Posted on 12/02/2007 12:10:08 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
New Iowa Leader Criticized by for Indecision on Federal Student Aid.
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who backed in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants, hedged Sunday on whether illegal immigrants who have gone to school in the United States should become eligible for federal student aid such as Pell grants and subsidized federal student loans.
"I'm not sure that I would support that," Huckabee told ABC News, "it was a different program in Arkansas."
Huckabee's failure to take a clear position on federal student aid while appearing on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" drew swift rebukes from two Republican rivals.
"Gov. Romney does not support providing federal taxpayer-funded student aid intended for legal residents going to illegal immigrants," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden told ABC News. "Mike Huckabee's position [in Arkansas] that taxpayer dollars meant for students who are legal residents should also be made available to illegal immigrants puts him squarely at odds with the American taxpayer."
Echoing a line that Romney used against Huckabee in last week's CNN/YouTube debate, Madden added, "Mike Huckabee needs to understand that it's not his money. It's the taxpayers' money."
Huckabee's indecision on federal student aid was also criticized by the campaign of former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.
"Children who are born in this country are U.S. citizens and entitled to the privileges of citizenship," said Thompson spokeswoman Karen Hanretty. "Those in our country illegally are not. It's that simple."
Huckabee appeared on "This Week" on the same day that a highly respected poll showed him as the new Republican leader in Iowa.
Huckabee leads the GOP field with 29 percent support, according to a Des Moines Register poll released Sunday. Romney has 24 percent, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has 13 percent, and Thompson has 9 percent. The Iowa Republican Caucuses take place on Jan. 3.
In-state tuition for illegal immigrants was never enacted in Arkansas. But Huckabee's rivals believe that his momentum in Iowa can be stopped once his views on public benefits for the children of illegal immigrants become more widely known.
Asked on "This Week" about his Arkansas record, the former Baptist minister said, "You don't punish a child because a parent committed a crime, or committed a sin, you just don't do it."
Huckabee did not rule out that his principle might extend to the federal level.
He suggested, however, that he might view state and federal benefit questions differently.
"It's the difference between being punished and being rewarded," said Huckabee. ". . . the point in Arkansas was, we had kids who had been in our schools, by law. And to simply shut them out of any additional educational advancement, to me, seemed not only in their worst interests, but ours, as well as the state's."
see 26, Fred could end Huckabee’s run this week as a result of that interview/insane position.
There is only one true Reagan conservative and that Ladies and Gentlemen is FRED THOMPSON.That's why he gets my vote.
Maybe jibjab could get him dancing the musical chairs Macarena on the flip-flop policy positions.
You keep using the term "moral conservatives" in these threads. Do you mean so-called "values voters" or "social conservatives" or what? Do you really think that once these voters hear about Mike "Open Borders for Jesus" Huckabee's immigration, amnesty and tax-hike record they'll love him even more?! Is that your contention?! Based on what?
I expect my man Fred to lean back and drive him into former presidential candidate status.We've all been expecting a lot of Fred lately. I remain patient, and hopeful, but it's getting past time for him to step up to the plate and hit a home run. Do it now Fred, or it might just be a "forever hold your piece" situation.
there, fixed it.
LOL!
>>>Giuliani democrat or republican?
Yes
“>>>Giuliani democrat or republican?
Yes”
LMAO!!
“Kamikaze tactics”
It is neither fanatacism nor Kamikaze tactics to scrutinize the record of a candidate who has thus far had virtually zero scrutiny and who is liberal on so many issues that are essential to victory favor a GOP candidate. Further, he is being pushed by the MSM elites, which is a huge red flag for conservatives. Reagan never got the velvet glove treatment from the drive-by media only the “back of the hand” treatment. That in itself is an indication of a candidate’s conservative bona fides.
That said, I take back what I said last tonight about Huckabee being principled (although wrong) in his stand in favor of free taxpayer funded tuition for illegals, since he is now waffling on it. His friend Dick Morris must have polled this and showed that he is going to take a major hit on this. I could have told him that without the poll. Waffling on it ain’t gonna work. He has already said “My soul won’t let me do it.” Has his soul had a change of heart? Believe me, the voters in this poll (DM and Ras) are gonna have a change of heart about Huck too.
Well he did say he wished he could run on all the tickets. ;)
Be patient. If Fred were surging like this 32 days before the election, I would be a lot more worried than I am now. Everything is happening perfectly.
And he is!
Can you believe the dreck we have running for the R ticket?
Methinks our only saving grace is the Dims are running epople to the left of Dukakis : )
Especially porn that involves the entire nation getting screwed...
Hillary??
Obama Osama Namma Jamma??
Thank God for Dim morons : )
“I think we have rules against porn around here...”
lol!!
Relax...
All in good time. Why swing when the other idiots are trying to out Conservative each other.
It’s Freed’s battlefield, he knows when and where to hit, even if it is the other guys hitting each other...
So the rest of us aren’t “moral conservatives” if we don’t support the lying Huckabee?
Nice.
Some powers that be are playing 2008 like a horse race. Run as many people that they have on puppet strings as possible to ensure they don’t lose.
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.