Of all the right-wing figures who have promoted Mike Huckabee’s extraordinary political rise from a backwater church to the national pulpit of a presidential campaign–and there are many–perhaps none know the former Arkansas governor and current Republican presidential front-runner better than Jay Cole. A Baptist minister based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a right-wing radio talk show of his own, Cole has been instrumental in inspiring Huckabee’s rise over more than two decades. Indeed, when Huckabee was the governor of Arkansas, it was Cole who persuaded him to arrange the release from prison of a convicted rapist, Wayne Dumond, who had become a born-again evangelical in prison–the most controversial act of Huckabee’s career, which still dogs him on the campaign trail.
I spoke to Cole by telephone a week before Huckabee’s surprise victory in the Iowa caucuses on January 3. He was supremely confident that his saintly friend would prevail over the hosts of darkness. “Mike is one of the finest and most gracious individuals God has ever placed on Earth,” Cole told me in his thick Southern drawl. “Not only does he have speaking ability, he has the Lord looking over him.”[..]
(T)he Huckabee Cole has known and loved for decades contrasts sharply with the sunny figure the media’s leading lights have conjured up. According to Cole, Huckabee has connected with voters–specifically, evangelical voters–not simply because he is a charismatic speaker, but also because he shares their apocalyptic world view. As Cole told me, “To date there’s well over 139 prophecies that have come to pass exactly as the Lord says. Mike believes those things. Anyone with any Bible knowledge would have to say that this looks like the time. We’re so close to the Lord’s return.”
During the period when Huckabee rose through the ranks of the Arkansas Republican Party to the governor’s mansion, Cole became one of the state’s most popular right-wing radio personalities. Cole volunteered to me the sectarian views that made his radio show a favorite of Arkansas’s far-right fringe. Taking a potshot at Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon, Cole compared the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the Ku Klux Klan. “As you know from history, their original intent–[Mormon founding fathers Joseph] Smith and Brigham Young–was to take over the United States of America,” he said. “They weren’t just far behind the KKK in their efforts.”
Cole was no more kind to Muslims. “If you think communism’s bad, just think what the Islamics are doing,” Cole warned. “Those people have no–they’re just not human. They’re just not human.”
I can’t think of anything to say to this except that it really, really scares me.
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#1
Bunch of freaks, the lot of ‘em!
Religious fundamentalism , be it Christian, Islamic , Hindu or whatever, is not theology . It’s a mental illness . For the sake of the vast majority who are secular or responsibly spiritual, these people must be prevented from leading the masses .
Huckabee is an End-Timer, all right.
Bill Clinton was just a good-time-charlie.
Please, America, don’t Arkansas yourselves again by voting for this preacher-man.
All extremism is dangerous.
Jesus in his UFO took a u-turn a long time ago when he saw the Haggard, Falwell, Robertson welcome wagon.
“Mike is one of the finest and most gracious individuals God has ever placed on Earth,”
Then why is he running for president instead of out doing good and helping people?
Tell the fellow from the blackwater church the Lord looks over us all. A L L are precious in his sight.
Liberal AND Proud @ 4:
I used to think this too until I realized it was an extremist statement. So now I just say Most extremism is dangerous. :)
Look at the size of that booger!
No, not the one on his finger, the one on his neck.
Calling Muslims less than human, thats very Christian of him….
Republican Jesus would approve!
Well, 30 percent of Americans believed the Rapture would take place in 2007.
So many millions couldn’t be wrong!
Here’s my theory: the rapture took place sometime in 2007! All the good people were snatched up into heaven and all the poopy heads were left behind.
The poopy heads don’t realize they were left behind, and so they will just shrug and figure that the Rapture is Actually going to happen in 2008.
And in 2009. And in 2010 (the percentage will go up to 35 here, it’s a round number). And in 2011 (again 35, because the two last numbers are the same). And in 2012, and in 2013, etc.
Throughout history the gloom and doom crowd has huckstered its way to survival and occasionally, fortune. As a variation on the theme of fear it’s had an incredible half-life.
Huksterbee is just the predictable outcome when a group of scoundrels conspire over time to mislead the people.
