Posted on 02/07/2008 7:43:41 PM PST by Kurt Evans
Over the last 15 years, Mike Huckabee has improved and strengthened the Republican Party of Arkansas. From the time he was the U.S. Senate nominee in 1992 until he left the Governor’s office in 2007, Mike Huckabee was a powerful and influential figure in the Republican Party.
By understanding Huckabee’s 10 ½ years of leadership in the proper context, we can see that his leadership strengthened the party, elected Republican candidates, and helped shift the state government to a more conservative position.
We must have accurate historical context when reviewing the relationship between Huckabee and the state party. Huckabee’s election for lieutenant governor in 1993 became the GOP’s first statewide victory in over 10 years. His path to politics came from the private sector, outside the political arena, and led him to be just the fourth statewide Republican ever elected in the State of Arkansas.
Immediately, he brought credibility to the state party and a sense of tremendous excitement to the party faithful who were tired of fielding unsuccessful candidates. Huckabee became the titular head of the state GOP and began without hesitation to raise funds, headline dinners and support the GOP slate of candidates. No one has attended more Arkansas Lincoln Day dinners than Huckabee.
Huckabee’s 10 ½ years of leadership strengthened the Republican Party. Upon becoming Arkansas’ 44th Governor in 1996, Huckabee inherited a state that had been governed by Democratic governors for all but two of the previous thirty-six years. Democratic governors had appointed every member of appointed boards and commissions, and in addition, the 135 seat legislature had only 15 Republican members.
Huckabee stepped onto a stage that Republicans in Arkansas rarely walk on and governed in a difficult environment filled with partisan hostilities. In this environment, he passed conservative legislation, won statewide election in Arkansas four times, and maintained high approval ratings throughout the entire 10 ½ years as Governor.
Huckabee focused on governing to the best of his ability and fighting for the conservative values he espoused. As governor, Huckabee knew that to achieve any legislative success, the sheer numbers required him to reach across party lines. By doing so he scored extraordinary victories that state Republicans could have never achieved without his leadership. Legislatively he pushed through every possible pro-life bill allowable under Roe v. Wade, passed the first broad based tax cut in Arkansas’ history, and streamlined government. All of these were reforms championed by the state party.
Huckabee went on to reform education, refurbish the state’s crumbling infrastructure, improve life for the children of working families, and create new jobs. These results required both leadership and extraordinary political skills. Huckabee excelled at both. It was his compromise with Democrats in the Legislature on legislative details (not principles) that brought these changes about. Though a vocal minority in the Republican Party criticized Mike Huckabee’s willingness to reach across party lines, it was this willingness that allowed him to pass conservative legislation and allowed him to be an effective, forward-thinking governor.
Huckabee won statewide in Arkansas four times. This is more times than any other Republican in Arkansas history. His approval ratings stayed strong throughout the entire 10 ½ years as governor and he trounced any token opposition that arose in the GOP primary.
One legacy that is vital to the future of the Republican party of Arkansas is often overlooked. While governor he made thousands of appointments to state board and commissions.
When he left office in 2007 every single gubernatorial appointee was appointed by a Republican governor for the first time in Arkansas history. Republicans had never had a better seat at the table on these board and commissions.
These appointments put conservatives on every regulatory board in the state. Today, these appointments significantly impact the direction of state government and create a potential farm team for the party to draw from for future candidates for public office.
Huckabee tirelessly campaigned for his fellow party members. As the head of the state party Huckabee sent appeal letters, headlined events, and hosted receptions continually raising funds for the party. He did this for successful and unsuccessful candidates.
This is why he today enjoys the support of former U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson and Jay Dickey as well as Mary Jane Rebick, Sheffield Nelson, Randy Bynum, Betty Dickey, Bud Cummins and, of course, current Congressman John Boozman.
These candidates stumped in town after town with Huckabee and saw his efforts firsthand. They also know that when Republicans lost elections, their governor did not forget about the wounded. Many of these listed and countless others received appointments to key boards and posts in state government upon their defeat in order to utilize their skills.
Huckabee’s efforts on behalf of GOP candidates did not stop with statewide candidates. Huckabee campaigned tirelessly in every cycle on behalf of Republican legislative candidates. He rarely receives credit in the media for these efforts but there are a host of current and past legislators that can attest to his faithful efforts on their behalf.
