Mike Huckabee believes the 2012 election continues to be overanalyzed, but Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s loss might be more important than Huckabee thinks.

Huckabee addressed Syracuse University students on Thursday at a lecture called “The Future of Conservatism.” The former presidential candidate, Arkansas governor and current Fox News host blamed conservatives for failing to properly communicate their message to the public. He said their message is still the same, “Please don’t think for a moment I think that conservatives are too conservative or they need to be more moderate.”

In fact, much of his views are consistent with those of many conservatives. He believes if the government would simply stop taxing hard work, savings, investing and inheritance, that the economy would improve. He argued we’ve stopped rewarding hard work. Instead, it’s much easier for people to live off of what the state provides. He said, “How is it smart to built a great economy when you punish the things that make a great economy work?”

There is a fundamental flaw in Huckabee’s views, though. He is not a true conservative. He is staunchly anti-abortion; he blamed the Sandy Hook massacre on schools, in part, because they have removed God from the classroom; and he is an advocate for “traditional marriage” – one man and one woman. But true conservatives argue that government has no business regulating any of these topics.

His views are a part of what caused the defeat of several Republican candidates in the 2012 elections. Among them is Todd Akin, a socially conservative anti-abortion candidate who made comments about how women should be forced to bear a child after rape.

These views are not helping win votes and have affected how Republicans are strategizing for upcoming elections. Karl Rove, who came to SU last spring, is a superPAC director who is now re-considering which candidates to back. He is considering supporting more moderate candidates rather than extreme candidates.

One of the main themes Huckabee wanted to advance is how conservatism is about belief in upward mobility. He recounted how his parents grew up poor and he was the first in his family to graduate high school. To Huckabee, conservatism is about working hard and eventually being rewarded.

Yet, the United States is falling behind other countries when it comes to economic mobility. Denmark, Norway, Canada and Finland are among the countries where it is far easier for those who grow up poor to become richer, according to the Pew Research Center. Huckabee argues the United States is no longer rewarding hard work.

No doubt, hard work is important in advancing economically. Huckabee is one of many politicians – liberal and conservative – who love to call America the “greatest country in the world.” Simply saying it again and against does not make it true. An honest look at the United States in terms of education, social mobility and infrastructure reveals the country is falling behind.

If conservatives continue to view the world as Huckabee does, Republican candidates will have a difficult time winning the presidency. Republicans will only hurt their chances by relying on antiquated principles the nation, as a whole, does not agree with.

Huckabee and fellow conservatives don’t have a communication problem. The problem is much simpler: their views did not attract enough voters in the 2012 presidential race. Strong social conservatism might appeal to the party’s base, but not to the nation as a whole. Demographics change and conservatives need to keep up.

Harmen Rockler is a senior newspaper and online journalism and political science major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at horockle@syr.edu or followed on Twitter at @LeftofBoston.

Published on February 12, 2013 at 2:45 am