huckabee starts right now.

[applause] >> thank you, a great audience here tonight. thank you and and merry christmas everybody. welcome to huckabee from the fox news studios in new york city. i don't usually talk about sports on this show, but it's kind of hard to ignore the talk of all sports casts and headlines across the country. tebow fever. tim tebow led the denver broncos out of obscurity and into the thick of the nfl playoff race and while many athletes give credit to higher power when their team wins a game. tebow has many asking if god is really rooting for his team. >> first and foremost i'd have to thank my lord and savior jesus christ. >> when he was winning in high school he he had doubters and winning in college he had doubters. they say he doesn't have the mechanics to be a successful

quarterback and now that he's winning in the pros,'s doubters and never considered his heart and his faith. >> if you believe, you know, unbelievable things can sometimes be possible. >> since tim tebow took over as starting quarterback of the denver broncos, halfway through the season the season turned its season around winning seven out of eight games and often winning in dramatic fashion, coming back late in games after starting poorly. >> what is it about their quarterback's ability to bring his team back. he might have explained it when he was a guest on this show last summer. >> i'm not going to be perfect. i'm never going to be perfect i'm going to mess up and mess up every day that's what grace is all about and that's what faith is about, and getting back up when you get knocked down and continuing that journey of faith and continuing to try to improve and try to get better. >> tim's kret i cans are not limited to shows who put down his game. he's been ostracized because he's open about his faith and often kneeling down praying near the game and the tebowing craze created controversy at

least one new york city and recently four students were suspended for leading classmates mimicking tebow. have people told you tum, back off and throttle back on the faith stuff? >> absolutely, it would definitely happen and a lot of people that say you don't need to show it so much. >> that doesn't stop him who continues to take the high road. after last week's comeback against chicago-- and there's linebacker brian erlacher refused to give tebow credit and instead giving the quarterback a backhanded compliment by calling him a good running back. well, instead of responding negativetively to the latest job, tim turned the other cheek. >> coming from a good player, that means a lot. >> the contrived controversy over his rookie season in the nhl has become the conversation in the sports world as well as beyond. forget the presidential primary and the wars in the

middle east and staggering government na is choking we have a nfl quarterback who lives jesus lives a life that acknowledges personal on his faith. and he doesn't imagine that god purchased the total nfl package on tv or parades around in a broncos jersey. i feel that the almighty while mindful of the winning streak of the deven franchise and hasn't taken more role in determining the outcome of the game in fixing the election for either of the candidates from the two mange parties. despite what devout dreamers may declare. tim tebow is simply a very gracious, humble and disciplined young man who was raised to believe that he's personally accountable for his actions, both on and off the field. and it would appear that he's been pretty consistent in both orbits. sports writers, tv analysts and other football players

seem obsessed with opinions whether tebow ought to openly declare his allegiance to god after taking a knee and the controversy rages among fellow christians some of whom have amazingly been critical of his outward displays. personally i'm kind of refreshed to see a professional athlete to advertise something wholesome like prayer to god. i've seen of drug users, awe bus abusers, gun toting, general jerks, sure there's room for someone advertising love for mother and father, and their sport. as for openly declaring a love for jesus, some eat their soup louder than others and the soup tastes the same either way and for those who like the expressions of faith subdued

so be it, but some people are maybe naturally, maybe supernaturally expressive and i'm fine with that. most of all i rejoice to see a young person as a role model won't encourage my grandson to smoke dope, treat women disrespectfully, cheat, lie, get in drunken brawls, use profanity to cover a lack after decent vocabulary or start fights on the field. i'll buy a room full of posters of that kind of here he owe for my grandson. if the broncos lose, god is no less god and tim tebow will probably be a fine young man, but i hope tebow and the bronc keep winning and critics have something better to whine about than the fact that he prays. that's my view and contact me at mike huckabee.com with your view and facebook and twitter if you have something to say about that. this past week i was in des moines, iowa with four of the

presidential candidates and also with an overflow crowd and a magnificent theater to premier the movie "the gift of life" it's a stunning and i think very powerful portrayal of why every life has worth and dignity. i hope you'll get a copy and you can find out more about it at the gift of life movie.com. the gift of life movie.com or follow the link for mike huckabee.com. hey, we had a big moment from the huckabee show. full page ad in the wall street journal this week about the forum that you saw here a few weeks ago with the attorneys general and showed we were the first in the ratings, beat cnn, msnbc and headlines news with total viewers and wonderful reviewers from the new york times and daily beast who normally don't have that many wonderful things to say about me or fox news. [applause] >> and during thursday's republican presidential debate in sioux city, iowa most of the candidates aimed their

