Huckabee hits right theme for Sioux County Republicans
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, January 17, 2006
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- On a night in which Iowans in precinct caucuses discussed gubernatorial preferences and key issues for the 2006 general election, Sioux County Republicans got to think a bit further ahead, hearing firsthand from possible 2008 presidential contender Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
The second-longest serving governor in the U.S., Huckabee spoke with members of the Sioux County Republican Party Central Committee, then delivered a 28-minute speech keynote prior to the caucuses.
Sioux County is one of the strongest counties for the Republican Party in the state. With 75 percent of registered voters Republican, it's a natural stumping spot for presidential candidates, and George W. Bush made a stop in 1999 prior to the 2000 caucuses.
Said Huckabee, "What a historic county this is -- I wanted to come up and see a county with an incredible Republican margin."
Huckabee didn't speak about any presidential aspirations he may have, said Merlyn Rehder, 74, and Jerry Klemme, 60, two Hawarden residents who shared soup with Huckabee. Klemme said "it is a good way for us to hear from (possible presidential candidates), but more importantly, for them to hear from us."
Whether sitting with five men eating chili or speaking to a crowd of at least 150, Huckabee hit on conservative themes that resonated with attendees at Sioux Center High School. An "Amen" rang out after he spoke against abortion. He spoke frequently on his faith, the need to rise above the morass of coarse popular culture, and elicited a laugh when calling U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy a "gas bag" for his questioning last week of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.
In laying out how he first became a Republican, Huckabee also drew a round of laughter. He recalled as a teen reading Ecclesiastes 10:2 -- "The wise man's heart directs him toward the right, while the foolish man's heart leads him toward the left."
Summarizing what it means to be a Republican, Huckabee said he wouldn't shrink away from those who label it a pro-business political party. "What is the alternative? Pro-hunting and gathering?" he asked.
Huckabee shared stories of his recent 100-pound weight loss. While discussing how people are concerned about their personal health, he added, "America needs to take a very long, hard look at its moral health, its spiritual health."
The governor was critical of how America has "gone off our moral compass" since he was a child, going from "Leave it to Beaver" to "Beavis and Butthead" on television, and from teachers handing out Gideon Bibles to fifth-graders to teachers providing condoms to seventh-graders.
Huckabee also praised the caucus participants for the work they would do later in the night. "It is as pure America as anything that happens in this country tonight," he said.
Huckabee said candidates don't win elections, they are won by "foot soldiers" like the persons caucusing Monday night who put up yard signs up and raise money for campaigns. "The truth is our political system would collapse tomorrow if it was not people like you who come out and eat chili and participate in caucuses," he said.
Lowell Goemaat of Sioux Center "liked that he was a good communicator," mentioning Huckabee sharing that trait with Ronald Reagan. His wife Christina Goemaat noted that Huckabee had enjoyed success in a traditionally strong Democratic Party state -- Huckabee hails from Hope, Ark., where Bill Clinton lived early in his life.
"I would vote for him," Christina Goemaat said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
The second-longest serving governor in the U.S., Huckabee spoke with members of the Sioux County Republican Party Central Committee, then delivered a 28-minute speech keynote prior to the caucuses.
Sioux County is one of the strongest counties for the Republican Party in the state. With 75 percent of registered voters Republican, it's a natural stumping spot for presidential candidates, and George W. Bush made a stop in 1999 prior to the 2000 caucuses.
Said Huckabee, "What a historic county this is -- I wanted to come up and see a county with an incredible Republican margin."
Huckabee didn't speak about any presidential aspirations he may have, said Merlyn Rehder, 74, and Jerry Klemme, 60, two Hawarden residents who shared soup with Huckabee. Klemme said "it is a good way for us to hear from (possible presidential candidates), but more importantly, for them to hear from us."
Whether sitting with five men eating chili or speaking to a crowd of at least 150, Huckabee hit on conservative themes that resonated with attendees at Sioux Center High School. An "Amen" rang out after he spoke against abortion. He spoke frequently on his faith, the need to rise above the morass of coarse popular culture, and elicited a laugh when calling U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy a "gas bag" for his questioning last week of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.
In laying out how he first became a Republican, Huckabee also drew a round of laughter. He recalled as a teen reading Ecclesiastes 10:2 -- "The wise man's heart directs him toward the right, while the foolish man's heart leads him toward the left."
Summarizing what it means to be a Republican, Huckabee said he wouldn't shrink away from those who label it a pro-business political party. "What is the alternative? Pro-hunting and gathering?" he asked.
Huckabee shared stories of his recent 100-pound weight loss. While discussing how people are concerned about their personal health, he added, "America needs to take a very long, hard look at its moral health, its spiritual health."
The governor was critical of how America has "gone off our moral compass" since he was a child, going from "Leave it to Beaver" to "Beavis and Butthead" on television, and from teachers handing out Gideon Bibles to fifth-graders to teachers providing condoms to seventh-graders.
Huckabee also praised the caucus participants for the work they would do later in the night. "It is as pure America as anything that happens in this country tonight," he said.
Huckabee said candidates don't win elections, they are won by "foot soldiers" like the persons caucusing Monday night who put up yard signs up and raise money for campaigns. "The truth is our political system would collapse tomorrow if it was not people like you who come out and eat chili and participate in caucuses," he said.
Lowell Goemaat of Sioux Center "liked that he was a good communicator," mentioning Huckabee sharing that trait with Ronald Reagan. His wife Christina Goemaat noted that Huckabee had enjoyed success in a traditionally strong Democratic Party state -- Huckabee hails from Hope, Ark., where Bill Clinton lived early in his life.
"I would vote for him," Christina Goemaat said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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