FRED: 'HUCKABEE SUPPORTED DEMOCRATS'

MSNBC First Read ^

[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...]

[BlueNgold]

You won’t support Fred because he tells the truth?
You’re just complaining because he’s winning the arguments on points that matter.

Maye he took his Metamucil this morning, got him some energy!

[Petronski]

I will not support Fred no matter what. His bad character is showing.

Your definition of bad character is speaking ill of Poopy-Joke Mike.

[bfree]

I don’t see the Huckster as a conservative, so I won’t support your favorite Rino.

[NavVet]

I’m guessing you made that commitment long ago, and you’re just mad because every day fewer of your fellow Hucksters feel the same way.

“Who be unto he, who dare inslult Fred, who has been sent from on high to cast down the false God Huckabee.”

Book of Navvet 3:14

[Petronski]

It’s becoming apparent he is a front man for severe rino McCain.

Bunk.

[Mr Rogers]

Just remember - the state that repeatedly voted for Bill Clinton ALSO loved Mike Huckabee!

[festus]

He’s a Ron Paul supporter.

[Vision Thing]

HUCKABEE SUPPORTED DEMOCRATS

And democrats support huckabee.

They form quite a mutual admiration society.

[Petronski]

Your definition of “nasty” is pointing out the record of Mikey Poop Joke.

[MOgirl]

Hello,

I’m really curious about this, your FReeper name is The Ghost of FReepers Past. Which past FReeper(s) are you the ghost of?

MOgirl

[Mr Rogers]

That was another Southern Baptist Governor - Jimmy Carter!

BTW - I’m Southern Baptist, so I reserve the right to mock myself.

[NavVet]

Fred supported fellow Tennessean Baker, before Reagan was elected the first time. Many Republicans can be forgiven for not supporting his first nomination. Ronaldus Magnus’ true greatness was not revealed until after he got elected.

Huckabust on the other hand was supporting DEMOCRAT Candidates recently and Romney voted in the Dem. Primary in 1992. If the best the Huckster can do is point to support for Howard Baker almost 30 years ago, he should go back to hope and register for some more “gifts” at Walmart this time, since I doubt he will attract the upscale bribes like he used to.

[TN4Liberty]

My problem with Fred is he is only attacking Huckabee. He knows if he is going to have any chance at the nomination he needs to attack all the candidates ahead of him. It’s becoming apparent he is a front man for severe rino McCain.

Strategically, Thompson may feel that votes from Huck will flow to him, and there is some evidence to that fact. It would be silly for him to think they would flow to McCain. It would be sillier still, to think he was there to help McCain. If you watched the debate the other night, he drew clear lines of distinction between himself and all the other candidates.

It gets wearisome listing to this same, tired, paranoid thought process you people keep throwing up there. The whole world in not a conspiracy to get someone else elected.

[ejonesie22]

Hucakbee is the chosen one, chosen by the left to bring a European style “Christian Democracy” to our shores. The Democrats have been looking for an ally who can woo Christians with promises of social justice via tax dollars and yet still remain “Evangelical” and keep the moral code intact, at least until they are finished with them.

Huck is proving to be the perfect candidate for them. Who can argue with Socialist Republican in the Oval Office, after all, everything will be “bi partisan”

[It's me]

What is his nasty side? Saying that Huckabee needs metamucil?

Oh, wait....

[pissant]

LOL.

[ejonesie22]

Yeah, socialism is worth not liking someones “attitude”. Good work there.

Next time just say boo...

[Bob]

How much did the Republican party grow in Arkansas during Huckabee's tenure? I've seen a loss of 30,000 number tossed around but, without any sourcing, I take that with a grain of salt.

Does anybody have anything that substantiates this number?

[ejonesie22]

Good grief, get with Jim, maybe some of this Freepathon can go to buying you a clue...

[Arcy]

I'm so tired of Fred Thompson attacking others Republicans in this race. During the debates when he is asked to share his PLAN for tax reform or health care or foreign policy or immigration, he instead uses practically all of his alloted time for a response to attack the other candidate's. It tells me that he is short on ideas and has no plan of his own.

It is also rather clear to any astute observer that Thompson was talked in to this race and the time spent by him thinking of creative solutions to the challenges we face amounts to little more than the thought a third grader gives to designing a paper airplane.

I hope he loses South Carolina so that the candidate pool can be reduced to those who actually want to be President and have REAL plans for America. Excuse me why I clear my throat.