From the newsroom:
From Karen Hanretty, Deputy Communications Director:
In light of Mike Huckabee’s heartfelt apology to Mitt Romney for making reference to Romney’s religion in the New York Times Magazine, we at the Thompson Campaign would like to offer Huckabee our own heartfelt apologies for some references we’ve made about his record as Governor of Arkansas.
We apologize for pointing out that as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee offered in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. That’s something he’d probably just as soon no one talk about.
A recent Washington Post-ABC News Iowa poll of Iowans likely to vote in the Republican caucus stated illegal immigration as their top issue of concern, tied with the war in Iraq.
We apologize for pointing out that in 2002 Huckabee wrote Pres. Bush a letter asking him to lift the Cuban embargo. It’s easy to see how Huckabee might have missed the finer points of a 40-year embargo. While he obviously knew enough about the embargo to ask that it be lifted, Huckabee clearly didn’t know enough to ask that it not be lifted. So for that, we’re sorry.
In 2002, Governor Huckabee strongly advocated lifting the embargo against Cuba saying it “harm[s] our own agricultural and business interests,” “has not helped the people of Cuba” and has “provided Castro with a convenient excuse for his own failed system of government.” (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 3/29/02)
We apologize for referencing that 47% tax increase Huckabee imposed on Arkansas taxpayers when he was governor. That must be really awkward for him, now that he’s running in a GOP primary election. We notice he never points it out to voters.
Average Arkansan’s tax burden increased by over 47% between 1997 and 2005 (or $933 per person). (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 10/9/07)
We apologize for telling reporters that a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University doesn’t, in fact, make Huckabee more qualified to fight the war on terror than say…Fred Thompson.
In an interview with CBNNews in November, Huckabee said “…I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamo fascism. These are people that want to kill us. … And I don’t know if anybody fully understands that. I’m the only guy on that stage with a theology degree.”
December 13th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Kudos to Team Thompson to jumping out in front of this issue. They win hands down when it comes to political satire amongst the campaigns.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Fred kicks ass. Go Fred go.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I’m very happy to see candidates vetting each other’s records. But I’m not a big fan of the sarcasm and satire style from a campaign. To each his own.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Nice apology, Fred. I’m sorry you come off sounding like a grumpy old man. Par for the course.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
This is awesome! Truly funny, unlike Huck’s continual biblical one liners.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
This is classic.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
As a Mitt supporter, I like to see someone else doing this type of attack. I wouldn’t want my guy doing it, but I am glad that someone is doing it.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
That is pathetic. I was really turned on to Fred from his debate yesterday. This just killed that. Not only is it improper to make light of Huckabee’s apology, but the reality is that these little snips are half truths and distortions.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Senator Thompson is truly on a roll – first, his triumphant proclamation of “NO HAND SHOWS” (which will go down in history as one of finest moments of presidential primary politics) and now this issue-oriented smack down of the Huck. I knew Fred would come out swinging this week and his strategy of coming on strong down the homestretch will pay huge dividends.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Its about time. We can all sit here and talk about how bad Huckabee would be, but until someone has the guts to hit Huck, nothing is going to change.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
go fred! he should also point out something about the 1000+ pardons. worst of luck to you governor huckabee!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Keep going Fred! People hate a mocking tone.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
That last quote is unbelievable. Did Huck really say that?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Joe c,
Do you realize that most of those pardons were of people ALREADY RELEASED from prison who had over time demonstrated themselves not to be repeat offenders?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Thompson is in “go for broke” mode. No, he shouldn’t engage in these petty tricks, but that doesn’t keep them from being funny.
How many times have I said, “Grab some popcorn, pull up a chair, and enjoy the show”?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
If this gets around in any serious way it is going to just turn people off.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
“These are people that want to kill us. … And I don’t know if anybody fully understands that. I’m the only guy on that stage with a theology degree”
Ha, i didn’t even catch that. How absurd, utterly absurd. I bet the armed forces cant wait for the new commander of theology in chief.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Mark, some were of those pardons were like that, but not most of them. I’ve looked at this angle already. The list of repeat offenders of Huckabee releases is huge. Mark, you do not want to go down this path…
December 13th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Hey, if Fred could prove he’s got Romney’s managerial skills and energy and admitted that he’s a pro-choice friend of the pro-lifers (because he’s a federalist), I could switch to him easy. He’s a very smart man. Go Fred!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Does Huckabee have an accredited degree? Is this university an accredited university?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Here is what they cut out:
“It’s a theocratic war. And I don’t know if anybody fully understands that. I’m the only guy on that stage with a theology degree. I think I understand it really well. And know the threat of it is absolutely overwhelming to us.”