Save us Jesus! No, really. Save us from the wolves dressed as Right-wing zealots!
I think Christian fundamentalists are just jealous of Islamic fundamentalists because Islamic fundamentalists get to treat their women in ways Christian fundamentalists only wish they could.
Christ himself didn’t know the time or place of the last day,only God and I believe that was to cut of characters like this from selling end time shit.( FEAR)
I’ve been praying for the rapture to come for years to relieve us from this plague of rapture-ready fundies. Why isn’t their God listening? Why does He hate us so?
I have a book that is filled with these apocalyptic crack pots dating back to Christ’s time. Each one I bet, was just as sure that their made up predictions would come true as well but each and every one has proved to be wrong. Anyone that believes Huckabee is just as foolish as those in the past that followed those other nuts.
Filthy Harry @ 8:
yeah, but some extremism is dangerouser than others.
Manufactured self-fulfillments and/or generous loose interpretations, every one of them.
The rapture right is as deluded as any suicide cult. But they’re far more dangerous because they’re dead set on taking the rest of us with them.
For humanity’s sake, we must NOT give this guy a nuclear arsenal.
The LAST THING we need in this country is a president who will try to direct this country into an END-of-DAYS situation.
What does “The Huckster” say about this?
What does Joe Scarborough say about this? THEY seem to be BFF these days. How does he get away with having Huckelbee on Morning Joe just about every other day?? Isn’t ANY thinking person in charge of that hen-house at MSNBC?
“As you know from history, their original intent–[Mormon founding fathers Joseph] Smith and Brigham Young–was to take over the United States of America,” he said. “They weren’t just far behind the KKK in their efforts.”
This differs from the Christians how?
Oh and every time I encounter a rapture-ready nutcase, I tell him/her that “The rapture already happened, you were not chosen, and you probably voted for the antichrist. Twice.”
bughunter @ 19:
Well maybe not for humanity’s sake, but certainly the rest of life on this planet deserves a shot at further evolution.
Everytime I look at Huckabee I am convinced that P.T. Barnum was right!
bughunter @ 22:
Nice!
Maybe they should self-rapture, if enough of them did it God would have to start the rapture, they could force his hand so to speak.
Hi guys, just I thought I will let you know that African American Bloggers are very, very, very upset with Hillary (and that BET guy). Boy did she make a mistake.
Filthy Harry @ 8:
Ok..most. Sheesh…what a nitpick. LOL!
Yea, elect a Christian who will have the worlds largest nuclear arsenal at his disposal who believes Armegeddon is part of the divine plan.
Something about this just has disaster written all over it.
If the fools on the right do not get to the polls in the primary and keep this character from becoming their nominee, they deserve the embarassment he will bring to the party in the general election.
And yes, religious fanatics are insane and not just in the ‘I have an imaginary friend that talks to me’ way but in the ‘I have an imaginary friend who tells me who to kill’ way.
Now why isn’t Huckabee’s beliefs getting front page coverage? This man as president is indeed a scary prospect for all the world. He is getting a free pass like Obama from any real coverage of their policies etc., and getting coverage on likeability and charisma alone. When asked questions on TV he won’t give direct answers, he constantly likes to belittle and demean his opponents while feigning laughter or jokes as he gets his digs in.. and I keep hearing anout him continuing to preach on Sundays and rallying all the churches to get behind his candidacy. He also knows exactly how to play the media..I was going to go negative, but now I am not ..but I will show you what I was going to say so you can all report on it and show it on your airwaves at no cost to me anyway…..
This election coverage of yours is so skewed it is unreal!
For the sake of argument..
How far can we go in associating the statements and beliefs of every supporter with the candidate of their choice? What if there are some extremist black militants that support Obama - would that portend something grave for his presidency?
I’m a lifelong Dem and despise Republicans and how they have destroyed our countries economy and reputation. But if Hillary and Bubba don’t stop their most recent shenanigans I’m going to vote for Huckabee.
LOL
I have been saying for months that the huckabee campaign is very very dangerous, and if successful may lead the country into a christian theocracy. This article is just another example of why I hold that view.
