Huckabee Gives Church Sermon; Expounds on Christmas Ad
Mike Huckabee stirred up the faithful at a mega-church in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, preaching to a congregation of 10,000 evangelical Christians who gave him a superstar welcome, including a 30 second standing ovation, and plenty of applause for his refusal to apologize for invoking Jesus’ name in a recent Christmas ad.
The former Arkansas governor and current Republican frontrunner in the Republican presidential primary race said he wasn’t appearing in a political capacity at Cornerstone Church, which boasts 25,000 members, but he wasn’t shy to discuss the latest advertisement and accompanying controversy.
The ad, airing in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, shows Huckabee in close-up while the camera pans left past a bookshelf and a a Christmas tree. In the ad, he asks: “Are you about worn out by all the television commercials you’ve been seeing, mostly about politics? Well, I don’t blame you. At this time of year sometimes it’s nice to pull aside from all of that and just remember that what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ and being with our family and friends.”
The bookshelf is lit so that it creates a cross-like image. Complaints of subliminal messages and mixing politics and religion have followed Huckabee since the ad began airing last week. Meanwhile, most of the other candidates have launched their own holiday ads, with varying degrees of religious reference.
“Sometimes in the middle of Christmas, Jesus is the one person who’s tough to find. You notice that? I can find Santa at every mall, you can find discounts in every store but if you mention the name of Jesus, as I found out recently, it upsets the whole world. Forgive me but I thought that was the point of the whole day,” Huckabee told the congregation.
Huckabee also discussed the ad during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” before delivering the sermons.Asked whether he was running for president of Christian America, Huckabee said he was campaigning to be the “president of all America, to be the people’s president. And that’s how I served as governor.”
He said the ad was put together quickly, and that book shelves formed the cross in the background.“Everyone thought that we were so smart and clever. The truth is, it was a book shelf,” Huckabee said. “We hurriedly put the spot together. It wasn’t scripted. I ad-libbed the spot. It was done at the end of a long taping day, and really kind of a thought of, well, let’s do a Christmas spot just in case we decide to use it maybe on our Web site.”
Huckabee, a Baptist minister, said he was not at the church as a candidate and wanted to “get that out of the way” to avoid any tension.
“I have to remind people there’s a time for political things and this is not one of them. Trouble is when you’ve been a Baptist pastor and then you run for office, you become a political person. People get real nervous when you show up for church, and in part because they think Okay, pastor, politician, they expect two things will happen. Number one you’re going to be here a long time and the second thing they fear is am I going to ask for money,” Huckabee said, then joking, “Will the ushers please come forward?”
But Huckabee’s appearance at the church undoubtedly brought with it an undercurrent of a man seeking the approval of influential opinion-makers. Cornerstone is run by evangelical leader Pastor John Hagee, frequently a spokesman for the 50-million strong movement. Hagee, a well-known defender of Israel, has received criticism from the Catholic League for statements he’s made about the Catholic Church’s connection to the Nazis in World War II Germany. “I want to thank your pastor, Pastor Hagee, for having me here today. (He is) one of the great Christian leaders of our nation,” Huckabee said. Huckabee, who’s returning to his home for the holiday before getting back on the trail ahead of the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, warmed up the crowd with his trademark jokes, and recounted how when he first ran, a woman approached him and said, You’re one of those Baptists who thinks you’re the only one going to heaven. Huckabee said he replied, No ma’am, I am Baptist but I don’t think of a lot of them are getting in either.While press cameras weren’t allowed into the church, FOX News spotted at least six cameras operated by church officials who broadcast the services. The large orchestra style band accompanied a 40 person choir. Huckabee finished his speech by noting that those who believe in Jesus won’t have to worry about the current events of today.
“One hundred years from now when all your worries are over, if your faith is in that child in Bethlehem born that day, and you’ve taken yourself off the throne and you’ve decided you’d rather be a shepherd than a Herod, then the good news for you is, when the game is over no matter what It looks like now, you win in the end. That is the message of Christmas so I say to you, Merry Christmas! Jesus is lord!”
Meanwhile, Huckabee wasn’t the only presidential candidate at Church on Sunday. Hillary Clinton was joined by her husband Bill and a sparse crowd at the Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Waterloo, Iowa. The two arrived midway through the service as the choir was singing, and made their way to their seats to the right of the preacher’s lectern. The crowd that braved the snowy weather stood and applauded as they entered.
Introducing President Clinton, Rev. F.T. Whitfield referenced the popular VH1 show, “I Love New York,” a dating show similar to “The Bachelor.” Apparently one contestant on the show told a story about meeting the former president, who had taken off his tie and given it to the man. The pastor paused and said, “I do like neckties.”
