Huckabee Is My Co-Pilot

The great Michael Brendan Dougherty spent some time on the trail with surging (if not as much as his Fredness) Republican prez candidate Mike Huckabee. His impression: All those worries about Huckabee's bleeding heart and his disinterest in realpolitik foreign policy are founded. Huckabee is running to be our national life coach.

Huckabee's policy naiveté, and his willingness to label as "unholy flames of racism" what most see as vigorous and honest disagreement, signal that he is a sort of character wonk—more concerned with the morality of the citizenry than with the laws that govern them. Unlike Obama or Bush before him, Huckabee asks us not only to rise above partisanship but to rise above ourselves.

This is a vision of the executive as "Uplifter in Chief," the role Huckabee seems most anxious to play: "The president of the United States ought to lead Americans to think the best, be the best and act the best. We ought not pander to the lowest common denominator of thought." It's a message alternately inspiring in its aspirations and smug in its condescension.

Dougherty also witnessed Huckabee batting away a question about whether we're turning our presidents into emperors:

"That would be bad"—he pauses for effect—"even if it was me."

This is sort of interesting. Is there a way to make the president influential, inspirational, and interested in regulating your behavior without putting him above the law? Would Huckabee be satisfied being our national Best Friend without seeking more presidential power?