The unfair rap against Mike Huckabee

Scripps Howard News Service ^ | 11/23/2007 | STAR PARKER

[dano1]

With little resources, and with a GOP presidential candidacy hovering in obscurity through the summer, the former Arkansas governor is now running in a dead heat with Mitt Romney in the lead in Iowa.

The former Massachusetts governor's spending in Iowa has been 10 times greater than Huckabee's and, until this week, Huckabee had not run a single ad (versus Romney, whose ads have already run over 5,000 times).

In various national polls, Huckabee is coming in a solid third behind former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.

The Washington Post's David Broder provides one hint about the fuel that might be propelling Huckabee. He says that, according to veteran Democratic pollster Peter Hart, the attributes that are pushing voters' buttons this year are "transparency, authenticity and unity."

A just-released The Economist/YouGov poll shows Huckabee doing well in these areas. Republican voters rate him first in both honesty and morality.

The long campaign and the plethora of pre-primary televised debates have been helpful to Huckabee, whose appeal has come through to voters, but who has not had a lot of resources for his own marketing. He has come off as genuine and not like a candidate, in Huckabee's words, "who's sort of the culmination of a room full of consultants."

There is little question that on social issues that Huckabee, a Baptist minister, is the real deal. This is playing well among Iowa Republicans, a third of whom are evangelicals and 70 percent of whom are conservatives.

But what about the rap against him that he is a populist with little regard for traditional Republican proclivities for unfettered markets and limited government?

He's been accused by the Club for Growth of "big-government liberalism" and called by conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg a "statist."

There's some justification, of course, to these labels. Huckabee invites them when he expresses reservations about free trade, which he does, when he talks about energy independence, which he does, and when he endorses ideas such as a nationally mandated ban on smoking in public places.

But there are important strains in what Huckabee is about that defy simple labels, and in this sense these accusations and generalizations are not legitimate.

When Huckabee says that "strong families are the foundation of a strong country," he means this. This is not a Hillary Rodham Clinton-like political throw-away line.

The traditional-values agenda is as much an economic initiative as anything else.

It's family breakdown and values breakdown that drive poverty in our country today. Poor families are overwhelmingly single-parent families.

Crime and unemployment among black males is a values crisis, and transforming these young men to productive beings is an economic as well as a values initiative. This is anything but statism.

It's tough to see how someone who wants to get rid of the IRS, which Huckabee's "fair tax" initiative would do, can be thought of as someone who loves big government.

His plan, which would replace the income tax with a national sales tax, has plenty of detractors, including those who see it as politically impossible to achieve.

But how do you argue with the idea of taxing consumption rather than income and production, and freeing every American family of having to share every intimate detail of their economic life with the government?

On health care, Huckabee has repudiated mandated universal coverage and supports reforms that would allow individuals the same tax preferences for purchasing health coverage as employers and that would allow a national market, rather than our current state-regulated fiefdoms, for buying health care Sounds pretty darned free-market to me.

On Social Security, Huckabee's plan would eliminate the payroll tax and he has expressed support for the idea of personal retirement accounts.

And, of course, Huckabee is a hard-core supporter of understanding the Second Amendment as protection of the rights of individuals to bear arms.

So the simple big-government-loving box into which many want to stick Huckabee is just not an accurate picture of the man. Do I agree with many of the criticisms in areas where he does want to turn to government? Yes.

Mike Huckabee is not a simple guy. But life is not simple. However, he is honest, he is clear and many, including me, appreciate his unequivocal stand for the traditional values that are critical for the future of this country.

[rurgan]

To: dano1 Hey Star, Quit schilling for that corrupt Socialist Huckabee.

Maybe dano1 is the corrupt,lying, pro-illegal, liberal Huckabee, the Huckster, you think, or at least on the Huckster's paid staff?

[TheBattman]

That campaign site twists, misrepresents, and falsifies Huckabee’s record in a way that makes me wonder if it was put together by the Clintons...

Huckabee “cut taxes and fees almost 100 times” - BULL. I live here and lived through the Huckabee tax and fee cuts (that resulted in a net MAJOR increase in the taxes paid by nearly every Arkansan). This included a 3% income tax surcharge that Huckabee fought AGAINST repealing, even after the state coffers were back in the black (which they still are - even with a 50% cut in the grocery tax passed by a DEMOCRAT governor that Huckabee wouldn’t touch, nor endorse when he was in the governor’s office).

