Huckabee's Questionable Question

Last night I posted about Huckabee's questioning Mormon beliefs:

Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?

I cautioned that we should wait to see the context in which Huckabee's question was asked.

The context is here:

On the road to Pella, Huckabee talked about the enthusiasm he now encounters everywhere he goes. For example, he said, his driver in California not only declined payment but also wrote the governor a $50 personal check right on the spot. It was, I thought, a dangerous anecdote to tell within earshot of a professional driver traveling along an icy highway at high speed, but Huckabee was feeling invulnerable, and the driver, I later realized, was already on the governor’s team. Huckabee normally starts his mornings by running 6 to 10 miles and reading a chapter from the Book of Proverbs. Today he was too pressed to do either, but he planned to catch up later. Anyway, he knew much of the day’s assignment, Chapter 3, by heart. ‘‘Trust in the Lord,’’ he quoted, ‘‘and lean not upon thine own understanding.’’ Not a bad motto for a campaign that is still too broke to do any independent polling.

Chapter 3 also contains the admonition to ‘‘keep sound wisdom and discretion.’’ Huckabee is, indeed, a discreet fellow, but he has no trouble making his feelings known. He mentioned how much he respected his fellow candidates John McCain and Rudolph W. Giuliani. The name of his principal rival in Iowa, Mitt Romney, went unmentioned. Romney, a Mormon, had promised that he would be addressing the subject of his religion a few days later. I asked Huckabee, who describes himself as the only Republican candidate with a degree in theology, if he considered Mormonism a cult or a religion. ‘‘I think it’s a religion,’’ he said. ‘‘I really don’t know much about it.’’

I was about to jot down this piece of boilerplate when Huckabee surprised me with a question of his own: ‘‘Don’t Mormons,’’ he asked in an innocent voice, ‘‘believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?’’

Huckabee didn't walk into a fall into a clever political/religious trap. No, instead the Huckabee volunteered his questionable question, even after admitting that he's not well-versed in LDS theology.

Unfortunately, we can see from the context that Huck went and volunteered his thoughts on this point, even after admitting that he doesn't know what he is talking about when it comes to Mormonism.

When one doesn't know much about what one is talking about, they should remain quiet. The campaign for the Republican presidential nomination should be about ideas that can move the country forward. It should not be about inciting discord over one another's religious beliefs.

Huckabee has put out a statement concerning the article that originally caused me to post about the questionable question:

A report released tonight cites an upcoming article in the Sunday edition of The New York Times Magazine which quotes former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee asking a question about the content of the Mormon faith. In fact, the full context of the exchange makes it clear that Governor Huckabee was illustrating his unwillingness to answer questions about Mormonism and to avoid addressing theological questions during this campaign.

“Governor Huckabee has said consistently that he believes this campaign should center on a discussion of the important issues confronting our nation,” said Senior Advisor, Dr. Charmaine Yoest, “and not focus on questions of religious belief. He wants to assure persons of all faith traditions of his firm commitment to religious tolerance and freedom of worship. Governor Huckabee believes that one of the great strengths of our nation lies in its diversity of thought, opinion and faith.”

Huckabee's That statement can not be squared with Huckabee's questionable question and the context in which is was asked.

Romney retorted to questions about Huckabee's questionable question by declaring that "attacking someone's religion is really going too far:"

"But I think attacking someone's religion is really going too far. It's just not the American way, and I think people will reject that," Romney told NBC's "Today" show.

Asked if he believed Huckabee was speaking in a coded language to evangelicals, Romney praised his rival as a "good man trying to do the best he can," but he added, "I don't believe that the people of this country are going to choose a person based on their faith and what church they go to."

Wasn't that the message Romney tried to deliver last week? Too bad Huckabee didn't listen.

Comments

[Nate]

The problem with Huck's question on Jesus & Devil being brothers is that the statement by itself out of context sounds negative & strange. A lot of the attacks on the Mormon church are technically true but are presented out of context and in a negative light.
This is why Huck's comment IS considered an attack on Romney's religion.

For example, I could make the statement: "Huckabee praises book that condones slavery". This would a very negative statement and would be considered an attack. However, it would be a completely true and accurate statement. Huckabee (as do I) believes in, praises and loves the Bible AND the Bible condones slavery. You take this statement out of context and present in a negative light and it makes all the difference. There are countless truths about the Bible, it's history and the history of Christianity that can be presented out of context and be made to sound very wrong and wierd. Nevertheless, they would technically be true and accurate.

Summary, the claim that Huckabee was attacking Romney's religion is a very fair statement.

[Hm]

Try this info on for size:
1. Mormons believe that God the Father once was a mortal man living on another planet and that he now has a wife in heaven and...Mr. & Mrs. God have celestial sex (what?)to produce spirit babies !
2. Mormons believe that if they are faithful to their religion, they too can become gods equal to God the Father.
3. Mormons believe that dark skin in a curse.
4. Mormons portray their religion as pro-family (like those nice commercials), yet they permit abortions in many circumstances.
5. Mormons redefine words to mask non-Christian, polytheistic doctrines as Christian.
Read: One Nation under gods, or Isaiah Bennett's Inside Mormonism for background

[Tom Flynn]

"The campaign for the Republican presidential nomination should be about ideas that can move the country forward. It should not be about inciting discord over one another's religious beliefs."

A bit late for that. Inciting discord over religious beliefs is exactly what Republican politics has been about for the last eight years at least. You reap what you sow.

[critical]

Typical pinhead reporter looking to redefine the truth to conform to his tabloid mentality.

[Sam]

I'm a Mormon and I'm not at all offended by what Huckabee said or asked. It's a simple fact that few people outside our church know a great deal about our doctrine. Then again, few go out of their way to find much out. Huckabee's was an innocent remark and I'm getting more an more frustrated with Romney trying to play the victim every time someone makes a comment that highlights ignorance of our beliefs. I like many of Romney's values; nevertheless, I'm disappointed by his unwillingness to just roll his eyes instead of calling foul every time.

[shermito]

Why should anyone be offended about a question on what one believes? The LDS do teach that Jesus and the Devil are brothers and that a choice was made towards which one of them should be sent to save the world.... Refer to LDS "Gospel Principles" pg's. 11, 17, 18.

Where is the offense?

Ask me a question about my Christian faith and I'll be happy to respond with the best answer that the Bible can provide me with.

[Martin]

Huckabee knew what he was doing, and he must take responsibility for his words, and his actions, if he is serious about leading the free world.
I wonder if Chuck Noris is embarassed by Huckabee? We all will be embarrassed if he is the nominee.
This may very well be the first real 'macaca' moment of the race.

[Adam]

Huckabee was correct that Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers! Check this out from the Official LDS Website:

"On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some—especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers."

Here's the link (it's the second bolded question down the page):

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=4a10ef960417b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1