Shows why his theology degree is an issue. He understands theocratic views.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I like Fred!!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
#14,
they do, but it doesn’t sound quite as vitriolic when that is advertised first. it is much more fun to throw out “He pardoned 1003 people! What a loser!” instead of “Mike commuted and pardoned several hundred people that had their statutes of limitations expire because the previous administration failed to do their jobs.” Some were expired by 30 years, others by just a few.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
And just to show how sorry he really is, Fred is going to make sure that every voter in Iowa hears his apology at least 5 or 6 times. QuackHack is absolutely right that Huckabee needs to be brought down, and who better to do it than Fred? Fred is going all out in Iowa, and the largest pool of voters available to him, that he has a natural appeal to, are currently in Huck’s camp. For Fred, they’re low hanging fruit.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
GO FRED GO!!! Take down Schmuckabee so Mitt can win IA! GO FRED GO!!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
According to the Huckabots, everything negative anyone says about Huckabee is a half-truth and a distortion. If 90% of the conservative blogosphere labels him a liberal, well they must be shilling for someone else. If people repeatedly point out that he raised taxes more then 45 other states, they clearly don’t understand the importance of infrastructure. If we question why he continually refers to the ruling class, and happily admits that Wall Street is terrified of him, we’re undoubtedly greedy elitists who don’t look out for the little guy.
If we wonder why he commuted twice as many sentences as his predecessors combined and more then the 6 neighboring states, we lack compassion and heart. If we sense a disconnect between his “authentic” persona and his egregious flips on immigration and vouchers…well, who knows, they haven’t figured out explanations for those yet. Out of all the supporters of candidates, Huckabee’s supporters do the absolutely worst job of defending him. Probably because his record and rhetoric are indefensible.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Like I hinted earlier, I really really hope Fred makes this an ad and runs it in Iowa.
If he thinks he can win the nomination this way…
December 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Matthew, that is exactly it. His record is very hard to defend. There are plenty that will blindly follow him in spite of his record and positions. He does have a very dedicated base – they may not understand what is good for the country, but they assume that their pastors do.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Out of all the supporters of candidates, Huckabee’s supporters do the absolutely worst job of defending him.
Whatever we’re doing, it’s working.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
You know, huckabee’s actually right about the Cuban embargo.
I never thought I’d say “Huckabee’s actually right.”
December 13th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
The more I think about this, the more disappointed I am with this being an official PR of a campaign. Someone said that Thompson has nothing to lose – this is true. This is the satire you’d expect from a blogger or commentator, but to come from the candidate is petty and low. But, given the difficulty for Thompson to get any face time, maybe they felt that they are running out of options and staring at the clock ticking down. And to use Mike’s apology as a catalyst for this is unfortunate. The POTUS is one who we need to look up to and these actions, although on the surface can be amusing, they do leave a bitter taste. I hope that the message gets out on the issues raised here, I just disagree with the method used to call attention to Huckabee’s incredible inconcistancies and “squishy” conservative actions and views on a number of core conservitive principles.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I don’t know that Huckabee can hold up to this kind of scrutiny. There is just too much out there for people to dig into. Fred Thompson’s renewed campaign in Iowa will really dog Huckabee there. I think what really happens is that the excitement over Huckabee declines because even his own followers realize that he’s far from ideal. You have to have enthusiastic and knowledgable supporters in a caucaus event, and I wonder if Huckabee will have that in Iowa when all is said and done.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Thompson is becoming a tool for Romney. Perfect.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Fred will get the nomination if he keeps this up. Fred is rocking and rolling.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
JA Pruce,
“one of the finest moments of presidential primary politics?” I think you meant one of Fred Thompson’s finest moments from this primary…which isn’t saying very much because Fred hasn’t any good moments!
Also, this piece from his campaign is moronic. Not only is he irrelevant at this point (6% nationally, HA), but the distinction he is drawing is not the one he wants to be drawing. Instead, he is mocking Huck’s quality as a contrite humble person who admitted to a bitter rival that he wronged him; Fred is showing that these qualities are to be joked about.
Members of this site continually suggest that Huck’s only supporters are religious nuts who don’t know a damn about conservatism. Even when I assured a fellow poster that I was almost entirely non-religious, someone suggested that I was lying (I am not exactly sure why I would lie to convince a bunch of people I don’t know and whose minds I am not going to change). Let me make this very clear to you, JA. The distinction that Fred drew with Huck (suggesting that heartfelt apologies are to be mocked), speaks to the EXACT reason I will not vote for Fred or Mitt and WILL vote for Huck. Our president needs to be a humble servant of the people, not a pessimistic, sarcastic jack-ass.
Huck’s qualities are usually described as intangible: folksy, communicative, etc. This contrast between Huck’s apology and Fred’s “apology” is the most tangible manifestation of these qualities – honesty, contrition, humility, empathy, sympathy. Huck has those and has showed it; Fred has just shown the entire opposite.
But hey, JA, hey needs to, he is losing to Huck by 25% (!!!) in Iowa; desperation makes people stoop very, very low
December 13th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Greg the Republican Iowa “caucus” isn’t an actual caucus. It’s just a straw poll with multiple locations.
So there’s no vote switching or electioneering as in the Democratic caucuses.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
EGS, you’re right, but if Iowans start to feel that Huckabee isn’t what he was cracked up to be, and if Thompson continues to campaign there, they might not turn out for Huck. I can certainly see the luster being taken off.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
LOL! You should do stand up. That’s really funny material!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I happen to think that a lot of the Huckabee support in IA was previously Fred’s, and because he waited so long to declare, and has basically done nothing as far as campaigning effectively, that some of these attacks on Huckabee will regain him some of that support. I think though, that Fred’s efforts to attack Huck will benefit Romney most, and I welcome his help!!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Greg Iowans eschew negative campaigning. If Fred campaigns this way he might hurt Huckabee a little but he’ll hurt himself much worse.
