Faith and Politics
My faith is my life - it defines me. My faith doesn't influence my decisions, it drives them. For example, when it comes to the environment, I believe in being a good steward of the earth. I don't separate my faith from my personal and professional lives.

Sanctity of Life
I support and have always supported passage of a constitutional amendment to protect the right to life. My convictions regarding the sanctity of life have always been clear and consistent, without equivocation or wavering. I believe that Roe v. Wade should be over-turned.

Veterans' Bill Of Rights
I support the following VETERANS' BILL OF RIGHTS for issues that are not being adequately addressed: The right to a mandatory rather than a discretionary mechanism for funding veterans' health care, to eliminate year-to-year uncertainty that the funds they need will be there for them...

Education And The Arts
I believe that every child should have the opportunity for a quality education that teaches the fundamental skills needed to compete in a global economy. As I traveled the country and the world over the last decade bringing jobs to Arkansas, the business leaders I met weren't worried about creating jobs, they were worried about finding skilled and professional workers to fill those jobs.

Health Care
The health care system in this country is irrevocably broken, in part because it is only a "health care" system, not a "health" system. We don't need universal health care mandated by federal edict or funded through ever-higher taxes. We do need to get serious about preventive health care instead of chasing more and more dollars to treat chronic disease, which currently gobbles up 80% of our health care costs, and yet is often avoidable. The result is that we'll be able to deliver better care where and when it's needed.

Agriculture
A nation must provide its citizens freedom and security. To accomplish this, a nation must be able to defend itself and feed itself. We have learned how disastrous it is to be dependent on other countries for our energy needs – we must never be dependent for our food needs. Being able to feed ourselves is not just sound economic and agricultural policy, it is wise national security policy.

Crisis Management
You need to know that your President will calmly and confidently lift you up in a crisis. During the massive emergency of Hurricane Katrina, when local, state, and federal governments were in melt-down, I stepped forward and directed the rescue and relief of 75,000 victims. Our island of success in a sea of failure was one of the reasons Time magazine named me one of America's five best governors.

Vertical Politics
Vertical Day is here and I want you to be a part of it.

Issues

In his recent book, From Hope to Higher Ground, Gov. Huckabee addressed many important national policy topics. Excerpts are provided below. Many conservatives are pleased that Mike is a committed supporter of the Fair Tax. Want more detail on Mike's positions on the crucial issues of our time? Click the links for issues of interest on either sidebar and visit the issue on the Huckabee national website.

On Government

My experiences helped me to better understand that good government is not about policies, but about the people whose lives are going to be touched

On American Military Strength

I would never want to sacrifice one particle of America's power. Ronald Reagan was right when he led this country to unprecedented military strength. Our best defense is a military so well equipped and so well trained that no one wants to challenge it. Strength is a far more effective deterrent to war than is weakness, and the United States should never be timid nor apologetic for the development of the strongest military forces on the face of the earth. But with the development of strength and unprecedented power there must also be unprecedented restraint.

On Education Policy

In America, we need to demand that we judge the true success of our education system by the results we obtain instead of the revenues we spend. The focus on true quality instead of mere quantity requires us to set high standards, measure performance diligently, and hold stakeholders accountable for the results in an atmosphere of transparency and efficiency.

On Environmental Policy

There has been a perception that conservative Republicans don't care much for the environment or the protection and preservation of natural resources. I remind people that the very word "conservative" means that we are all about conserving those things that are valuable and dear. Few things are more valuable to us than the natural resources that God created and gave to us to responsibly and carefully manage so as to pass them on to the next generation in as good, if not better, shape than we found them.

On Tax Reform

The real key to meaningful tax reform is not going to be found in the hands of the politicians, but rather in the hands of the people who at some point will be fed up enough to demand either a simpler and fairer tax system and more responsible spending on the part of Washington or a systematic change in those who serve in Congress. We need to give a new team some playing time on the field to see if we can score a few for the taxpayer instead of the tax taker. (Mike is a staunch supporter and proponent of the Fair Tax.)

The War on Terror

In response to the President's National Address on Thursday night September 13, 2007 regarding the war in Iraq and with Terrorism, Mike Huckabee issued the following comment:

The current policy of providing security and stability has to be carried out. We can’t walk away and not honor those who are serving our country. If we leave now, it will show weakness, which would do irreparable damage to America ’s reputation and ability to protect our national interests, as well as create chaos and massive suffering in the region.

The war we are fighting in the Middle East is a theological war. It is not a traditional geo-political war; it is a war against against Islamic fanatics who want to destroy us. It is a test of will and purpose.

The question is, do we have the will to fight the enemy and take the fight to them or will they prevail? For the sake of future generations of Americans, this is a war we must win. We must give our commanders and troops what they need to succeed.

Taxes/Economy
I'd like you to join me at the best "Going Out of Business" sale I can imagine - one held by the Internal Revenue Service. Am I running for president to shut down the federal government? Not exactly. But I am running to completely eliminate all federal income and payroll taxes. And do I mean all - personal federal, corporate federal, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, self-employment.

Marriage
I support and have always supported passage of a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. As President, I will fight for passage of this amendment. My personal belief is that marriage is between one man and one woman, for life.

Energy Independence
The first thing I will do as President is send Congress my comprehensive plan for energy independence. We will achieve energy independence by the end of my second term.

Immigration
My number one priority is to secure America's border. I opposed the amnesty bill that was defeated by the Senate in June.

National Security/Foreign Policy: Iraq
Iraq is a battle in our generational, ideological war on terror. General Petraeus and our troops are giving their all to provide a window of opportunity for the Iraq government to succeed, while the Democrats are running for the exit doors.

National Security/Foreign Policy: War On Terror
I believe that we are currently engaged in a world war. Radical Islamic fascists have declared war on our country and our way of life. They have sworn to annihilate each of us who believe in a free society, all in the name of a perversion of religion and an impersonal god. We go to great extremes to save lives, they go to great extremes to take them. This war is not a conventional war, and these terrorists are not a conventional enemy. I will fight the war on terror with the intensity and single-mindedness that it deserves.

Foreign Policy: Israel
I've visited the Middle East extensively over the past thirty-five years, including nine trips to Israel. I salute and support Israel as our staunch ally in the War on Terror and our greatest friend in that region. As the only fully-functioning democracy in the Middle East, Israel occupies a unique position both geographically and geopolitically. Israel is an important partner in the spread of freedom and democracy throughout the Middle East and the world.

2nd Amendment Rights
No candidate has a stronger, more consistent record on Second Amendment rights than I do. Our Founding Fathers, having endured the tyranny of the British Empire, wanted to guarantee our God-given liberties. They devised our three branches of government and our system of checks and balances. But they were still concerned that the system could fail, and that we might someday face a new tyranny from our own government. They wanted us to be able to defend ourselves, and that's why they gave us the Second Amendment.