Mike Huckabee
What should be the role of human rights in U.S foreign policy? What should the United States do about human rights violations in places such as Burma, China, Pakistan, and Russia?
Huckabee mentions human rights in the context of fighting terrorism through foreign policy by combating the poverty and lack of human rights in Pakistan, but does not mention the role of human rights in general.
What should the United States do to stop the genocide in Darfur?
When asked about the U.S role in ending genocide, Huckabee responded: “I think we have some role to play in it, but I guess what disturbs me even more, we have not even addressed the genocide that’s going on and the infanticide in our own country with the slaughter of millions of unborn children.”
When, if ever, should the United States engage in military action to stop genocide or ethnic cleansing?
No stated position found.
Should the United States close the prison camp in Guantanamo? If so, what should be done with the prisoners there?
Huckabee does not believe Guantanamo should be closed. He visited the prison in June and believes the facility is better than some prisons in the United States. He is quoted as saying that some U.S. prisoners would “love to be in a facility more like Guantanamo.” In December, released a statement saying, “My concern is that the facility has become a distraction from our Global War on Terror. Other facilities, like Forth Leavenworth, can serve the same purpose without the controversy.”
Are there any circumstances for when torture or extreme techniques of interrogation is appropriate?
Agrees with Sen. McCain (R-AZ) that torture is inappropriate, saying, “I may disagree with him on a lot of things, but you know something I’m not going to argue with John McCain on, it’s torture. He’s a man who’s experienced it, and I think for any of the rest of us on that stage to try to act like we know more about torture than him is frankly if not laughable it’s absurd.”
Should provisions about labor rights be included in future trade agreements?
Huckabee argues that “there is no free trade without fair trade” and that international competitors are not meeting the same wage structures, environmental and health and safety standards. He has also said that the United States needs tougher negotiations to ensure that competitors meet those standards and that soft power tariffs and sanctions could work.
Huckabee also voted yes to making future trade with China contingent on them “measurably improving their record on religious freedom and human rights, eliminating their unfair trade practices, slave labor and the substandard policies that poison our food, toothpaste and toys.”
How can the United States best promote democracy around the world?
Huckabee argues for destroying the terrorists who already exist and then attacking the underlying conditions that breed terror by creating schools, creating jobs, and encouraging free press and institutions that promote democracy.
He doesn’t think it’s the job of the United States to export our form of government, but believes it’s more important to secure our own borders and protect our citizens and to create an enviable government that other countries will want to emulate. He argues that exporting democracy should not be at the core of foreign policy because he believes you cannot force people to accept our way of life or government.
Position on ICC ratification.
No stated position found.
