Posted on 01/12/2008 1:40:02 PM PST by jaybeegee
Thompson and Huckabee sparred earlier this week after Thompson called the Arkansas governor a dirty word: "liberal." Today, speaking to reporters after a campaign event at a breakfast restaurant in North Charleston, Thompson served up another helping.
Asked to respond to Huckabee's charge that Thompson voted for Republican candidates other than conservative icon Ronald Reagan in 1976 and 1980, Thompson scoffed, "That's kind of silly." He explained his support of longtime Tennessee mentor Howard Baker before adding, "If you check the record, Governor Huckabee supported Democrats on a fairly consistent basis during his days in Arkansas politics.
"I don't think he wants to get into that discussion."
Thompson, who has thrown almost all of his campaign's resources into South Carolina in the hopes that a win in the first southern primary could buoy his campaign, says that there's "plenty of time" before next week's contest to convince voters that he's the best conservative candidate.
"We're going to have to make some fundamental decisions as which direction we want to go as a party," he said. "Whether or not we still believe in the Reagan coalition or whether or not we think we ought to go towards a more populist -- and I consider more liberal -- kind of approach."
*UPDATE* From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy and Carrie Dann According to news outlets in the governor's home state, Huckabee supported Democrat Barbara Horn during a 2000 primary race for a state senate seat in southwest Arkansas. Horn subsequently beat her Democratic opponent, and the Republican she would have opposed bowed out of the race.
[See source for more...]
(Excerpt) Read more at firstread.msnbc.msn.com ...
Just calling a spade a spade. He was responding to Huckabee’s charge. And let’s see, Huckabee has attacked Romney and Thompson. Romney has attacked Huckabee and McCain. McCain has attacked Romney and Huckabee. Giuliani has attacked Romney and McCain. And Paul has attacked them all. Who’s left, a democrat? Oops, they have all done the same. I guess you’ll just sit this one out.
I hope you can get the word out to a lot of evangelicals in the south before it’s to late... and tell them about the fraud Huckabee is.
What are you talking about??? He was responding to a hypocritical charge from Huckabee himself, and you are accusing him of having bad character? In what way? Telling the truth about Huckabee — that he supported liberal policies during his time in Arkansas, as well as a liberal candidate for State Senate — could hardly be considered showing bad character... If anything we should be thanking Thompson for attempting to shed light on Huckabee — something the media certainly won’t do, because they WANT Huckabee to win the nomination so the Democrats will win in November, because he is a truly weak candidate in more ways then one...
I live in AR, the Republican party really took a dive since Huckabee. I don’t have numbers but the last election there weren’t even Republicans on the ballot for many positions.
Just look at the fund raising totals. I think maybe it was opensecrets.org gave totals by state. In the top 5, 4 are Democrats (with Huckabee at #2 behind Hillary). It’s really sad how fast it has changed back to “Dem”, Pres. Bush carried this state both times. Fort Smith seems to be the last area that’s still Republican friendly.
His nasty side??? ROFL... Oh, man, you are really cracking me up! Oh, that’s right... Huckabee is a veritable SAINT right? And, anyone who dares criticize a self-proclaimed “man of G-d” is EEEEVVVIIIILLLL!!!
Wow... very telling for sure. Thanks for sharing that information.
And this line from you proves you haven't paid any attention to this race but are commenting on it anyway. Fred Thompson has released and outlined very specific plans, and has discussed them at length. Look them up. And he does indeed contrast his conservative plans appropriately with a very liberal plans of Huckabee - and does so on principal and explains how they are not in tune with the American ideas of States, Federalism, and limited government.
I support Fred in his efforts to expose the Huckster fraud.
You never would have any way because you are a believer in government solutions to individual problems. Supporting any other candidate, besides Hunter or Thompson, is proof enough that you have fallen for the left leaning populism arguments.
Glad I got to that before replying. :-)
You would be incorrect. Huckabee campaigned for Democrats against Republicans.
Give US ALL A BREAK. Most of us won’t support the Huckabee man who says he won’t air a commercial in Iowa — AND THEN AIRS THE ATTACK AD TEN TIMES ON FOUR STATIONS.
Huckabee is a loser. His cheap shots toward President Bush (arrogant bunker mentality) leave a foul taste in my mouth. Mr. Huckabee sounds like a Democrat.
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I'm noticing this too. You cite FACTS about his record and they just respond by calling you names. I've offerd Huckabee supporters numerous opportunities to explain/defend his leftism, and they just spew talking points.
I'll try one more time, with a simple one:
WHY did Huckster pardon 1100 people - more than the governors of every surrounding state combined during his tenure.
Explanation, Huckster supporters? Justification?
Wow. Those crickets are awfully anoying.
Hank
"Huckster is making me begin to doubt that statement..."
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Me, too. Honestly, I don't see how Huckster would be much better. I'd rather see nanny-state liberalism enacted by Democrats so that the political consequences of its failure are BORNE by Democrats.
Hank
His dog murdering son, and the power hungry father who used his authority to get his sadistic son out of trouble, isn’t good for this country.
So you’re condending that Huckabee’s rhetoric is meaningless and that his support stems solely from anti-abortion activists?
One of the reasons I support Fred is because I see him as the one candidates that can give everyone in the party something they want...as opposed to Huckabee who outside of one or two issues for all intents and purposes os running on what is traditionally the Democrat platform.
I really want to know why he’s not a Democrat.
I believe what most are objecting to with social conservatives here is the absolute unwillingness to compromise. That unwillingness has given us the monstrosity of a Huckabee campign who is basically a pro-life Democratic running for the Republican nomination.
Fred has the NRTL endorsement but that does not seem to count for anything with abortion issue social conservatives depsite that he is by far the most conservative candidate in the running.
OTOH, Huckabee appeals to them while being absolutely horribly wrong on everything else (immigration and foreign policy) during a time of war!
It seems this time around social conservative are asking us to abandon literraly everything in trade for what amounts to ....I can’t even think it, it’s so offensive...LOL
We’ve just gone through Bush and his compassionate conservatism, and have been disappointed by his big spending. Huckabee is virtually guaranteed to deliver more of the same and the rest of the party is in no mood
As William Buckley’s friend pointed out to him recently...he liked Obama alot more when he wasn’t trashing the a) the drug companies and b) the oil companies because it those industries that a) keep us healthy and b) keep us warm and on the road.
The icing on the cakew is Huckabees promise of doing nothing on euthanasia leading some to call him the 50% pro-lifer...
I’m sorry that’s not good enough to sacrifice everything else we’ve fought for...
If Huckabee was an all-around conservative he’d probably be running away with this race. Sadly, he is an all-around conservative.
Instead, he should talk and debate as though he were debating Hillary or Obama - attack the Dems. Ignore what the other candidates are saying about him. They are like the sound of falling raindrops. He should sound like the voice of thunder against the Rats in Congress.
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