The New York Times, in their "Caucus" blog, points click here to leading conservatives Richard Lowry and Stephen Hayes, both attacking Huckabee in the National Review, as examples of this clash.

Well, what's the problem? Mike Huckabee is actually an authentic Evangelical Christian, who may even have a conscience.

As governor of Arkansas, his second act to signing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2004 was a campaign to promote stronger and more binding marriages. These "convenant marriages" are augmented by a contract that makes it harder for heterosexual couples to divorce.

The lack of enthusiasm for covenant marriages, in even the reddest of red states, is one sign that Huckabee (unlike Mitt Romney) adopts his political views as an authentic expression of his faith rather than to exploit the Christian base.

Only Arkansas, Arizona and Louisiana offer couples the option to upgrade their marriage. Legislation was introduced but not passed in, get this: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

What? How could Republican leaders so obsessed with Jesus fail to pass legislation that would strengthen the family? Because it does not effectively mobilize and exploit the Evangelical base.

In fact the only reason that Republicans like Larry Craig, Mark Foley, and Ted Haggard oppose gay marriage is because it makes them look more religious than a year's worth of perfect attendance at the local church. They can have sex men because they oppose same-sex marriage.

Huckabee is different, and the Republicans who represent the values of Larry Craig, Mark Foley and Ted Haggard simply can't stand the fact that there is finally an authentic Christian in the presidential running.

Rush Limbaugh, who likes to use "bending over and grabbing its ankles" in tandem with a invocation of the Congress of the United States of America (on a national broadcast that reaches children), attacked Huckabee today hiding behind the commentary of William Gheen to do the hit job. Gheen is the vitriolic president of Americans for Legal Immigration..

Limbaugh quoted Gheen and by extension warned his listeners that with regard to Huckabee, "A major deception is underway here."

"This is one of the attacks on Huckabee, one of the many one of the complaints is that he is disingenuous, and sort of Clintonesque. Will say whatever he has to say to whatever audience he is speaking to."

Of course Limbaugh could say he is simply reporting what is already out there for public consumption, but attacking Huckabee fits a pattern. Just the day before, Limbaugh fielded a caller who liked Huckabee--many do.

Limbaugh, working as a Republican Company spokesman, tried to subtly dissuade the man by pointing out that Huckabee wrote Bush has a "bunker like mentality" on foreign policy.

He then compared Huckabee and his "cult-like" following to the 1996 presidential campaign of Ross Perot. This time, Limbaugh hopes his listeners will heed his warnings: things are not always what they seem.

Rush and his allies are wrong. Huckabee is the man for the Republican Party ticket, and as Iowa draws near, more and more people are realizing this.

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