There was nothing in the Huckabee interview to inspire any get-me-rewrite frenzy among the reporters. But his morning-after-the-election comments do convey the minefield that social conservative politicians (and putative 2012 candidates) have to negotiate in dealing with the GOP’s angry, tempest-in-a-teabag right flank. Asked about the vicious Republican divisions in Tuesday’s upstate New York House election (23rd Congressional District) won by the Democrats, Huckabee said, “Politics is not theology. In theology, things are pretty clear – left, right, up, down, black, white, heaven, hell. It’s real simple stuff. Politics is not as pure. It never has been. It never will be.” The problem, Huckabee concedes, is that Republican purists want a litmus test party as they say, in effect, “It has to be just like me – and nothing but.”
Unlike Palin, who endorsed on Facebook the losing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in New York’s 23rd district, Huckabee stayed on the sidelines without even a single tweet. He was troubled by Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava’s liberal views on social issues (pro-abortion rights and gay marriage), but he was not willing to join Hoffman’s third party uprising that drove Scozzafava from the race. “I feel sorry for people like Newt Gingrich, who was just excoriated over his support for Dede,” Huckabee said, casting his lot with the practical politicians. As for Palin, whose neon-lit celebrity appears to irk Huckabee, he sniffed, “She apparently did not have a big impact on the ultimate outcome.”
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How courageous of him to come in after the fact and critique people’s endorsements.
mizflame98 on November 5, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Give me a break. Why does Huck think Hoffman suddenly gained support and financial contributions? I’m disappointed in his comment. He sounds like any other politician.
Red State State of Mind on November 5, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Huck is a bitter, cunning, snide little man with a terrible jealousy problem.
Other than that he makes a fine tv host…
katy on November 5, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Huckabee 2012!
El_Terrible on November 5, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Huckabee really likes ripping on other people, doesn’t he? Hardly fitting, given the image he likes to project.
Slublog on November 5, 2009 at 9:32 PM
How’s that fried squirrel treatin ya, Huck?
Brian1972 on November 5, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Huck profiles in being a coward….yes I want a leader that never goes out on a limb and carries grudges (club for growth)
Mitt and Huck epic fail in NY23
unseen on November 5, 2009 at 9:34 PM
“Those Who Stand For Nothing, Fall For Anything” – Alexander Hamilton
JimAK on November 5, 2009 at 9:34 PM
What a vengeful jerk for being a Christian. She didn’t have much impact? She turned that election around and gave Hoffman a chance.
True_King on November 5, 2009 at 9:34 PM
If Huck becomes pres. I’m moving to Aruba.
Amadeus on November 5, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Huck made me sick during the primaries and he makes me even sicker now. What a jerk he is. And could he be more green with envy over Sarah Palin? He’s laughable.
beachgirlusa on November 5, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Ummm…Huck endorsed Hoffman too so obviously he didn’t have a big outcome either.
deidre on November 5, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Can we at least have one who does not endorse the the other party’s candidate against her own party….?
Is that too much to ask Huck ? How about someone who at least supports the party after calling herself a Republican and then taking all their money. When Romney and Giuliani lost out to McCain they didn’t throw their support behind Obama now did they ?
NeoKong on November 5, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Huckaturd.
the_nile on November 5, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Huck, she’s going to beat you like a rented mule.
CDeb on November 5, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Huck’s just mad because when Palin endorsed Hoffman, he went from the high-teens in support to 40% support; and when Huck finally endorse him, he ended up losing…
deidre on November 5, 2009 at 9:42 PM
The true face of upchuck huck makes an apperance.
Clyde5445 on November 5, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Didn’t have a big impact? A no-name 3rd party candidate with no charisma at all gets 45% of the vote?
Huck needs to go crawl off in the same bunker with Newt and Mitt.
PrincipledPilgrim on November 5, 2009 at 9:42 PM
She had more of an impact than you did, Huck. Just stay on the sidelines. That’s the best place for you.
ddrintn on November 5, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Woah, lets not go overboard. Mitt did not endorse Dede McManBearPig and that speaks volumes.
/sarc
El_Terrible on November 5, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Ahhhh he got out foxed by the Arctic Fox.
Clyde5445 on November 5, 2009 at 9:46 PM
What a twit this guy is. I will NEVER vote for him should he become the nominee. I voted for McCain against my better judgment (and because Palin was a breath of fresh air). I will not vote for this snake oil salesman with baptist credentials. No way, No how.
KickandSwimMom on November 5, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Me either. I’ll vote third party before I’d vote for that sniping little weasel.
ddrintn on November 5, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Thanks but no thanks, Huck.