The obvious beneficiary of Thompson’s kamikaze attacks would be Romney.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
35 – I followed your logic about Thompson and how you won’t vote for him because he seems to be mocking this heartfeld apology – what I didn’t follow is where Mitt had also behaved in such a manner seeing as you included him in your reasoning against Thompson.
Did I miss a misstep on Mitt’s part?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Thompson has to train his guns on Huckabee. Huck’s rise has primarily been at Fred’s expense. So it makes sense to go after the people that used to like you but drifted away.
Thompson cannot pull a Giuliani and give Huckabee a Iowan pass. It would kill his campaign if he does.
Iowa is all or nothing for both Huckabee and Thompson. If Mitt wins it, he stands a good chance of running the table up to Super-Tuesday. If either or both of these two finish out of the running, they are finished. Whichever one comes out ahead in Iowa stands a fair chance of doing well in South Carolina with a possibility — however slim — of stopping Romney.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
This is what you call desperate!!!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Every time I hear something like #35, I want to yank my hair out. Huck’s qualities are “intangible”. Wonderful. Is it possible, that just maybe we could elect someone who was, you know, actually prepared to be president? For once? Please? Someone who knows something about the economy, or foreign policy; you know, tangibles? Am I going to have to live my entire life with presidents who are “one of us”; us being the utterly unqualified, those who are bound to botch the most important job in the world? And how bout some conservatism while we’re at it? I don’t think I’m asking for alot. At least three of the candidates in this field have most of these elements. One has virtually none of them, and his supporters rarely even attempt to pretend he does. Intangibles indeed. You’re going to “intangible” our country and party into the ground.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
So it makes sense to go after the people that used to like you but drifted away.
Once people leave a campaign, it’s doubly hard to bring them back. And that’s why Fred will come up short.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
36 – you’ve got to keep in mind that each voter gets a blank sheet of paper and must write down who they want to vote. No chads to dimple, no electronic machines to mess up, just good old fashioned handwriting. I’m sure that there won’t be any Mike’s being mistakenly counted as Mitt’s – especially if written in cursive… hmm..
December 13th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
those who are bound to botch the most important job in the world?
Don’t worry, Huck has more executive experience than everyone else combined, pretty much.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Wonderfully said, #44
December 13th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I just saw this at Fred ‘08 via Michelle Malkin’s site.
Thanks Fred ‘08. Doing the work that illegal immigrants just don’t want to do.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
If Romney had actually served in office longer than 4 years we might have a more complete view of what he would do.
All we have to go by is his change of heart on virtually every issue he ran on during that 4 year term.
He sounds unstable, and undependeble to me. He can’t be trusted.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
So Fred uses a sincere apology as fodder for a sarcastic, smarmy attack?
Nice move, Fred. You obviously don’t know Midwesterners.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
47. Yes. He’s proven he’s not fit for the job! Good point!
December 13th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
But since we are apologizing, I would like to apologize on behalf of Fred for his work as a hired gun for baby butchers.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
#13 – Richard P, here’s the full quote from the source, CBNNews:
On Immigration and soft on terror criticisms:
“People look at my record and say that I’m as strong on immigration, strong on terror as anybody. In fact I think I’m stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamo fascism. These are people that want to kill us. It’s a theocratic war. And I don’t know if anybody fully understands that. I’m the only guy on that stage with a theology degree. I think I understand it really well. And know the threat of it is absolutely overwhelming to us. As a president, nobody’s going to be stronger on building border security, not having amnesty, no sanctuary cities, having a process in place that forces a process that is legal. When it comes to national security, I understand that the threat that we face is not about our grandchildren having better homes and better cars, it’s about whether they’re going to have a breath and a pulse.”
December 13th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Greg,
It was most, not some.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
…but hey, it was just for money!
December 13th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
P.S. to #54 Huckabee is as phake as a wooden nickel.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
#57, Coming from a guy whose candidate looks like Jepeto just finished carving him last week.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
FCOH,
You are correct, and I should have explained myself. My problem with Mitt is that he seems inhuman and lacks those same qualities…not based on anything, just my observations.
Matt Miller,
Why does the president have a cabinet? Why does he have advisers? Huck has 11 years of executive experience, way more than anyone else running in either party. Huck is not running for head of the AEI. The president needs to have a general stance on an issue, aggregate information from experts on the topic, evaluate choices, and communicate them to congress, the military, departments, and the American people. In some instances, he is required to go on his gut and make quick, unpopular decisions. Huck has experience in this way as well due to his response to Katrina refugees.
I fundamentally reject the notion that the president needs to be an egghead on the global currency market, what the recent parliamentary election trends in Iran show us, or the scientific differences between ethanol or other biomass fuels. But even if these are prerequisites as you suggest, what does Mitt know about anything other than how to grow up rich and run a consulting firm. His idea of international relations is figuring out how to organize each country’s olympic athletes in the olympic village.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Many of you will come up with some crazy logic that running a business qualifies you for president. That is ridiculous.