Huckabee’s statement that Americans’ are not under taxed, but the government overspends - he is correct - let by big spenders like himself who increased through his own initiatives, the Arkansas budget via the largest increases in public spending in the history of the state - with one of those massive programs being a major attempt at socializing medicine.

So when a candidate’s record and public statements do not align, which do you default to for the truth? I have always believed that actions speak louder than words... Huckabee’s actions speak much more loudly than the fluff and lies on his web site.

[libbylu]

Dear Star Jones: Huckabee is a liberal,proamnesty toad, who calls antiamnesty people “racists”. He is also not transparent,he just says he is. Down home,yes. President material, no way in heck. thanks.

[Rockitz]

Any pastor who has had as many ethical issues as the Huckster is very suspect.

[CitizenUSA]

Gabz wrote: “One does not have to be a smoker to argue against this position of Huckabee’s. It is an affront to anyone who believes in private property rights.”

Agreed! Smoking rights may seem like an insignificant issue, but they are quite revealing in this case. I’m interested in Huckabee’s justifications for perverting the US Constitution and ignoring private property rights. Actually, I don’t need to know. Anyone who thinks like that, even if they mean well, is an enemy of freedom.

[ejonesie22]

Dano1,

Nice try but:

Perhaps there is a reason Huck barely registered in the few polls on FR he was actually in.

This is the leading Conservative forum and the top political site on the web.

Maybe that will help you figure things out a bit...

[goldstategop]

Mike is right about abolishing the income tax, repudiating RomneyCare and supporting traditional values. That being said, do I agree with everything he backs? No. Just as I don't agree with all of Bush's policies. What can be said about him is he's a likeable guy and he says what he means. I want a President I can respect instead of someone who tells me what I want to hear.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[rurgan]

Is that you Huckabee, the Huckster? Or are you on his paid staff?

Huckabee is for illegals, and is a scheming,lying,corrupt,socialist,big government tax and spend liberal who is against private property rights.

Mike Huckabee disses Americans, Mexicans, promotes illegal immigration

http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/005609.html

Christians Need To Beware Of Mike Huckabee

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20071102.html

While Gov. of Arkansas, Huckabee was AGAINST proving citizenship in order to register to vote. He called those who were in favor of this “racists”..

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050218/news_lz1e18perkins.html

Huckabee fought hard to kill an Arkansas bill which would have cut off social services for illegal aliens. Huckabee called the bill, “anti-Christian” and “un-American”...

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/01/28/News/316347.html

Huckabee supported in-state tuition for illegal aliens...

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/03/11/News/318458.html

Huckabee’s opposition to the illegal aliens bill:

http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/000718.html

[dano1]

So how do you account for the following?

"Republicans in Arkansas have a long track record of taking on  difficult tasks, overcoming tremendous challenges and winning battles that  no one thought we could win," Huckabee said.  "Despite  being in a mostly Democrat state, we had great success in cutting taxes,  passing pro-life legislation, fighting for the family, improving education  and highways and making government more efficient."
 
             "I have known Governor Huckabee for many years, and at one time, I  served as his Chief Legal Counsel," former U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins said.  "He is a true leader, who makes firm, informed decisions based on simple  standards of right and wrong and what is best for the citizens who elected  him.  He owns his decisions and doesn't need to take a  poll before deciding to do what's right.  He has been so  successful with his straightforward approach that it makes you wonder why  more of these people don't try it."
 
             "The two main reasons I support Gov. Huckabee for President are the  fact that he has always been pro-life ˆ and he has more than 10 years of  executive experience," former Cong. Jay Dickey said.   "Gov. Huckabee far outdistances himself from the other candidates  by his outstanding moral values and conservative convictions."
 
             "For the past 14 years, I have watched Mike Huckabee lead our  state," former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson said.  "He  fought the Democrat machine in Arkansas and brought honor and dignity to our highest  office.  He has campaigned long and hard for our  Republican candidates to help build a better Arkansas ."
 
             "I had the privilege of serving for eight years in the legislature  during the Huckabee administration," Sen. Shawn Womack said.   "Anyone who saw his leadership during the Hurricane Katrina relief  effort had to be impressed by the way he was able to organize the  resources of the state to provide relief and comfort to the tens of  thousands of evacuees."
 
