Video: Club for Growth smacks Huckabee
posted at 1:51 pm on November 9, 2007 by Bryan
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The surest way to know that you’re inching up in a race is if you start attracting attacks. Mike Huckabee has attracted a tough line of attacks on his tax policies as Arkansas governor from the Club for Growth since he announced his run. The Club has just lauched its latest salvo, in the form of a video. Here it is.
Chris Cillizza gives us the play by play. And Red State has a rebuttal to the lingering charge that Huckabee is a tax raiser. It doesn’t strike me as a particularly strong defense though.
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…anyone think he’s actually just Kevin Spacey, just trying to punk the Republicans?
MadisonConservative on November 9, 2007 at 2:06 PM
From the Arkansas News (past issue)- Gov. Mike Huckabee Thursday denounced a bill by Sen. Jim Holt that would deny state benefits to illegal immigrants as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life.
Holt, R-Springdale, replied later that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.
Senate Bill 206, filed Wednesday, also would require proof of citizenzhip to register to vote and would require state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally.
Holt replied, “I think the politically correct movement has
misconstrued what compassion really means. They think compassion means that any person can disrespect our laws and that we’re supposed to be tolerant and let them get away with it.
Amen to Jim Holt. Joe McCutchen, Chairman of Protect Arknsas NOW, a newly formed group supporting the bill had this to say. “They broke the law,” he said. “My angst is not with them, though. My angst is with the state and federal government for not enforcing our laws.” People living illegally in the United State has “overwhelmed our school and welfare system,” McCutchen said. As for whether the bill reflects un-Christian attitudes, McCutchen said: “Jim Holt is as good a man and as good a Christian as any man walking this Earth.”
“Doggone it, the rule of law is not being upheld, and that’s wrong,” McCutchen said.
Huckabee is a pro plantation, Tyson Foods shill. And he is the one who is un-Christian, un-American and irresponsible and anti-life.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:13 PM
Not to mention the trailer stunt he pulled when his wife tried to overreach in remolding the mansion
EricPWJohnson on November 9, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Get used to Huckabee being around for a while. I’m about as pumped for a potential Huckabee win as the Nutroots was for a Kerry win.
gabriel sutherland on November 9, 2007 at 2:15 PM
Huckabee can get the Social Con vote, the economic cons. would be forced to follow suit as well because where else would they go? Social Cons, atleast a damaging percentage, could go 3rd party or stay home.
the question is, would enough independents follow Huck to beat Hillary?
jp on November 9, 2007 at 2:15 PM
Now, I’m no Huckabee supporter, but what is your basis for calling his faith into question?
Slublog on November 9, 2007 at 2:17 PM
Hollowpoint, is Huck your pick?
I’m a conservative Christian, and was talking with a fellow right-wing wacko the other day. He noted that many strong Christians lean toward tax-and-spend, control-your-life nanny-statism, out of a misplaced concern for “the poor” and moral values. It is no less ironic than true that well-intentioned nanny-staters (religious or not) have contributed more to the moral decline of American society than atheists, Hollywood, and Bill Clinton combined.
Splashman on November 9, 2007 at 2:18 PM
I had a girlfriend in Arkansas. Huckabee was a Baptist preacher at her daughter in laws church. Her daughter in law liked him as a preacher. Later he ran for governor.
My girlfriend told me he was a big spender and raised taxes.
He is also much smaller now as a picture in the local paper there dipicted him as quite overweight.
2theright on November 9, 2007 at 2:20 PM
What the existing mold wasn’t good enough for Mrs. Huckabee? ;-0
Seriously, before you all get the long knives out, please remember this. Gov. Huckabee fits the right profile for VP should a liberal Northeasterner like Rudy or Mitt becomes the nominee. So, please leave the anti-Southern, anti-Christian, anti-social conservative bigotry out of the discussion and keep to where the man stands on the issues.
highhopes on November 9, 2007 at 2:20 PM
His actions, or “fruits” as the Bible calls them. He’s corrupt. Just because you say you have faith doesn’t make it so.
