I just thought I'd through it in. Heck, I'm not even American...Just find following this interesting!
I probably won't vote for Huckabee because I don't agree with him on some other key issues, but I did read this week in a yahoogroup something about Huckabee's past legislation in Arkansas. Something about a deadline to turn in your paperwork, and having to wait 2 weeks before you can pull a child out of public school to homeschool - when they don't have that 'wait' time to pull out and put the child in a private or patriochal school. But, if you're considering him and that would make a difference, you'll have to google it. I saw it on a local group, and the lady voicing her opinion didn't give any links or reference points. She DID say something about NEA endorsing both he and Hillary Clinton... which I also find odd.
The gal Dawn linked to has some more interesting stuff on the topic. http://www.spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/ You know what I'd like? I'd love for Mike to read this conversation and comment on it!
I have been reading more articles at HSLDA and NEA. They are very informative. This is from Huckabee's site. He states that he is for the parent's right to homeschool their child. Still, the idea both HSLDA and NEA supporting him baffles me. Perhaps they feel out of all of them, he will do what is best in education for all concerned. Patty http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=7
sorry it took so long, I like the cafepress t-shirts and such, I should have quoted them in the reply. Also I am an Aggie Grad class of '01 WHOOP!
Thanks for all the links. I have enjoyed reading them. I like to be informed, it is terrible that not a single person is perfect in all ways.
I'm beginning to think it's not the homeschooling that got Huckabee the HSLDA's support but the other conservative issues that the HSLDA lobbies for, which is weird. In my biased and cynical eye it might show that the homeschooling aspect is simply a hook for membership dues to support a very conservative and more general political agenda. Anyhow, the homeschooling blogs, even the very conservative ones, are starting to dig into this issue... HSLDA Politics? Shake ups within HSLDA
I agree with you dawninns. . .LOL. . .except it doesn't baffle me. I think if Hilary were to win, our rights as homeschoolers would be severely limited. They support Huckabee in part bc he is ultra conservative and they feel he will be Clinton should it come to that. (This was in the original e-mail endorsing him.) They posit that a moderate conservative has NEVER beaten a dem. . .which is true. So it is their belief that the best option for beating Hilary is an uber-conservative.
Isn't education a state matter? How would a win by Hilary affect that? Personally I think the strategy isn't something that seems helpful in the long run. There is already talk in the press that equates homeschoolers with right wing christianity and a 'one mind' mentality. The strategy seems to have the possible affect of confirming the worst fears some people have about homeschooling. I don't know who I'd vote for if I were American. I used to vote along conservative lines (used to be active in conservative party politics in fact) here in Canada but I've given that up.
Because the No Child Left Behind Act proved that at any moment the Federal Government can step in and dictate how the states are to run their educational systems.
Well, that is one argument. . .I'm not saying I agree with their premise. . .just saying what I've read. ;-) I actually don't support Huckabee. As far as education being a state matter. . .I personally think that we are on a slippery slope downwards towards that changing. NCLB is not state funded. . .it's federally funded. Some of the Universal PK agenda is being proposed as federal (I think in the form of incentives). . .
I took a second (and third and fourth...) look at Huck after HSLDA backed him. I just don't trust anyone who "supports" homeschooling but would accept the endorsement of the NEA. I think our "comrades" at the NEA are sure he can't win...so why not endorse him?! I'm a Thompson/Hunter '08 gal.
Today as we cleaned the church, some ladies and I were discussing Huckabee. Many plan on voting for him. When they hear I thought he was wishy-washy, they thought I was nuts. As Christians we want a Godly person in office, which I understand. As a homeschool mom, I want the freedom to homeschool as I please. I guess they would have to be homeschool parents to understand why I feel the way I do. Patty
“He’s playing the evangelical bumpkin card.” He assumes, and sadly enough, rightfully so, that if you say Jesus, Christ, God, show the cross, and on every occasion use terms of faith, then you can win the evangelical vote. This is from Spunky site. This is exactly what my aunt (who is very conservative) said about Huckabee. I have to say, that the more I read, the more I agree with Patty that Huckabee seems to be a little wishy-washy (especially with homeschooling). Not sure who my vote's going for. I do know several that it will NOT be!! (Actually my TX voter registration was rejected. I forgot something. I went to pick up another form yesterday, but the library was out. If I don't get it done soon, I won't be voting in the primaries!!)
