A Huckabee Xmas story
Given Mike Huckabee's past as a Baptist minister -- as well as the campaign spotlight he's put on his religion (the "Christian Leader" ad; the controversial Christmas ad, with its intentional or coincidental cross image) -- one would imagine his family's holiday ritual would be of the most traditional sort.
That's partially the case, as he revealed during an interview in Iowa. As the Republican presidential candidate looked ahead to taking a short (very short) Christmas break back home in Arkansas, he told the political crew from MSNBC that he and his wife would be at their local church on Christmas Eve. "It's a huge community-wide celebration, and we do that every year," Huckabee said.
But then came the shocker: "... we have an unusual tradition that after the Christmas Eve service we go out and eat Chinese food. Don't ask me why."
We wonder if the custom began before or after "A Christmas Story" hit movie screens in 1983, with its payoff scene in a Chinese restaurant.
The unexpected Huckabee anecdote comes at the end of a piece in which, as headlined, he talks about religion, tolerance and morality.
-- Don Frederick
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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The alleged cross wasn't my problem at all and certainly shouldn't be the focus of the criticism.
This commercial was merely another of many appeals to our religious roots especially with all the many attacks by the ACLU and others on Christmas and christians in general...merely a calculated attempt at your vote and it's wrong.
The Hucksters record and past demonstrates a formal education only in religion yet it also shows us he has no idea what right from wrong is.
Posted by: Winghunter | December 21, 2007 at 10:37 PM
hey- he's gonna win.
Posted by: jack s. | December 22, 2007 at 12:19 AM
"The Hucksters record and past demonstrates a formal education only in religion yet it also shows us he has no idea what right from wrong is."
So, Winghunter, to wish someone 'Merry Christmas' at Christmas time is "wrong"? And his education in a Christian College disqualifies him in the ability to make right and wrong decisions? Hummmm. Then I guess it would be wrong to wish someone "happy birthday" on their birthday and to go to law school would disqualify someone to practice law. Ever heard of logic? Maybe you should take some classes on logic. Oh, never mind, this would make matters worse.....according to you.
Posted by: rsmith | December 22, 2007 at 05:47 AM