AP News, December 7th, 2007
Republican presidential candidate and Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee says he won't discuss "intricate, nit-picky things of church doctrine," such as the role of women in the ministry, because the issues aren't relevant to the presidency.
The former Arkansas governor said that while he's open to discussing the basic pillars of his faith — and praised rival Mitt Romney for opening up in a speech Thursday about his — he won't voice his views on the of`t-discussed controversies in Southern Baptist denominations.
"I think (discussing faith) is an important part of helping people get to know the candidates," Huckabee said Friday morning after a breakfast fundraiser in Charlotte. "(But) sometimes the questions get a little laborious when they start asking you about intricate, nit-picky things of church doctrine that's probably not all that relevant to being president."
As in his decision not to discuss his views on the creation of the earth, Huckabee passed on a chance Thursday night explain his views on whether women should be able to serve in pastoral leadership roles.
"It's so irrelevant to being president that I wouldn't even get into that," Huckabee said before meeting with about 350 supporters in Greensboro, N.C. "Churches have different views on that and my personal views are completely immaterial as it would relate to being president."
But at the same time, Huckabee praised Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, for his speech Thursday morning in which he explained how his Mormon religion would shape his presidency.
"I think it's a good thing and healthy for all of us for people to discuss faith in the public square," Huckabee said, adding that he hadn't seen the speech. "I have nothing but respect for his coming forth and sharing what he did. I've been very clear about my own personal views. I think all of us who seek the office of president should be candid with the American people."
Huckabee was a minister at several Arkansas churches and served as president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention before entering politics. He's surged from a long-shot candidate to the front of polls in Iowa just weeks before voters there officially launch the 2008 nominating process.
"I think I've probably been asked far more questions about my faith than Mitt Romney's been asked about his," Huckabee said. "Maybe I ought to be doing the 'God speech' out there. I might even include an alter call and an offering with mine."
Huckabee was scheduled to attend a breakfast fundraiser Friday morning in Charlotte before heading to South Carolina for additional campaign stops.
