Huckabee: 'I Don't Want to Use the Word Conspiracy, But'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Shades of Hillary's VRWC . . .

Mike Huckabee went on Morning Joe today and toyed with suggesting a "conspiracy" composed of the "Washington power circles" was out to get him. At 7:41 AM ET, the former Arkansas governor was discussing his efforts in South Carolina with Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.

View video here.

[nmh]

You need to learn about Huck. He’s not what he pretends to be.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008
An Open Letter From An Arkansas Evangelical
Posted by: Hugh Hewitt at 5:41 PM

As a conservative, evangelical, politically-active father of four in Arkansas I believe it is imperative for like-minded voters to become more familiar with the Mike Huckabee that just completed 10 years as our governor. I realize it’s sometimes hard to know what to believe during a campaign, so I’ve tried to include links to published stories, with most coming from years past when the events noted were taking place.

For those who don’t know much about me, I attend a very conservative evangelical church in Central Arkansas that includes some other politically active members (past/present elected officials, lobbyists, candidates, etc), and our family currently homeschools our young children. Since 1996, I have been heavily involved in numerous Republican campaigns in Arkansas at all levels (even managing a few). I have also served as vice chairman of the Republican committee in Arkansas’ largest county. Yet I don’t know of a single person in these circles who is supporting Huckabee for President - although I do know many that are definitely not supporting him. Of course, this is anecdotal evidence, but consider that Huckabee just finished serving 10 years as our governor (and I am sure there are many Republicans in Arkansas who are supporting him - I just don’t know them). The truth is, most conservatives in Arkansas had written him off long before his Presidential bid.

I will list the salient points without the back up links. I leave the complete undisbuted truth for you to read at the link.

That said, here are 7 key reasons I cannot in good conscience support Mike Huckabee as the Republican nominee for President. This is based on his record here and is not a personal attack - I cannot speak for his or anybody’s motives. This list is not the result of intense research - it’s based on what I know and have experienced first-hand as a politically-active conservative Arkansan. It’s a list I could have given you 6 months or even 2 years ago. And I am not attempting to echo or give validity to any criticism he is now receiving nationally (and I don’t think ALL of it is fair). This is the Mike Huckabee we know.

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/33391ddb-ed1f-4bc3-9d19-cdca6181d5d4

[steve-b]

Once again, "care" and "compassion" do not equal "tax" and "confiscate"

Too bad that Huckster's record as Governor of Arkansas shows that he doesn't believe that.

[tips up]

Permanent drift or making the best of the available options in 2008?

For me, at least, it would be a temporary drift, making the best choice among lousy options.

Reminds me of my fraternity date nights in college. Sometimes a woofer if that was the best I could do at the time, but always looking for better for future events...

[nmh]

The only smearing going on is the Huckster trying to cover up his tracks. The numbers tell the story.

Not this:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=TruthSquad.ClubSmear

It’s a well known fact in Ark, that he’s a liberal elite that hides behind religion. He’s a humanist that funds this through socialism. He’s soft on crimnals. Embraces ILLEGALS to the point where he wants to give them scholarships - this is not Republican. He’s a walking talking Demoncrat that appeals to the relgions LEFT.

[Turret Gunner A20]

The media will narrow it down again...you wait and see. I'm telling you, they think they own this country.

If you don't wnt that to come true -- AND, if you want more than just maybe one or two of the following listed things, you hd better stick with trying to get Fred the nomination:

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=1949015%2C27

In the News/Activism forum, on a thread titled One Adult (Fred Thompson), Bobbisox wrote:

EXCELLENT! I am glad to see other opinions of how they feel how FRED performed. I was quite shocked to hear George Ste.... state that FRED did quite well! Best debate format so far. I was impressed. We’ll see how “Fair and Balanced” FoxNews can be tomorrow night. FRED THOMPSON -

NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERIENCE (I’ll protect the American people and American values, whatever it takes to stop the Islamic-Fascists including water-boarding!) - 2ND AMENDMENT ADVOCATE (“Individual” rights to protect their homes and property!)

INCREASE THE MILITARY’S STRENGTH AND SIZE (Diplomacy through Strength and verification!)

SECURE AND SEAL THE BORDERS (Don’t give sanctuary anywhere to illegal’s; don’t employ illegal’s; don’t rent to illegal’s; don’t extend credit to illegal’s; don’t give illegal’s rights they have no right to; report all crimes committed by illegal’s to ICE and immediately deport those illegal’s who have already committed crimes against America!)

LAW AND ORDER (Enforcement of our current laws regarding illegal immigration!) – DENY FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SANCTUARY CITIES (Enough is enough!)

CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES FOR SUPREMES (Great progress has been made on the Supreme Court in Bush’s term. FRED was asked by President Bush to spirit Justice Roberts through the confirmation process. The next President will probably have the opportunity to seat two additional Justices. This is huge folks. FRED will nominate Justices who will interpret the Constitution, not create rights that simply do not exist and legislate from the bench!) –

PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE (will strive to nominate superior Justices with the eventual goal of overturning Roe vs Wade)

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMER (Social Security is an entitlement program that will soon overtake the budget. The program can’t sustain itself and will bankrupt future generations; FRED has detailed proposals to save Social Security and provide the added benefit of private savings accounts for younger workers!)

DEFEAT ANY DEMOCRAT OR RINO (Close your eyes and imagine the first debate between FRED THOMPSON and ANY liberal DemocRAT they put up?)

