Videos: Romney and Huckabee duel on Face the Nation
posted at 9:03 am on January 14, 2008 by Bryan
With the Michigan primary looming tomorrow, the polls are either tightening or widening, depending on which poll you look at. The RCP average has the Romney in the lead over McCain by less than a point with Huckabee in third. Govs Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee appeared on CBS Face the Nation Sunday to make their cases. Below are the complete interviews. It’s fun for the whole family, if your whole family is really into politics.
Here’s part one of Mitt Romney’s appearance on Face the Nation. In this segment he addresses the pressures of needing to win in Michigan, the state’s economy and Romney’s record in the private sector.
And part two. It begins with host Bob Schieffer asking Romney about Mike Huckabee’s tax record in Arkansas.
After Romney’s appearance, Gov. Mike Huckabee appeared on Face the Nation. In part one, Huckabee addresses the possibility of recession, economic independence, trade and taxes.
In part two, Huckabee responds to Romney’s criticism of his record in Arkansas.
In part three, Huckabee makes the case that he’s better qualified for the presidency than Romney. Huckabee also reiterates his class warfare angle against Romney’s record as a business leader.
Blowback
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Huckabee is destroying the Republican party. I can’t stand this fraud.
OKCubsFan on January 14, 2008 at 9:19 AM
The thought of even listening to video clips of HuckaGeek is repulsive to me.
I ALREADY know what a fake and a loser he really is. And i simply CANNOT STAND to watch the Geek raise his eyebrows every other word in an exaggerated fashion.
I’ve been undecided till today about who to vote for in Florida……But it is going to be Thompson, and I pray other Republicans/Conserrvatives/Independants see the dire straits and crossroads our Country is in.
awesum on January 14, 2008 at 9:35 AM
“I won’t apologize for raising the hopes and expectations of kids in Arkansas.” I’m impressed.
Typical Democrat, demagoguing every issue – what a surprise.
Huckabee must understand like 30% of what he actually tries to talk about, and it shows. Why is he still here again?
amkun on January 14, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Bryan, thanks for posting the videos. Hope you’ll understand, just now, no more than Hillary, I simply lack the stomach to listen to the inveterate mendacity of the Huckster.
Nyog_of_the_Bog on January 14, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I totally agree and had the same disgusted sentiment you express here. The question is about his raising taxes and he turns it into that pile of dung about children and roads.
GOVERNOR, the issue is about HOW you pay for government! Are you going to fund your programs on the backs of the workers of this country or are you going to cut back on waste or cut back on the programs themselves? Huckabee answered this with big, fat taxes.
Nessuno on January 14, 2008 at 9:42 AM
I am now ashamed to say I’m a Republican and a Baptist. What is this country coming to that we would even consider this loser a republican candidate!
flytier on January 14, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Huckabee is the best anti-capitalist running for president. He is basiscally John Edwards with an R in front of his name.
joncoltonis on January 14, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Seriously, when he said “I won’t apologize for having..” I thought, “wow, he’s gonna say taxes.” NOPE.
Even Bill Clinton’s taking notes off this guy.
amkun on January 14, 2008 at 9:54 AM
If Huckabee or McCain get the nomination, I’m done with the party. I’ll just throw my vote to principle rather than support these charlatans.
voiceofreason on January 14, 2008 at 9:55 AM
HE’S destroying the Republican party? It’s been happening for years. At least Bush has a solid stance on guns. Oh, wait…
Your Jewish Master on January 14, 2008 at 10:01 AM
It makes sense that a shadow dem pretending to be a republican in a democratic state can become a beloved governor because he adopts the same liberal stances that the liberals do. The liberals love it when a rep acts like a dem. And now we have the “Christian Leader” distancing himself from that by running as the Jesus candidate.
Ask Mitt how much the dems like him and then look how much he got done in spite of them.
And truckers magazine says the roads are the best? Good gravy. How much did Huck raise their taxes to pay that rag to say that?
csdeven on January 14, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Bryan – Thanks for posting this.
Huckabee on Free Trade:
It’s not fair that China can put lead in its toys and poison in dog food and we can’t. Waaaaah.
Romney did a great job, and Huck didn’t even disagree with him on the big issue he is going after McCain on, namely restoring Michagan’s status as a manufacturing center.
