Jewish Democrats slammed Mike Huckabee as an “extremist” after he won the Iowa caucuses.
The former Arkansas governor’s wide margin over other Republicans Thursday was the surprise of the first vote of the season in the effort to select a candidate.
Huckabee drew strong support from Christian evangelicals who share his adamant opposition to abortion and to church-state separation. His advocacy on behalf of the poor and his break with Republican orthodoxies about reducing the role of government also cultivated independents.
“In choosing a candidate so beholden to the extremist elements in the Republican base, Iowa Republicans have sent a strong message about the role and power of the religious right in GOP politics,” the National Jewish Democratic Council said in a statement. “Governor Huckabee’s record and rhetoric would certainly not play well with Jewish voters in a general election campaign.”
The release quoted Huckabee as once saying: “I got into politics because I knew government didn’t have the real answers, that the real answers lie in accepting Jesus Christ into our lives.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
