Michael Farris, founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), wrote the following letter to Iowans in the weeks prior to the Ames Straw Poll.
The letter echoes many of our reasons for supporting Mike Huckabee and is pleasantly prophetic. Enjoy.
From the desk of Michael Farris
July 27, 2007
Dear Friends in Iowa,
Iowa voters have a unique opportunity to influence the future of America on August 11th. I write in the hope that you will consider my analysis on two critical issues:Let's start with the second issue and then return to the August 11th event in Ames.
- Why you should attend the Iowa Straw Poll on August 11th in Ames.
- Why I have decided to support Governor Mike Huckabee for President in 2008.
In fairness, let me reveal the factors I used for deciding who to support for President. Many of you will recognize scriptural themes in my analysis. Let me emphasize, this is how I made my decision. I believe that every American has the total freedom and right to use their own value system to reach their own conclusions.After a thorough review of all candidates, I believe that Mike Huckabee fully embraces all of these principles, qualities and possesses all of the relevant experience so that he is fully qualified to be our President.
- Our president should be a man of a consistent philosophy proven over time. In Deuteronomy 17, kings of Israel were to be those who did not deviate from the right way either to the right or the left. I simply do not trust those who have not been consistent over time--especially those who finally "discover" that they are social conservatives at the very time they are running for president.
- Our president must be a man of consistent character.
- Our president should have that rare combination of leadership, tenacity, and humility that is commended in that same passage. Leaders of Israel were to be strong to be sure, but they were, ". . .not to consider themselves better than their brothers."
- Our president should not be a neophyte in serious leadership positions. The New Testaments tells us that church leaders should be "tested" and that we are to avoid "laying hands" suddenly on someone. Although this does not apply directly to political leaders, I believe that there is wisdom in this standard that is broadly applicable.
- Our president must be an unwavering supporter of the right to life--period.
- Our president must understand the original intent of our Constitution and insist that both his administration and his judicial appointments faithfully follow its provisions.
- Our president must believe in American self-government. I will never support someone who believes that it is proper for any branch of government--other than an elected legislature--to make our laws. The UN should not be allowed to make laws for America. The Supreme Court should not be allowed to make law. No agency of government should be allowed to use international law to override the law of this country.
- Our president must believe in liberty--religious liberty for all is a first principle--but all principles of the First Amendment--and the Second (and the rest of the Bill of Rights) are essential. But, our president must understand that liberty under law allows for moral standards, not the amorality and decadence that is the byproduct of libertarianism.
Importantly, I believe that he has the best ability I have ever witnessed to communicate these values in a winsome and articulate fashion. His ability to communicate with such ease and quickness is not just a speaking gift, but it arises from a heart of deep conviction so that he never has to first stop and ask himself, "What am I supposed to say about this issue?"
On a pragmatic note, Americans elect Governors, not Senators, not members of the House and certainly not mayors. And Americans DO NOT elect moderate Republicans.
In 1976--Ford (a moderate) lost.
In 1980--Reagan ("too conservative for America") won a landslide.
In 1984--Reagan won another landslide.
In 1988--Bush (41) won because America thought he was Reagan, Jr.
In 1992--Bush lost after he violated his pledge on taxes and America knew he was a moderate.
In 1996--Dole (a moderate) lost.
In 2000--Bush (43) ran as a pro-life conservative and won.
In 2004--Bush won again.
The lessons to be learned are that when the GOP nominates a Senator we lose, and when we nominate a moderate we lose. We need a conservative Governor who is pro-life, pro-family and pro-Constitution. That is the pragmatic formula for victory.
Many of you know that my wife and I have homeschooled our children for 25 years. I have nine grandchildren being homeschooled. I am absolutely committed to the protection of the freedom for home education.
I believe that the biggest threat on the horizon to home education specifically and to parental rights in general is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Hillary Clinton will make this one of her highest priorities if she is elected president.
We need a president who is absolutely committed to the sovereignty of America and the sanctity of the family and is ready, willing and able to stop the UN from usurping the role of moms and dads who want to raise their children in a decent and honorable fashion.
Hillary makes her "pro-child" message sound so deceptively appealing. If we are going to win the presidency, the GOP candidate must stand for what is right, but also have the communication ability to make every one in America understand what a danger the UN Convention on children's rights poses to the American way of life for all of us.
Mike Huckabee has the convictions, the ability to communicate, and the ability to beat Hillary in debate after debate on this and any other issue she raises. I do not want to trust the future of my family to any person lacking the ability to truly best her in debate.
I have coached legal debate teams to repeated college national championships. I think I can spot a good debater. Mike Huckabee stands head and shoulders above all others in his ability to best any Democrat--Hillary, Obama, or Edwards.
In short,Here is the rub:
- Mike Huckabee has proven his convictions over time.
- Mike Huckabee has the highest level of preparation and experience.
- Mike Huckabee has the right character.
- Mike Huckabee has the best ability of any candidate in either party to communicate a winsome and articulate message.
