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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Thank you, Chuck Norris!

Posted: Monday, October 22, 2007 3:11 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
Kung-fu fighting, Delta Force-Walker, Texas Ranger-Total Gym star Chuck Norris endorsed Huckabee for president today, calling him “The David among them” in his WorldNetDaily column.

Given Huckabee’s underdog status, Norris “recalled another leader in ancient times that didn't match up in the line up: King David. Seven men were poised and paraded for the position of king, but David was left in the field shepherding because he wasn't ‘a frontrunner in the polls.’ They overlooked the best because they were too busy judging by outward appearance. But God appointed David king.”

Norris also writes that Huckabee’s “not afraid to stand up for a Creator and against secularist beliefs.”

On the rest of the field, Norris, who promised not to leave us “in suspense,” writes, “Though Giuliani might be savvy enough to lead people, Fred Thompson wise enough to wade through the tides of politics, McCain tough enough to fight terrorism and Romney business-minded enough to grow our economy, I believe the only one who has all of the characteristics to lead America forward into the future is ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.”

According to his Internet Movie Database biography: Norris, a six-time World Karate Champion, has long been a supporter of the GOP. He campaigned for George Bush in 1988 and attended George W. Bush’s 2001 inauguration. He has given thousands to Republican candidates, committees and causes and is a member of the National Rifle Association. He and his wife also serve on the board of the National Council of Bible Curriculum in Public Schools. 

Here's a fun one. Our favorite: "There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live."

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Comments

At least it wasn't from the "I hate America" wing of the Actors Guild.
What's sad is that there is reverse discrimination against those of faith.  

For those who are supposedly 'enlightened', seem to always make shallow and narrow minded comments against those who seek morality and faith in their candidates.  What's so wrong with this trait?  

I think all of those who speak from such a view point need to visit the Capitol, Congress, House and Supreme Court and look NO FURTHER than the architecture to find who and how this country was founded.  Yes, have respect for those who don't believe, but don't take the stance against those who do.

God bless everyone and God bless the U.S.A.
Ok so we have established that everybody hate's actors

That nobody belives in the bible
that separation on church and state is impoosib;le unless you elect the liberal devil

And that rather you like it or not Chuck has an opinion.

Go Chuck!!! I don't care for his movies. I don't like Walker Texas Ranger. I'm not sure I stand pat for his charities either but at least the man said something which is much more than the yellow dog liberal Hollywoods are saying this year...
Chuck Norris? lol

I heard a Janitor at the White House is endorsing Obama. Let's make a new article out of it.

MSNBC? - Put some real news on here... Chuck Norris... Hello 1981 movie actor with some dumb excerise metal chair.. RE: George Foreman.


Now it will be Dancing with the has-been stars will have supporters of GOP - make a book about it.

Cheney / Bush - purest EVIL I have ever seen in 65 years of my life.
Throughout the history of the U.S. Presidency, nearly every president(and most visibly, Washington and Lincoln) were godly men, and also Protestant Christians.  Those of you who have a problem with Mike Huckabee's religion are strongly biased against Christians - we are the ones who built this nation to be the greatest on the face of this earth and have been a shining example to all for our freedom and weakth of blessings.  
Christians are the ones who let you practice - or not practice - whatever faith you want.  Just ask any newly naturalized American & they will tell you. Those of you who consider yourselves to be more liberal and more elite and look down on conservatives want everyone else to be as hateful and cynical as you are.  I have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and know what it is like to have my personal freedoms put on hold to defend all its citizens, hateful and charitable alike.
If you listen to the very people who worked most closely with Hillary Clinton and her husband, namely, George Stephanpoulis and DeeDee Myers, they will tell you how intolerant she was towards her own staffers who voiced a differing opinion, and her renowned violent temper.  If you want to vote for a strident, screaming tyrant, who is willing to stay in a sham marriage to a man who obsessively philanders, then she does not deserve your respect or mine.  I am all for a woman for president soon, but can't we do better than this?  
I am a sworn democrat thru and thru, but I have to admit that Mike Huckabee is the most capable of all the candidates. I am not the only one who feels this way. My friends are all democratic as well and we are finding the appeal of Huckabee very warming and honest. If there were one thing I could single out for a candidate that would be the most important, I would pick honesty. Not because I am the most honest person of integrity. But because if someone is going to lead the people and govern our great nation Honesty and Integrity are the 2 main qualities someone of that position should have. Everything else will follow. Thank you
Dave in Tn
Some people hating people with common decency...yep, sounds like a Republican!  Just check out your top spokespeople....Coulter, O'Rielly, Limbaugh, Hannity.  Some mighty fine people there, huh?
The left hates Chuck Norris because he works with underprivileged kids
Dave, Tn

