Guest Blogger on a Presidential Candidate Site

Exactly two weeks ago, I was in Columbia, SC for an event hosted by our state associated (with Focus on the Family) Family Policy Council...the Palmetto Family Council. They hosted their first ever Presidential Stump Speech and Straw Poll. For the third time in person, I was able to talk with my favorite Presidential Candidate, Governor Mike Huckabee. Every Republican Presidential Candidate (except Rudy) participated in person, via phone, or by video. At the end of the night, Mike Huckabee won with over 37 % of the vote. You can read more about it HERE.

A few days after this event, I was selected as a Guest Blogger on the Mike Huckabee for President Website and this is my post that they used...just before Newt Gingrich's post.

September 24, 2007 - 03:22 PM
Why Mike? (Guest Blogger)
by Jonathan Rogers, Guest Blogger
Why Mike would make the best GOP Candidate?

First, His executive experience. With his 10 1/2 years as Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee has shown that a great leader can work in a bipartisan environment to get things accomplished. Mike was only the 3rd Republican Governor in Arkansas since the Reconstruction. At a time when our nation is polarized more than ever between "left" and "right", we need a leader that can effectively communicate a hope and vision that the American people and politicians can support.

Second, His economic record. Now I know that a group is trying to distort Governor Huckabee's record, but Mike truly believes in free markets, lower taxes for people and businesses to reinvest in our society, and the Fair Tax. Remember, Mike was the Governor of a Democratic led state (remember a former Democratic President governed here before him) and did cut taxes close to 100 times and created a budget surplus of close to nearly $850 million when he left office. Right now, our nation's economy is strong (the Stock market, low unemployment, and new jobs). One of the biggest economic concerns is spending. In Arkansas, Governor Huckabee was limited in how much he could limit government spending. The three items that took up most of the State's General revenue was education, medicaid, and prisons. Governor Huckabee made bold plans for "streamlining" each of these areas and saving the tax payers money, but was limited by the Democratic-led State legislature and "court ordered" required spending on Education.

Third, His personal character and faith. You know what you get with Mike Huckabee. His faith has guided him all the years of his life. From the ministry to public service, Mike has had a consistent passion to help others in his leadership. His leadership and great working relationship with "faith based" organizations in Arkansas allowed him to effectively respond to the Hurricane Katrina victims, who were relocated to Arkansas. He worked with churches, denominations, faith-based organizations, and many other retired public servants and concerned citizens to help those who had just lost everything. Mike's faith guided him to have compassion for these families. His faith opened up doors and encouraged participation from thousands people from Arkansas to respond. Mike faith is not used for a Campaign slogan. It is real, authentic, and obvious...not something that is leveraged for votes.

Fourth, His vision and communication ability. As a 35 year old, I have followed politics even before I was able to vote. I have met and watched Governor Huckabee give speeches on many different issues (values, faith, taxes, education, health care, terrorism, etc.). I have never been as inspired by another politican as they spoke about these issues. Mike Huckabee has a solid belief system on the issues...and he has the greatest ability to communicate that with the American people.

And lastly, if Hillary is the Democratic nominee (which if she is it is will be mainly because she is Bill Clinton's wife...not what she's done in the US Senate), then Governor Huckabee will have the greatest advantage of any other GOP Candidate to point to the successes he's had in Arkansas...since she and her husband left the state (for Uptown New York).

Jonathan Rogers is a guest blogger today. You can read his blog at http://www.huckabee08.blogspot.com.

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