"Get To Know Mike Huckabee" Day

I hereby declare, on behalf of the Huckabee blogging community, that July 4th, 2007 is "Get to know Mike Huckabee" day. Watch the video to learn more:




You can use this text as part of the issues pamphlet, or visit ExploreHuckabee.com to get the issues yourself:

Mike Huckabee on the Issues:

Education and the Arts:
• I believe that every child in America has the right to a quality public education that teaches the fundamental skills needed to compete in a global economy.
• Music and the arts are not extraneous, extra-curricular, or expendable – I believe they are essential. I want to provide every child these “Weapons of Mass Instruction.”
• Our future economy depends on a creative generation.
• We need to judge the success of our schools by the results we obtain, not the revenue we spend.
• Test scores rose dramatically when I was Governor of Arkansas because of my education reforms.
• I have been a strong, consistent supporter of the rights of parents to home school their children, of creating more charter schools, and of public school choice.
• We need a clear distinction between federal and state roles in education. While there is value in the “No Child Left Behind” law’s effort to set high standards, states must be allowed to develop their own benchmarks.

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.
• Achieving energy independence is vital to achieving success both in the war on terror and in globalization. Energy independence will help guarantee both our safety and our prosperity.
• We have to explore, we have to conserve, and we have to pursue all avenues of alternative energy: nuclear, wind, solar, hydrogen, clean coal, bio-diesel, and biomass.

Taxes:
• I support the FairTax.
• As Governor of Arkansas, I cut taxes and fees almost 100 times, saving the taxpayers almost $380 million. I left a surplus of nearly $850 million, which I urged should go back to the people.
• Our massive deficit is not due to Americans’ being under-taxed, but to the government’s over-spending.
• To control spending, I believe the President should have the line-item veto.
• I believe in free trade, but it has to be fair trade.
• Globalization, done right, done fairly, can be the equivalent of a big pay raise by allowing us to buy things more cheaply.

Immigration:
• My number one priority is to secure America's border.
• We have to know who is coming into our country, where they are going, and why they are here. We need a fence along our border with Mexico, electronic in some places, and more highly-trained border agents.
• Those who are caught trying to enter illegally must be detained, processed, and deported.
• Illegal immigrants already living among us who commit crimes must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and incarcerated or deported.
• We must get our border under control before we deal with the illegal immigrants who are already here.
• I am opposed to amnesty - I believe that those who came here years ago and are law-abiding taxpayers must pay a significant fine as admission of their guilt and have a choice of deportation or a rigorous process toward legal status.

National Security/Foreign Policy: Iraq / Israel
• I support a regional summit so that Iraq’s neighbors become militarily and financially committed to stabilizing Iraq.
• Our troops are giving their all to provide a window of opportunity for the Iraq government to succeed
• I am a steadfast supporter of Israel, our staunch ally in the War on Terror, the only fully-functioning democracy in the Middle East, and our greatest friend in that region.
The United States must remain true to its long-standing commitment to the Israeli people
As President, I will always ensure that Israel has access to the technology she needs to defend herself from those who seek her annihilation.
• I believe that we are currently engaged in a world war. This war is not a conventional war, and these terrorists are not a conventional enemy.
• The top priority of the President as Commander in Chief is first and foremost protecting our own citizens.
• With a focus on renewed diplomacy and inclusion, we can accomplish the goals of our nation without having to go it alone.
• During the Cold War, we had hawks and doves, but this new war requires us to be a phoenix, rising reborn to meet each new challenge and seize each new opportunity.
• As President, I will fight this war hard, but I will also fight it smart, using all our political, economic, diplomatic, and intelligence weapons as well as our military might.
• The terrorists train in small, scattered groups. We can accomplish a great deal with swift, surgical air strikes and commando raids by our elite units.
• We have to get tough with President Musharaff who has allowed Al Qaeda and the Taliban to have bases in Waziristan.
• We don’t have a dog in the fight between Sunnis and Shiites – our enemy is Islamic extremism in all its guises.
• The long-term solution is to empower moderates in the region by attacking the underlying conditions that breed terror.
• Part of winning the war on terror is achieving energy independence.
• I believe in the Powell Doctrine of using overwhelming force to accomplish a mission.
• I have the executive and crisis management experience, the judgment and the temperament to be an effective commander in chief.
I will expand the army and increase the defense budget.

You can use these images, or go to Mike Huckabee's official Myspace page for higher resolution versions... or make something yourself...

Remember, 100 pamphlets... or 1 hour... Hit the parades, the markets, the fireworks shows, the BBQs, church picnics... anything... Putting that flier in someone's hand, looking them straight in the eyes and saying, "You need to see this guy"... wow... it is a powerful message!