---- I don't suppose you have a poll or anything factual to back that up. I didn't think so.
Bill in Baltimore
Most right wing supporters have no idea who those people were or what they were fighting for.  It takes intelligence to read, something they are all lacking.
I saw an interview with Huckabee last month.  I found him to be intelligent and articulate.  So far, he has displayed the type of dignity I would like to see in the White House.  
As far as celebrities voicing their opinions, this country gives them that right.  I would much rather hear Chuck Norris' considered opinion than some who just speak for the sake of the soundbite.  For many, it is obvious that their "opinion" is scripted not thoughtful.      
Bryant Lister, Gresham, Oregon... Such anger! Do you do this often? Maybe some therapy would be in order...
BB, it ain't about me.  I've not trashed someone merely
because they voiced an opinion.  Though I did question
you because you did trash someone for that reason. If
you must know, I'm a senior engineer for a large
communications company, and I was smart enough to
stagger the births of my children so that I would not
have to deal with multiple kids in college at once.
Must be tough on an RN's salary.  Hope you have a
good man backing you with a better income.
One more thing.  I don't toss bombs while hiding
behind an alias.  I'm out here and up front.  You
should perhaps start emulating some of the better
"conservative" values and own your words.  
Gentle Warrior, one question. Did you think George Bush was better?
Forget the campaigns and the election; let's just wait for God to appoint someone. It worked out so well the last time with George Bush.
Gentle warrior, I can hear Hillary's reply..my,my.  As for your claim about christians being the ones who built this land, what bs.  You also helped put bush/cheney in the WH.  Are you also proud of that?  If so, take your garbage out when you leave.
DOM S- Your religiosity is not what the USA was founded on. Instead of taking your understanding of our cultural foundations from a few words inscribed on a coin or carved from stone into a building, I would suggest actually reading what the forefathers said. I'll bet you a million dollars you've never read, the constitution, declaration, federalist papers from start to finish. Begin there and then we'll all have a chat about what the forefathers believed. Here are some cliff notes:
1. The forefathers were deists.
2. The reason we have the separation of church and state is that the secular (yes they were secular) founders of our country saw religion as the easiest means to creating indestructible factions (a problem according to democratic theory).
3. Like Richard Dawkins of the God delusion the founders saw factions that were formed through faith as a problem inherent to all "believers" and that is that "believers" have no necessary grounding in reality. Believers can be told to believe and they just do. This is a huge problem for a democracy which depends on an educated electorate to elect representatives to solve real problems, and not meander through empty religious platitudes and dogmatic law such as legislating against homosexual marriage or abortions. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it your book that said judge not. Oh yea it was. I bet you've never read the Bible either. You see those footprints in the sand I'm tired of carrying you on my back. Your obese ignorance will be the weight that sinks us all.
Thank you FirstRead for this blurb to brighten our otherwise dull day (naturally, I'm speaking for everybody else blogging).

As one who deifies and worships science, I also have to say I support Mike Huckabee following Barack "it is true what they say about black men--they make great presidents" Obama.  While, his religious positions offend me, I have stared into the eyes that are Mike Huckabee and I see a gentle creature--like a non-gay teletubby.  I get the impression that Huckabee understands that our nation is a diverse nation, and he would in actuality abide by separation of church and state.  After all, we wouldn't want evolution taught in our churches, unless you are progressive and Catholic like me.

In the words of Stephen Colbert ... "[i]n my view, all religions are equal in that they’re tied for second after Catholicism."  ... and that's tonight's word.
How sad that some cannot look beyond the excerpt from the endorsement and see it for what it is.

How sad that we have to make a mockery of people's beliefs to justify our own.

How sad that we have stooped so low as to not allow the freedom of expression and beliefs.

How sad that we have become so self-righteous and closed-minded.

Shame on us America.
"It's good to have a bible belt endorsment.  The left gives in to the extremist of the world. "


See? You can't parody that sort of hypocricy. What do you think the "Bible Belt" Christians amount to, Jethro?
Couldn't have been better said Gentle Warrior
Huckabee IS THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB! CERTAINLY THE MOST GENUINE MAN OF ALL ON THE BALLOT. IF WE HAVE A WOMAN RUNNING THIS COUNTRY I'M LEAVING!
Oh, Chuck.  God bless ya, but don't talk.  Walker didn't get paid for talking, he got paid for round-housing.
On a different note, as former resident of Arkansas I will say that Huck has done a tremendous job.  He has boosted the education system (nowhere but up, I know) allowing for money being allotted in less important spaces to be reallocated back to the school systems.  Because of his revamping of Arkansas highways we had Most-Improved Transportation for a couple of years.  Not to mention, he is a former governor from Arkansas and even though the jokes run thick, the last one voted President did a pretty good job overall.