He raised funds, sent letters, headlined events and stumped for GOP candidates in every part of Arkansas. He also wrote tens of thousands of dollars worth of checks to these candidates from his political action committee, Conservative Leadership for Arkansas.
He campaigned with the same fervor for candidates who were likely to lose as well as those who were likely to win. He also worked for Republicans with whom he had previous disagreements.
In 2004, Mike Huckabee publicly campaigned for state Senator Jim Holt, in spite of their public disagreements at the State Capitol. This is the same Jim Holt being paid by Ron Paul to campaign against Huckabee. It was clear that he was not only a team player but the team captain.
In spite of accusations to the contrary, Mike Huckabee never worked on behalf of a Democrat over a Republican candidate. Huckabee did support conservative Democrats because it is a necessity to govern in Arkansas. He worked with many of them to create winning coalitions in the Legislature, but again, he never campaigned on behalf of a Democrat who had a Republican opponent.
His support of Democrats was limited to Democratic primaries and where conservative Democrats faced no GOP opposition in the general election. It is also important to note that these instances were few and far between.
There is no smoking gun to the accusation that Huckabee helped Democrats. No one will find a contribution, a letter of support, a story about a fundraiser or public appearance on behalf of a Democratic candidate that faced a Republican in the general election.
Come election season, Huckabee did not support Democrats, and Democratic machine did not support Huckabee. Democrats never thought Huckabee was on their team when it came to elections. They worked hard to defeat him and complained about his tireless efforts against them.
One example of this was Huckabee’s hard campaign efforts to defeat the Speaker of the House Bill Stovall in a tough uphill battle for challenger Chee Chee Tamburo. The truth of the matter is that every campaign season Huckabee fought hard for his party and most importantly for his principles.
In 1993, Huckabee took an oath of office to serve the people of Arkansas and he did this without regard to party affiliation. He understood that after the elections were over that the people expected Democrats and Republicans to work together.
They expected results and he intended to deliver those results. He governed on behalf of all Arkansans and made life in Arkansas better for everyone as a result. His record is one that Arkansans are proud of because he governed by his unwavering core principles and a commitment to service.
It is because of his commitment to service that he carried Arkansas from 1993 to 2006, and it is this same commitment that will help him carry Arkansas one more time in 2008.
Nice post Kurt:
The last Conservative standing, and a Social Conservative at that...and people here are still swinging at him (lol). Quite simply amazing. Funny? In a sad sort of way I suppose. I’ve seen him viciously accused of being a social-conservative several times here at FR. Liberals hate Social Conservatives :)
FReepmail me to be on/off the Huckaturerecord Ping list.
Of the Three Id take Huckabee because he has the best record on life after that McCain because he has a consistent and long history of supporting life then Mitt who became pro life the day he started thinking about a national electorate..
Huckabee is toast (thankfully). At this point, those who tout ‘life’ as being their big issue better go with McCain. He’s winning..........hello?
Huck is NO better than McCain on the border. I wouldn’t care if he signed a contract with Jesus himself over that issue. He’s a two week convert with a record that says different. I beleive McCain will secure the border FIRST and knowing how fast gov works, that’ll take his first 4 years.
McCain is more likely to reign in spending. Huck wants to ammend the Constitution...how many times now? I lost count. He stands a better chance of making sodomy a federal offense than he has of implementing his tax plan.
That leaves the WOT and national defense. If I’m left to choose which one would make a better CIC, McCain wins. A Baptist preacher leading the war on terror? If that SOB thinks Bush was ‘perceived’ to be arrogant, he needs to slap himself and wake up.
I can go with MCCain in the general but I think huck gets a bad rap here..
He earned it.....
LOL. A parental-control filter virus will probably attack my computer.
Of course it's legal. In huckleby's case it would also be a bad joke.
You ever heard the phrase "fart in a windstorm?" That's you. Go away, your pinhead is dead.
You ever heard the phrase "fart in a windstorm?" That's you. Go away, your pinhead is dead.
You are right. The Huckster's Arkinsaw stands out as a democrat stronghold in the midst of the republican South. What a legacy for the pinheaded dork.
Excellent, intellectual contribution.
Try something pro-conservative, next time.
I assure you that you have no idea what you are talking about.
There is a difference between the responsibility of governing a state and being able to brag about being a “no-compromise conservative” to one’s conservative base of supporters.
Your rigid Arkansas cohorts may learn that, some day.
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