President Clinton then spoke for three minutes, giving a very focused introduction centering on his wife’s life and achievements. At the end he said now is a time for giving. He then took off his orange tie and gave it to the reverend. Hillary Clinton followed, speaking about domestic issues like health care and education. She did not quote any scripture as she sometimes does in these settings. She closed by referring to the Christmas holiday. “We’re looking forward to being with our family and giving the people of Iowa a well-deserved break from politics. On Christmas eve, I’ll be thinking of those I’ve met in Iowa, (and) will always do my best to make changes that give people not just hope, but results.”As she spoke, President Clinton sat tie-less to her right, with his legs crossed and his hand on his chin when he wasn’t applauding. When the service returned to the reverend’s sermon, the two listened attentively.Prior to Clinton’s arrival the service had been political in nature. Several Hillary Clinton surrogates in attendance included former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb. Another surrogate — a pastor from Chicago — delivered an address making the case for Hillary Clinton by arguing that “hope is not a method,” and Clinton can get results.
FOX News’ Serafin Gomez and Aaron Bruns and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Glad to see there are those who still believe and walk by their faith rather than trying to crucify those of faith. Thankful that the Christ, the greatest leader of all comes to teach those who seek leadership that it begins in a simple stable.
In response to the false allegations and double standards used against Mike Huckabee by the so-called conservative “Elite Talk Show Hosts” and writers, consider the following;
Did the current President and their elected pals in the US Congress uphold their responsibility by holding the line on spending starting in the early 90s? Did the “Elite Talk Show Hosts” and writers help vote them out of office by working night and day mocking their names as dreadfully has they have smeared Mike Huckabee’s name, only after his rise in the polls?
Their “Talking Points” propaganda warfare used against a fellow conservative who could very well be more of a conservative than they are provides a good look at their true colors.
Comments like “tax and spender”, “not a conservative”, and “soft on immigration” are merely “Talking Points” without specifics and offered in the style of propaganda as Dictators who employ the same tactics to spread only their message with little facts or specifics and/or direct rebuttal from the opposing candidate/s.
I have seen enough and prefer not to lessen or watch Rush Limbaugh, Michael Reagan, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham until after the 2008 election. I prefer my news and entertainment “UN-FILTERED!”
From what I read, The Clintons have just stepped over the seperation of Church and State line.
They need to be punished right away for doing this. This is an outrage. How dare they do this.
I call on the United States Justus Department to punish them. Oh, and by the way, have a very merry Christmas, and may the Lord Jesus Christ Bless you. You know, I’m just talking, but what if a Republican had of done that in Church. Hummm.
90% Huckabee, 10% Clinton
Fair and Balanced
I hope Mr. huckabee can be the one that God would use to help turn around this country. This country needs to welcome God back in. Conservative candidates need to stop telling us that it doesn’t matter what religion we are as long as we are a people of faith. That is not true. We need to be a people on fire for our Lord Jesus Christ. Religion has nothing to do with it. Jesus has everything to do with it. Mr. Huckabee, you seem like a good man! I pray that you are and not another nominal christian and phony conservative. If you are elected, I hope you will go after the issues that are important to God, like protecting the life of the unborn. Also, stay away from the Bohemian Grove, Skull and Bones or other crazy organizations. You don’t need to do things like that. If God wants you to be president, you’ll be president. You don’t have to try and rub shoulders with the right people. God bless you, and with his will I hope to see you take the White House in ‘08.
those phony clintons
Its strange how Huckabee goes to a church and, according to this article, makes a point to disclude politics and campaigning from his speech there. However, the Clintons arrive at church and interrupt the religious worship taking place in His house and begin to crow about how wonderful they are and how Billary ought to be re-elected. Were I a church-goer in that audience, I would have been disgusted and left to worship in peace somewhere else. I’m sure the mainstream media will slam Huckabee for “exploiting” his religious base by giving religious sermons at churches while campaigning. Yet, they will remain mum to the Clintons’ entering a church for the very same reason and not even attempting to couch their intentions in religious sermon. Tsk.
We have plenty of speeches of past Presidents invoking the nam of God. Even Kennedy used to invoke the Almighty. I don’t see any problem. If you’re christian or if you don’t.
3 words for Huckabee: Disgusting, Disgusting, Disgusting. This man is abusing his religion worse than any I’ve ever seen, and just for a few votes. I can’t imagine Jesus would be happy with Mike for abusing his name like this. Huckabee does not respect the separation of church and state. This guy is gross.
So Huckabee shows up at a church & scrupulously avoids talking about his platform while Clinton shows up at a church disrespectfully late & blatantly pushes hers.
Guess who is going to get all the criticism for not separating church & state?