Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dump the Huck: He’s not VPOTUS material.
NationalReviewOnline ^ | 10/26/07 | Pat Toomey

Posted on 10/26/2007 8:37:20 AM PDT by pookie18

In some quarters, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee appears to be the flavor-of-the-month Republican candidate for president. Given his folksy charm, social conservative credentials, and embrace by the mainstream media, it is not surprising that some are increasingly enamored with him. But this flirtation does a great disservice to the conservative movement if it overlooks Huckabee’s stunning record of big-government liberalism.

During Huckabee’s tenure as governor, the average Arkansan’s tax burden increased 47 percent, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A dyed-in-blue tax hiker, Huckabee supported raising sales taxes, gas taxes, grocery taxes, even nursing home bed taxes. He virulently opposed a congressional moratorium on taxing Internet access, and sat on the sidelines while his Democratic legislature pushed the largest tax hike in Arkansas history into law. What’s more, on his watch, and frequently at his behest, state spending increased by 50 percent, more than double the rate of inflation, and the number of state government workers rose by 20 percent. Yes, as a presidential candidate, Huckabee has signed on as a supporter of the Fair Tax and pledged against raising taxes, but when a candidate’s long and clear record flies in the face of his election-year symbolism, you can chalk it up to politics every time.

Of course, there is little actual chance of Huckabee winning the presidency — at least not in 2008. Notwithstanding his improved polling in Iowa, Huckabee isn’t really running for president — not with a near empty campaign treasury. Rather, the second iteration of the Man from Hope is trying to parlay his social conservative credentials and aw-shucks congeniality into the vice-presidential nomination next year. Before conservatives jump on that train, however, they should consider the likelihood that the presence of such a big government backer on the ticket would hurt the party’s prospects more than it helps.

In 2006, Republicans suffered a severe lashing at the polls in retaliation for years of out-of-control spending and government expansion. In the final days before last year’s elections, the Club for Growth commissioned a poll among voters in the 15 most competitive congressional districts across the country. The results showed a remarkable and painful erosion of the Republicans’ fiscal branding among these key swing voters.

For example, we asked voters whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “The Republicans used to be the party of economic growth, fiscal discipline, and limited government, but in recent years, too many Republicans in Washington have become just like the big spenders that they used to oppose.” Sixty-six percent of voters in these key districts agreed with the statement, including 72 percent of Independents.

In order to earn back the public’s trust on economic issues, not to mention offer a compelling contrast with a Hillary Clinton-led Democratic ticket, Republicans must present a consistent message. A big-government liberal like Mike Huckabee, who takes pleasure in attacking the Republican party as the “party of Wall Street,” will only reinforce the image of Republicans as “the big spenders that they used to oppose.” A Huckabee nomination, even as vice president, will make it impossible for the Republican party to reclaim its brand of fiscal conservatism and limited government, without which it cannot be a majority party again.

Huckabee makes no secret of his desire to turn the GOP leftward, calling himself a “different kind of Republican,” adopting protectionist positions, and peppering his campaign speeches with the kind of class warfare rhetoric one expects to hear from John Edwards. No doubt, this is the reason that the liberal media is so smitten with him.

Instead of talking about curtailing government spending, Huckabee refuses to endorse President Bush’s veto of a vastly expanded S-CHIP. He is an unabashed fan of No Child Left Behind and an opponent of private school choice. Huckabee is also quickly becoming the labor unions’ favorite Republican, recently gaining a union endorsement along with Hillary Clinton.

In frontrunners Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and Mitt Romney, the GOP is well on its way to nominating a candidate for president with a strong fiscal record. Each of them would provide a great opportunity for the GOP to reestablish its vitally important brand as the party of pro-growth tax policy and smaller and more affordable government. But no Republican presidential candidate can effectively claim that mantle with Mike Huckabee standing by his side.

Beyond those currently running for president, the eventual nominee has any number of strong across-the-board conservative prospects for vice president to choose from within the GOP ranks. Surely, he can do so without assuming the tax-and-spend baggage Mike Huckabee would bring.

In 2006, Republicans paid a steep price for big-government conservatism’s record-setting domestic spending spree. That is a lesson we should take to heart as we consider the choices facing us in 2008.

— Pat Toomey is the president and CEO of the Club for Growth.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; huckabee; mikehuckabee; tr
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last
To: pookie18

Don’t dump me!


21 posted on 10/26/2007 9:07:19 AM PDT by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ikemeister
Basically, Huck is another GWB.

Well he probably is just a hair to the left of him, but they both have proved themselves as lefties.

22 posted on 10/26/2007 9:09:02 AM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: pookie18
In frontrunners Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and Mitt Romney, the GOP is well on its way to nominating a candidate for president with a strong fiscal record.