If the Arkansas thing is not a selling point for anyone, let's all remember where Hillary was a governor's wife.
I have to admit that I do like Huckabee - I just couldn't vote for him.  I find it hard to believe that a man who has made a career out of dedicating his life to his God will be able to keep Church and State separate - as our Constitution decrees.

Yes, our country espouses the motto "In God we Trust" but even the founding fathers recognized that any belief held too zealously would cause problems.  Not that I intend to call Huckabee a zealot, but the founding fathers were far-sighted and wise in many respects.

I am all for common sense and human decency, but I cannot endorse a man who makes decisions with his own god at the forefront, to the exclusion of all others' gods.  I have nothing against religion - this country was initially founded by those seeking relief from religious persecution - but I think that everyone should make the choice to believe on their own, not because the new president is instituting Bible reflection periods in our schools.
Chuck is an idiot.  By the way, thanks Chuck for the WORST President ever.  Again, what an idiot.  I have my doubts we'll survive the Bush Administration, but if we do, I WILL NEVER vote for a Republican again (which I have done so in the past -- God forgive me) as long as I live.  Again, Chuck is an IDIOT.
Post my comments
R. Griffith, What planet are you from, read our Countries History. Says, will not establish a religion, and they did not mean wicca, buddah, muslim, or any other type of non-Christian religion.
As far as Chuch Norris endorsing someone, isn't that his right also? Some of you want, oh my Hillary in there, yea tell that to Vince Foster. I think if our forefathers were here now, they probably would go back to England. Amazing you talk about the Replublicans, what a mess liberals have made, and you want to elect another one
So lame, and once again you failed to mention Ron Paul, the only candidate who's drawn zealous and inspired support.  The only candidate with integrity and wisdom.  Oh, but I forgot, Chuck Norris hasn't endorsed Ron Paul.  
GOD Bless you HMT-MI, I wouldn't want to be you when it comes time to stand in front of GOD. I bet the last thing you remember when your dieing is GOD is real & HE Loves you!
Are we ready for a woman president?  You bet we are!

Should that woman be Hillary?  Lord I hope not!!

Bill C = Too much baggage.  Can't the Dems find a woman candidate whose hubby didn't get hummers from any one other than his spouse?
Oh, where to begin?


"Throughout the history of the U.S. Presidency, nearly every president(and most visibly, Washington and Lincoln) were godly men,"

Nixon, Bush, Reagan The Nun Killer - yah - go on...


"and also Protestant Christians.  Those of you who have a problem with Mike Huckabee's religion are strongly biased against Christians"


just POSSIBLY we object to having your beliefs shoved down our throats, you stinking crusader?

"we are the ones who built this nation to be the greatest on the face of this earth and have been a shining example to all for our freedom and weakth of blessings."


YOU didn't build ANYTHING. YOU ride the coattails of those who did, but just because you all profess to be "Christian," whether you live like one or not, their achievements are not YOUR achievements. How's that make you feel, girlfriend?
 
"Christians are the ones who let you practice - or not practice - whatever faith you want."

Total. Utter. BS. You tell yourself some real whoppers. The CONSTITUTION gives me that right, not the New Testament.

"Just ask any newly naturalized American & they will tell you."

So sayeth the LORD.

"Those of you who consider yourselves to be more liberal and more elite and look down on conservatives want everyone else to be as hateful and cynical as you are."

Oh, well said you non-hateful, non-cynical gas bag.

"I have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and know what it is like to have my personal freedoms put on hold to defend all its citizens, hateful and charitable alike."


Good for you, princess. Me too.


"If you listen to the very people who worked most closely with Hillary Clinton and her husband, namely, George Stephanpoulis and DeeDee Myers, they will tell you how intolerant she was towards her own staffers who voiced a differing opinion, and her renowned violent temper."

Did she ever tell millions of sick American kids to "f### off"?

"If you want to vote for a strident, screaming tyrant,"

You're running?

"who is willing to stay in a sham marriage to a man who obsessively philanders, then she does not deserve your respect or mine."

Again, well said, non-hateful, non-cynical "Christian." You just dictate how everyone should live, and thanks for granting us the rights you do.

"I am all for a woman for president soon, but can't we do better than this?"


FINALLY! Something that isn't completely self-serving, hypocritical or downright crap. Congratulations.  It totally ignores the fact that all teh right wingers want to Nuke for God, but then, so does she.
News Flash!

