Huck PAC can't return a phone call

Originally posted at Faithfully Liberal

With the launch of Huck PAC and the recent revelations that the Bush Administration, not only condoned the use of torture but actually conducted discussion with simulations of techniques, a few of us progressive faith bloggers, lead by Pastor Dan, have begun pushing former Governor Mike Huckabee to come out against torture much like he did in December of 2007. Why? Because he is aiming to be the next leader of the Religious Right with his newfound PAC. I explored this in an earlier post but in simple terms, he is using conservative Christianity as a foundation for raising money for conservative Republicans to be elected in 2008 (I am not arguing against that because I realize that I am doing the same thing but with a liberal theology).

Because of Huckabee's Christian faith and his previous denouncing of torture it is vital for him to come out once again as someone, particularly a leader that fought hard for his party's nomination for President. It is also important for him to only endorse candidates who also denounce torture. But that is not happening.

Multiple phone calls to Huck PAC's press person went unanswered, in fact that person is Mr. Huckabee's daughter Sarah Huckabee (btw Sarah, if you read this I would still welcome an answer to these questions below as it is only our goal to have Mr. Huckabee take a lead on this issue, please email me). I merely wanted to ask him the two questions that Pastor Dan wrote earlier in the week:

1. Will you affirm the Christian faith and the American principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness by signing the Evangelical Declaration Against Torture?

2. Will you require the candidates supported by your campaign to take a stand against torture?

But these two simple questions have gone unanswered and Mr. Huckabee still has not signed onto the declaration. In the meantime, I decided to place a call to the first candidate endorsement of Huck PAC, New Hampshire State Senator Bob Clegg to ask him if he would take a stand against torture and denounce the tactics taken by the current administration. Multiple phone calls turned into left messages to Mr. Clegg's office and have also gone unanswered.

But all is not lost; Huck PAC just endorsed Congressman John Linder, a Republican from Georgia. Guess where Mr. Linder's stance on torture is? We can uncover it by looking at his vote to ban waterboarding (unfamiliar with that tactic? Read here) in H.R. 2082, a bill that passed the House and Senate only to be vetoed by President Bush. Mr. Linder voted against the bill the first time around and also voted against overriding the President's veto.

Mr. Huckabee said it quite well on Fox News:

I don't believe that we ought to torture. I think it's a policy that is beneath us. It is obviously unproductive.

And every single military person with whom I've spoken, people who actually have been trained and who have been on either side of this issue, either being tortured or being asked to do it — I've got to tell you, I can't find anybody who says that ought to be the policy of the United States.

I call upon Mr. Huckabee to come out strongly against all forms of torture and to require all candidates that he supports to do the same. It's the only way to live up to our own standards.