Fred Has Waited Too Long

Real Clear Politics ^ | August 16, 2007 | Reid Wilson

[Lloyd227]

I don't think his timing is the problem....

Even though he says nearly all the right things, I simply can't make myself believe him, and I do try because he is, in fact saying what I want the candidate to say.

I can't pin it down, but there's something there that just makes him seem fake or slimey to me.. and I honestly wish that were not the case.

As things stand, I'm pulling for Huckabee...

[Politicalmom]

Sure. Huckabee’s a great conservative....

Is Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee a Pro-Growth, Economic Conservative?

Taxes

The Club for Growth is committed to lower taxes across the board. Lower taxes on work, savings, and investments lead to greater levels of these activities, thus encouraging greater economic growth.

Governor Huckabee touts himself as an economic conservative, writing in his biography that he “pushed through the Arkansas legislature the first major, broad-based tax cuts in state history” and “led efforts to establish a Property Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights” early on as governor (Arkansas Times 09/22/05), but he only offers a small piece of the picture. It is true that Governor Huckabee fought for an $80 million tax cut package in 1997 that was passed by the Arkansas legislature (Cato Policy Analysis No. 315, 09/03/98); cut the state capital gains tax in 1999 (The Commercial Appeal 02/29/99); and passed the Property Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights in the same year, limiting the increase in property taxes to 10% a year for individuals and 5% per taxing unit (AP 03/16/99). However, his record over the rest of his ten-year tenure tells a starkly different story.

Immediately upon taking office, Governor Huckabee signed a sales tax hike in 1996 to fund the Games and Fishing Commission and the Department of Parks and Tourism (Cato Policy Analysis No. 315, 09/03/98).
He supported an internet sales tax in 2001 (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07).
He publicly opposed the repeal of a sales tax on groceries and medicine in 2002 (Arkansas News Bureau 08/30/02).
He signed bills raising taxes on gasoline (1999), cigarettes (2003) (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07), and a $5.25 per day bed-tax on private nursing home patients in 2001 (Arkansas New Bureau 03/01/01).
He proposed another sales take hike in 2002 to fund education improvements (Arkansas News Bureau 12/05/02).
He opposed a congressional measure to ban internet taxes in 2003 (Arkansas News Bureau 11/21/03).
In 2004, he allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law (The Gurdon Times 03/02/04).

By the end of his ten-year tenure, Governor Huckabee was responsible for a 37% higher sales tax in Arkansas, 16% higher motor fuel taxes, and 103% higher cigarette taxes according to Americans for Tax Reform (01/07/07), garnering a lifetime grade of D from the free-market Cato Institute. While he is on record supporting making the Bush tax cuts permanent, he joined Democrats in criticizing the Republican Party for tilting its tax policies “toward the people at the top end of the economic scale” (Washington Examiner 09/13/06), even though objective evidence demonstrates that the Bush tax cuts have actually shifted the tax burden to higher income taxpayers.

Finally, Governor Huckabee opposed further tax cuts at a 2005 gathering of Iowa conservatives (AP 09/17/05). On January 28, 2007, Governor Huckabee refused to pledge not to raise taxes if elected President, first on Meet the Press and then at the National Review Conservative Summit. The evidence suggests that his commitment to protecting taxpayers evidenced in his early gubernatorial years may be a thing of the past.

Spending

The Club for Growth is committed to reducing government spending. Less spending enhances economic growth by enabling lower taxes and diminishing the economically inefficient political allocation of resources.

Under Governor Huckabee’s watch, state spending increased a whopping 65.3% from 1996 to 2004, three times the rate of inflation (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07). The number of state government workers rose 20% during his tenure (Arkansas Leader 04/15/06), and the state’s general obligation debt shot up by almost $1 billion, according to Americans for Tax Reform. The massive increase in government spending is due in part to the number of new programs and expansion of already existing programs initiated by Governor Huckabee, including ARKids First, a multimillion-dollar government program to provide health coverage for thousands of Arkansas’ children (Arkansas News Bureau 04/13/06).

These large increases in government borrowing and spending significantly impede economic growth.

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php

[Lloyd227]

ok.... still can’t seem to make myself believe in Fred... and I really do hope I”m wrong on that one...

[ejonesie22]

It leaves my hands so silky smooth, perfect for plotting the take over of North America...

[ejonesie22]

It maybe that whole attorney thing...

[Saundra Duffy]

Ditto to everything in the article.

[Darkwolf377]

Thompson's window is now closed.

If Thompson, as believed, announces in September, he will STILL be announcing two months earlier than RWR did for the 1980 election, one month earlier than George H.W. Bush for the 1988 election, one month earlier than Clinton for the 1992 election, and--holy cow!--THREE months after GW announced.

So can we please stop this silly crap about how "radical" it is to announce so "late" in the cycle?

[no dems]

I watch “Law and Order” re-runs just about every night. He is not on very often.

[no dems]

If Fred does not declare and get into the race by the first week of September, it's over for him. The Thompson people that I know are tired of waiting and they are getting more impressed with Romney every day.

I think that Conservatives are getting tired of being "teased" and taunted by the waiting game.

[no dems]

If Karl Rove joins the FDT team, expect Fred to suddenly be born again!

Jeb Bush and his staff are Romney people. From what I understand, the Bush people in the White House are Romney people as well. If Karl goes with a campaign, there's a greater chance that it will be Mitt; not Fred.

[stockstrader]

I can't argue with anything that you said. In fact, I have to agree--as I, too, am taking a much closer look at Romney. Fred's delaying only serves to help Rudy and Romney--and I would never, EVER, vote for Rudy.

The compressed primary schedule does not help late entries into the process.

[22cal]

And consider Huckabee's tax policy as governor:

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2006/02/mike_huckabee_is_a_tax_hiker.php

 

[22cal]

Ask yourself if any rational person would give up millions in acting and media salary and residuals NOT to run?

[22cal]

Hmmm. I stood 15 feet from Fred and his wife in Bedford NH in June and got a different view. He was talking about general principles-- those of our founders. He was vibrant and sincere. For sincerity, see below:

Nashville nearly two months month ago with supporters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvd66GYYttg

Same day at the Fall School Nashville office opening. Note how unconsciously he shows he is a loving dad as he strokes his baby's head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB7tZ4qSk-4&mode=related&search=

  Re: Huckabee (in case you did not know)

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2006/02/mike_huckabee_is_a_tax_hiker.php

[22cal]

Sorry for the double post of the Huckabee link. Should have referred you to post #212.

[no dems]

If McCain folds up his tent, I’m thinking he will release his supporters to get behind his buddy, Fred Thompson. That would position him for the VEEP spot or a Cabinet position.

[George W. Bush]

If Karl goes with a campaign, there's a greater chance that it will be Mitt; not Fred.

Look for Karl to play hard-to-get with the candidates while pocketing a few million for speeches.

Rove may wait to see who's going to win and then sign up with the winner. In the meantime, he can funnel some advice quietly to Fred (or Mitt or Rudy) while making himself a millionaire from speeches.