             "My experience with Gov. Huckabee that of a man who was thoughtful  and well reasoned in his decisions," Former Rep. Doug Matayo  said.  " Arkansas is much better off because Mike Huckabee was  our Governor.  He is the best choice for president and I  completely support his candidacy." 
             The following is a list of those who have signed on as members of  Huckabee's Arkansas GOP Leadership Team:    
 §  Bud  Cummins ˆ Former U.S. Attorney
 
 §  John Paul  Hammerschmidt ˆ Former U.S. Congressman
 
 §  Asa  Hutchinson ˆ Former U.S. Congressman  
 
 §  Tim  Hutchinson ˆ Former U.S. Senator
 
 §  Jay Dickey  ˆ Former U.S. Congressman  
 
 §  Betty  Dickey ˆ Former Chief Justice of Ark. Supreme Court
 
 §  John  Boozman ˆ U.S. Congressman
 
 § Dennis  Milligan ˆ Arkansas Republican Party Chairman
 
 §  Gay  White ˆ Former First Lady of Arkansas
 
 
Lisenne Rockefeller ˆ Widow of the Late Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller   
 
Jim Burnett ˆ Republican National Committeeman & Former NTSB  Chairman  
 
Reta Hamilton ˆ Republican National Committeewoman  
 
Phyllis Kincannon ˆ Arkansas Republican Party Activist  
 
Prissy Hickerson ˆ Former Arkansas HighwayCommissioner  
 
Doyle Webb ˆ Former State  Senator  
 
Barbara Webb ˆ Former Saline  County Prosecutor  
 
Phil Wyrick ˆ Former State  Senator  
 
Carolyn Pollan ˆ Former State  Representative  
 
Gilbert Baker ˆ  State Senator  
 
Sharon Trusty ˆ State Senator  
 
Denny Altes ˆ State Senator  
 
Bill Pritchard ˆ State Senator  
 
Michael Lamoureux ˆState Representative and House Minority Leader   
 
Mark Martin ˆ State Representative  
 
Jim Medley ˆ State Representative  
 
Frank Glidewell ˆ State Representative  
 
Bryan King ˆ State Representative  
 
Beverly Pyle ˆ State Representative  
 
Rick Green ˆSate Representative  
 
Mary Beth Green ˆ Former State  Representative  
 
David Haak ˆ Former State  Representative  
 
Doug Matayo ˆ Former State  Representative  
 
Hoyt Johnson ˆ Former State  Representative Candidate  
 
 Andy Mayberry ˆ Former U.S. Representative Candidate  
 
Joyce Campbell ˆ Former State Rep.  Candidate  
 
Chee Chee Tamburo ˆ Former State Rep.  Candidate  
 
Wayne Bowen ˆ Justice of  the Peace  
 
Carol Lester ˆ Arkansas County Chairman  
 
Mark Dye ˆ Scott County GOP  Chairman  
 
Ladon Copelin ˆ GOP Party Activist  
 
Bernard Mize ˆ Polk County Chair   
 
Billie Sue Hoggard ˆ Former State  Representative Candidate
 
            "I'm proud to have these fellow Republicans on my team," Huckabee  said.  "Their support, combined with the growing  momentum of the campaign, will give us what we need for a strong showing  in Iowa and the early  primary states."  
 
 
 

Source: News Release: Governor Mike Huckabee Launches Arkansas GOP Leadership Team

[CitizenUSA]

rurgan wrote: “Maybe dano1 is the corrupt,lying, pro-illegal, liberal Huckabee, the Huckster, you think, or at least on the Huckster’s paid staff?”

If you’re going to continually post articles like this, dano1, how about it? Are you related to Huckabee’s campaign, or are you simply a fan of his?

[TheBattman]

Quite hardly a list of fiscal conservatives there...

I remind you that there are quite a few republicans who have lined up behind Rudi as well - and you cannot get much more liberal...

[Leifur]

This strange Idea about a National VAT (or sales tax) instead of income tax is strange to me, having both, and even though VAT is surely a good income for the government, specially in a booming market, it sounds like these quick easy scheme solutions. For us outside of the US, one of the biggest plusses about the US and travelling there are the cheap prices.

And on that note, even worse sound to me ideas of opposition to free trade. I hope the US doesn´t weeken itself and leave itself behind in the race (in wich they are well ahead) of adapting to a bigger global market. Actually we free loving people in other countries need to US´s support in these matters to counter f.e. EU statism and protectionism.