TAX SIMPLIFICATION (Reform and perhaps eliminate the IRS with a variety of choice for the tax payer!) EDUCATION (Return education to the States. It is that simple. The NEA is the greatest enemy of our educational system!)

WON’T PUT UP WITH TRUTH MANIPULATION FROM THE DB-MSM (including stupid questions by liberal moderators, and “purchased” political pundits)

FRED THOMPSON IS THE “WE THE PEOPLE” CANDIDATE (We the People asked him to set aside his personal life and step up one more time for his Country…and he stepped up!)

[montag813]

Hmmmmmm Got a link on that. I’d like to publicize that one more.

Sure thing...HERE.

See post #19

[keepitreal]

LOL

[todd1]

I feel the same way but I feel like Huckabee lands more in the middle and this is what our country needs. I want to see the left and right find some common ground. But I would gladly vote for Thompson if he is the Republican running in the end.

[The Pack Knight]

Sorry... couldn't resist.

[ProCivitas]

Hi montag,

The Washington Post forum quote doesn't reflect well on Pinkerton, but it doesn't indicate he's prone to that kind of thing ... could just be trying to be diplomatic to a forum questioner.

And the amazon.com book link you gave doesn't mention Pinkerton as a contrubuting writer as you suggested.

It's unlikely that Huckabee's campaign would hire someone with that kind of problem.

[shield]

Are we sure this is not Ron Paul? LOL...why oh why do losers start this type of mantra.

[nmh]

Thanks.

Have to post this with the religious left all googly eyed over this fraud, Huck.

[Charles Martel]

Upon further thought, Huck's story begs a question or two. He was in college, right... living in the dorm. Where'd the squirrels come from? "Care packages" from home?

I can also see him checking his "trap line" (rat traps baited with peanut butter, laid out under the live oaks on campus) every morning before class. Somewhere in the distance, you can hear the *SNAP* of a rat trap, and the dissonant plunk-plunk of a banjo. ;-)

[montag813]

It's unlikely that Huckabee's campaign would hire someone with that kind of problem.

It is well known that Jim Pinkerton is gay, a Log Cabin Republican, and has advocated gay rights in the past. I am surprised you were not aware of this.

Pinkerton, a gay activist, has been hired by Mike Huckabee as a SENIOR Adviser to his campaign.

Here is a link to a synopsis of the book you mentioned:

Bruce Bawer, editor. Beyond Queer: Challenging Gay Left Orthodoxy (1996, The Free Press, ISBN 0-684-82766-2) is an anthology with contributions by Bruce himself, Paul Varnell, Stephen H. Miller, John Weir, Carolyn Lochhead, Andrew Sullivan, Mel Dahl, Jonathan Rauch, David Link, David Mendelssohn, David Boaz, Noah Vincent, James P. Pinkerton, Thomas H. Stahel. It is in six sections: “Rage” “Gays and the Right” “Beyond Oppression” “Gay Culture, Gay Identity,” “Gayness and God,” “Family Values.” This last section is probably the most interesting, as Rauch suggests that an unattached singleton is “an accident waiting to happen,” and predicts that gays might get marriage and then not use it. Of course, this book predates the Massachusetts opinion by eight years, and was written during the Hawaii and Vermont debates. Many of the writers would go on to set up and contribute to the Independent Gay Forum.

Another link:

Pinkerton, a former policy advisor to former President Bush, quotes Andrew Sullivan to bolster his argument for gay marriage: "It would foster social cohesion, emotional security and economic prudence."

Source: Pinkerton, J. (June 3, 1993). Conservatives: Don't bash gay marriage. NewYork Newsday.

[unspun]

First, I would suggest lookiing the words in a dictoinary (not a put down). Then, if one wants toread about Algernon Sidney:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/938320/posts
http://www.fee.org/publications/the-freeman/article.asp?aid=4822
http://classicliberal.tripod.com/sidney/

[keepitreal]

I thought he got married right out of high school.

[keepitreal]

Your links are all well and good. I have read much in this area as it was my specialty in college and beyond. I am asking you whether or not “care” and “compassion” were the virtues espoused by the Founding Fathers when discussing the rights of man versus government. I don’t need to see the definition of virtue in a dictionary. I am well aware of it. I am asking you to show me how “care” and “compassion” fit into the scheme of the theory of government and public virtue.

I doubt you will find any such reference and if you will provide one for me I will be intrigued. As of now, you are putting a 21st century world view into 18th century discourse and labelling that originalist.

[kjam22]

There is no doubt that the republican power circles (fox news included) are trying to torpedo him.

[keepitreal]

Your vivid description is now ruining my upcoming dinner!

[lesser_satan]

Yea its the evangelicals fault that Thompson fells the right not to be killed in the womb is for each state to decided (does he feel the same way about speech?)

Huckabee said it was preposterous to say that such a deep moral issue should be left up to the states. If abortion is immoral in one state it is immoral in all of them, he said. He was “shocked” at Thompson’s stance. He claimed that he had always believed in a federal ban on abortions.

But a short time earlier Huckabee had sat down with the conservative essayist John Hawkins for a long conversation about the issues. He was asked about abortion. Huckabee said the legality of abortion should not be settled at the national level but should be left up to the states. This is the direct quote from the transcript, which until recently you could access on the Huckabee presidential campaign website:

“I’ve never felt that it was a legitimate manner in which to address this and, first of all, it should be left to the states, the 10th Amendment. . .” The 10th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution is the states-rights doctrine.

(snip)

(Huck flip flops, Editorial, The Arkansas Leader, November 28, 2007)