Former presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney were in Houston for the GOP state convention, where Huckabee called on Republicans to return to their moral roots and Romney defended presumed nominee John McCain, saying candidates like Barack Obama often have enthusiastic followings that don't translate into electoral victories.  

Former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee said that it is important to resist the "insidious" movement within the party to move away from social issues such as abortion and marriage and focus on economic issues only. He said the Republican party is strong "only when it remembers its roots of conservatism" -- pro-life pro-family etc.  The Baptist minister generously used religious imagery in his speech, referring to Jesus' rule to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Romney spoke to the press shortly before speaking at the Republican Party of Texas Banquet Friday evening.  He declined to say whether he would accept a tap for vice president if it were offered to him, which he doubted. Romney extolled McCain as America's "foremost wastecutter." McCain has a record of consistently opposing earmarks and "pork."

Romney also observed that anti-war candidates like Obama tend to have enthusiastic followings, but those do not always culminate in general election victories, as in the case of George McGovern. He also denounced Obama's economic plan, saying it would slow down the economy, where as McCain's would grow it.

Huckabee suggested a connection between the size of government and the principles of its constituents. He said that when people do not follow the simple laws, like the Golden Rule, the laws have to become more complicated, and government grows. On the other hand, he suggested, when people are principled, there is less need for government intervention to deal with societal ills.

-- posted by Mark Lavergne, Lone Star Report

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