Buy Danish on January 14, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Ugh.
Social cons should not leave the party. Strong gov’t means WEAK families and if they follow this pseudo-Moses over the cliff they will live to regret it, not in the form of reprisals but in in the form of more gov’t dependency and wrecked families 20-30 years down the line.
Check out inner city poor families. That’s what 40 years of compassion has accomplished.
tlclark on January 14, 2008 at 10:09 AM
You know, I’ve never heard anyone say that directly before, but that totally makes sense and it’s a profoundly powerful message for small government.
Tlclark, you might have just articulated the political message that can keep the conservative coalition together, provided some candidate takes up the cause.
Nessuno on January 14, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Down with Huckafraud!
GO MITT! At least he knows what the heck he’s talking about.
Eclectic on January 14, 2008 at 10:39 AM
YJM, snort, have to agree with you there. People have been apologists and excusers for Bush for 7 years now. They just adore him, think he’s going to be on Mount Rushmore (yes, I saw that in a comment recently) but Rudy and McCain are dangerously liberal? They would both be better on government spending (uncompassionate bastards) and both have said they will increase the size of the military substantially.
Huckabee shares with Bush and McCain the unfortunate trait of slinging ugly slurs at other, more conservative republicans. That’s why Huckabee and McCain are my two least favorite GOP candidates. I don’t count RonPaul as a republican.
Let’s talk about the GOP and Ron Paul for a second though. The man has been a GOP member of the US House of Reps for how long? And the media first started writing about his racist, anti-semitic screeds in 1996, from what I’ve seen? There is something deeply wrong with a GOP that decided to let him not face vigorous primary challenges in every election since 1996.
funky chicken on January 14, 2008 at 10:41 AM
You know, I’ve never heard anyone say that directly before, but that totally makes sense and it’s a profoundly powerful message for small government.
Tlclark, you might have just articulated the political message that can keep the conservative coalition together, provided some candidate takes up the cause.
Nessuno on January 14, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Thanks. I’m flattered. Someone please send it to the Mitt and Fred campaigns stat! No need to credit me. Just do it.
Let’s nip this “social progressive cons” thing in the bud and keep the Reagan coalition alive.
tlclark on January 14, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Mitt segment 1:
1)Mitt expects the FEDERAL government investments to CHANGE the local transportation industry for the local business enterprise. Blame the federal government for state’s slump rather than keeping responsibility for state economy at state level. Recall the Louisianna Governor impeding local responsibility at Katrina’s approach and destructive path. When the locals depend on the federals to make everything right, see how well that goes in RECONSTRUCTION by visiting Katrina’s path today. Look at NYC ground zero and see how well that sight has been reconstructed by federal response.
2) Mitt promises the maintainance of current jobs as they exist today (Unions) and the resurrection of LOST mfg. job returned from abroad to Michigan as well. Promise anything for a vote, Mitt can fulfill this promise by staffing all mfg. positions with substandard wages; but that won’t improve Michigan’s economy. Just look at the shanty towns outside of San Diego, Michigan voters. There’s Mitt’s solution to the blue collar American.
3) Rather than having investing in what will improve and correct the economic slump in Michigan (more than he was/is/ever-will-be doing), Mitt’s investment in the very status quo that led Michigan into economic slump is why Michigan owes Mitt the GOLD vote. Mitt’s CONSULTING FIRM investment succeeded in being paid regardless of the result of their advice. Those who consulted are still floundering.
RINO Revisionist Mitt, Con-Liberal
maverick muse on January 14, 2008 at 10:55 AM
I refuse to watch a re-run of Dumb and Dumber.
right2bright on January 14, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I don’t know about anyone else, but when I’m hired by a man/woman, I look at them with thankfulness. And if they have to cut back my job to save the company, then that’s that. I ran a business for many years and the only time people were ever let go was for under performance or a drop in business necessitated eliminating their job. I have found that the under performers take the attitude that Huck takes.
The fact about business is that it needs to survive and the owner will do what is possible to keep it successful. If hiring 100 more people will make the business more profitable then that is what he/she will do. If having 100 extra people eating up the profits, then they have to be let go.
