Posted on 01/22/2008 8:45:14 PM PST by nckerr
Huckabee presents the best choice for Reagan supporters
I was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives 34 years ago. I have watched this party change for a long time. Some changes have been better than others.
Two years after that first election, I went to work on the Reagan campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. I was one of the leaders of that campaign in Georgia, and my friend, Paul Coverdell, led the establishment's efforts to nominate President Ford.
It was the typical establishment-versus-interloper campaign. Most of the friends I had made in the party were in the establishment. Most of them thought the nomination of Ronald Reagan was not only impractical, but would destroy our party.
Reagan had just served two terms as the governor of California. His record was not all that conservative. He signed the biggest tax increase in the history of the state. He got the best he could get with a Democrat-dominated general assembly. He signed a bill legalizing abortion. But governors have different challenges than presidents.
Frankly, most of the establishment couldn't have cared less about abortion. They thought the discussion of it was, well, tacky. But we were, at the time, the party that Barry built, and the new foot soldiers cared about abortion.
Their concern with Reagan was that he just wasn't up to it. What did he know about foreign policy? How could he stand up to the Soviets? Did he understand detente?
During that campaign, as in all campaigns, the establishment sat at the head table, and the rest of us milled around the small round tables below.
Coverdell approached me, after Ford had won the first several primaries, and urged me to switch sides. Paul was convinced that Ford had the best chance of winning. Paul recited all of the reservations mentioned above and then said, "John, Reagan cannot win. No one will take him seriously." That was also the consensus of the Republican writers and commentators.
I said, "Paul, I think politics is all about what you believe. I know what Reagan believes. I have no idea what Ford believes. But you need to watch Reagan connect with the people. He is the best communicator I have ever seen. He is bringing new people into the party. And these are folks you won't be meeting at the club for lunch. They carry a lunch bucket to work. Or a brown paper bag."
Four years later, I worked again for Reagan and Paul worked for George H. W. Bush. Again, the Wall Street crowd sat at the head table, and the Main Street crowd sat at the small round tables on the floor.
The same arguments came from the establishment. His tax cut idea was a "riverboat gamble." In fact, his tax cuts doubled the size of the economy and doubled revenues to the treasury. Unfortunately, they spent that and more.
Reagan didn't understand that the world is a dangerous place and dealing with the Soviets required a more "understanding" policy. It also required a willingness to sign more treaties. They didn't know that Reagan had no interest in understanding the Soviets. He wanted communism consigned to "the ash heap of history."
It was a neverending series of put-downs until New Hampshire. Then it was over.
Reagan won that election with the support of Larry Lunch-bucket and Betty Brownbag. They were called the Reagan Democrats. When we celebrated that victory, I asked some of them why they chose to join us. They said, "When he talked, we felt that he was talking to us." The Reagan Democrats believe they have been ignored since 1988.
The establishment doesn't like change. They have always felt that their seats at the head table were threatened by those new to the club. The establishment that so ardently opposed Reagan's nomination in 1980 crawled all over each other to chair his 1984 race.
Today they now see themselves as those who put Reagan in power. His presidency was their presidency. They believe they are the keepers of the flame.
Today's establishment includes elected officials, consultants, lobbyists and even conservative writers and commentators. Unless you allow them to write the rules and approve of your positions you are unwelcome. Anyone who does not genuflect before their altar is "not conservative."
When you look at the many fine candidates seeking the Republican nomination for president, who do you believe can best speak to those Reagan Democrats?
I believe that candidate is Mike Huckabee.
When Reagan became president, one of his first moves was to reduce income taxes from 70 percent to 50 percent and ultimately down to 28 percent. As pointed out above, both the size of the economy and the federal revenues doubled in eight years.
Huckabee doesn't want to lower income taxes. He wants to abolish them - along with the IRS, the most intrusive, coercive and corrosive federal agency ever. Mike would replace those taxes on income with a sales tax - the FairTax. Every American will become a voluntary taxpayer paying taxes when you choose, as much as you choose, by how you choose to spend. How conservative can one get?
Rep. John Linder, R-Duluth, has served in the House of Representatives since 1992.
the fair tax is actually one of Huck’s deal breakers. He will be destroyed in a debate and he’s not going to get any help from fiscal conservatives
Did I get in before the Freepers who are in denial about Mitt Dukakis’s big government liberalism?
I don’t think so: Huck’s from Arkansas.
/cheapshot
you are right.......
Good article. Thanks for posting.
Two arms, two legs, two eyes, 10 fingers, 10 toes.
Yep, just like Reagan.
Neither one will be elected President of the USA in the future...
RIP Ronald Reagan; RIP Mike Huckabee (politically) after this primary election cycle.
Some one needs to b___h slap that idiot!!!
The Huckster is as much like Reagan as as Chamberlin was like Churchill.
How about a “how the Huckster is nothing like Reagan” article. Now THAT would be enlightening. This one is just sickening, and I’m sure the Great One is rolling over.....
This is just plain CRAP!
I’m sick and tired of having Huckabee and McCain shoved down my throat as if they were the second coming.
Neither one of them is fit to tie the shoes of Reagan.
McCain - being a military man IS NOT THE BE ALL END ALL - AND IT DOESN’T MEAN “HE CAN’T BE CHALLENGED”. Isn’t that what the dems always do .. he/she is black so you can’t challenge him/her .. etc. etc. etc. McCain is a lunatic and he IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE. In fact, he’s worse than Rudy.
Huckabee - he may be a Christian .. but he’s a LIBERAL just the same. Jesus warned us to be AS WISE AS THE SERPENT and and harmless as a dove. Jesus didn’t mean for us to lay down and allow people to walk all over us. And .. I’ve yet to see anything Huck has done which qualifies him to be called “a CONSERVATIVE”.
I WON’T VOTE FOR EITHER OF THEM .. NO MATTER WHAT.
Y’know except for his complete lack of ethics, his love for taxes and illegals, and how clueless he is on foreign policy I’d have to agree- at least he’s a great communicator. Bottom line- I’d vote for Ron Paul before I’d vote for the Huckster.
Hear hear. If we’re to have another Carter-like disaster, I’d at least like to be able to pin it on the Democrats. If we have to endure 4 years of that, at least it wouldn’t be liberalism meshed in with theocracy. Don’t need a preacher-in-chief.
Well .. how about we just HOPE we can impeach the witch too .. and be done with Clinton, Inc.
My wife and myself go to the Reagan Library twice a year to pay our respects. I’ll look for tell tale cracks in the tomb that might indicate him rolling over.
I cannot understand anyone comparing Huckabee to Reagan. It does not compute.
Your homepage speaks of a decent person.
There are things I like about Huckabee and things I don’t to be honest....his open borders and populist rhetoric don’t do much for me.
His social conservatism is nice though.
Sorry you’re getting beat up....at least you weren’t caught dog fighting or having your picture taken unbeknowest to you with NeoNazis.
Cheers...this race is far from over and many here may end up on suicide watch or eat their words watch
I agree....why do they think Romney is any different really...his record is flawed as well.
this may go to convention
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