Those who believe in the mystical things huckabee does, actually believe as he does - that he will guide them to, and through, the “end times”.
Scary as the version of “hell” they espouse…
please, for christ’s sake, can we have a president that doesn’t think the world is gonna end during his tenure…
i mean, what’s a quadrillion dollar debt if Jesus is gonna come and forgive the debtors???
what’s a coupla few extra wars if Jesus is gonna come and raise all the wonderful people out of their graves???
and what’s the point of health care if Jesus is gonna come and heal us all???
personally, i would prefer someone who thinks Capt Kirk is real…
i would prefer someone who really does believe the Matrix is reality…
i would prefer anyone who is not going to put it all in God’s hands….
there used to be an expression: God helps those who help themselves.
how about we take care of our own futures… how about we take care of this planet…
how about we take care of ourselves and our children…
Ex-Canuck @ 34:
Seeing the way the Dem party is being fractured and fragged over this idiotic Clinton-Obama game I wouldn’t be shocked if we do get a President Huckabee in 09.
“In the end, Religion will kill us all…”
– Ed Krebs
H.E.R.B. - Had Enough Religious Bullshit
http://edkrebs.com/herb
“Is Huckabee Rapture Ready?”
Is Blumenthal’s dad a drunk?
Seriously though folks Rapture bunny’s can be a scary doomsday cult types.
L.A. Confidential @ 36:
Now I see why Cole likes Huckabee. Cole controls him. Cole is the same man that Huckabee listened to when he paroled Wayne Dumond. According to Wikipedia, Dumond murdered and raped Carol Sue Shields after he was paroled by Huckabee. I wonder who Cole suggests Huckabee pardon next?
Ex-Canuck @ 39:
Sorry LA, I inserted my paragraph “Wish the….. wont.” into your words. Didn’t mean to..- Ex–Canuck
Think I will agree with Jim on at least this paragraph. I don’t agree with everything he writes but he’s damn close on a lot of things.
“But despite what we tell ourselves about our specialness, we’re not immune to the forces that have driven other societies to extremes. The rise of the Nazis, the Soviet terror, the “cultural revolution,” the holocausts and genocides — these are all things that can happen to any people driven to desperation.”
I think this merits someone asking Huckabee whether he thinks Muslims are human.
stevo @ 10:
Just curious - anyone out there know of a religion that’s as obnoxious as Christianity? What other religion do you see plastered on bumper stickers, t-shirts, and billboards? Anybody been told by a non-Christian religious person that they were going to hell (or wherever) because they didn’t share their religion?
I’m serious; this isn’t meant to be rhetorical. Maybe in another country, at least one I’ve never visited.
I have to say that, having been a Mormon for many years, the comparison between the LDS Church and the KKK is more apt than you may think. The LDS church, at its inception, was intent on taking over the United States government. Joseph Smith, the church’s founder and first prophet, actually ran for the presidency in 1844. And like the KKK, the LDS church–for nearly a century and a half–was an overtly racist institution. Blacks were denied the priesthood, an important LDS office and religious rite, until 1978. There’s a long laundry list of racially insensitive statements made by church leaders. I’ll let this link suffice: http://www.lds-mormon.com/racism.shtml
But I think the comparison between the KKK and the LDS church is hyperbolic nonetheless. My family and most of my friends are Mormon, and they are hardly racists. They are glad that the LDS church has largely abandoned its racist past.
Geraldo @ 11:
Who could have known so many Iraqis were good!
Hey! Who says I’m a poopy head!!
L.A. Confidential @ 33:
I had to clean my screen after that one! Is that a real quote? I’ve heard myths about people like this, but it can’t be real!
Matt in Texas @ 44:
I can’t think of one person. I’ve known hindus, Muslims, Bhuddists and the like but not one has tried to shove their faith down my throat.
Wasn’t it printed that Hucklberry only went to seminary school for one year and never finished? How can one become a Baptist minister if the requisite courses aren’t done?
And the big question, did he pass IB101 (Imaginary Being)?
More proof that Rethugs are fake religious thugs.