Virginia Beach, Va. – Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee met in secret with Dr. Pat Robertson at his Regent University offices recently, and we’ve got the exclusive on this private meeting.
At first glance, the meeting would seem to have been a request for Rev. Robertson’s support. Having one of the nation’s best-known televangelists publicly voice political support could help Huckabee in his quest to reassure conservative Republicans that he is the candidate they want because of his views on abortion rights and gay marriage.
Mr. Robertson has publicly stated that “the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists” and he has not wavered from this view recently. Except that one time in Dallas, but that’s a different thing.
Amazingly, we have been told that Mr. Huckabee paid his secret visit to Dr. Robertson’s office to expressly ask him not to announce his support for Huckabee’s candidacy for president. The support of Mr. Robertson would seem to help Mr. Huckabee present himself as a viable candidate to the Christian right. Huckabee seems to be shunning this support.
It is reported by the security officer stationed at Dr. Robertson’s office door that Mr. Huckabee specifically asked Dr. Robertson to remain attached to Rudy Guilanni’s failed candidacy. “I heard it myself right here at the door. Huckabee shouted Dr. Robertson down when he tried to offer his public support. Man, I tell you, this Huckabee was burning mad,” said Chief Officer Smitt.
“It wouldn’t surprise me any if the Dr. would come out for one of the other candidates, maybe Brownback or Thompson, now that Huckabee has made his position known,” continued Smitt.
When Gov. Huckabee was finally reached by phone for his comments on this secret meeting, he said “I have very, very strong views on religion that come about from having studied theology for four years in college, academically. I am a Baptist preacher myself, you know. I understand that a man and a women’s relationship to God is one of the strongest, if not the strongest motivating thing in human history. I wanted to relate this thought to Dr. Robertson, that is all.”
Pressed for direct comments on whether or not he asked Dr. Robertson to stay at arm’s length and not endorse his candidacy, Mr. Huckabee said, “Well you know, no presidential candidate needs a crackpot endorsement. Look what it did for Guilani. This beloved man has demonstrated again and again that he is one oar short of a left turn in a kayak.
“He sided with Falwell who suggested on ‘The 700 Club’ TV show that abortion, gays and lesbians had angered God and the 9/11 terror attack in New York was the direct result of that anger, continued Huckabee. “Then he suggested that people should assassinate Chavez in Venezuela. Wow. That was totally stupid. And his whole thing about threats from US judges being more serious than a few terrorists who fly into buildings, well, that was simply as stupid as me telling people that I cooked squirrels in my popcorn popper in college. I’ll never live that down.”
Asked if he has spoken at Regent University yet, Huckabee demurred a bit. “Yes, I have been there at the University several times in the past. I spoke there when I was in the governor’s office in Arkansas. It was an important forum then. Now I think it is different.
I think that the traditional social issues for conservatives in the post-Sept. 11 world are still the ones which voters will address when they go into the polls to cast their votes. Go Texas.”