(New Republic)
"Gov. Mike Huckabee on heaped criticism upon immigration legislation in the Arkansas Legislature, describing it as "inflammatory . . . race-baiting and demagoguery." He also challenged the Christian values of its main sponsor.
Huckabee said the bill, seeking to forbid public assistance and voting rights to undocumented immigrants, "inflames those who are racist and bigots and makes them think there's a real problem. But there's not."
The bill is modeled after Proposition 200, approved by Arizona voters in November. The Arkansas measure was filed by Republican Sens. Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith.
Huckabee, also a Republican and a Baptist minister, said Arkansans should be welcoming hard-working immigrants of all races. He singled out Holt, who often talks of his strong Christian beliefs, saying, "I drink a different kind of Jesus juice. My faith says don't make false accusations against somebody.
"In the Bible, it's called don't bear false witness." In response, Holt said he was hurt by the governor's questioning his faith.
"I just want to uphold the law and protect the benefits that apply to citizens," Holt said".
And the Conservative Republican people of Arkansas said "we're with you, Jim"...Congratulations Holt!
sw
...Here is Huckabee's laundry list of liberal offenses (which seems to get longer and longer with each passing day):
- Huckabee signed a gas tax hike in 1999
- He called for a state sales tax hike in 2002
- He signed a 25-cent cigarette tax hike in 2003
- He publicly opposed the repeal of a sales tax on groceries and medicine in 2002
- He increased state spending 65.3% from 1996 to 2004
- He allowed a major tax hike package to pass in 2004
- He received a "D" grade on fiscal issues from the Cato Institute in 2004
- He raised the minimum wage this year
- He called No Child Left Behind the greatest education reform effort by the federal government "in my lifetime."
- He has actively gone after so-called "price gougers"
Whew! With a record like that, Huckabee isn't some kind of softer, gentler Republican when it comes to fiscal issues. He's not even a squishy moderate. Instead, he's a monument of liberalism. The one thing he's selling - big government - is the one thing that the frustrated Republican base in this country isn't buying, now or in a couple of years.
I belive the GOP voters in Arkansas basically told Huckabee to shut up. And one step beyond that....I think it is a pretty clear mesage to Huck...