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OP-ED: Why I heart Huckabee
by Ahron Hacohen
Op-Ed | 2/5/08
Posted online at 1:42 AM EST on 2/5/08
John McCain calls Mitt Romney a flip-flopper. Romney calls McCain a liberal. Hillary Clinton says Barack Obama is inexperienced. Obama says he is not sure which Clinton he is running against. Amid all the negative ads and character assassinations we have endured on the news over the last few months, Mike Huckabee is a breath of fresh air.
I can write about all the flaws and weaknesses of every candidate in this presidential race. But that's not what Huckabee is all about. He is trying to lead the country in a different direction. He talks about vertical politics-bringing Americans together to make this country a better place-after 16 years of administrations that have torn this country apart. We have spent too much time mocking Clinton and bashing George W. Bush. We need someone who will unite us toward a common goal.
Change has become the "buzz word" of this political season, but for Huckabee it's a lot more than just talk. He has already achieved great things as a bipartisan governor in Arkansas. Among other things, Huckabee pushed reforms that greatly increased educational opportunities through charter schools, passed legislation that provided 70,000 poor children with health care, provided $90 million in tax relief for middle-class families and, most importantly, created the Healthy Arkansas initiative, an effort to encourage Arkansans to stop smoking, exercise more and eat more healthful food.
For Huckabee, health care is not just about insurance premiums and hospital accessibility. In 2003, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and doctors told him that if he didn't make drastic changes in his lifestyle, he would surely die young. Like millions of Americans, Huckabee was morbidly obese, and this was the motivation he needed. Through rigorous exercise and healthful eating, the governor lost 110 pounds. We need a health revolution in this country, and Huckabee is ready to lead it.
This is the kind of role model this nation needs at a time when we are in need of a wake-up call. We need a leader with unwavering principles who can provide inspiration, someone who will lead through example.
I can write about all the flaws and weaknesses of every candidate in this presidential race. But that's not what Huckabee is all about. He is trying to lead the country in a different direction. He talks about vertical politics-bringing Americans together to make this country a better place-after 16 years of administrations that have torn this country apart. We have spent too much time mocking Clinton and bashing George W. Bush. We need someone who will unite us toward a common goal.
Change has become the "buzz word" of this political season, but for Huckabee it's a lot more than just talk. He has already achieved great things as a bipartisan governor in Arkansas. Among other things, Huckabee pushed reforms that greatly increased educational opportunities through charter schools, passed legislation that provided 70,000 poor children with health care, provided $90 million in tax relief for middle-class families and, most importantly, created the Healthy Arkansas initiative, an effort to encourage Arkansans to stop smoking, exercise more and eat more healthful food.
For Huckabee, health care is not just about insurance premiums and hospital accessibility. In 2003, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and doctors told him that if he didn't make drastic changes in his lifestyle, he would surely die young. Like millions of Americans, Huckabee was morbidly obese, and this was the motivation he needed. Through rigorous exercise and healthful eating, the governor lost 110 pounds. We need a health revolution in this country, and Huckabee is ready to lead it.
This is the kind of role model this nation needs at a time when we are in need of a wake-up call. We need a leader with unwavering principles who can provide inspiration, someone who will lead through example.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Olivia
posted 2/05/08 @ 3:09 PM EST
Great article. Specially agree with the author on conclusion.
Maybe his ideas on economy are a little bit different than people are used to but this doesn't bother me. (Continued…)
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