It’s people like Huck who fail at business and all his rhetoric attacking business owners will resonate with the under performers. But in the final analysis, for the vast majority of cases, it’s within their own power if they have a job. No owner fires people for his pleasure. You can’t count on owners to be capitalist, and making money is more important than petty statements of power.
Huck, like Carter did, will send this country down the road to near economic collapse.
csdeven on January 14, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Yeah, OK. You pardon me when I trust a successful business man over you. I believe your bias against Mitt has colored your ability to understand what he is saying.
Try watching it again and listen to what he said. Afterwards, come back and then we can discuss it rationally.
csdeven on January 14, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Ignorance is bliss!
What do you suggest? I don’t see any solutions, just a 3 part complaint.
Mitt is right when he calls Congressional meddling via regulatory behemoths like CAFE standards legislation an unfunded mandate. The federal government has been a hindrance with regulatory handcuffs, and has not done anything to countermand the effect by providing assistance in the form of R&D and so forth. The unions and unfunded health benefits are a huge problem, but they can be tackled if there are incentives to do so.
We can’t just give up on this sector of our economy and hand it over to the Asian Tiger
But, hey, if you want McCain to be the nominee, who am I to stop you.
Buy Danish on January 14, 2008 at 11:24 AM
“Mannafacturing…mannafacture.” (Cf. nucular.)
Tzetzes on January 14, 2008 at 12:06 PM
In the fourth clip, Huckabee (as usual) doesn’t answer the question. He throws a tu quoque out and then hit the talking-point. Slick bastard.
And did he really say he prefers less government?!
Tzetzes on January 14, 2008 at 12:09 PM
His knocks on capitalism in the fifth clip are disgusting…
…And so is his naive cutsey-azz puppy-dog face!
Tzetzes on January 14, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Mike Huckabee: Wahabbi Republican.
sulla on January 14, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Huckster’s better qualified than Romney to be President? Based on what? Huckster’s massive ignorance on foreign affairs? (Anybody who reads a few news headlines is better informed on current world events than that ignoramus Huckabee). I’m not crazy about Romney, but I’d take him as President over that amnesty-loving, “compassionate” (for vicious criminals), hypocritical fool Huckabee.
AZCoyote on January 14, 2008 at 1:15 PM
.
OK….all the chips are on the floor….
There is only one candidate who can stare! these fkrs dwn…
I am sorry that it isn’t
the quarter in the gumball machine & take what rolls out.
There is a REAL choice
& NOW!!! is the time to figure it out & vote.
it is not about siding w/ who’s gonna win….& all that
….it’s about sanity & reason.
.
signed: low-life musician investing in FRED!!
BECAUSE SHARIA ISN’T FUNNY! & FRED understands that!!
.
OR! how ‘Steeley Dan’ became Michael J. & no one noticed!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr5OGVEhpPc
lobosan5 on January 14, 2008 at 1:20 PM
I am amused with Huckabee’s silly attempt to loft his lack of Economic Understanding over Mitt’s proven Business Savvy.
Mitt discusses his plan and supports his direction with his record. Mitt has a grasp of what is needed.
Huckabee uses catchy phrases designed to excite the emotions of working men and women while providing no real solutions. Huckabee is a Political Fluffer
JHL on January 14, 2008 at 3:05 PM
America wants “someone who understands how to lead in a way that, when he’s completed his leading, he can get reelected.” — Mike Huckabee
Translation: “…someone who will do/say anything to get elected.”
Man, I hope he’s wrong.
Spolitics on January 14, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Romney is so fake, it’s sickening!
keepinitreal on January 14, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Mike Huckabee has a fascinating and I think unique perspective on the economic challenges we face. Listen to his speech before the Detroit Economic Club where he outlines his economic philosophy. None of the other Republicans are taking such a comprehensive look, but rather are generally just parroting the usual GOP talking points that have contributed to the lopsided economy we have now. Mitt Romney in this interview in particular sounded just like some bean counter from a board of directors. Lower taxes and R&D are some good steps, but that’s hardly going to change much long-term. We need a radical overhaul of our economic policies from top to bottom, and Huckabee understands this. I only hope those smart conservatives who haven’t descended down the “Huckabash” hole get it too.
Jared White on January 14, 2008 at 5:21 PM