With all of this Huckabee/Romney stuff in the Republican presidential nomination contest, it hasn’t taken long for people to start saying, “Enough already with the religion.” Notably, Charles Krauthammer. Richard John Neuhaus takes stock of his and other arguments, and offers his own perspective.

The religion-and-politics question has always been with us and has heated up in the last thirty years. If it is now reaching something of a boiling point in Iowa, the explanation does not require grand constitutional or cultural analysis. The reason is largely circumstantial. One leading contender is a Mormon and the other is a Baptist preacher. We’ve never had either in the White House [...].

Meanwhile, veteran political observer Robert Novak says that when it comes to Huckabee’s swell of support, forget the religion: it’s all about the endorsement he’s received from Chuck Norris.

…

Also: The Associated Press, as a part of a longer questionnaire given to the presidential candidates, asked them how they like to spend “a lazy day.” Some of the answers (saving the best for last):

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: “Reading, hanging around the house with family.”

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: “Loafing with my kids on the couch listening to them tell stories — did it over Thanksgiving.”

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: “Golf or reading, depending on the weather.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: “Running, hunting, fishing, or being at home with family and my three dogs.”

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: “Probably riding horses. In winter time, it’s skiing. In summer time — I mean, the thing I like most is being with my kids and grandkids, so sort of being with them, regardless of where it is.”

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: “Campaigning.”

...................
Share this!

Posts which might be related to this one based on a mysterious algorithm:

• Keyes to the race
• Like Hill
• Gwen Ifill, double standards, etc.