The U.S. government is not a business. Sometimes decisions have to be made that may not make sense from a business perspective. The U.S. government doesn’t make widgets. There are actual people that live here.
In this regard, Mitt has proved that he would be willing to make changes in his opinions for political expediency. This can never be allowed.
Bush hasn’t made all of the right decisions, but he has stuck to his guns and he has done what he believes is right in the face of poor favorability ratings and ridicule. When need someone of principle, Mitt doesn’t fit the bill.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
#54 is horrifying. He understands foreign policy, because he has a theology degree? Therefore apparently he understands the intricacies of Islam? And yet he had to ask a New York Times reporter (on the record) if Mormons believe that “Satan and Jesus are brothers”? Because, you know, he never really learned much in “comparative religion”? I gave Huckabee the benefit of the doubt on his apology, but if he’s going to use his theology degree to claim a knowledge of foreign policy, I don’t think any of his statements on religion can be taken seriously. Unbelievable.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
#21: If Huckabee hadn’t apologized to Romney, I would be pointing out how his theology degree gave him an in-depth understanding of Islam, but no knowledge at all of Mormons.
But since he apologized, I won’t.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
I’m glad Mr. Thompson pointed out that Gov. Huckabee isn’t qualified to defend the nation in the war on Terror. If only we had a fake TV District Attorney to do the job!
December 13th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Let the three pretenders, Romney, Huckabee and Thompson claw each other’s eyes out. Fools.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Fred will save us from the second disaster from Hope Arkansas, I can feel it.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Cliff who is your candidate?
December 13th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
[...] Crossposted from: http://race42008.com/2007/12/13/the-fred-thompson-campaign-apologizes-to-huckabee/ [...]
December 13th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Matthew,
A few times I’ve noticed that Huckabee claims both detailed knowledge and wide-eyed innocence on certain issues, depending on the situation. I’m feeling a trend.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Is he playing the real Fred right now?
December 13th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Fred really doesn’t have any choice but to go after Huck. Fred needs Iowa, and he is a long way back in the polls. He appeals to the same type of voter, for the most part, and he’s the better candidate between the 2. As the shine surrounding Huckabee diminishes in luminescence, Fred will benefit, in that it will drive his numbers up. Huck’s numbers will go down. And Mitt will win Iowa. Do you remember how ecstatic Metro and the RudyBots were about Huck’s surge? I could get pretty excited about a boomlet for Fred.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I’m not a Huckabee fan and would like to see him taken down, but this is in poor taste. This isn’t just a contrast, it is downright disrespectful, particularly because it makes fun of Huckabee’s apparently genuine apology to Mitt Romney. It is disappointing that a candidate is being mocked for doing his best to keep the tone of the race respectful
December 13th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
#28 Greg Says:
December 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Matthew, that is exactly it. His record is very hard to defend. There are plenty that will blindly follow him in spite of his record and positions. He does have a very dedicated base – they may not understand what is good for the country, but they assume that their pastors do.
*********************************************
Wow! Matthew, you are right! And Huckabee and his supporters talk about Mormons being a cult! How ironic!
The following is from “Combatting Cult Mind Control” by Steven Hassan. Hassan is a former member of the Unification Church (I believe this is the Moonies.) (For those of you impressed with degrees, he has a Masters in Counseling from Cambridge College.) This is from his chapter on “Cult Psychology” and he describes just one of the characteristics of a destructive cult:
Group Will Over Individual Will – Page 80
“In all destructive cults the self must submit to the group. The “whole purpose” must be the focus; the “self purpose” must be subordinated. In any group that qualifies as a destructive cult, thinking of oneself or for oneself is wrong. The group comes first. Absolute obedience to superiors is one of the most universal themes in cults. Individuality is bad. Conformity it good.
A cultist’s entire sense of reality becomes externally referenced: he learns to ignore his inner self and trust the external authority figure. He learns to look to others for direction and meaning. … In this state of extreme dependency, members need someone to tell them what to think, feel and do.”
This is really an excellent book. I am not saying that people that support Huckabee are in a cult, but what I am thinking is how much the blind loyalty of so many of his supporters resembles what I have quoted from Hassan’s book.
Looking to one’s pastor for direction on who to vote for in politics is not a horrible thing — but looking to one’s pastor ONLY, without doing the homework and background research, vetting each candidate yourself, is kind of cultish, in my humble opinion.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
#60 – “The U.S. government is not a business.”
Your words prove you know nothing of the way our country is run. The U.S. Govt. is more of a business than anything on the planet. Businesses employ people, work with budgets, plan projects, compete with other businesses. If you cannot see that the U.S. Govt. does all of these things and many, many more, than your ignorance explains your support for Huckabee.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
This is awesome. Fred should have been playing this character from the beginning.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
If Thompson and Romney keep up the aggression on Huckabee the three of them will all end up splitting the SoCon vote three ways and then guess who glides in? I mean, we all know the Giuliani campaign is doing “How To Caucus ” workshops all over the state, right?