Editor on November 9, 2007 at 2:21 PM
And what the heck does “anti-life” mean? C’mon, MB4, if you’re going to rant, at least make sense and be specific. “Un-American and irresponsible” could be charged by anyone about anyone.
Splashman on November 9, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Plus, imagine all the Huck F***abee bumper stickers there would be.
Editor on November 9, 2007 at 2:23 PM
The question is, would enough Americans who are against plantation owner serf masters and their “comprehensive” shamnesty follow him? Me thinks not.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:26 PM
There’s a lot of truth in that statement. I’d suggest the primary difference is that those that do it out of their faith are well-intentioned while the lefties do it out of a desire to control.
highhopes on November 9, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Can someone please knock this carbon taxer out of the race. Now! This man is a disgrace to the Republican party. He represents everything that is currently wrong with the Republican party.
Zetterson on November 9, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Well, no. Matthew 7:21 is in the bible for a reason. As I said, I do not support Huckabee at all, for various reasons. But that doesn’t mean we should use political disagreement as a yardstick by which to measure a man’s faith.
Slublog on November 9, 2007 at 2:27 PM
Grover Norquist told the National Review’s Byron York that Huckabee’s willing to sign Americans for Tax Reform’s pledge to oppose any tax increases as president is good enough for him.
EduardoOTI on November 9, 2007 at 2:28 PM
NO! Keep this man as far away from the VP slot as possible. There is no room for this nanny stater on the ticket. No room. Other then that I have no strong feelings on the matter.
Zetterson on November 9, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Huckabee raised taxes on beer.
Slublog on November 9, 2007 at 2:32 PM
I don’t do rants. I just turned the words that Huckabee used on Jim Holt right back on him where they belong. Fair is fair after all. Specifically as to the “Anti-life”, other than turning it back on him? Think about it. You will be embarrassed if I have to explain it.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:32 PM
I’m your huckleberry…. say when
libertytexan on November 9, 2007 at 2:34 PM
You’re right. I’m not judging his faith based on political disagreements. 2 words: Governor. Arkansas.
Editor on November 9, 2007 at 2:37 PM
No argument there, since I mentioned “well-intentioned nanny-staters.” But I’m sure you remember that old aphorism about good intentions being good paving material for the highway to heck?
Bottom line: I don’t really care what a person’s intentions are. I care what their actions are. I’d rather have Giuliani make the right decision for the wrong reason than Huckabee make the wrong decision for the “right” reason.
Splashman on November 9, 2007 at 2:37 PM
Club for Growth? Is that the same as The Hair Club for Growth?
Wade on November 9, 2007 at 2:37 PM
Heh. Touche.
Slublog on November 9, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Differing roads, same destination.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:39 PM
And if that alone is not enough to sink him with you, you are beyond redemption!!!
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:42 PM
Straight from the dKos playbook. But hey, I’m sure must are a few people here who like reading that sort of thing. Right? Buehler?
More likely I’ll question whether English is your first language, but hey, try me.
Splashman on November 9, 2007 at 2:45 PM
Now that could get very confusing after a while.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:46 PM
I’m not a Huckabee supporter. Never have been. I don’t like nanny-staters who use the power of the government to enact policies “for my own good.”
Slublog on November 9, 2007 at 2:47 PM
No, I’ve been in Fred’s corner, though I’m at least a little bit disappointed in his campaign results thus far. I’d hoped that he’d have come on much stronger by now, even if there’s still 3 months to go.
Huck is good on guns and social issues, but he has some closeted skeletons that are pretty scary. I don’t expect any candidate I’m willing to vote for to be perfect, but his weakness on illegal immigration is probably the deal-killer for me though. My impression of Huck is that he’s a less hawkish, more eloquent version of GW Bush with respect to big government “compassionate conservatism”.
I’m becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of just sitting this one out for the first time in 20 years. Still, not having a horse in the race would kinda suck in that I wouldn’t have much to say about the general election contest- something I’m usually very interested in.
