Club vs. Huck (Club For Growth goes after Mike Huckabee)

The Washington Post ^ | November 8, 2007 | Chris Cillizza

[2ndDivisionVet]

The last month has been the best one of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. He appears to be emerging as a viable conservative alternative -- rising in polls in Iowa and finally putting together a serious fundraising effort.

There's just one problem with this rosy scenario. And, its name is the Club For Growth.

The Club, a D.C. based organization that proudly touts both its fiscal conservatism and its willingness to dabble in contested Republican primaries, seems intent on not allowing Huckabee to coalesce the Republican conservative base behind his candidacy.

From the start of Huckabee's campaign -- literally -- the Club has been hounding the former Arkansas governor for what its leaders believe is his support of big government and higher taxes.

Their latest gambit is a web video that seeks to paint Huckabee as flatly dishonest when it comes to his past statements about supporting an increase in the gas tax in Arkansas.

Here's the video: (Go to site to watch)

Wow. Pat Toomey, a former Pennsylvania Congressman and president of the Club, was similarly vituperative about Huckabee's record in an interview with The Fix this week. Toomey referred to Huckabee as a "serial tax hiker" and a "pro-life, pro-gun liberal."

Toomey explained the Club's jihad against Huckabee in simple terms. "For the sake of accuracy and because we think he would be so damaging to the Republican brand, we think it's important."

Not surprisingly, Huckabee has been far less sanguine about the Club's attack on his record. Campaign manager Chip Saltsman said that the Club's enmity toward Huckabee appears to be the result of a "personal vendetta," adding: "Most people are starting to figure that out. (Toomey, for what it's worth, insists that there is nothing personal about the attacks.)(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

They're known for putting their money where their mouth is, which is bad news for Mike.

[tear gas]

These are the Country Club Republicans who will try to cram Rudy down the throats of social conservatives.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Maybe so, but there is this:

Mike Huckabee. The Socialist From Arkansas. http://www.cofcc.org/?p=811

Mike Huckabee disses Americans, Mexicans, promotes illegal immigration
http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/005609.html

Christians Need To Beware Of Mike Huckabee
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20071102.html

While Gov. of Arkansas, Huckabee was AGAINST proving citizenship in order to register to vote. He called those who were in favor of this “racists”...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050218/news_lz1e18perkins.html

Huckabee fought hard to kill an Arkansas bill which would have cut off social services for illegal aliens. Huckabee called the bill, “anti-Christian” and “un-American”...
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/01/28/News/316347.html

Huckabee supported in-state tuition for illegal aliens...
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/03/11/News/318458.html

Huck’s opposition to the illegal aliens bill:

http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/000718.html

[org.whodat]

Toomey referred to Huckabee as a "serial tax hiker" and a "pro-life, pro-gun liberal."

I do believe Mr Toomey did a very good job of describing the Huckster!

[tear gas]

I don't care that they go after Huckabee. What will disgust me is if they DON'T go after Rudy. SOON.

And, I suspect that they will in fact endorse Rudy. These guys don't have strong feelings one way or the other about social issues.

[cripplecreek]

Their weight helped remove my RINO congressman and replacing him with conservative Tim Walberg.

[dano1]

"And then there is always the law of unintended consequences. What if the Club does go up with television ads attacking Huckabee and Iowa voters view it as an out-of-state group trying to make up their minds for them? That could lead to folks flocking to Huckabee who might not otherwise have supported him."

[fantom]

Why waste their good time on huck ? He is an open border bleeding heart rino. This will become evident if he moves into a serious contender position. They won’t go after rudy , there is no reason to . He brought nyc back from the financial brink. I was living in that open sore when he made his will felt by all that stood in his way. I can’t wait for the real fun to start , when rudy and the lexus sales manager go head to head.

[Def Conservative]

That’s because they are an issue organization. It’s not their job to go after Rudy about the social issues. They focus on fiscal issues and do a good job. Just like Right to Life doesn’t talk about tax issues.

[David13]

If Huck was not a threat, they would not waste their time or money, they are smart people. This is a personal vendetta. Most of what they have said has ben dispelled. If the club for growth had been around Ronald Regan would not have been elected. They said the same stuff about him.