attacks at president obama, but minnesota congresswoman michele bachmann set her sights on those sharing the stage with her. >> i've never heard a more dangerous answer for american security than the one that we just heard from ron paul. we know that he cashed paychecks from freddie mac, that's the best evidence that you can have. over 1.6 million dollars and frankly, i am shocked listening to the former speaker of the house, because he's defending the continuing practice of freddie mac and fannie mae. >> mike: joining us from iowa, republican presidential candidate michele bachmann. congresswoman, it's good to have you with me again. thank you very much for joining us. >> thank you, governor. it's a pleasure to be with you. [applause] >> most of the analysts who i've seen who talked about the debate thought you had an exceptionally strong night and that you took your game straight to your fellow candidates. was that intentional strategy on your part or did it just rise up in you, there were things being said you had to

challenge? >> he will it was the latter, mike, i had no strategy to do that, it was based upon things that i heard and the first clip that you played was that of ron paul. and ron paul, i believe, would be a very dangerous president of the united states. and that's not personal. i'm not trying to be personal against him, but i think it's very clear, people across the world recognize iran is hell bent on obtaining a nuclear weapon and they've made it abundantly clear they'll use it against our ally israel and use it against the united states and we know that because the president of iran said he would as recently as august and also in september when he was here. this is a very serious situation and i come as someone who sits on the intelligence committee and we deal with the secrets and we have to take this threat on because it's real. >> mike: i agree that iran is a real threat and the only country i know of who not only want today develop the nuclear weapon and developing it with

the express purpose of using it. >> that's right. >> mike: yet, on the tonight show when ron paul was on this week, he made this comment i'd like your reaction to it after we listen to it. >> michele bachmann. >> she doesn't like muslims, he she hates muslims. she wants to go get them. >> mike: congresswoman you said it was not person, you to him, but it sounded a little personal from him to you and he made a pretty bold, i would go so far as to say an outrageous allegation that you hate muslims. i've never seen that in you. respond. >> no, no, you're exactly right. you never have because i never have said anything that foolish, what i believe is that i move the american people and i love this country, and i want this country to be safe, sovereign and free. the real hate that you hear is coming from the president of iran. he hates jews.

he hates jews in israel and he hates the american people and so do the mullahs in iran who have expressly stated that it is their goal to kill jews in israel and also to kill americans. that's a real threat and that's why as commander-in-chief this have nation i will stand up and make sure that iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, and i will stand with our ally israel. >> and let's address that specific allegation that you hate muslims and you want to go get them. do you hate muslims? >> of course not. i don't hate muslims and that's outrageous to say that, but i do recognize that we have a very real threat, just like when hitler was building up the threat prior to world war ii, all of the signs were there, ne were evident and people who want today bury their heads in the sand. we're living in a time when there's another madman and if there's anything mike, the last 100 years taught us. when a madman speaks we need to listen and take that threat

seriously. and i do, i'll stand with the american country that i love. >> mike: and you and i were together with several of the presidential candidates at an overflow event for the movie "the gift of life" and one of the things i think people are saying, these issues don't matter, the issues of the sanctity of life or marriage. it appeared to matter to some iowa voters the other night when they were there. would you react to whether or not the issues are asked of you as you campaign across iowa? >> well, mike, they were even today. i'm on a 99 county tour. every county in iowa we did ten stops yesterday, ten stops today and governor, i'll tell you, this morning, people brought up the issue of life and said this is the number one issue, and i know that you agree that life needs to be protected. we talked about that in the debates and for your viewers, i encourage them to stay tuned to fox, because fox will show the debate again, and the issue of life came up in the debate.

and i said very clearly that i believe that the life needs to be protected from conception until natural death and that's why i brought up that issue. because the former speaker of the house, newt gingrich. had a chance to defund planned parenthood. he didn't do it and even more shockingly, he reconfirmed again that he would be willing to support and campaign for republicans who support the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion. i could never do that. and that's why the very important question was asked by george will to the speaker. he said when is it ever a virtue to tolerate infantside? it's not. we need to be a party that stands for life, you do, i do, the republican party does and people across iowa want a champion to stand for life and i will. >> mike: congresswoman michele bachmann, it's always a pleasure to see you, have fun out there and good luck in iowa, and thank you very much for joining us today. >> it's always a pleasure to

be with you, governor, thank you. >> mike: thank you, merry christmas to you. when barack obama was campaigning for president, he condemned the war in iraq with you, but when announcing the end of the war in week he called it one of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of the american military. statesmanship or just plain old flip-flopping? we'll debate on the hot seat when we come back. (applause). type 2 diabetes.