Someone tell me how Toomey is any less sold out than Mike Huckabee.

23 posted on 10/26/2007 9:09:32 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (With "Republicans" like this, who needs Democrats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: samtheman

Ok, but was is their motivation , to nominate the Huckster or bring down Thompson and Romney , for a Rudy win ?

Huckster is not cutting into Rudy’s support , Thompson and McPain are . Huckster is peeling off Romney support .


24 posted on 10/26/2007 9:10:18 AM PDT by Neu Pragmatist (Unite against Rudy ! - Vote Thompson ! - It's the only way to beat Hillary !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Spiff

If Fred’s support is waning , who is it going to ?


25 posted on 10/26/2007 9:12:27 AM PDT by Neu Pragmatist (Unite against Rudy ! - Vote Thompson ! - It's the only way to beat Hillary !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Huck
FReeper Huck for President!


26 posted on 10/26/2007 9:13:18 AM PDT by pookie18 (I'm voting for the Republican nominee!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Apple Blossom

ping


27 posted on 10/26/2007 9:13:38 AM PDT by bmwcyle (BOMB, BOMB, BOMB,.......BOMB, BOMB IRAN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance
actually ..... I didn't put in < / sarc. > because I will in fact be very pleased to vote for RUDY.... I'd also be pleased to vote for ROMNEY....

I'd also be pleased to vote for the Huck, but I'd worry that he'd not have enough "gravitas" to win it.

Fred would also get my vote, but I am doubtful that he is going to be able to get on the final ballot.

I'd even be happy to vote for McCain - but I am also quite doubtful about his chances....

I think I'd rather vote for Hillary than Ron Paul....maybe that's a coin-toss.

28 posted on 10/26/2007 9:14:23 AM PDT by rface (kooky inside and out)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: johnny7

LOL ! He looks like a morph between Gomer Pyle and Nixon ..


29 posted on 10/26/2007 9:15:39 AM PDT by Neu Pragmatist (Unite against Rudy ! - Vote Thompson ! - It's the only way to beat Hillary !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: pookie18

Yep. I agree. Dump the Huck!


30 posted on 10/26/2007 9:17:19 AM PDT by BnBlFlag (Deo Vindice/Semper Fidelis "Ya gotta saddle up your boys; Ya gotta draw a hard line")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: samtheman
Why is he even in the Republican Party? He and L Ron Paul should join the Democrats, where they belong

Why is POS liberal Rudy in the GOP? Paul & Huckabee are both pro-life and support the 2nd Amendment.

31 posted on 10/26/2007 9:18:57 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist ("Just 3 hours a day with Rudy Guiliani is all I ask" -- Sean Hannity is on! Thank you Scott Shannon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat
Basically, Huck is another GWB. Well he probably is just a hair to the left of him, but they both have proved themselves as lefties.

You don't know what a lefty is. You want to see a lefty? Wait until you elect Hillary & then compare her to GWB w.r.t. taxes, judges, WOT, etc...then get back to me...


32 posted on 10/26/2007 9:19:13 AM PDT by pookie18 (I'm voting for the Republican nominee!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Neu Pragmatist

True. Any way you cut it, the MSM wants a Liberal Republican to go against The Beast. It’s the only way she can win.


33 posted on 10/26/2007 9:19:27 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: rface
"Most of Clinton's policies are similar to most of mine." - Rudy Giuliani
34 posted on 10/26/2007 9:20:04 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (With "Republicans" like this, who needs Democrats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: pookie18

NO no no! Too high profile. Make me Drug Czar! I’ll do what I can to personally eradicate as much marijuana as possible while serving!


35 posted on 10/26/2007 9:23:03 AM PDT by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Neu Pragmatist

He’s no conservative...


36 posted on 10/26/2007 9:23:11 AM PDT by johnny7 ("But that one on the far left... he had crazy eyes")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: rface
I'd also be pleased to vote for ROMNEY....

The most liberal Governor in American history. No other elected official, of either party, has managed to forward so much of the radical Left's agenda: gay marriage, a permanent gun ban, homosexualized public schools, socialized medicine, complete with taxpayer-funded abortions.

You're a real piece of work, but you're certainly no conservative in any way that matters in the real world.

37 posted on 10/26/2007 9:24:18 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (With "Republicans" like this, who needs Democrats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Paul & Huckabee are both pro-life and support the 2nd Amendment.
Paul supports the Jihadists.

Huckabee supports the Illegal Invasion.

38 posted on 10/26/2007 9:25:34 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance

TFB


39 posted on 10/26/2007 9:25:49 AM PDT by rface (kooky inside and out)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: pookie18
His views on illegal immigrants alone disqualify him from ever receving a vote from me.
40 posted on 10/26/2007 9:26:02 AM PDT by Bonaparte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson