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MIKE HUCKABEE WOULD RATHER GET THAN GIVE, SOME SAY

BY Rick Joslin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, February 3, 2007 10:56 PM CST

“... Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

—Acts Chapter 20,

King James Version

As a long-time Southern Baptist minister, former Gov. Mike Huckabee is certainly familiar with the above-quoted Bible verse and most likely has referenced it in some of his sermons.

But many of Huckabee’s critics think the Republican presidential hopeful may have developed dyslexia since leaving the pulpit in favor of political pursuits.

While a large segment of his supporters hail Huckabee for what they proclaim as conservative, Christian values, some of his detractors believe Huckabee has not only strayed from Biblical guidance and yielded to what they perceive as a passion for receiving gifts and cash, but that he has also bowed to political temptation as a “shameless” publicity hunter.

Huckabee has gained favorable state and national press on numerous governmental achievements as well as his dramatic, determined response to diabetes. Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2003, Huckabee — who had allowed his weight to advance to a reported 280 pounds — quickly altered his diet and lifestyle. He eventually lost a little over 100 pounds and, after having started out jogging for short distances around the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock, then wound up competing in several marathons, including the 2006 New York City Marathon.

But even though he was named by Time Magazine in November 2005 as one of the nation’s five best governors, Huckabee had a running feud with the Arkansas Ethics Commission throughout his gubernatorial tenure. The ethics panel cited him for several alleged violations involving his failure to disclose financial donations and a wide range of gift items.

During Huckabee’s time as governor, his suits were furnished by Little Rock millionaire

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Jennings Osborne, who also supported Huckabee with favors at a controversial July 27, 2002, “Gospel Fest” in Pine Bluff that prompted an ethics complaint.

The election-year event was promoted by a Huckabee aide as a non-political gathering, but a bevy of Republican candidates attended and openly campaigned. Meanwhile, servers wore T-shirts imprinted with a “Huckabee for Arkansas” campaign slogan.

According to an Associated Press account, Huckabee and the Republican Party also failed to report that Osborne paid for advertising and also provided food at the festival. The Democratic Party charged that Osborne’s involvement constituted a political donation.

In another, unrelated Southeast Arkansas action, Huckabee issued a pardon in November 2006 to guitarist Keith Richards of the renowned Rolling Stones rock group on a misdemeanor reckless driving ticket Richards received in Fordyce on July 5, 1975.

Huckabee — a guitarist in a band he dubbed “Capital Offense” — and the pardon received national and international media coverage, likely increasing Huckabee’s name recognition outside the state as he contemplated a White House run.

But while some area residents laughed about the amnesty, others expressed disappointment and even outrage, asserting Huckabee’s behavior had embarrassed the state and constituted nothing more than a publicity stunt.

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