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take control of your type 2 diabetes for yourself and for them. call or visit chanceatcontrol.com. [applause] >> the quar in (applause) >> with the war in iraq officially over and our troops headed home. president obama took a look the at the bright side. >> what's happening over the last several years has linked the united states and iraq in a way that is it potentially powerful and could end up benefitting not only america and iraq, but the entire region and the entire world. >> mike: but that sounds a lot

different from the president's old stance on america's mission in iraq. >> i don't oppose war in all circumstances and when i look out over this crowd today, i know there is no shortage of patriots or patriotism. what i do oppose is a dumb war. >> mike: why is the president changed his mind? i think it's time for the hot seat. my challengers today, news day columnist elliss henican and jehmu green, both are fox news contributors. good to have you here, welcome. jehmu, is this a flip-flop on the president's part? >> as a candidate, he opposed to the war. as, you know, i said that he was going to end the war and as a president he has after nine years, i don't think i have any more tears to cry, and the reunions and naers meeting their babies for the first time. i have a question for you, governor. >> mike: ask. >> given he's lived up to every promise he made with

iraq is he not the greatest command ner chief in modern day of presidents not the 21st century, but the 20th century. >> mike: aur audience doesn't think so. no, i don't think so. he always wants to talk about what he inherited. he inherited a war that turned because after surge that he opposed. he inherited incredible military that he had never been so fond of until he became commander-in-chief and realized these are the most remarkable americans that live. i'm grateful these americans are coming home. i'm grateful it's ending. i hope it works out well. but i don't see how i can see those two piece of videotape and say this is a president that had to change his view about the military and elliss, did his view on the mission change. >> no, he was against it dependent think it was good to go in, you can't erase history. he wanted us. >> mike: don't be so sure. i'm rarely. >> on this one, the power of

logic has overwhelmed you, governor, you know you want these guys to come home and you know you don't want another ten year occupation somewhere and let's get them out of afghanistan, too, right? >> i never want today see this thing go ten years. >> gooed. >> mike: i would rather see as america would typically go in as colin powell would say overwhelming force and make it it quick and decisive. the fact that it's lasted ten years, there have been a lot of people that didn't come home to their families and the pain of this war is unquestionable. my point goes back, this is a president it wasn't just the war, we all support the troops, the president supported the troops i'm the not going to question his patriotism nor his support for the troops. i'm talking about his support for the mission of the war. >> wasn't the libya model better, we got in, did a piece of business and got out of there and in fact support from our allies. >> and he knew how to do it from the start to the finish. >> mike: as far as libya i would remind you that the

president's original proposal was not in fact what we did, but i'm grateful it's turned out and i'll give him credit because he is the commander-in-chief and i'll give him credit for a number of good decisions. so i'm not dismissing everything he's done. i do think he made a major change, you know why? the reality of being president set in. it's easy to be a candidate and tougher to govern and we've got to go to another topic. does the media hold the g.o.p. field to a different standard than the democratic field. let's look at a tape and you can react to it. >> strategic advice over a long period of time. >> how much would you spend on a monthly basis doing at that kind of work, seems like a lot of money. >> as ceo of bayne capital romney made huge profits while bankrupting five companies. >> and (inaudible) >> now, there are tough questions there, candidates

running for president and tough questions, i've got no problems with that. are the questions specifically related to some of let's say financial information i found it especially interesting. you've got al sharpton who owes about half a million dollars in taxes and he's raising questions about the integrity and character of one of the candidates. am i overreacting? >> yes. >> i knew you were going to say that. >> and certainly what happens when you're a front runner and just weeks ago, newt gingrich said bring it on, he welcomed the heat and put up on his website, answering the questions and i think the media is treating this field differently because they've allowed-- republicans have allowed the media to turn this into a circus and reality show, as an american who wants the best nominee. >> mike: what do you mean reality show. >> i don't think the media is at fault for turning it into a reality show. >> how did they do that? >> allowed donald trump to control the the debate and they had allowed candidates like herman cain who clearly did not have the type of standing, i think, to be a

