, I also believe that Jon Stewart brought up some excellent points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTjccxVZ8B0
One cannot say for certain that Ron Paul would've done any better, but Ron Paul definitely knows what's up when it comes to abortion. Personally, I believe Ron Paul, as a doctor and a libertarian, is the better pro-life advocate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTjccxVZ8B0
My apologies guys, I only saw part of the interview at first. After watching the whole thing, I now believe Huck did OK. Nothing great but OK. And Yes Ron Paul has done better. That is another thing that it pains me to agree with Mark On. Damnation, that's two in a row. Gotta watch myself.
"Perhaps the issue should be who the corporate media allows to have a national voice."
The issue isn't and nor should it be whether the "corporate media" is allowing Huckabee to have a national voice - the Huck himself and FNC are making it happen despite what the corporate media "allows." If you wait until the corporate media allow you to speak, which they won't, then it's game over and their agenda wins. Huck is out there speaking not because someone is "allowing" him to, but because he's established himself as someone who knows how to calmly "answer everyone" as Laura says. He's done that by: 1. Running for high-profile office; 2. Keeping a cool head when discussing issues with folks who disagree; 3. Being able to intelligently articulate his position without alienating the other side, by childish "I-can't-come-up-with-a-response-to-your-position-so-I'll-just-call-you-a-name-or-trash-you-personally" liberal tactics, (e.g. Al Franken et al); and, 4. Getting up earlier, and working & studying harder than most.
Do those things and you, too, can be a national voice, regardless of whether the corporate media allows it.
Chuck,
FOX is owned by Ruppert Murdoch.
Here is an excerpt from this article..http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/world/asia/26murdoch.html
"Mr. Murdoch has flattered Communist Party leaders and done business with their children. His Fox News network helped China’s leading state broadcaster develop a news Web site. He joined hands with the Communist Youth League, a power base in the ruling party, in a risky television venture, his China managers and advisers say.
Mr. Murdoch’s third wife, Wendi, is a mainland Chinese who once worked for his Hong Kong-based satellite broadcaster, Star TV."
FOX is most definitely part of the global corporate media.
The fact they are willing to give MH a show indicates to me that he is willing to "play ball" with the part of their agenda they care about the most- advancing global government according to rules set by global corporations. They will let him pussy-foot around on issues like abortion so long as he does not press hard enough to actually advance legal protection for innocent life. Kick up just enough of a fuss to make the public feel comfortable with themselves for following the pro-life leader designated by them.
Matt Drudge got too pro-life for FOX and refused to bend. He lost his FOX show over it.
FOX was the most unfair to Ron Paul when it mattered during the primaries. FOX is the worst of the corporate media because CNN does not pretend to be on our side, they are honest in their opposition. FAUX news is the embodiment of a devious political strategy called "controlled opposition". The sooner conservatives figure that out the better off the country will be.
Laura,
C'mon now. Is my face really the best one to throw that Teddy Roosevelt quote at? I am in the arena as much as I can be for someone who has a day job. A glance at the archives would show you that I have been at this steady for over four years. I don't just mean as a blogger. I helped Holt in his two runs. I helped Ron Paul. And the only reason I got those gigs was that I had already been in the trenches for years.
I have been in the trenches and on the field. That's how I know just how much of the problem is the media. They don't just trash and character-assassinate those who won't go along with them. They also want to tell you who your champions are. Their controlled opposition efforts are extremely frustrating. Especially when people get on here and imply that I should not be critical of the people that the corporate media assigns to be the spokesperson on issues that I care about.
Look up Huck's chief foreign policy advisor for his '08 presidential run: C-F-R prez Richard Haass. Now there's a pro-America group for ya!
If Huck is such a pro-lifer, why did he not propose a moratorium on all executions in the state of Arkansas.
Why is he supportive of the on-going War in Iraq, where, oh wait, "life" is being lost.
I don't understand the glaring contradictions in his views. If you're for "life" then be for "life", stay consistent in your positions. What's funny is that just like the abortionists, Huckabee has made excuses for why his positions on these other situations are okay. I just ask for some intellectual honesty when taking the national stage.
The above is a lame attempt to make the Huckster look good by making asinine arguments against him.
Buzz off, liberal detractor.
Mark,
Sorry. The Roosevelt quote was meant for the members of the pro-life movement in general who read this blog. Huckabee is out there on the national media stage (sinister though it is or not) making the pro-life case. We have so few articulate communicators on our side of this issue. Why take pot shots at one of those few?
"The problem with pro-aborts is their anti-God premises."
Seriously? I find many of your posts to be well-considered and intelligent, however I absolutely cannot believe this sentence was published. I have NEVER met someone who is pro-choice who would qualify as a "pro-abort." If that were the case the world would be in an state worse than we could possibly imagine. Sure it is possible that such a sick person exists, but it would be a rarity indeed and please do not link such a person with those who are pro-choice. On contrary most people who are pro-choice are actively trying to find ways to prevent abortions using methods that are MUCH stronger and proactive than criminalizing women who make the painful decision to abort. As a voice for pro-choice myself, I find myself more passionately "pro-life" than most pro-life activists I´ve met. Outlawing abortion simply places more young women in closets with coat hangers and creates fear, silence, and isolation, and there is absolutely nothing Godly about that.
Hello. I think everyone should be praying for John Stewart's salvation. We should never call people who are under deception barbarians, that is judgmental and unChristian. Please spend time with the Lord, and ask Him if you should pray for a man and other people like him who have such influence in our culture. He has told me Yes! We can whine and bitch all we want. Prayer moves mountains, so pray for these popular media figures that people follow as if they are gods!
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