Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee argued Saturday that governments harm their citizens by encouraging reliance on their programs and services.
“A public official that causes people to become enslaved to the government is no leader,” Huckabee said at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition summit in Waukee, Iowa.
“A public official that creates dependence on the government does people a great disservice.”
{mosads}Huckabee’s remarks come as he weighs a potential 2016 White House bid. He claimed the biggest battle over individual freedom comes between church and state.
“The single greatest threat to all of our freedoms is the threat to religious liberty,” Huckabee claimed. “When the government begins to decide what you believe, something is tragically wrong.”
The former governor also doubled down on controversial claims he made about faith rights earlier this week.
“I’m not backing off because what I’m saying is true,” Huckabee vowed Saturday night.
Huckabee warned Thursday that the push to legalize same-sex marriage may make practicing Christianity a criminal offense.
“I think it’s fair to say that Christian convictions are under attack like never before,” he said then.
“We are moving rapidly toward the criminalization of Christianity,” Huckabee charged.
Huckabee reportedly plans on announcing his presidential bid on May 5. Should he run, he will launch his campaign from his hometown of Hope, Ark.
Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) are the GOP’s official 2016 candidates thus far. Hillary Clinton remains the heavy Democratic favorite.