- Mike Huckabee is probably the only Republican who can win.
The media has decided for us who the frontrunners are, and big money Republicans have decided that they will only bet on frontrunners.
August 11th is the first and most critical moment in this campaign. It is the first time that the American public--not the media--gets to select the frontrunner.
I have had hundreds of people say to me, "Yes, Mike Huckabee is probably the best candidate--but how is he going to break out of the pack?"
The answer is, August 11th! If he can gain a very strong showing on August 11th, he will be a frontrunner. And then, the money will flow, and his ability to communicate will be noticed, and I believe he will fly to the top and win the nomination.
I have no doubt that if he wins the nomination, he will win the presidency. I cannot say that about any other Republican because winning requires that special combination of life experience (Governors), conservatism, and communication skill.
I know that this has been a little long. But choosing a president is a big deal. If my analysis seems sound to you, then I ask you to join me on August 11th in Ames. I will be there in person to support Mike Huckabee. If you are able to attend, please do so.
It is no exaggeration to say that the future of our country may well be riding on this event.
2 comments:
As a homeschooling Huckabee supporter, this means a lot!
Farris said, "I believe that the biggest threat on the horizon to home education specifically and to parental rights in general is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child."
I agree that this is a real threat and that the attention given to it by conservatives is necessary. I'm glad to hear that Mike Huckabee strongly opposes this measure.
There is another threat that is going under the radar from a subgroup of the UN, UNESCO and its implementation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma) in our nation's schools that is going to become a formidable threat to homeschooling and parental rights in the future as well.
If Mike Huckabee is serious about helping homeschoolers as President (and I believe him on this point), he will look at the legitimate threat this diploma and the IB organization present to homeschoolers as well as the independence of our educational system (however flawed it may be.)
The IB Diploma (a UN endorsed diploma) is being implemented across the country by both Republican and Democrat governors. (Internationally, in one of his final acts former Prime Minister, Tony Blair also signed to implement IB nationwide for its elite schools.)
Under Governor Huckabee, Arkansas signed on to the IB Diploma in 2003. Here's a link to the first group of high schoolers receiving their IB pins signifying their acceptance into the UN program.
http://www.nlrsd.k12.ar.us/East%20Campus/IB%20Diploma.htm
Current IBO Director General James Beard outlined his goals for IB students this way, "Our programmes are shaped around creating "a better and more peaceful world" with a core determination to develop students who can create this better world through intercultural understanding and respect. In essence, IB programmes are "fit for purpose" for the 21st century!"
Many educational "reforms" implemented in Arkansas conform to the IB teaching standards. A recent example that made the news in Arkansas was the new controversial history curriculum that does not teach Arkansas state history and most likely very little US History.
http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_8752.shtml
While this may seem odd in a US classroom doesn't teach its own history, that has been the goal of IB for years.
A French woman, Marie-Thérèse Maurette, wrote a handbook for UNESCO outlining the plan for international education. It is still in the archives in Paris. It's English title translates to, "Is there a way of teaching for peace?"
Quoting former director of the IBO, George Walker about the book,
http://universities.ibo.org/ibo/index.cfm?contentid=54DF3F23-DA44-6BB7-59B5C0EC6D1C2566&method=display&language=EN
"She then argues the case for a new kind of geography which puts the students into contact with the whole world before they ever see a map of their own country. Individual maps are hopelessly misleading in their scale...,"
(Maybe this explains why 1 out of 5 American can't find the US on a map anymore!)
Walker also explained her views on history, "She had equally radical ideas about history which, she insisted, should not be taught before the age of 12 if it was to avoid becoming a gallery of dubious national heroes."
So national heros are bad for a sovereign nation according to international educators. This is the curriculum being implemented in Arkansas and across the nation! Students are going to school this fall and are being taught the UN curriculum and parents are being told it's elite and advanced. Ignorance is bliss, until it costs us our national identity.
I don't fault Governor Huckabee alone for particapting in IB just about every state in our country is signing on in some way. Most do so without any knowledge of who is behind this curriculum. They are told that it is on par with Advanced Placement and sell IB as an "elite" education. Stroke a parents ego and advance an international curriculum. Nice. This is obivous, by the ceremonial pinning for the first students accepted into the UN schools in Arkansas.
However, as a former head of the Education Commission on the States, Gov. Huckabee has more influence and should use it to clearly state that the UN or its underling, UNESCO, have no place in our country's educational system. His tenure as head of the ECS spoke little about their increasing influence. That tells me he may be largely unaware of exactly who is behind the curriculum and its influence in our schools.
I truly believe Mike Huckabee cares about the sovereignty of our nation. His convictions on the UN Rights of the Child are encouraging in that regard. He would go along way in convincing me of his seriousness, by also renouncing the IB Diploma standards that he unwittingly adopted for his state. As a former chairman of the ECS, renouncing UN involvement in US schools will send a clear signal to parents whether they homeschool or not, that the UN does not run our schools and will not run our country.
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