Posted on 01/02/2016 12:43:36 PM PST by Isara
“Accuracy is the twin brother of honesty; inaccuracy, of dishonesty.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne
I am profoundly disheartened by Mike Huckabee’s behavior. I was a supporter of his in 2008 because he was clearly the more conservative alternative to John McCain, but a short eight years later, he’s let me down–not because he’s polling at a paltry 1.8%, but because he was willfully dishonest when asked about a recent attack on a fellow candidate.
A Super PAC supporting Mike Huckabee recently ran an ad that quotes Ted Cruz at a Manhattan fundraiser. The precisely edited clip makes it appear as though Cruz isn’t who he says he is.
Here’s the ad:
Sounds bad, right? Not so fast. The recording from which that clip was taken has a lot more to offer. Here’s the actual transcript of the exchange between Cruz and his questioner as provided by Politico:
DONOR: “Can I ask you a question? So, I'm a big supporter. And the only issue I really disagree with you about is gay marriage. And I'm curious: Given all the problems that the country's facing-like ISIS, the growth of government-how big a priority is fighting gay marriage going to be to a Cruz administration?”
CRUZ: “My view on gay marriage is that I'm a constitutionalist and marriage is a question for the states. And so I think if someone wants to change the marriage laws of their state, the way to do so is convince your fellow citizens-and change them democratically, rather than five unelected judges...Being a constitutionalist is integral to my approach to every other issue. So that I'm very devoted to.”
DONOR: “So would you say it's like a top-three priority for you-fighting gay marriage?”
CRUZ: “No. I would say defending the Constitution is a top priority. And that cuts across the whole spectrum-whether it's defending [the] First Amendment, defending religious liberty, stopping courts from making public policy issues that are left to the people...I also think the 10th Amendment of the Constitution cuts across a whole lot of issues and can bring people together. People of New York may well resolve the marriage question differently than the people of Florida or Texas or Ohio...That's why we have 50 states-to allow a diversity of views. And so that is a core commitment.”
Not only does Cruz stay consistent with his public message, but when the exchange is viewed in full, Huckabee’s ad is revealed to be a gross mischaracterization of what was said.
Ah! But Super PACs aren’t allowed to coordinate with candidates, so it’s not Huckabee’s fault this ad was produced. He had no involvement in it. Oh wait–when asked on Fox News if the ad was dishonest, Huck doubled down, saying:
“…there’s nothing selective, there was nothing deceptive. The point is that in Iowa he’s made a major point, and he’s pitched to evangelicals as a person who is utterly authentic. He’s going to fight for religious liberty. He’s going to protect the right of people to disagree with decisions on same-sex marriage. But that’s not what you heard in that Manhattan fundraiser and that’s the only thing that I have pointed out.”
Huckabee Denies Mischaracterizing Cruz on Gay Marriage: Incredibly Inconsistent (Video)
Well, there you have it. Read the transcript, watch the ad, then listen to Huckabee. Unless Huckabee’s a complete moron–which he’s not–he knows that the ad is patently dishonest. Yet he went on national tv, and fired away. Perhaps I’m so profoundly disappointed because Huckabee used to be a preacher; maybe his past makes this more painful for me. Regardless, for any alleged conservative to be that blatantly dishonest hits me hard. I’ve always viewed Huck as a very honest man. Now I know better.
This is similar to an attack from Rick Santorum–who’s currently languishing at 0.5% in the polls–in which he claimed Cruz isn’t a real social conservative because he’s an adherent to the Tenth Amendment.
Dear Mike Huckabee, stop lying, or avoiding the truth (if we want to get political about it), and drop out of the race. Your time has passed. You’ve disappointed conservatives enough for one cycle.
The issue isn’t interpreting what Cruz did or did not mean to convey. The issue is he’s making these declarations behind closed doors to deep pocket donors.
Ted aint skeered
Too many people are in favor of limited government until it limits what they want government to do. I agree with Cruz here, except I would consider legislation to overturn the SCOTUS Lawrence decision and return this back to the states.
Four dead police officer’s families already knew this.
Ah the Huckster is at it again. Very desperate
These declarations are the same ones he makes publicly dip wad
So you’re saying every meeting on Earth should be in the open? No privacy allowed?
Lying is the thing Huckabee does best. There is only one out there who lies more in sheer quantity than he.
That is an ignorant reply. I’m certain Cruz would have the same response regardless of the venue. And his response was the correct one.
And I support Trump.
Our country will continue to decline until we reverse these issues that destroy families. We can't have a country if we don't have traditional families.
Cruz speaks legalese about it, which sounds to Huckabee just like big government. So, they disagree on how to handle it.
Just what are you trying to imply, that what Cruz said was bad? Did you bother to even read the dialog?
Many people here supported this fraud in the past.
Some here may still support him today.
People with very bad judgement.
Concern trolls gotta be concerned.
It’s what they do.
Does anyone really consider this clown to be running for anything except himself?
Mike Huckabee, a seemingly nice, but not Presidential, good Christian man is allowing politics bring out the lowest form of human in him.
First he disrespects Senator Cruz at a rally supporting Kim Davis and now he is lying about him and then denying he lied. Sounds like Nixon.
Apologize to Ted Cruz, Mike....then drop out and go back and play ditties with your cockamamie band
Huckabee is the “E - Cubed”
“Establishment Endorsed Evangelical “
Huckabeee
or Huckabe^3
Huckabee is earning his future pay and doing what he is supposed to do — albeit he has failed badly.
His one job was to neutralize Cruz. He and Graham were assigned that.
Neither could do it.
Huckabee has to be hoping the Fox/RNC machine will still pay him well if he can show he was really trying hard.
I’m saying that when Cruz started his campaign, it was going to be out in the open and grass roots. It’s morphed into deep pocket donors and behind closed doors.
All political campaigns, from dog catcher to congress to the presidency, have donors. What world do you live in?
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