Mike Huckabee in Politico.com

On Civil Rights: Same-sex marriage leads to criminalization of Christianity

The United States is moving toward "criminalization of Christianity" as a result of legalizing same-sex marriage, Mike Huckabee told a group of conservative pastors: "We are moving rapidly toward the criminalization of Christianity."

The former governor of Arkansas said it is his "biblical duty" to pray for the members of the Supreme Court as they prepare to rule on same-sex marriage this summer.

"If the courts rule that people have a civil right not only to be a homosexual but a civil right to have a homosexual marriage, then a homosexual couple coming to a pastor who believes in biblical marriage who says 'I can't perform that wedding' will now be breaking the law," he said. "Let me make clear: It's not just saying, 'I'm sorry you have a preference.' No, you will be breaking the law subject to civil, for sure, and possibly criminal penalties for violating the law, depending on how the law is written in communities, states and in the nation."

Source: Politico.com on 2015 Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition summit Apr 24, 2015

On Civil Rights: Courts cannot unilaterally allow same-sex marriage

In an apparent defense of gay conversion therapy, Huckabee said that the government is telling chaplains that they cannot help people "seek assistance" for a "homosexual lifestyle" and to "put their Bibles away, no longer pray in Jesus' name." Huckabee told [an audience of] pastors that opponents of gay marriage are "pariahs" among the "ruling class" and donors.

Huckabee said that he cringes whenever he hears people call a court decision "the law of the land." He said, "how many people passed 9th grade civics? There are three branches of government, not one," adding that when a court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, that does not mean that licenses should be issued the following day.

Huckabee told the pastors that if they do follow their convictions according to the Bible, "your behavior will be criminal. Once the courts have been allowed to run over us and nobody stands up for us in the other two branches of government, then God help us all," he said

Source: Politico.com on 2015 Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition summit Apr 24, 2015

On Foreign Policy: Globalists & corporatists are making US more like China

Expressing deep skepticism of proposed free trade agreements, Mike Huckabee warned in Iowa that the US is becoming like communist China. The former Arkansas governor recalled a trip he took to China last year during his appearance at an agricultural summit that drew a number of potential Republican 2016 candidates to the state fairgrounds.

"In China, I felt like they were becoming more like America used to be," he told a crowd of some 900 activists. "But, sadly, America is becoming more like they used to be. Our government is becoming more oppressive; theirs is beginning to ease up. We have a lot of globalists and frankly corporatists instead of having nationalists who put forward the best interests of the United States and working families," he added.

Source: Politico.com coverage of 2015 Iowa Agricultural Summit Mar 7, 2015

On Foreign Policy: Keep the Cuban embargo; lifting it rewards Cuba

Huckabee was asked why the government has kept the embargo in place against Cuba, even as trade barriers with China have been lifted. Huckabee said that Cuba must make serious concessions before the embargo is scaled back. He said President Barack Obama is sending the wrong message: "If my parents had raised me that way, I'd have been a monster," he said. "They didn't reward me with ice cream & candy every time I did something horrible. Don't give the Chinese and Cubans ice cream & candy," he added. Source: Politico.com coverage of 2015 Iowa Agricultural Summit Mar 7, 2015

On Free Trade: Trans Pacific Partnership isn't fair trade or free trade

Huckabee complained that American wages have been stagnant since Chinese trade agreements went into effect over the past few decades: "People are working hard, and they have less to show for it," he said. "We need to quit apologizing for being America, and we need to start making it so that Americans can prosper and not just so that the Chinese can buy Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags."

The comments came in response to questions about why the government has kept the embargo in place against Cuba, even as trade barriers with China have been lifted. "We have basically surrendered to the Chinese market," Huckabee said. "We've not put the pressure on them."

Huckabee expressed doubts over the Trans Pacific Partnership. "If it's not fair trade," he said, "it's not free trade."

Source: Politico.com coverage of 2015 Iowa Agricultural Summit Mar 7, 2015

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles on Politico.com. Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles on Politico.com. Click here for other excerpts by Mike Huckabee. Click here for a profile of Mike Huckabee.
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