Dave Op't Hof

Mike Huckabee has succeeded. No, he hasn't succeeded in getting the Republican nomination, and he probably won't. But that was never his goal. His success was in de-railing Mitt Romney's bid for the presidency this year.

No one mistook his intent. The implied message was that the "other" candidate was not a Christian, the other candidate being Romney, a Mormon. To a Baptist minister like Huckabee, Mormons are not Christians, but members of a deviant cult.

Huckabee went on to say in a New York Times interview that he "didn't know much" about Mormons, but "don't they believe Jesus and Satan are brothers?" That perfidious distortion of Mormon belief implies that Mormons place Satan and Jesus on the same plane. Kind of like saying that Ted Bundy and Billy Graham are both Americans so they are equal.

Huckabee "apologized" to Romney, but it didn't matter. The damage had been done and he knew it. He knew that conservative Christians who might have voted for Romney had second thoughts and chose the safer candidate, the "true" Christian candidate -- Huckabee. Romney's standing in the Iowa polls fell rapidly and Huckabee won Iowa, in spite of Romney's 'Faith in America' speech in which he affirmed his belief in Christ, and his guarantee that his leadership would be based on what was best for the general good, not his own religion.

Huckabee's play of the religion card has continued to serve him well in many other states, particularly in the South. Conservative voters who might have voted for Romney as the most conservative candidate were split between the two. Romney continued to be a strong second place, but because of the votes diverted by Huckabee, not strong enough to catch up to McCain. McCain's candidacy has revived and he is clearly the front runner. It has been suggested that Huckabee might now secure the second spot on a Republican ticket.

Republicans would do well to consider such an eventuality carefully. Huckabee's play of the religion card is in direct contradiction to the Constitution which he would, as president or vice president, be sworn to uphold. The very first phrase of the Bill of Rights guarantees every American the free practice of religion. Huckabee stomped on Romney's right to his religious beliefs.

Huckabee's tactics further violated the last phrase of Article VI of the Constitution, which states that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." He in essence asked voters to consider whether Romney's religion was "Christian" enough to allow him to run for President.

I have nothing personal against Huckabee. In fact, I watched him in the Florida debate and had a favorable impression. But one has to wonder what card he might play in the general election, having played the religion card so effectively in the primaries. Would his ads proclaim him as "the Male candidate" or "the White candidate" when competing against either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama? What would such a tactic do to a Republican team that needs both female and black votes to gain election?

No, in my opinion, Huckabee's play of the religion card in the primaries shows the lack of a basic understanding of the Constitution, making him unfit for the highest office in the land. And as this campaign heats up, I would hope that voters would consider all candidates on their merits as individuals and as leaders, leaving race, religion and gender out of their deliberations. I also hope that, should Romney run again, voters would be smart enough not to be tricked by the religion card but would consider him on his merits as a leader.

Dave Op't Hof is a Provo resident.