I beliewe I heard that Huckabee did not run a very at least fiscally conservative budget while governor, and not having enough good rep when it comes to taxes. Maybe I am wrong, it was a while since I think I read it.

I surely wouldn´t like Romney as your president (even nearly worse than Hillary (horror)), but both Guilliani and Fred Thompson seem to be very good candidates, although I must admit I am never sure wich would be better, or it is on daily basis. But an anti free trader, and specially this so called fair tax surely can´t be seriously considered by the better party in your politics. Tell me it isn´t so...

[dit_xi]

cHuckabee is a pro-life liberal who's for amnesty. There isn't a tax increase he doesn't like. Christian conservatives in Iowa are being fooled. cHuckabee is a FALSE PROPHET!

[dano1]

re fiscal conservatism:

Our Conservative Choice: An Endorsement of Mike Huckabee
The Evangelical Outpost | 10/25/2007 | Joe Carter with Matthew Anderson and Justin Taylor

"Gov. Huckabee is a candidate that should appeal to fiscal conservatives. He has signed the Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge which binds the signer to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates"; he supports the FairTax, which would abolish the IRS and replace the Internal Revenue Code with a consumption tax; he believes in free trade (that is, fair trade) and claims that "globalization, done right, done fairly, can be the equivalent of a big pay raise by allowing us to buy things more cheaply.""

"Some of us were initially duped by the white paper on Huckabee that was released by the Club for Growth. Even though CFG is slightly outside of the mainstream on conservative fiscal policies (CFG is to fiscal conservatism what the Christian Coalition is to social conservatism), we respect the organization and appreciate their valuable work. Nevertheless, we were dismayed by their report that was at times misleading, if not outright dishonest."

"We acknowledge that the Club for Growth believes that state sales taxes should never be increased to pay for such entitlements as education, Medicare, highways, and economic development. We understand that this is the reason that they oppose Gov. Huckabee’s record. But we believe that most Americans—and most conservatives—are not minarchists. We do not think the fiscal conservative bona fides of a man who cut taxes and fees almost 100 times, saving the taxpayers almost $380 million, and left a surplus of nearly $850 million should be denigrated because he took such actions as implementing a 1/8-cent sales tax hike. Although we respect the CFC, we are dismayed at the disingenuous means that the group has used to smear the Governor’s character. "

[Travis McGee]

You nailed it. The real Huckster is an open borders Quisling traitor.

Huckabee promotes 'open door' policy at LULAC convention

Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

By Wesley Brown

Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.

"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.

Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.

About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.

Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."

Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."

"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."

During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

[WildcatClan]

You sure get a hard time with every post. I see nothing wrong with you supporting your candidate and I certainly see no need to go after you personally. I am a conservative and wouldn’t vote for Huckabee except against Hillary. I don’t trust his new conversion on immigration and I have found his pandering at the debates falls just short of shameless.

That said, I don’t understand the personal attacks and the derisive commentary. The rest of the so-called top tier have been less than stellar in the area of immigration. They all have good positions now, even Rudy, but they have not always been on the front lines of the fight. I never heard any demands from Rudy or Romney that our borders be secured when they were in office. McCain supported Shamnesty. During the Shamnesty battle, Fred saw which way the wind was blowing and went from “we have to give them some aspirations of citizenship” to “Mr. Border security”. I think we may be dealing with throwing stones to hide our hands, here.

You want someone who has “done” something to secure our borders, there is only one candidate in the current field who has ever “done” anything. If anyone still has any doubts as to who that candidate is:http://www.house.gov/hunter/border1.html

[gitmo]

So far this is a pretty disappointing race.

[CitizenUSA]

dano1, you continue to post articles supporting Huckabee, but why no response to our replies?

Did Huckabee increase state spending at a rate faster than inflation? In other words, tax cuts notwithstanding, did overall spending increase faster than inflation?

Did he or did he not call people opposed to amnesty racists?

Is he opposed to requiring proof of citizenship prior to voting? In other words, does he support voting rights for illegals?

How does he justify a nationwide ban on public smoking? What other expansions of government does he support in order to “help us?”

Does he support plans to trade carbon credits? Does he favor restrictions, like Kyoto, on industry?

Are you related to his campaign in any way?

[FReepapalooza]

Just this one statement, “I believe that globalization, done right, done fairly, can be a blessing for our society.”
gives me a giant case of the “willies”. Definitely NOT our friend.

[CaptainK]

You forgot to add he loves to hand out in-state tuition to illegals.