Introduction to the Tampa Bay for Huckabee blog

Hey,

Many of you know I’ve been a Mike Huckabee fan ever since I read his first book “Character is the Issue” ten years ago. If you get e-mails from me you know I support the governor's campaign by my signature line!

Recently, I finished his fifth book “From Hope to Higher Ground” and I am even more persuaded that he’s the right person for the presidency and our country in 2008. Well, I was contacted by his office to be the chairman for Governor Huckabee's campaign in Hillsborough County.

The rest of this message begins to explain why “I like Mike!” If you want me to add you to the “Huckabee for President” list I'm creating, let me know -- send an e-mail (rodjurado@gmail.com)! From time to time I'll add content as I get it! Please feel free to comment ...

If you're a political junkie like me, let me invite you to take time to review a transcript of Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's appearance at the recent Pew Forum, right after the New Hampshire debate. Among other things, the reporters at the forum probed his debate answer on evolution; personally, I thought it was one of the best answers on the topic I've heard any politician give. Sen. McCain and the other candidates came out and said so, too. Read the transcript here.

Mike’s the former governor of Arkansas (only the fourth republican elected to any Arkansas state office since the civil war). He was elected to office in a special election and later took over as Governor of an embattled and discouraged state when Jim Guy Tucker went to prison for his Whitewater wrongdoings.

Mike was the youngest Governor in the country when he took over and served well for over ten years. In fact, after taking over he subsequently ran for governor twice and won by the largest margins recorded in the state. While Governor of a primarily democrat state, with a House and Senate controlled by democrats, he lowered taxes nearly one hundred times, turned a huge deficit into a nearly one Billion-dollar surplus. All while making huge strides in resolving Arkansas’s education, economic and environmental woes, and his health plan (more later) is the most compelling program offered by any candidate on either side. Yep, I am persuaded he can do the same in Washington D.C.

He’s a fair tax supporter (one of the few running who’s brave enough to take that specific stand!) Recently I heard him say he wants to be the one to hang an "out-of-business" sign on the IRS! Why punish us for saving? Why let black market and other under the table and underground economies get away with not paying anything while the rest of do our part?
His health care policies are built around his own personal desire to live a prevention based lifestyle as opposed to facing an intervention based medical solution. He shows how a healthier America costs much less and the medical expenditure savings would be huge.

Recently Mike reminded me that we've seen seatbelts go from non-existent to normal routine; we saw a native-American chief weeping on TV over a littered and trashed countryside and that effort changed the way we handle our garbage; years ago Dean Martin, Foster Brooks and others made a living playing falling down and driving drunks, but with a concerted effort that's changed ...; and finally it wasn't that long ago when every restaurant and conference center had an ashtray -- now smoking in public is a rare thing.

His point was simple. We've seen cultural shifts in at least four major areas affecting the lives of millions of Americans. If we: first, Confront old Attitudes, next, Create a new Atmosphere, and third, Craft an Action Plan ... we can ultimately Change America. Mike's leadership can do the same thing in America that he's done in Arkansas.

Mike knows how to communicate his views and values. That’s critical in today’s political arena. Before Mike ventured into politics, he spent 12 years as a conservative Southern Baptist pastor. He demonstrated his business and leadership skills early when he was elected to head the SBC of Arkansas (the state’s largest denomination) and while pastoring two different churches, balancing those financial books, serving those families on a face-to-face, first hand basis, he also became the president of a media company designed to start religious broadcasting stations (both TV and Radio) throughout his state.

He has some interesting perspectives that distinguish him from the other candidates, especially on health care and education, fair taxes and corporate greed. He’s a business man, a fiscal conservative, a social conservative and he knows how to communicate his message in a powerful and infectious way! Read the transcript here.

Like I said earlier, I've just been named by the "I like Mike" campaign to oversee his Hillsborough County operations! If you like what you read, send me an e-mail because I want to put you to work… If you've already made a choice for a different candidate, that's fine, send me an e-mail (rodjurado@gmail.com) letting me know you don't want any updates and I'll take you off the list.