front runner. and all of the attention they put on him and i mean, some of the questions we've seen in the debate have really crossed the line, focusing on michele bachmann's migraines rg early on and it's out of line. >> mike: and that's my point. some of the questions the media asked are ridiculous, why on earth would they ask michele bachmann about a migraine and herman cain some things they've asked him. and that's my point. there's been unusual level of scrutiny and some of which haveening to do with president. aren't you sick. >> mike: and not today-- >> you were a presidential candidate, aren't you sick of whining candidates. when you run for president in our country you better expect some questions ab pit bulls. sadly this time around the republican candidates frankly have been suffer on each other, and nobody is tougher than michele bachmann and make woodward's and bernsteins-- >> and you can't forget mitt romney as a front runner for

the last year, he stayed away from sunday talk shows for what, 18 months, he stayed away from doing-- what is up with that? >> you know what, i don't blame him frankly you go on these things and ask obscure questions about something you said 20 years ago, unfortunately the hot seat is cooling down. we've got to go. elliss and jehmu, always great to visit with you. merry christmas to both of you, thank you. happy new year. all eyes are on iowa. coming up, salem sipped kated network host in iowa is going to break down why his home state is the police to be for politics over the next couple

>> and nex >> (applause) >> over the next two and a half weeks iowa is going to be

the epicenter of the world. the iowa caucuses happen on january 3rd and kick off the primely season. joining us from iowa to explain why it's so important. nationally syndicated talk show host and author of the book, we won't be wrong again. my friend steve is from iowa, steve, welcome, good to have you here. [applause] >> everybody talks about the caucuses of iowa and they talk about them as if people really know what that means. walk us through a caucus night and tell us what happens when people go to a caucus as opposed to a primary election. >> totally different environment, mike. first of all, a caucus may take place at your kid's school, might take place at your own church and a lot of times you explain why you're voting for somebody or the candidates will have proxies that will speak on their behalf. let me give you analogy. let's say you're going in there looking at two or three candidates and you're not sure which you like the most, pat

tore of your church and somebody you respect stands up and gives a passionate speech for one of the candidates. they might tell you on the candidate right there at the caucus site and there's politicking and horse trading that goes on during the awe causes themselves so it's a totally different environment than a primary. >> one of the things that happens, steve, this is very public, it's not like you go in quietly and secretly mark a ballot. you have to take a stance in front of your neighbors that live in your neighborhood? >> that's right, this is particularly in iowa caucuses you see christian dominate. if you're a squishy voter and money type. if a primary you secretly vote for the squishy rhino type and nobody knows a difference. but caucus when you're with the your kids' teachers and parishioners, and own the candidate you're supporting it has its own enforcement

mechanism. >> and indicates why polls are unreliable in iowa. it may look like a candidate is doing well, but caucuses pulls out intensity of a voter support. do you see somebody surprising this coming january 3rd. somebody the media has overlooked that's going to be stronger than they expect? >> i definitely think there is a chance either michele bachmann and/or rick santorum will finish way above their polling numbers and the rick perry's ads and debate on thursday night he has a chance to substantially i am pror where he's add. in my opinion, michele bachmann and/or rick santorum will do better than showing. the oo aye poll, incredible straw poll voters had rick santorum at 2%, he got 10% of the straw poll vote. so i think it's impossible to gauge with an organic process

what the support is. polls in the caucuses measure mine share more and they might measure more who they're talking about and people are thinking about, but don't necessarily measure what the actual support of the person they're thinking about is. >> and few people in the country i know, keep up with the iowa scene better than you do, steve. thank you, and we look forward to seeing you soon. >> thanks, mike, appreciate it. >> and so we all have our list of best loved christmas songs, i kind of like oh little town of bethlehem. we have a lineup of musicians, toby keith and marshal tucker band playing our favorites. i wonder if they'll play yours? stay tuned, you'll find out.

road. i'm harris falkner, see you with the headlines. now back to huckabee.

>> mike: and christmas is just one week away and we want today get into the spirit of christmas and some of our favorite musical guests from the past year, perform their favorite songs of the season. first up, country superstar toby keith. >> and my grandma in fort smith and vifrting here and cousins will be there. and she had a he three bedroom house with a big den and put the little kids in one room and we wouldn't go to bed on christmas eve and my grandfather took a big four by four and it was snowing and kept saying santa is going to come and you guys are going to be awake and not going to get any gifts and that's pretty much shut up, drink an eggnog and go to bed. so we were all in there wrestling around trying to be quiet and still not going to sleep and he took a pair of jingle bells off one of the stockings and shook it under the window and threw that 4 by 4 up on the wood frame house and we thought we're so busted

and. >> santa has come to the house. >> and seven kids wept out like a light and boom, we were down and walked under the tree, and, oldest childhood christmas memory. >> a great one. i've got to ask you one more question before we play a christmas song. in your house growing up in the south. did the adults eat first or the kids eat first on christmas morning. >> kids. >> kids, yeah, children ate first, a little table. >> mike: it's a little table. >> how old were you before you ate at the big table. >> 14, i think i graduated up about junior high. >> mike: i bet you get to eat at the big table now. >> it is my big table. >> mike: let's do a great christmas classic, the little drummer boy. >> okay. ♪