Hollowpoint on November 9, 2007 at 2:47 PM
What I said above about his weakness on illegal immigration being the deal-killer? Scratch that. This is worse.
Hollowpoint on November 9, 2007 at 2:49 PM
Usted sera muy avergonzado si tengo que decirle a usted.You will be very embarrassed if I have to tell you.
Think about it some more. Big hint: What do illegals sometimes do when they are not picking lettuce?
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:50 PM
You have me at a disadvantage as I have never read it and you appear to have.
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Hmm? You’re a professional theif?
Zetterson on November 9, 2007 at 3:04 PM
I think this from the post above is all you need to know:
Oh, and by the way, I wouldn’t trust Grover Norquist as giving insight onto anything. That’ guy’s been in bed with the Saudi/Arab money as well as the open-borders business lobby.
Clark1 on November 9, 2007 at 3:07 PM
What’s really great here is that all the Huckabee-haters will help the GOP with the vetting before the actual nominations occur. Ditto all the Rudy-haters on that thread. The point is that now is the time to dialogue about the candidates.
The worst thing Republicans could follow the path of the Democrat Party which has essentially forced itself into choosing whether the inexperienced but black Senator or the Senator with more baggage than a 747 gets the top slot on a ticket that will have them both. That’s no choice! That’s merely arranging the negatives to be least negative possible. That is, of course, unless you think Dodd, Biden, or Edwards have a shot (snigger).
highhopes on November 9, 2007 at 3:08 PM
to get elected nationally, you now have to convince over 60 million people to all go and vote for you roughly. You just aren’t going to get a messiah candidate, especially in a country as divided as we are today, with complete opposite worldviews.
jp on November 9, 2007 at 3:23 PM
Now that’s cold.
saiga on November 9, 2007 at 3:31 PM
But funny.
saiga on November 9, 2007 at 3:32 PM
It is laughable all of the things you are willing to forgive in the other candidates but you won’t forgive Huckabee this one little tax increase. According to most of you Huckabee might as well jump off of a cliff while you elect a tax raising, pro abortion, pro amnesty, cross dressing, children wont speak to him, liberal Republican who is going to have to go left to win in the general election.
moughon on November 9, 2007 at 3:45 PM
What is a theif?
MB4 on November 9, 2007 at 3:51 PM
Not a great argument if Huckabee is a tax-raising, pro-amnesty liberal Republican as some of his critics back home have been suggesting. Not all of us who have a problem with Huck are in favor of Rudy.
Hollowpoint on November 9, 2007 at 4:00 PM
Huckabee’s wrong on a lot of stuff… taxes, illegal immigration, Fair Tax. He’s dangerous because everything is wrapped in the cloak of good intentions, just like President Bush.
My hubby and I went to a Bush fundraiser during the re-election cycle, and I had to bite my tongue when he talked about the prescription plan for seniors, saying that people who had achieved that age deserve it. (Er….WHAT?) I looked around and everyone was clapping and I wanted to boo. Honest. I saw a bunch of lemmings who were willing to compromise core GOP principles so they could bask in the reflected glow of the President’s ‘compassionate conservatism’ and feel that somehow gestures like this will win people over.
What the party doesn’t understand is that people vote GOP because they do the hard stuff; not because we are namby pamby sycophants. The GOP is principled (was anyway); whereas Dems’ goal is to get elected and you don’t know WHERE they stand, really, on anything. People, I think, by nature, don’t like lots of change, or want slow, thoughtful change, and the more we take on the mantle of the Dems by contravening our principles for the ‘greater good’ the more we drive the ‘purple staters’ away.
There is nothing Christian about making people dependant on someone or something else (like government). Whatever happened to teaching a man to fish?
I am really alarmed with this growing GOP grassroots fandom of Huckabee. Do we want President Bush, v2, when most of us have been gnashing our teeth the past few years over immigration and spending?
