Huckabee Pretended to Get a Phone Call from God Endorsing Bush in '04

This post, written by Faiz Shakir, originally appeared on Think Progress

Last night at the CNN/YouTube debate, a questioner asked the candidates -- "who would call yourselves Christian conservatives" -- to answer what would Jesus do about the death penalty. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee jokingly responded, "Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office. That's what Jesus would do."

It was fitting that Huckabee be asked what Jesus thinks because, in the past, the former Baptist minister has asserted an ability to talk directly to God.

At a Republican Governors Association Dinner in 2004, Huckabee took the stage and began to deliver remarks when his cell phone rang. He took the phone out of his pocket and proceeded to have a conversation with God about President Bush's reelection:

HUCKABEE: Hello? I'm sorry. I'm right in the middle of an event. It's who? It's God? On the phone for me? How did he get my number? Oh, God has everybody's number. OK? Yes, I'll hold.

Huckabee then engaged in a 3-minute back-and-forth exchange with God, in which Huckabee asserted that God was with the Republicans and President Bush:

We're behind [Bush], yes, sir, we sure are. Yes, sir, we know you don't take sides in the election. But, if you did, we kind of think you'd hang in there with us, Lord, we really do.

(Continued here, with video.)