Bruce Lee just came out and endorsed Nixon!
Vanreuter's comments were the best.  Thanks, I needed some humor.  I will now post this on my wall.
Dear Bryant Lister Gresham Oregon, ever notice that when you read about evolution it manages to use the words THEORY OF just prior?  That's because it hasn't been proven.  While you may call God a fairy tale don't worry he still loves you.
PS gentle warrior, your religion's foundation is rooted in forgiveness. Are you saying that Hillary shouldn't have forgiven Bill? Isn't she sort of more Christian than you are for forgiving instead of judging. I'm no big Hillary fan but last time I checked it's still a mortal sin to most Christian religious faiths to get divorced. So are you saying that Hillary is more Christian than half of those who stand in the front of the church like the hippocrates do and yell about there religion. Woops...don't your opinions at least have to make sense to you. I mean you can't just say one thing and then say the opposite in the next sentence and not expect your head to explode eventually. Slow down think it out.
Looks like the score is 3 to 1 for those opposed to the endorsement.  Doesn't matter because in the end the God of Israel wins. In the meantime He said, "Occupy till I come".
didnt chuck norris also endorse larry craig and tom foley?  im wondering about chuckys nightlife
post my comments
Anyone who votes for a candidate based on which celebrity endorsed them is an idiot.  This thread does not have nearly enough Chuck Norris jokes either.

When Chuck Norris jumps in a lake he doesn't get wet, the water gets Chucked.
Great,    I've always liked Huckabee,   Norris,
lives it.   So does MIke.   GOO  gO Go  

the rest of you loosers,  wake up!!!
Ya know, Superman wears a pair of Chuck Norris pajamas to bed!!!
Why is it when Oprah endorses Obama, everyone is in awe. But if a conservative Republican celebrity endorses a candidate, he is castigated and insulted. Can you say double standard?
Good call Chuck! The Dumbocrats want to usher in a Marxist state whereby your lives will be under complete scrutiny and control by an insidious federal government. Wake up, America and stand by your hard earned freedoms, paid for by the blood of our true patriots.
Strange, but the more I listen to Huckabee, the more I like him.  As a fiscal conservative republican, who absolutely dispises this administration, Huckabee is one of the few candidates who can pull me back into the republican party's fold.  
Once again, I am amazed by the hate  spewed by the left. Many of the hollywood lefters (read immoral, selfish , ignorant anti-American, hypocritical) can endorse one of their own, and no one says a word. A decent man endorses someone, and the left freaks out.We are in a sorry state. I dont like Bush either.
Yash you need a life.... maybe you and bb can hook up with all of her important accomplishment's and pool together enough intelligence to wipe people's bottom's.
Jonathan loved David I Sam 18:1-4.  Let's see, who would be Huckabee's male lover?
Republicans are looking for someone like Huckabee because he is for the Second Amendment, Pro life, Tax Breaks and is someone down to earth enough and humble enough to be President of the United States.  I would vote either Democrat or Republican if they have these qualities.  I was thinking of Bill Richardson for awhile, but he will cater to the Secular Progressives too from some statements he made recently.  I believe Huckabee will cater to all Americans like a real president should.  
Poor Chuck Norris. if anyone does their research on the bible they will come to the same conclusions i have. there is no god! despite years of catholic school teaching.case in point the very crux of christianity; isaiah 7:14 "Assuredly, my Lord will give you a sign of His own accord!  Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son.  Let her name him Immanuel" was used a reason to promote the virgin birth of jesus by matthew in the new testament. only to be discovered by scholars that matthew incorrectly translated young woman to "young virgin" due to his greek background attempting to translate the hebrew language. in greek "young woman" translates to "virgin". but it is not accepted by the hebrew language to translate to english this way. it truly means young woman. thus jesus was never prophesised by isaiah to be born of a virgin.
First of all most actors are not in favor of republicans.  Thankfully, there are a few that think with reason and understand what the constitution is all about.

Secondly, Huckabee like many leaders have faith and talk about it openly.  This does not mean they will force their faith upon you unlike some who don't want anyone to metion anything about faith.  Remember what the founding fathers said.  Our rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are given to us by GOD, not government.
good luck with all of those clowns all they have to offer is blood its time to put a good person and i think the obama is good for this election a woman will only be so dangerous when it comes to giving the last word and i promise if we chose hillary it will be the last war ....not joking think about it woman are just so different than man republicans messed up bad no more
ulysses,laredo ,tx (Sent Monday, October 22, 2007 4:39 PM)
^^^
you haved to have passed 2nd grade grammar class to come on these big boy sites...man, if huckabee didnt believe in a creator, was not born american, didnt care about our country, and showed no leadership qualities whatsoever...then 90% of the people commenting on this topic would vote for him.  Some of the peoples comments on here are so ridiculous.


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