December 13th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
#72 – Huck-a-cult is the new term for Huckabee minions.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
“Why does the president have a cabinet? Why does he have advisers? Huck has 11 years of executive experience, way more than anyone else running in either party. Huck is not running for head of the AEI. The president needs to have a general stance on an issue, aggregate information from experts on the topic, evaluate choices, and communicate them to congress, the military, departments, and the American people. In some instances, he is required to go on his gut and make quick, unpopular decisions. Huck has experience in this way as well due to his response to Katrina refugees.
I fundamentally reject the notion that the president needs to be an egghead on the global currency market, what the recent parliamentary election trends in Iran show us, or the scientific differences between ethanol or other biomass fuels. But even if these are prerequisites as you suggest, what does Mitt know about anything other than how to grow up rich and run a consulting firm. His idea of international relations is figuring out how to organize each country’s olympic athletes in the olympic village.”
What happened to this presidents cabinet PeterS? Where have they been the last 7 years? How bout Jimmy Carter? He had a cabinet. Golly, I fundamentally reject the notion that we even need a president; let’s just put up a cardboard cut-out that electronically melds the faces of Reagan, Lincoln, TR, FDR, and Washington, and we’ll let the cabinet do all the work. Since we don’t ever have bad presidents, or when we do, it must be because their cabinets disappeared, which will never happen to ole Huck. FYI, Mitt didn’t run a consulting firm; Bain Capital was a venture capital, and leveraged buyout firm. You know, taking organizations apart, putting them back together with more efficient structures. I wonder what sort of thing a Government is…hmm. Beyond that, Mitt Romney knows an absolute TON about these issues. I can name, off-hand, at least 5-6 books he’s mentioned reading just on the Global Jihad alone. He has multiple foreign policy advisers, Huckabee has none, but he stayed in a Holiday Express last night. Huck only has more executive experience then Romney if you fudge the numbers; if you decide to, inexplicably, exclude business experience and organizational experience. You’re free to do so of course, but you shouldn’t be surprised when you persuade no one besides Huckabots.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Cliff are you praying . . er . . suggesting that Giuliani has a snowballs chance in hell at winning in IA??? Get real!!
December 13th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I certainly hope we won’t see any more headlines about how Romney is the one going negative in the campaign. The differences between Romney’s ad and Thompson’s press release are clear.
Romney pointed out Huckabee’s positive qualities in a respectful manner. Thompson mocked one of Huckabee’s better moments.
Romney presented his own record in contrast with Huckabee’s position. Thompson only presents Huckabee’s position.
Romney’s ad is there to show you why you should vote for Romney. Thompson’s press release is there to show you why you shouldn’t vote for Huckabee.
This is negative campaigning.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Fred Thompson is growing more desperate by the day….
December 13th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Hilarious, I love it.
Now careful fellow Mittbots, remember how the Rudy guys were cheering on Huck in Iowa to take down Mitt? That is starting to backfire as Huck has pulled Rudy back to the pack. Fred could very well do the same thing to our boy and Fred would be tougher to beat in the long haul than Huck
December 13th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Quit whining.
If you can’t take the heat, then out you go. Yea, he’s going to ruffle some feathers, so what… Sincere apology, please. If he hadn’t of been under pressure from the media, then would he have apologized? For Huckabee to say something like that, and then pretend he didn’t know what he was talking about, is really disingenious.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
#81 – I agree, though I think Fred will run in a short spurt and then return true to form. He just needs to take enough support from Huckabust to hand IA over to Mitt
December 13th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
From the actual reporter who quoted Huckabee:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7357.html
December 13th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
From Mark Hemingway:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MDM1NDNmZGZkMGNiODZlN2IzMjg5ODY3NWU3MjdjMTk=
December 13th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
MWS (56): Why apologize for Fred when he himself said that he had no regrets about doing this pro-abortion lobbying — after all, “that was private life.”
December 13th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Hahaha! Brilliant.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
MEMO TO ALL HUCKABOTS:
Welcome to the Race for 2008!! Now that Huckabee is considered Top Tier by some, he is subject to the drubbing that most candidates have been subject to now for the entire year. If you feel that you cannot handle the ride, please place one hand over your mouth, and raise the other hand in the air. Then we will know that you have had enough of the ride, and would like to go back to the realms of the second tier from where you came. Make sure you tighten your seatbelts, and wipe the tears from your eyes. This here is one of the wildest rides in the wilderness!! (Any Disneyland visitors out there
)
Seriously, if your guy/you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. I agree with Tommy. Quit your whining, and welcome to the race for POTUS. Too bad your guys record is awful, and he is single handedly taking the flip-flop mantle from Romney with his various flip-flops of late.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
– “Huck has 11 years of executive experience, way more than anyone else running in either party.” –
Are you serious? Seems to me Mitt has 25 years at the CEO of multiple corporations, 3 years as CEO of the Olympics which is 2-3x as complex as a typical corporation and 4 years as Governor.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Given that no one has been promoting Huckabee on the front page for the past few days is it fair for the only posts about Huckabee to be hit pieces against him?
