If Mike Huckabee becomes President, will he be in clear Violation of the First Amendment?

Question

If Mike Huckabee becomes President, will he be in clear Violation of the First Amendment?

The first Amendment clearly states the separation church and state; which states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…

If Huckabee is elected President; he being a Baptist minister any laws created will carry the under tones of his religious beliefs, essentially affect the chance of a clear non partisan objective.

What’s your opinion, Should Congress Prosecute him or Pardon him?

In a campaign ad, Huckabee says, "Faith doesn't just influence me. It really defines me," and he identifies himself as a "Christian leader." It's one thing to read the First Amendment Establishment Clause as prohibiting the slightest government endorsement of the Christian religion (while not demonstrating similar angst over government promotion of secular humanism, New Age-ism, Islam or Native American spirituality). But it's taking it to an entirely new level to say that it precludes public officeholders from allowing their Christian worldview to influence their policy preferences or governance. Public officials cannot separate their worldview from their governance without gutting themselves into ciphers. Their policy agenda will necessarily reflect their value system. Voters in turn properly base their decisions on candidates in part on their respective values and how closely they resemble their own. Does that mean we are on the same path as our current nut bag president?

When Mike Huckabee became lieutenant governor of Arkansas in 1993, he complained of being burdened by college tuition bills for his son, the expenses of two residences — one in Texarkana and the other in Little Rock — and the cost of commuting between the two. The Huskster, With an annual salary of $25,452,000 he said he was falling short in covering the bills. “It was costing him money to be lieutenant governor,” Mr. Huckabee recalled in a 1997 newspaper interview.

To bridge the gap between his income and his expenses, Hucks and a few close political advisers came up with a plan. They formed a nonprofit organization that raised money for Mr. Huckabee to travel the country promoting conservative politics to fellow ministers In its three-year life span, the organization, Action America, collected $119,916 from a dozen or so donors. Among them were former Senator Bob Dole’s political action committee, an Arkansas cotton gin owner who had been jailed for stock fraud, and R. J. Reynolds, the tobacco giant that had opposed the Clinton health plan. As for Mr. Huckabee, he ended up with $61,500 for his efforts before becoming governor in July 1996 and shuttering the group.

As information about the secretive group began to leak out in 1997, Democrats in Arkansas pressed for the identity of its donors, which Mr. Huckabee has refused to disclose. In addition, he failed to report his Act

As information about the secretive group began to leak out in 1997, Democrats in Arkansas pressed for the identity of its donors, which Mr. Huckabee has refused to disclose. In addition, he failed to report his Action America income on his 1994 financial disclosure form, resulting in a “letter of caution” from the Arkansas Ethics Commission in 1997.

Answer 1

yes without any doubt at all

Answer 2

You need to read the First Amendment again more closely. There are one key word and one key phrase in it that you seem to be missing: "Congress" and "make no law." Nothing in the Constitution forbids ordained ministers from serving in a government office and ministers have previously served in several elected positions -- nationally and at the state and local level.

What the Constitution forbids is legislation (either direct or indirect via delegated powers to regulatory agencies) that have the effect of establishing a religion or interfering with free exercise. In other words, it forbids programs not persons. The fact that, in a different capacities, Mike Huckabee was an ordained minister and President of the United States would not violate the Constitution.

Even if Mike Huckabee were to become President and were to implement a program found to violate the First Amendment, a mere constitutional violation is not a high crime or misdemeanor that would warrant impeachment much less conviction. Aside from impeachment, Congress has no power to prosecute. Congress has no power to pardon under any circumstances.

Answer 3

I don't think Huckabee could win to save his life, but I don't think the fact that he's a Baptist minister would violate the 1st Amendment. If he goes before the nation and tears up the Constitution and shows us the Bible and says "this is our Constitution now." Then, I'd probably say he's gone too far, but by then, most people would think he needs a padded room.

Answer 4

Would you kindly point out where the 1st amendment clearly states there is a separation of church and state? I can't seem to find it mentioned in your quote of it. Did you leave something out? If you didn't then please explain how someone can be in clear violation of a law that doesn't exist.
Or do you mean, "that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…" (a quote from your own quote)? I see an awful lot of laws " prohibiting the free exercise thereof…" but I see none stating " the separation church and state."

Answer 5

Huckabee having a faith is not a breach of the 1st amendment. Even using that faith to guide his decision making is not wrong.
To prevent someone from becoming president because of his faith would be as much a breech of the 1st amendment as to require a certain faith.
Hence there is nothing to prosecute or pardon.

Answer 6

The First Amendment does not bar a minister from any faith from holding the office. Article VI of the Constitution specifically bars preventing anyone from holding office for any religious reason. Contrary to your question it is not a violation of any part of the Constitution, including the 1st Amendment, for a Baptist minister to be President.

Answer 7

Congress should not prosecute or pardon anyone, they are a band of criminal misfits, who have done more to destroy America than anything else! Mike Huckabee is no danger to America or its citizens.....the US Congress is the system of checks and balances and after one takes a good look at the institution...it checks out as being unbalanced!

Answer 8

The election of a minister to political office does not constitute the establishment of a goverment-run religion, as the election of a general (Washington, Grant, Eisenhower) establishes a military-run state.

Answer 9

No. Huckabee was sending a holiday wish to the people. You must rethink this window frame theory that a cross is visible behind him. You could call it bonus publicity from Gods blessing.

Answer 10

No, and this is a concern with any candidate. He does have the potential to violate this, but there is nothing inherently wrong with having a baptist minister as president. It depends on the minister.

Answer 11

REligous beliefs of any politician will affect their decisions, the judgement to be made is how much is in the best interest of the people he supposed to be working for, or if the religious control/beliefs are making decisions NOT in the best interests/desires of the majority of those he is meant to represent.