I am open to being swayed, but I am leaning towards a Giuliani/Hunter ticket.
linlithgow on November 9, 2007 at 4:51 PM
Good point. Many well-intentioned, sincere religious folks do not have a Biblical understanding of government, as well as the God-ordained view of the purpose of the church.
God ordains functions or roles that are not assigned to the church. For the very same reason that God ordains responsibilities and functions to government, but these are not assigned to the church.
It is a tragic mistake when church and government are confused and conflated.
ColtsFan on November 9, 2007 at 5:00 PM
MB4,
I agree with most of your negative comments concerning Huckabee. Huckabee and Senator “Switchback” are very disappointing to me, as a Christian. It really bothers me that both men have championed “Christian compassion” as the reason for their enthusiasm for rewarding law-breakers with the gift of USA citizenship.
God ordains the purpose and role of government to be different from the purpose and function of the church. For a Christian to confuse and conflate the 2 separate realms is not only exegetically wrong (from a Biblical perspective), but also opens the door to other evils, like tyranny and oppression. This is called the “2 Kingdom” view.
From the Biblical perspective, it is never the purpose of government to reward law-breakers with the gift of USA citizenship. To claim otherwise in the name of “Christian compassion” or “loving others” or whatever, is just flat out wrong thinking.
I really wonder what many pastors are preaching in the pulpits nowadays.
ColtsFan on November 9, 2007 at 5:12 PM
I agree that Huckabee’s political views are wrong. I am not
questioning his character simply because I personally have never met the guy.
But I agree with you that a lot of bad stuff comes wrapped in the “cloak of good intentions,” just like Jimmy Carter in the 70s. That is why we need to trust, but verify. Verify all the facts before sealing the deal. And the facts make me very uncomfortable with Huckabee, speaking as a Christian voter myself.
I agree.
How can professing Christians encourage other people to steal? The Bible says it is always wrong to steal. Yet tens of millions of illegal aliens commit document fraud, Social Security number fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft fraud, causing financial ruin to millions of Americans. And yet John Kyl of Arizona, McCain, Senator Switchback, Graham-Amnesty of SC, Richard Lugar of Indiana, and the Democrats wanted to reward these same law-breakers with the gift of USA citizenship. How is that Christian?
Answer: It is not Christian. It is morally wrong.
How can professing Christian leaders encourage government policies that reward people to covet jobs illegally that do not belong to them? The Bible says it is wrong to covet. And yet tens of millions of people are coveting jobs that do not belong to them simply because they are not USA citizens. And yet Graham-Amnesty of SC and others wanted to reward these law-breakers with the gift of USA citizenship? How is that Christian?
Answer: It is not Christian. It is morally wrong.
How is it “Christian” to support government policies that reward unwed mothers with the gift of USA citizenship through “anchor baby citizenship?”
Answer: It is not Christian. It is wrong.
ColtsFan on November 9, 2007 at 5:35 PM
I would agree with this. It is unfortunate. The reason for this is a lack of understanding about the Bible and our history. The following are old testament verses. This was God speaking directly,, giving laws to Moses, Exodus 23:2,3 “You shall not follow a multitude in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice: NOR SHALL YOU BE PARTIAL TO A POOR MAN IN HIS DISPUTE.” (I added the caps)
Exodus 30:15 “THE RICH SHALL NOT PAY MORE, AND THE POOR SHALL NOT PAY LESS than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the Lord…” {I added caps again}
Lev. 19:15 “…you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great…” there are no scriptures in the Bible that talk about taking money from the rich or anyone and giving it to another. Jesus even told the soldiers to not take what is not theirs and to be satisfied with their pay! when Mary washed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume,, it was Judas, the traitor, that questioned Jesus saying they could have given the money to the poor! In the first verse I shared their, God is saying “Hey,, just because everybody else is doing it, perverting justice by being partial to the poor,, DON’T DO IT!” We are an ignorant people. Ignorant about our liberties. Ignorant about God. Ignorant about our history.