I have the feeling that if Huckabee wins the nomination this site becomes Republicans for Hillary/Obama/Libertarian Candidate.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Well, there are a few worse things than Mitt not getting the nomination. Huckabee getting it is pretty far up there.
I can live with Mitt, Rudy, and Fred as nominee. I have never cared for McCain. I still don’t. But what I’ve seen in Huckabee these past weeks scares me. What a divisive character! What a disaster his nomination would be! For his supporters to willfully bury their heads in the sand over him is truly frightening. And they accuse Romney of being in a cult!
So even if Fred beats out Mitt in Iowa, I could live with that just for the knowledge that Huck is finished.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
#71 – I don’t know Huckabee’s heart, although I am beginning to get an idea of the inner workings of his mind (#68), but I have a hard time believing that Huckabee was sincere in his apology.
Look, the dude got caught with his pants down. He was probably hoping that the reporter would take his “innocent” question about Jesus and the Devil and put out the word that it would be a great question to ask Romney.
You cannot convince me that a man who has a four year theology degree, and someone who was the main Southern Baptist speaker in an effort to evangelize Mormons in Salt Lake City di
not know hardly anything about Mormonism. (and yet his theology degree makes him an expert on Islam??????)
I have a B.A. in Bible and we had a week of speeches by the King of the knowledge of cults himself, Walter Martin, author of Kingdom of the Cults. I’m sure that if I, a mere Bible College student, know about Mormonism, Huckabee knows a good bit, too.
Also, why do you think Huckabee’s church won’t give anyone copies of his past sermons?!
They said that they were all lost when the church was redecorated or some such nonsense.
Huckabee himself probably has a special room where he keeps all the cassette tapes of his sermons. I was a church secretary at a small Grace Brethren Church and believe me, these pastors make, keep and distribute tapes of their sermons.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
90 – who cares? what’s the drama about Rett’s departure? maybe someone can fill us all in
December 13th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Go Huckabee!!! Btw. running the Olympics is not running the United States……Huckabee ran a state for 8 years, Romney only ran for governor of Mass so he could run for president.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
“Also, why do you think Huckabee’s church won’t give anyone copies of his past sermons?!”
Why should he????
Is this some religious test??
December 13th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Here’s one of Huckabee’s sermons on video: http://www.gatewaypeople.com/sermons/2007/20070616_StateOfTheUnion.html
I haven’t watched it, but the intro is sure great
December 13th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
#88 – Jared – brilliantly said.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I doubt that Huckabee didn’t know what he was saying when he made the Jesus/Satan comment. Doesn’t make sense, look…
http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/front_page/huckabee_a_speaker_at_98_confe.php
December 13th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
#97 – Hehe, Thanks.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Running Arkansas isn’t running the US either… we got good 8 year look at what can come out of Arkansas politics.
If Mitt only ran for Gov of Mass to run for President… why did he run against Teddy for the Senate seat? Senators have a really hard time getting into the White House. Read Mitt’s auto-biography. The man oozes civic responsibility.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
FCOH, evidently no one cares. I guess most readers like the Huckabee coverage being restricted to hit pieces.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
EGS,
Well, us and every other major conservative blog (beyond those who’d expect to have access to the president). That said, I think Kavon would just get a new slate of bloggers, who are actually willing to support Huckabee. I won’t. At least two other front pagers won’t. I do agree that we should get a Huckabee guy or two on the front page for the homestretch. You’re a good guy, and you’d have my highest recommendation. MWS is pretty rational.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
A vote for Huckabee = the destruction of the conservative coalition.
http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/front_page/huckabee_a_speaker_at_98_confe.php
December 13th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Regarding my comment in #92 – Although Walter Martin lists Mormonism as a cult, I do not believe it is a cult anymore than Christianity or Catholicism is a cult. And to further explain how I see the word cult I am copying the following from this website: http://www.religioustolerance.org/cults.htm
“One of the most confusing and dangerous religious term is “Cult”. The word is derived from the French word “culte” which came from Latin noun “cultus.” The latter is related to the Latin verb “colere” which means “to worship or give reverence to a deity.” Thus, in its original meaning, the term “cult” can be applied to any group of religious believers: Southern Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Roman Catholics, Hindus or Muslims. However, the term has since been assigned at least eight new and very different meanings. The original meaning of “cult” remains positive; more recent definitions are neutral, negative, or extremely negative.” (Check out the site, it’s very informative.)
“…if you believe in it, it is a religion or perhaps ‘the’ religion;
and if you do not care one way or another about it, it is a sect;
but if you fear and hate it, it is a cult.”
– Leo Pfeffer. A humorous quotation, but one that is uncomfortably close to reality.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
And to think, I’ve been blogging for Huck since November 2006 and I’ve never so much as gotten a head-hunter to ask me to volunteer here…priceless
December 13th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Ben,
#94, You think that, if it gives you comfort.
#95, Normally, I would agree 100%. But since Huckabee is the one that is bringing up his faith, his religion, his “Christian Leadership” as qualifications for the job as President of the United States, it is fair game. It is perfectly acceptable to ask about what he did and said while being a “Christian Leader”.
Tell me, Ben, do you see even a little disturbing trend of Huckabee not thinking through the consequences of his actions?
