Mike Huckabee is running for President of the United States on the basis of his status as a Christian leader. He’s come right out and said as much in his television advertisements in Iowa. So, it makes a lot of sense to scrutinize what kind of Christian leadership Huckabee values, and how he would apply that kind of leadership as President of the United States.

Huckabee has said that he thinks that right wing extremist John Hagee is “one of the great Christian leaders of our nation.” Hagee, in turn, has spoken quite freely about how Christian beliefs should be applied by the U.S. federal government.

On the subject of international affairs, for example, Hagee says that the U.S. government ought to let terrorists organized by God dictate American foreign policy. No kidding. Read Hagee’s words for yourself.

“I want those of you in the State Department and in government in Washington to hear this: If America does not stop pressuring Israel to give up land, I believe that God will bring this nation into judgment, because I believe what this book says. And if God brings this nation into judgment, He will very likely release the terrorists that you’ve already let get here through the ridiculous immigration policy you refuse to stop, and this nation is going to go through a bloodbath that you have permitted because of what you have done. You have disobeyed the law of God, and now, we as a nation are going to pay a price for that.”

The meaning of this kind of statement is pretty clear. According to Hagee, God has a bunch of terrorists that he is ready to release to attack the United States any time the American government breaks Christian religious law. What’s more, Hagee suggests that the American government ought to listen to God’s terrorist threats, and shape our foreign policy accordingly.

Mike Huckabee thinks that this kind of idea is an example of great leadership. That’s just one more reason American voters must never allow someone like Huckabee to become the President of the United States.

(Source: People For The American Way, December 21, 2007; New York Post, December 24, 2007)

Post script: John McCain has since sought the endorsement of John Hagee, and received it, giving John Hagee a great big hug.