The Huckabee Contradiction

WSJ ^ | 120507

[Fred]

Probably no one is more surprised about Mike Huckabee's sudden promotion to the Presidential varsity than Mike Huckabee. The self-described "paradoxical Republican" says he tends to "take sides of issues that I think people don't expect Republicans necessarily to join up with." Primary voters will have to decide if the former Arkansas Governor is more paradox than Republican, particularly on economic and tax policy. [Mike Huckabee]

There's always been a space for an antiabortion candidate in the GOP Iowa caucuses, and Mr. Huckabee seems to be sliding into that slot this cycle. He's a smooth and folksy orator, and religious voters like his purity on same-sex marriage, creationism and so forth. The ordained Southern Baptist preacher also isn't above subtly playing the religion card against Mitt Romney's Mormonism, to peel off evangelical Protestants. Asked on Sunday by ABC's George Stephanopoulos if Mormons were Christians, Mr. Huckabee dodged the question.

Some say Mr. Huckabee is the tribune of the "religious left," and that strikes us as about right. He exhibits protectionist instincts, distancing himself from Nafta and saying he would insist on penalties and barriers to countries that don't support his conception of "fair trade." He delivers populist sermons against income inequality, but in favor of farm subsidies and an expanded government role in health care. He regularly knocks Wall Street, and he borrows from the Democratic playbook with digs at "the rich."

The irony is that if he ever did win the nomination, Mr. Huckabee would be vulnerable to the same sort of attacks from the left, if not more so. The political contradiction of his economic policy is that, even as he campaigns as a populist, his signature tax proposal is the most radical reform imaginable -- the so-called "fair tax."

[Fred]

Slickabee ping

[goldstategop]

I support the Fair Tax. It is radical tax simplification. It would take this country back to the pre 1913 days, which is why intellectuals and the bi-partisan political class are terrified of it. A world without earmarks and Big Government one I look forward to - immensely. Mike Huckabee is not the perfect candidate to sell IRS abolition but he has at least put the income tax question back on the political agenda. We do need to get rid of it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[ari-freedom]

most people assume that if someone is pro-life and supports the 2nd amendment that he will be conservative on everything else.

[ari-freedom]

so you get rid of it and end up with higher taxes. wonderful

[Borges]

Huckabee is a throwback to Christian Socialists like William Jennings Bryan.

[EagleUSA]

“I support the Fair Tax. It is radical tax simplification. It would take this country back to the pre 1913 days, which is why intellectuals and the bi-partisan political class are terrified of it.”
::::::
Not quite correct. The political class sees and USES the Tax Code as a political weapon, and a tool of political expediency. They are TERRIFIED of losing the political weapon which the tax code is....going to a fair tax arrangement would be the best thing for Americans (in terms of fairness and getting rid of redistribution of wealth) and the government (sans IRS) would have more money than they could count. They left never met a tax they did not like, especially our present system and tax code which supports a socialist agenda....

[Ingtar]

I support something like the Fair Tax, but only if the income tax is made illegal at the same time. With the politicians we have in Washington, any new system will simply be used as an additional burden on my wallet.

[goldstategop]

True. Republicans also like earmarks. What we really have are two socialist parties. One that wants to get us there in one big gulp and the other one that wants to get us there via installments. So where do true lovers of liberty turn?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Fred]

A concise portrayal ping....

[goldstategop]

I should clarify. I won't support another tax on top of existing taxes. We are already too heavily overtaxed. Either we get rid of all other taxes and just have one or forget about the Fair Tax altogether.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Ingtar]

I believe it would begin as a replacement. Then, when they spend too much, they’ll say it is not enough and reintroduce the income tax. At that point, we are paying more and they still claim to have listened.

[maine-iac7]

says he tends to "take sides of issues that I think people don't expect Republicans necessarily to join up with."

Yeah, like his bleeding heart NO to waterboarding and let's close Guantanamo?

He's right.

We expect that only from the traitors.

_{Hey, Chuck, how do you feel about your candidate now? Your endorsement gave him the shot in the arm to make him a viable candidate again. Time to cut your loses on this one, Chuck.}

[Fred]

'The plan would require repealing the Sixteenth Amendment that allowed a federal income tax, and the chances of that happening are approximately zero.'

Just another pol treating the voters like a bunch of chumps..

[goldstategop]

That's actually how we got here. Government always has a revenue problem. They never have enough of it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

That's what they used to say about Prohibition. We can't imagine how people ever lived without a federal income tax, so like death, it will always be with us.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[OB1kNOb]

Thanks Fred - ping.

[seenenuf]

Income tax repealed ?? -— when pigs fly. First there would be the decades needed for the states to approve a change in the Constitution - namely the 16th Amendment.

[Ingtar]

Exactly why with today’s political climate any change in the tax system is more likely to become an additional tax rather than a replacement.

[keepitreal]

I support something like the Fair Tax, but only if the income tax is made illegal at the same time.

It would have to be done at the Constitutional level for me. Otherwise, they will make it illegal this year and then bring it back the next, citing that the "rich" aren't paying their fair share. Look at what they are doing with the estate tax and AMT. They just can't give up any taxes.