Charm and evasion, Part Five

Mike Huckabee is never better than when he talks about religion. One of his best moment in all of the debates came months ago when someone asked him about evolution. After politely chastising the questioner for asking about a subject that has nothing to do with being president, Huckabee stated that, since the question had been asked, he would answer. He then did so in an intelligent and articulate (if not wholly persuasive) manner.
Last night, Huckabee got another question about religion and, on the surface, again handled it well. But a closer examination shows his response to be another example of charm and evasion, or (more precisely) charm and distortion.
This was the question Carl Cameron asked:

Governor Huckabee, to change the subject a little bit and focus a moment on electability. Back in 1998, you were one of about 100 people who affirmed, in a full-page ad in the “New York Times,” the Southern Baptist Convention’s declaration that, quote, “A wife [has] to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband.”
Women voters in both parties harshly criticized that. Is that position politically viable in the general election of 2008, sir?

Huckabee began his answer this way:

You know, it’s interesting, everybody says religion is off limits, except we always can ask me the religious questions. So let me try to do my best to answer it.
And since — if we’re really going to have a religious service, I’d really feel more comfortable if I could pass the plates, because our campaign could use the money tonight, Carl.

If he first part is a bit self-pitying — it is Huckabee who signed the Southern Baptist Convention