WASHINGTON -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told Christian conservative activists Friday that God is responsible for the nation's greatness and that the Almighty is urging people of faith to go to the polls in November.
Speaking before the Values Voter Summit, the former Southern Baptist pastor said in Washington that God is speaking to believers' hearts. "And he's asking, will we register people to vote? Will we get them to the polls to vote? Will we hire the people that will take our values to this city, and will we fire the ones who refuse to hear not only our hearts but God's heart?"
Huckabee's message, mixing American exceptionalism and evangelical piety, came in the midst of the annual Values Voter presidential straw poll. He is one of 22 candidates listed on the ballot.
"I believe the only explanation for God sustaining this country is that there's always been a remnant of his people who are willing to pray and seek his face and turn from their wicked ways," the Fox News host said, echoing the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14.
"Let's make this nation, once again, a nation that unapologetically bows its knee before a holy God," he added.
Huckabee, who won the straw poll in 2009 and finished second two other times, got a thunderous welcome from hundreds of Christian conservative activists. They also applauded when he denounced judges for overturning state laws outlawing gay marriage.
"The court system is an important part of our government, but it is only one of three equal branches of government. It is not the supreme branch," Huckabee said. "It has no more authority and power than the legislative or the executive, and unless the legislative, executive and the courts all agree, there is no law."
It's "nonsense" for judges to overturn the will of the people, Huckabee said, adding, "Judicial supremacy is not an American idea. It is not constitutional."
He told the crowd that President Barack Obama would have lost in 2012 if more evangelicals had gone to the polls.
With a nod to movie director Woody Allen, Huckabee said, "Success is 80 percent just showing up."
"Frankly, if we don't show up, then I'll tell you what happens: Government does whatever it wishes to do. When we show up, government does what we send it to do," Huckabee said. "America is not in trouble because of the people who don't share our values. America is in trouble because the people who do share our values aren't showing up."
Huckabee also stressed his support for Israel, noting that he'd made three trips to that country this year.
"The Israelis need to know that we stand with them without equivocation," he said.
Historically, Jews have considered themselves heirs of Abraham and his son Isaac. Muslims trace the Prophet Mohammed's ancestry to Abraham's son Ishmael.
"When it comes down to the battle between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac, we will stand with those who stand for biblical truth and liberty. ...We will stand with the nation of Israel."
Huckabee didn't discuss his potential candidacy in 2016. At a news conference, he said he'll make a decision next year.
Many of the other people on the straw poll ballot also took to the stage Friday, including 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and 2012 presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky spoke, along with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Roughly 2,000 people have registered for the conference, organizers said.
The event attracts conservative Christian activists from across the nation. Many of the candidates quote Scriptures, and a few audience members shout "amen" if they like the message.
Cruz won last year. This year, he returned and spoke about his father Rafael's conversion.
Cruz told the crowd that his father, a Cuban emigre, and his mother had split up but reunited after his father had a life-changing experience at a Texas Baptist church.
The conversion saved his parents' marriage and changed the entire family's life, he said.
"So when anyone asks, 'Is faith real?', 'Is a relationship with Jesus real?', I can tell you if it were not for my father giving his life to Christ, I would have been raised by a single mother without having my dad in the home," Cruz said.
Jindal spoke about his own father emigrating from India and discussed his own Christian faith. He also stressed the importance of religious freedom, adding, "The United States did not create religious liberty. Religious liberty created the United States."
Palin denounced "the lamestream media" and "the liberal haters" and told the throngs of social conservatives that they're "the most slandered group in America today."
Results of the Values Voter straw poll will be announced this afternoon.
Metro on 09/27/2014