>> come they told me par rum rum-- a newborn king to see forumpapum. our finest gifts we bring ♪ ♪ to play before the king f for rumpapumpum ♪ ♪ so to honor him par rumpapumpum. when we come ♪

♪ little baby, i am a poor boy, too, par rumpapum ♪ ♪ i have no gift to bring par r uch rumpapum ♪ ♪ that is fit to give a king par rumpapum, rumpapum, rumpapum ♪ ♪ shall i play for you par rumpap rumpapumpum, on my drum ♪ ♪ mary nodded self-

♪ the ox and lamb kept time par rumpapumpum ♪ ♪ i played my drum for him rumpapumpum ♪ ♪ i played my best for him par rumpapumpum, rumpapumpum ♪ ♪ then he smiled at me par rumpapumpum, me and my drum ♪ ♪ me and my drum ♪ me and my drum

(applaus (applause) >> merry christmas, toby. >> merry christmas. >> great to have you here. coming up, the marshal tucker band with their version of@xóx

>> the (applause) >> the marshal tucker band has been recording great southern rock hits for four

daimler-chrysl decades, and i asked him about his memories. >> what childhood memory do you have that stands out. >> just wanting more presents. (laughter) >> everything i could get and i knew what it was before i got t that is my memory, really. it was just, you know what, i say it's just family. it was knowing that everybody was getting together at the holidays. >> mike: yeah. >> and regardless of anything else, you always knew if you walked inside, and i wore a hat like this, i was in, baby. >> mike: what's the best christmas present you ever got? >> i think i just received it when we played in iraq, okay? (applaus (applause) >> it's going to be a lasting thing for us because we-- i was in vietnam and got to see bob hope come and perform, okay? and that was '69. that's my present this year. >> mike: that's a great present. [applause] >> we're going to do a

christmas song with you guys. "merry christmas baby." . >> i'm ready. >> let's do it. ♪ merry christmas, baby, you sure been good to me ♪ ♪ merry christmas baby, oh, you sure been good to me ♪ ♪ su give me all of the good loving i need ♪ no ♪ i can't wait ♪ she gave me new present

♪ i listen to it day and night ♪ ♪ every time she sits beside me, i know everything is going to be all right ♪ ♪ merry christmas baby, you sure look mighty fine to me ♪ ♪ i can't wait for santa to come down that chimney, baby ♪ ♪ yeah, i'm gonna have some company ♪ >> play it for me. ♪

♪ merry christmas baby, merry christmas to me ♪ ♪ i sure like that little hi-fi you gave me, baby ♪ ♪ i listen to music ♪ ♪ i know you're looking mighty fine, woman ♪ ♪ merry christmas ♪ >> thank you. [applaus

[applause] >> wonderful. you can go to huckabee.com. and also, kelly wright and the little rockers with have yourself a merry little christmas. and coming up, yo-yo ma. (applause).

(applause) >> world famous cellist yo-yo performed all over the globe. there's no place he would rather be at christmas than home.

>> from the moment our children were born, well i think they were like 3 or 4 or 5 years old. i live in the boston area there's a group that celebrates christmas every year that is called the rebel. it is a group of people who sing and dance with children and adults, and what they do is celebrate christmas and the winter solstice from all different parts of the world. every year they will pick one place. sometimes it's england and mexico and sometimes it's canada. and it is so much fun, because there's a lot of singing that everybody participates in. one of the songs they sing is give us peace, which the whole audience sings. i had this idea one year to make songs of joy and peace is invite different friends to each contribute to a different

variation of this. so today we would like to offer that as a christmas sort of cell bra to -- celebratory piece. joining me is a talented young cellist from oklahoma living in new york city and we will play it for you. >> very anxious to hear it as is our audience. (applause) ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ >> at the top of the show i talked about tim tebow's pace and his amazing winning streak. the streak is over after denver lost to the new england patriots earlier today. but the broncos are still leading their division. let us know what you think comment on facebook.com/huckabee show. merry christmas from all of us at "huckabee."

until next time good night, god bless and merry christmas.