December 13th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
101 – lol! I’m actually enjoying his remarks.. he’s a great and entertaining speaker with an uplifting message – no one can take that away from him. Too bad that I disagree with his approach and his record, but I can see why those that are not interested in politics yet feel it their civic duty to vote could be drawn to his candidacy.
Do you think we could get a voter’s competancy requirement before an election on the ballot? You know, you’d have to go and maybe match a candidate with their record, or their platform, maybe it’s a multiple choice – if you don’t score 70% or greater, you can’t vote! I guarantee we would have an incredible paradymn shift in this nation overnight if we were to actually do that.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
#94 – “Btw. running the Olympics is not running the United States……Huckabee ran a state for 8 years”
It isn’t but the only direction Huckabee ran the State of Arkansas was into the ground. Go back a few threads and listen to how Romney handled the Olympics one of his 1st days on the job. There was a huge luncheon scheduled at some posh hotel with a fancy lunch all planned out, and Romney came in cancelled the luncheon, had the luncheon somewhere much cheaper (not sure where though) and ordered pizza, then he CHARGED THE DIPLOMATS $1.00 per slice!! That is THE reason why Romney needs to be in as POTUS. The guy knows exactly how to turn things around for the better.
Matthew made a great point about Romney’s business background earlier in the thread. Those of you who don’t know about Leveraged Buy-outs might miss the significance of Romney’s success there.
“FYI, Mitt didn’t run a consulting firm; Bain Capital was a venture capital, and leveraged buyout firm. You know, taking organizations apart, putting them back together with more efficient structures. I wonder what sort of thing a Government is…hmm.”
Extremely well said Matthew, and I think the fact that people like Jim Cramer, and many others in the business world have flat out said Romney is brilliant. Cramer said he is one of the best businessmen in North America. The guy can FLAT OUT LEAD!! That is what we need right now is LEADERSHIP! Romney has that in spades.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Huckabee supporters:
I heard Huckabee’s campaign defend the ‘christian leader’ remark on the ad in more of a ‘hey it’s on his resume’, yet I haven’t heard an argument as to why if this is such a critical part of his resume was the ad that ran in NH tagged ‘proven leader’ and the ones that ran in IA,SC were ‘christian leader’.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Ahhh–but you forgot the flip-flopping! We need flip-flopping!!!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
#107 – “if you don’t score 70% or greater, you can’t vote! I guarantee we would have an incredible paradymn shift in this nation overnight if we were to actually do that.”
LOL, I wish!! Oh how I wish we could do that. I am tired of people voting for POTUS with less attention that they do for their favorite All-Star ballot. Seriously.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
– But they said Edwards at the Union meeting last week.
/sarc
December 13th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
#108 – he had the Olympics trustees (who had previously planned on having lunch at the posh hotel) have lunch in the offices they were already renting.
Read: “A Mormon In The White House: 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney” by Hugh Hewitt.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
What is the Hukcabee announcement being made tomorrow in NH?
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Newsroom.PressRelease&ID=433
December 13th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
#114 He is going to announce clemency for Osama Bin Laden. He called Huck and appologized. It’s all good now.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
#110 – Peter, I just looked at your website, “Catholics for Huckabee.”
I saw the post on the Minuteman Founder endorsing Huckabee. I hope that you give your readers an update on that endorsement:
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/12/minutemen_bash_founder_over_hu.p
December 13th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
#115 – What?! Osama bin Laden got born again? Great news!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
#116 Why would he do that. The Huck campaign has become the campaign of lies!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Huckabee won’t be vetted by the mainstream media, which wants him to win the GOP nomination so that the general public will be more convinced than ever that the Republican Party has turned into a party for theocrats and not for “rational” people.
In the absense of meaningful vetting by the mainstream media, it falls upon the independent, conservative media as well as other competing GOP candidates to let the public know about Huckabee’s stances for the nominating public to make a knowledgeable choice. It falls to Mitt and Fred to perform this essential public service, because Rudy and McCain have given up on Iowa and don’t seem to care enough about the country to realize how awful a choice Huckabee would be to lead the GOP and, if he wins the presidency, the nation.
For comparative campaigning to be “negative,” it should be personal. Even this tongue-in-cheek ad from Thompson’s campaign isn’t negative, because it isn’t a personal attack on Huckabee. I suppose the statement about taxes is debatable, but the other points really aren’t.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Press Release: December 14th, 2007
Somewhere in New Hampshire
Mike Huckabee announced today that he is a bigot, and that his record is abysmal. When asked why he decided to come out with this statment now, he said, “I’m tired of tricking the American Public into thinking I am really something that I am clearly not as indicated by my record. Shucks, I just want to go back to Arkansas and put on that nice blue striped Christmas shirt from our family Christmas card, and write letters to inmates letting them know that if I were still Governor, I would love to let them out.” Huckabees supporters, when asked for their opinion, put down their cups of Kool-aid, and said, “I guess we can always vote for Alan Keyes.”