JellyToast on November 9, 2007 at 8:24 PM
Duncan Hunter was on Glenn Beck tonight – what a difference between his confidence level in the debates and when it’s one on one. I was very re-impressed. Very knowledgeable on border issues and the WOT. Huck is not for this time or place on the ticket. He scares me as much as Bill Clinton did, both calling Hope, AR home. I’ve missed the hype and appeal of Thompson and would like to hear from his supporters why he is their candidate. The MSM has their undies in a twist destroying what was left of Rudy’s campaign. Mitt has reversed himself so many times he must be dizzy. We’re only in November and the field is narrowing.
24K lady on November 9, 2007 at 9:36 PM
I’m a little late in commenting here.
I’m a Texan. The roads and highways in Arkansas were a joke with us.
Did he misrepresent what happened…yeah, probably.
Did he do anything to improve their roads? I guess I should go back up into comments but from what I saw, it was just a bunch of squabbling.
Brian the sailor on November 9, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Brian
The fact is that Huckabee raised taxes according to the Neutral Tax Foundation and the United State Bureau of Labor and Statistics and the US Census Bureau Arkansas went from being ranked 35th (50th is the lowest in the country) in State taxes to 13th under Huckabee’s run.
Whatever the story, whatever the excuse whatever who said what to who and when:
These raw numbers don’t lie – in fact notice the Federal Tax Burden actually went down and Huckabee sucked it up by adding in more state taxes.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/sl_burden_arkansas-2007-04-04.pdf
Also remember Hucky Baby blames democrats – democrats have always run the state……
EricPWJohnson on November 9, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Fascinating to see so many people taking onboard quotes from the Arkansas ‘Democrat Gazette’ so unquestioningly..
Reaps on November 9, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Reaps
http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/sl_burden_arkansas-2007-04-04.pdf
But this isn’t from them – who said when said how said
These are the real raw numbers from independent sources
EricPWJohnson on November 9, 2007 at 11:41 PM
Hollowpoint on November 9, 2007 at 4:00 PM
Let me get this straight, You think first amendment, put me in charge of judges McCain is more conservative than Huckabee?
Do you think pro campaign finance wont sign a tax pledge Thompson is more conservative than Huckabee who wants to eliminate the IRS and reduce spending?
Are you saying that Mitt who was even against the Bush tax cuts is more conservative than Huckabee? Mitt, the same person who has recently flipped on every major issue.
Are you holding out for Duncan Hunter?
Are you saying that it was ok for Ronald Reagan to raise taxes in California but Huckabee who by the way, is our only candidate who approaches the eloquence of Reagan, can never have raised a single tax or he is disqualified?
Give me a break.
moughon on November 10, 2007 at 11:28 AM
I live in Arkansas. The quote is accurate. Huck is TERRIBLE on illegal immigration, and he is a vindictive SOB, going so far as to campaign against REPUBLICANS in the state and for their rivals when they disagreed with him.
He is a through and through nanny-stater, not just raising taxes but signing entire new classes of taxes into law here, such as taxes on SERVICES like pest control and taxes on used cars – things that didn’t used to have a sales tax affixed to them.
He also signed a minimum wage increase and a statewide smoking ban. Nanny-stater to the core.
And look at the Cato institutes’s scorecard for Governors on Fiscal Policy in 2006…
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa581/reportcard_table.html
Huck gets an F for his second term, tying with another Governor as worst Republican governor on the list in fiscal matters, and only four DEMOCRATS rank worse…
Huck is snowing Conservatives. He started off fairly conservative, but after two terms in office he became a flat-out nanny-stater… He may have shrunk in size, but he “grew” in office in that horrible way that so many bureaucrats do.
True, well-founded ideology is the only way to blunt the pressures and temptations of growing in office. That’s what we need.
daviddunn on November 10, 2007 at 7:19 PM
Bryan…. why is the video area blank? I also can’t find it on the Club for Growth site?
MsUnderestimated on November 11, 2007 at 5:29 AM
forget my last comment, Bryan…. my PC is having its period…
MsUnderestimated on November 11, 2007 at 5:32 AM
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