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Another Odd Endorsement (Why Did Hunter Endorse Anyone?!)
Captain's Quarters ^ | Jan. 23, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 01/23/2008 6:20:43 PM PST by jdm

This presidential cycle has seen a series of odd endorsements, such as Pat Robertson's support for Rudy Giuliani or Sam Brownback's endorsement of John McCain. Today brought another, this one from conservative stalwart Duncan Hunter, who recently withdrew from the race. Hunter endorsed Mike Huckabee, who has taken considerable criticism from conservatives on immigration and fiscal policy:

California Rep. Duncan Hunter, a former presidential candidate, announced Wednesday he is endorsing Mike Huckabee's White House bid.

“I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail,” Huckabee said in a statement. “Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America’s industrial base.

"Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee’s candidacy that compels my endorsement," he added. "Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well."

I don't find this anywhere near as shocking as other Republicans, although I admit to being surprised when I first heard it. Hunter's biggest issues in the race were immigration and trade, and he took a more protectionist tack on the latter. In that sense, Hunter's instincts are closer to Huckabee than any of the other candidates, who tend towards the free-market policies that typify Republicans.

On immigration, Huckabee would seem to be the second-oddest partner for Hunter apart from John McCain. Huckabee has tried to put out a tough line on immigration with only moderate success in convincing the base. Obviously, Huckabee hopes this has to help, and it might, at least on immigration and border security issues. However, Huckabee's populism won't get a better reception just because Hunter endorsed him.

This isn't the strangest endorsement of this cycle, but it is a little odd, and I wonder why Hunter didn't take his gracious words to their logical conclusion and just skip choosing a single candidate altogether.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008endorsements; duncanhunter; endorsement; huckabee
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To: bill1952
Hopefully Fred - and Rush - will endorse nobody, at least in the primary.

It is very clear Rush does not endors McCain, Huckabee or Giuliani.

It is not too hard to figure out who he is supporting.
21 posted on 01/23/2008 6:47:37 PM PST by elizabetty ("Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." .Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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To: Dog Gone
who ran the dumbest campaign, Hunter or Thompson?

I would have to say Thompson. He had a big advantage going in. He ran his "pre-election" brilliantly. After that it was all down hill. Hunter was simply never able to light the match.

22 posted on 01/23/2008 6:52:07 PM PST by outofstyle (My Ride's Here)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Hunter was a poor fiscal conservative anyway.

Bingo! But most Republican voters are poor FisCons and explains why the party is losing its traction and its limited government compass -- a compass that always looked more fancy then it was functional, anyway.

23 posted on 01/23/2008 6:57:45 PM PST by LowCountryJoe (Do class-warfare and disdain of laissez-faire have their places in today's GOP?)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Tancredo, Hunter and Thompson out.

Whats left is Slim Pickins

To bad Ron Paul is a blame America firster.

I want someone who is Prior Military, against nafta, ProLife, Pro2ndAmen, antiIllegals.

Who fits that bill?


24 posted on 01/23/2008 7:12:25 PM PST by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
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To: yorkie; TigersEye

ping


25 posted on 01/23/2008 7:15:37 PM PST by pandoraou812 (Don't taunt the animal's at the zoo or they may bite YOU!)
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To: cripplecreek
> I suspect that Hunter will clarify his reasons in coming days. He’s had time to sit down and talk to the Huckster.<

No need to wait, IMO. Ed Morrissey has it about right when he refers to their protectionist tendencies.

I'd put matters this way:

The Dunk and the Huck are kindred souls in that they both give the impression of being closer to the anti-capitalist views of Lou Dobbs and John Edwards than to the free-market views of Ronald Reagan and Milton Friedman. This heresy sets them apart from the Reaganite mainstream of the GOP. So they end their campaigns as soulmates.

(Too bad that so many folks have invested so emotionally in the Dunk. But they'll eventually get over Dunk's betrayal. Time heals most wounds!)

26 posted on 01/23/2008 7:17:46 PM PST by Hawthorn
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To: pandoraou812; TigersEye

IMHO, I think true conservatives are going to become ‘fossils’ in the Political Arena.


27 posted on 01/23/2008 7:20:44 PM PST by yorkie
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To: yorkie

I truly don’t know to think right now...


28 posted on 01/23/2008 7:25:15 PM PST by pandoraou812 (Don't taunt the animal's at the zoo or they may bite YOU!)
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To: Dog Gone
An interesting discussion topic would be, who ran the dumbest campaign, Hunter or Thompson?

