Time for truth. America’s Country Music lovers want to know why they appointed Mike Huckabee to the Board of Directors on February 28, only to have him resign Thursday? Smacks of incompetence. What made the CMA Foundation choose Huckabee for their Board?
The core mission of the CMA Foundation is to help children acquire musical instruments and have an opportunity to participate in music programs as students. Why would the former Arkansas governor qualify to sit on such a Board?
Personal Experience
Mike Huckabee said he grew up “dirt poor in south Arkansas”, with no expectations that his adult life would be any different—until music transformed him.
The eleven-year-old boy learned to play the guitar, bringing him more than pleasure. The confidence gained set the young Huckabee on a course for success he’d never dreamed possible.
Mike Huckabee has a heart to see every child have the same opportunities he’d had to see music transform their lives. Sounds admirable, but has this desire influenced any action?
What, if anything, has Huckabee actually done to help public school kids gain exposure to music?
Professional Experience
Under Mike Huckabee’s leadership, Arkansas passed legislation mandating music and arts programs for every student from Grades1-12, taught by certified teachers. Few other states can boast such programs in public schools.
For the two years Huckabee chaired the Education Commission of the States, his theme and agenda were music education for every child. All 50 Governors, education leaders in the Senate and House from all 50 state legislatures, and the state education chief for each of the 50 states heard their Chairman’s relentless efforts to bring music programs into public schools in every state.
Perhaps, those involved in inviting Huckabee to join the CMA Foundation Board of Directors considered his initiative, “Play it Again, Arkansas” valuable experience in helping them meet the Foundation’s goals. Under this initiative, donated and professionally refurbished used instruments gave students whose parents lacked the money to buy or rent a musical instrument an opportunity to join the school band.
Sounds like a candidate with great credentials, not to mention some significant contacts to bring to the table. So, why did Mike Huckabee resign within twenty-four hours of his appointment to the Board?
Opposition charges
Basically, there are three points of contention:
- Lack of support for public schools. A quick check of the school records reveals that Huckabee not only spent his primary and secondary education in public schools, but his own kids followed the same path. In fact, he was the first Governor of Arkansas in fifty years to send his children to public schools, Grades 1-12.
Under Huckabee’s leadership, the teachers got the highest pay raise in the State’s history. Though two of his Democrat predecessors vetoed the bill, Huckabee finally succeeded in leading the effort to allow teachers to retire with full benefits after 28 years of service.
The facts reveal the former Governor is supportive of public education, in spite of the accusations of his critics.
However, the same cannot be said of the remaining points. They are true.
- Supports membership in the NRA. Huckabee is among the growing millions who currently hold an active membership in the National Rifle Association.
- Maintains conservative political views and supports traditional, Biblical marriage. Mike Huckabee’s conservative position is well known. There’s no evidence to suggest this is a false charge.
But is this really enough to disqualify Huckabee for the CMA Board?
According to the statement printed in the Associated Press, some country music artists and their managers think it is. Jason Owen, of Sandbox Management representing artists like Little Big Town, Faith Hill, and Kacey Musgraves declared his clients would no longer support the CMA Foundation because of Huckabee’s appointment.
“Huckabee speaks of the sort of things that would suggest my family is morally beneath his and uses language that has a profoundly negative impact upon young people all across this country,” Owen wrote. “Not to mention how harmful and damaging his deep involvement with the NRA is. What a shameful choice.”
Unfortunately, Owen’s statement ignited the firestorm of opposition as other managers and agents declared their clients plan to pull their support for the CMA Foundation.
Mike Huckabee submitted his letter of resignation as soon as he learned his appointment would hinder the Foundation from reaching their goal.
The whole issue is dumbfounding. As a nine-year-old proudly blowing my rented trombone, I never once gave a thought to the marital status, or gun-ownership, of the man behind the counter. I was just grateful to have the instrument. Are children so different today?
Certainly, the times we live in are far left of those sixty years ago, but are the kids really going to refuse an instrument if it’s offered by someone in a same-sex relationship instead of the traditional male-female one?
Conclusion
Once again, the poor kids get the short end of the stick, and for the same reason—money. Their parents can’t afford to rent or buy an instrument for them, and now those with lots of money are blackballing the man with a heart to see that each child can be in the band.
Is it really to the advantage of children to refuse to support an organization dedicated to bringing musical opportunity to every child because someone disagrees with their politics or religion? Have we gone too far in making every issue a political one?
Clearly, the credentials and experience of the former Governor of Arkansas make Mike Huckabee a unique and stellar choice for the CMA Foundation’s Board of Directors. In fact, his connections have the real potential to bring a lot more money and used instruments to the Foundation’s program.
Just a thought
How about we ask the kids? Let’s have the public schools survey their students, Grades 1-12. If the kids don’t want Huckabee on the Board, so be it. (I’m betting they’d prefer to have the instruments, regardless of where they’re from, but let’s let them have a vote.)
Let’s ask the parents who can’t rent an instrument for their child if they’d object to someone with conservative views helping their child have one.
Don’t forget the country music lovers. Let’s ask each one who would purchase a concert ticket, CD, or download for any of the CMA artists opposing Huckabee’s appointment to make it up to the next generation’s stars. They can skip that concert or download and donate the money to the CMA Foundation.
Time to take action for the kids!