December 13th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Fred is to romney what huckabee was to giuliani before he blew up.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
#118 Huckabee told Bin Laden it was his desire to have him be taken off the most wanted list and come inspect the closure of Gitmo. I think he wanted him to lay a wreath at the door for all of those nice folks that suffered in there. He hoped this would make the rest of the world like us again. It keeps him up at night.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
What’s Mitt Romney’s argument in the general election going to be? “I ran from office in MA before the voters turfed me out — I always do what my constituents want before they tell me!”
December 13th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
did anybody see the new rasmussen poll in new hampshire come out? mitt is solidfiying his lead. it is 15 percent now and 60 percent, up from 48 percent, are solidly set on voting for him, much higher than any other candidate. looks like mitt’s speech that was directed towards them worked.
it has been his firewall all a long. iowa was just a bonus.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
“True leadership is knowing when to fold ‘em!
“I’m Mitt Romney, and I approve of this message.”
December 13th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Mark… how about, I didn’t think it would be fair to my state to run and hold the office of Governor while also campaigning for President. While not verbatim, that is the reason he gave for not running a second term. It’s not like he needed the paycheck… yet people like Kerry, Edwards, Clinton, McCain… continue to hold their positions and in many cases basically abandon their jobs while running. As one of McCain’s constituents, I’d rather he get back to work.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Marksal#119For comparative campaigning to be “negative,†it should be personal. Even this tongue-in-cheek ad from Thompson’s campaign isn’t negative, because it isn’t a personal attack on Huckabee.
Actually, it is a personal attack, but in a subtle way — which makes it so classic. It takes the form of “Since Huckabee sincerely apologized, we would like to take the opportunity to sincerely apologize about …” The humor just doesn’t work unless you believe that Huckabee’s apology was a sham. And they drive home that point over and over again.
You’ve got to admit it, it is certainly far more subtle and effective than Huckabee ever has been.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
MarkG,
Nice try at attempting to shift the focus from Huck to Romney. This is just too much fun though pointing out the dismal record of the Huckster.
“True leadership is letting murderers and rapsits out of jail early, because God told me too.”
“I’m Mike Huckabee and God approves this message”
December 13th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Maybe you folks don’t know about Iowa Politics but they would rather hear you talk about why you should be president and not why the other guy shouldn’t. Thompson’s ever lacking promotion of himself and his only campaign activity is attacking someone else is what is contributing to pathetic numbers for him. This is a guy who was the great hope who ended up tripping on his way to the stage. He has given up in NH, good call by the way, now all his eggs are in Iowa but he doesn’t have much of a chance there. Sorry Freddie, it ain’t happening.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I feel like I am in 3rd grade.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Really, nowandlater, you need to go back to when you bumped your head and started to think that Huck was your guy. We’ll forgive you. You won’t even have to apologize, although we would know that yours was on the up and up.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
#130,
Well, if you support Huckabee (per Irish’s post above) then you clearly think like it too. Sorry
December 13th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Huck apologized. I think the Mormon controversy is blown out proportion. Seriously. I think, Mormons, need to be mature about the process and let the small stuff slide. After all, don’t expect a minority religion to get a smooth sailing in the political process. But if Huckabee makes a mistake and apologizes for it then I think it is incumbent on those offended to forgive and go forward. Afterall, we are not electing a Bishop-in-chief but a commander-in-chief.
Bye the way, I love the flat tax policy!!!
December 13th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
C’mon Rombots, how ’bout a little honesty here: Mitt is the quintessential American Marxist. “These are my principles. And if you don’t like ‘em, I have others,” the great Groucho once stated…
December 13th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
nowandlater – “I think, Mormons, need to be mature about the process and let the small stuff slide.”
Please tell me what you consider small about smearing one’s religious faith, and then after “apologizing” to Romney running to Wolf Blitzer saying, “See!! See!! Look at me, I apologized!! See!! I am not a bigot!! See!!”
MarkG – Re-read the part of Mitt’s speech where he said, basically, “this is what I believe, and if it costs me the Presidency, than SO BE IT.” That is hardly Marxist. I would ask the same of you, please how ’bout a little honesty here!
December 13th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
If you really think that Huckabee is aiming to smear the LDS faith, then you will see more occurrences of it in the near future. I bet you will see none of that coming from the Huckabee campaign. Come on, the guy is a baptist preacher! I have faith that Huckabee is a stand up guy and remember what Jesus says about turning the other check. It would serve you and fellow LDS’ers to turn the other cheek. Especially if Huckabee becomes the nominee and if he has proven himself repentant of this flub.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
#136 – “remember what Jesus says about turning the other check. It would serve you and fellow LDS’ers to turn the other cheek”
Last I checked I have 4 cheeks. 2 up top and 2 down low. Each has been turned, and each has been slapped/kicked. I’m outta cheeks man!!! What do you want me to turn next?? I am open to suggestions.
I see your point, and I think that you aright. Huck won’t do that again. He realized he stepped in it BIG TIME.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
I could not find any record of this apology on either fred’s web site or michelle malkins blog, as of 9:30 pm central standard time.
December 13th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
[...] culpa, mea culpa Posted on December 13, 2007 by nuke In the spirit of political apologies, I want to apologize for saying that Fred Thompson “just might be as dumb as a box [...]