I've been somewhat distant from the political world the last few years (until very recently..again) and even I noticed the Fred Thompson logos showing up on message boards across the interwebz. As for Duncan, Duncan WHO? Fred came in with a lot of hype, a lot of hope, and screwed it all up. Duncan came in (I don't even know when) with seemingly little fanfare outside of the rarified air of FR and... has left the same way. Clearly, Fred wins.

29 posted on 01/23/2008 7:29:07 PM PST by AM2000
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To: TomasUSMC
I want someone who is Prior Military, against nafta, ProLife, Pro2ndAmen, antiIllegals.

Ron Paul!

30 posted on 01/23/2008 7:29:37 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: jdm
Maybe Hunter realizes that we need to win the WH and none of Repub’s are perfect.
He may feel that Huck will advance more of his ideas than the others.
Sitting out is just a vote for Obama Rodham Clinton. The same way Perot put Clinton in office.
31 posted on 01/23/2008 7:38:39 PM PST by HereInTheHeartland ("We have to drain the swamp" George Bush, September 2001)
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To: org.whodat

Which was odd, because Romney hasn’t run that company for 10 years, and could do nothing about it. Duncan thought he should trash his old company.

Romney isn’t a protectionist.


32 posted on 01/23/2008 7:47:53 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: TomasUSMC
Thompson was not against NAFTA, he was an ardent free trader, as most people with a healthy appreciation for capitalism and economic liberty should be.
33 posted on 01/23/2008 7:48:38 PM PST by LowCountryJoe (Do class-warfare and disdain of laissez-faire have their places in today's GOP?)
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To: Dog Gone

Spot on Dog.

You nailed it.


34 posted on 01/23/2008 7:51:53 PM PST by Bullish ( Reality is the best cure for delusion.)
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To: TomasUSMC

“I want someone who is Prior Military, against nafta, ProLife, Pro2ndAmen, antiIllegals.”

DING DING You just nailed what I wanted in a President, along with anti-CAFTA and possessed a real swinging set.

That candidate is no longer running, sadly.


35 posted on 01/23/2008 7:53:41 PM PST by conservativecajun (Hunter '08 - vote for the most qualified for the position)
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To: jdm
Hunter was my fav.

The Huckster is my least fav.

Go figure.

36 posted on 01/23/2008 7:55:41 PM PST by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Ron Paul was against NAFTA and CAFTA because it did not open free trade enough. He wants absolute free trade with EVERYONE.

I used to think he stood with Hunter on trade due to his votes, but his actual trade stances are far from Hunter’s.

Also, Ron Paul, while being in the Navy, never truly fought in a war. He was a doctor. My great-uncle was a POW in WWII who went down with other POW’s while being transported on a Japanese naval vessel. He was a member of the military, but he never actually fought, as he was a Chaplain.

I think what the previous guy whom you quoted was referring to was someone who has fought and been in the bunker. Then again, I could be wrong.


37 posted on 01/23/2008 7:59:03 PM PST by conservativecajun (Hunter '08 - vote for the most qualified for the position)
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To: TomasUSMC
To bad Ron Paul is a blame America firster.

Mega dittos to that.

38 posted on 01/23/2008 8:01:02 PM PST by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: Tribune7

To bad Ron Paul is a blame America firster.
Mega dittos to that.


Thats the problem I have with Ron Paul. Now if he were to clarify it by saying that we should ATTACK IRAN ASAP BEFORE IT - OBTAINS - NUKES, then he would get my vote. Because you see, Iran doesn’t have to develop anything at all, and thus it can statisfy stupid world opinion that it is not interested in developing nukes, ..... BUT IT CAN BUY THEM!

So hey Ron, take a clue from that other Ron, yeah the Greatest President of my lifetime, and tell the Iranians you are going to deliver them to their virgins soooon. Hopefully they will get rid of their mullahs, and if not, we will....either way a win win sit.


39 posted on 01/23/2008 8:09:26 PM PST by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
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To: TomasUSMC
Now if he were to clarify it by saying that we should ATTACK IRAN ASAP BEFORE IT - OBTAINS - NUKES

I don't think that's going to happen.

It's coming down to Mitt, McCain, Huckabee and Julie. I've ruled out the Huckster and Julie. I guess McCain still has a shot at my vote but I'm leaning pretty strong towards Mitt.

So it looks like Romney will get my vote because he's the one I can't stand the least. Hooray for Mitt!!

40 posted on 01/23/2008 8:24:33 PM PST by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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