pinion
Clackamas Print
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008
3
luick look at Obama and Huckabee
V
By Armondo Borboa
[rack
bama:
dvocate for
lange or
?lusional
'earner?
Mike
Huckabee:
Clever
country wit
or blinded by
the faith?
Editor’s note: This
will be part of a con
tinuing series featur
ing all current, viable
presidential canidates.
and Law School, JD., 1991
College/Columbia University, B.A.
ihou School - Honolulu, Hawaii
Education:
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A., 1980
Ouachita Baptist University, B.A., 1975
Hope High School - Hope, Ark.
•
•
Sc service:
tor, Illinois State Senate, 1997 to 2004
tor, United States Senate, 2005 to present
Public service:
Arkansas Governor, 1996 to 2007
Arkansas Lieutenant Governor, 1993 to 1996
>^^Kperience:
er for Neighborhood and Technology
ago Anncnberg Challenge
k County Bar/Association Community Law Project
jd Member, Joyce Foundation
yers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law
-id Member. Woods Fund of Chicago
Private experience:
President: ACTS-TV. 1983 to 1986; KBSC-TV, 1987 to 1992;
Baptist minister, 1980 to 1992
Advertising Director, Focus, 1976 to 1980
Former Chairman, Southern Governors’ Association
Books:
“Character Is the Issue”
“Kids Who Kill: Confronting Our Culture of Violence”
“Living Beyond Your Lifetime”
“Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork”
“From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPS to Restoring America’s Greatness”
ks:
ams from My Father A Story of Race and Inheritance”
: Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream”
ghly charismatic man and powerful speaker, Barack Obama is a Senate rock star sur-
by dusty, old white guys.
product of a mixed marriage between a white American mother and a black African
e brings a similarly blended view to the political landscape. His working-class roots and
ass education, combined with an extended upbringing outside the United States, helped
.op his unique ability to see both sides of an issue.
very first black president of the Harvard Law Review, Obama early on proved himself to
a on «mission.
veil as being a tireless advocate for civil rights
trong community organizer, he has the rare
o reach across the political divide and come
' with his opponents in order to bring about real
iany ways. he is to Democrats what John
i is to the Republicans: an outsider and a rebel
a is not afraid to work with his political oppo-
e whopping difference is that he is able to cany
J look good doing it
na is like the smart, good-looking, popular kid
high School. People instinctively respond to
: crowds love him and even the iconic Oprah
has tossed her support behind him.
i like other pop icons and movie stars when
e opinions on current topics, Obama says all
things without a clue as to how the real world
rst without exception, his social programs,
re proposals, business and tax reforms all boil
the same thing: punishing corporations and the affluent for the sin of being rick
Sen talks about the need to create jobs and raise wages, but he has never once run his own
. He is a strong advocate for the poor but grew up solidly middle-class. He is a strong
nt of American oil independence but then wants to raises taxes on corporations that are
ely to develop new energy sources.
irtunately for him, Obama is a man whose idealism far outstrips reality.
lysis:
n Hood’s idea of stealing from the rich to give to the poor may make for great entertain-
.it it has no place in running an economy. However, if he can learn how a real economy
Obama' has the potential to be a great leader. His ability to excite people of all races,
I and colors is helping to make the political process a very real concern to the younger
)n ofvoters.
Ie:B+
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Pros:
In another lifetime, Mike Huckabee could have been a great stand-up comedian or
maybe an outstanding actor. Soft-spoken and filled with country wit, the man can make
people laugh till it hurts while at the same time inspire them to his cause.
With his trademark homespun humor, Huckabee has the ability to say what everybody
else in the room is thinking without fear of being publicly tossed out the nearest win
dow.
He almost single-handedly turned around the educational and healthcare systems of
Arkansas, a state that has long suffered the stigma of
poverty and ignorance. He has also been instrumental
in creating other revolutionary programs, becom
ing one of only four Republicans ever elected to
Arkansas’ state office since the Reconstruction.
As a Southern Baptist minister, he had just as
much success inspiring change and bringing Arkansas
out of the 19th century. He convinced an all-white
Immanuel Baptist church to accept black members,
and has been noted several times for refusing to speak
in front of racist crowds, a difficult feat in the Deep
South.
Cons:
Huckabee’s biggest political liability is his other
wise strongest moral strength, his faith. By openly
advocating his Baptist principles and relying on his
faith’s religious tenants to shape his political beliefs,
he has alienated himself from the more secular mod
erates and independent voters who might otherwise
support him.
Although an entertaining speaker, Huckabee has
a tendency to use colorful metaphors that simply do not play well as sound bites. He
has often been criticized for making jokes about suicide, homosexuality, bestiality, the
Holocaust and the Confederate flag. It is perhaps his natural charm and charisma that has
kept him in the race thus far.
Huckabee also suffers from a lack of national recognition. Prior to his run for the
presidency, his most notable nationwide coverage came from being the butt of Jay Leno’s
late-night talk show jokes. It is remarkable that his campaign has lasted this long.
Analysis:
Huckabee is a wonderful man and an inspiring leader, but he simply will never be
president of the United States without fundamentally changing who he is. His Southern
humor, while great on the stage or in front of the pulpit, would be a huge liability to a
future president.
Grade: C+
Editor in Chief: Megan Koler
Copy Editor: Colleen Watkins .
News Editor: Lydia E. Bashaw
A&C Editor: Emily Walters
Sports Editor: Andrea Simpson
Feature Editor: Kyle Steele
Photo Editor: Kayla Berge
Photo Associate:
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News Associate: Matt Garrison
A d M anager : Meredith James
P roduction A ssistants :
Dusty Ragsdale, Chris Young
S taff W riters / P hotographers :
Dale Balbi, Armondo Borboa,
Kenton Benfield, Helen Conley,
John Hurlburt, Nick Komafel,
Genyva Laubach, Riley
Lundgren, Christina Maggio,
John Shufelt
D epartment A dviser :
Melissa Jones
D epartment S ecretary :
Pat Thompson
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