Hey, maybe if you get Bill Clinton on your show you can play your guitar while Bill blows in his sax. Stick with what you know.
darwin-t on November 5, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Iowa 2012
SouthernGent on November 5, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Oh, right Huck!
DEDE RUNS OFF WITH $900 FRAKKING LARGE OF OUR MONEY AND ENDORSES OWENS AND YOU’VE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT?
I hope Sarah Palin beats you like Gordie Howe beats a Carmelite Nun in a drunken rage in the Seventh Game of the Stanley Cup.
Go back to your hideously bad show, which probably gets it’s teehinie kicked by MSNBC’s “Lockup: True Stories of Fabulously Gay Men In Prison” every frakking week.
900 Large! No problemo! Let’s all hold hands and praaaaaayyyyy…..
victor82 on November 5, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Maybe Allah will main post this, It would be a great distraction to the otherwise sorrowful day.
It Newt in reverse.
Clyde5445 on November 5, 2009 at 9:52 PM
I cannot wait until Palin stomps your arse Huck. You are an angry, bitter, back stabbing turd.
davek70 on November 5, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Good Point. Better Headline: Hoffman lost because of Chuckles last minute endorsement. Huck can suck it.
Amadeus on November 5, 2009 at 9:53 PM
I know that the great Gordie Howe would never actually raise his hand against a Blessed Carmelite Nun, but Huck deserved that….
victor82 on November 5, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Newt, Huck and Mitt have now officially killed their chances of ever running for anything ever again.
Sarah, Fred, Tim are leading the pack so far.
At least we’ve eliminated the waste… early!
katy on November 5, 2009 at 9:58 PM
If Huck becomes pres. I’m moving to Aruba.
Amadeus on November 5, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Don’t pack your bags. The only way Huckles is going to the White House is if President Palin graciously invites him there.
NebCon on November 5, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Right On my friend!
Amadeus on November 5, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Wow, everyone loves a Monday morning quarterback, Huck.
There seems to be a new Republican version of political correctness that says it’s unfair to expect Republicans to be conservative. Huckabee reminds me of everything that is wrong with liberals.
Dongemaharu on November 5, 2009 at 10:05 PM
This guy is such a slimeball.
WisCon on November 5, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Huck is an ass.
Dusty on November 5, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Moose stew – not squirrel soup.
Ted Torgerson on November 5, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Dork.
And he sucks on bass.
John the Libertarian on November 5, 2009 at 10:18 PM
What a cheap shot. He is what we are trying to rid the party of…….
Ghostbuster on November 5, 2009 at 10:19 PM
The only way Huck would have a big impact on anything is if he sat on it.
ElectricPhase on November 5, 2009 at 10:27 PM
ha!
katy on November 5, 2009 at 10:28 PM
I’m ready to go now. I don’t know if I can stand 3 more years of President Giggles.
Is private gun ownership legal in Aruba?
UltimateBob on November 5, 2009 at 10:34 PM
+ 1 billion for the Gordie Howe reference alone…
…but also for pointing out that Huckster, RiNewt, Steele Head and “The GOP Brain Trust” not seeming to give a crap that The Scuzz took their “Big Tent” for a 900 grand ride and then shanked them by endorsing a Democrat as well as robo-calling for said Dem, an act I’ll bet money she’ll repeat multiple time next year.
The man can’t stand someone stealing “his” spotlight…such as it must seem to be in his own mind.
Sorry, Huckster.
“All your social cons are belong to her!”
SuperCool on November 5, 2009 at 10:35 PM
So, what is Huck having for breakfast tomorrow?
Sorry, I forgot. The polls haven’t come back yet showing which way the wind is blowing, so he can’t decide until he’s told what to decide. He’ll probably know a bit after noon, once there’s a consensus.
gekkobear on November 5, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Huck, Thanks for showing us your hand. You have removed all doubt about your true nature.
Sit on the sidelines and THEN give us your retrospective armchair analysis—YOU COWARD.
Geochelone on November 5, 2009 at 10:57 PM
He voted present?
- The Cat
MirCat on November 5, 2009 at 10:58 PM
The are some GOP candidates I don’t like but could potentially vote for (while holding my nose).
However, if the Huckster is nominated, I will not only vote 3rd party, I will work tirelessly day and night to make sure he loses.
Norwegian on November 5, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Definition of ‘litmus test’:
A test in which a single factor (attitude, event or fact)is decisive or determines the outcome.
What many people fail to understand that as actors should be judged on their body of work and not on one performance, that political decisons or endorsements are not made based on only a single factor but on an evaluation of one’s belief system or the various issues one has addressed.
Sarah Palin does not ask for a litmus test before endorsing someone. She analyzes the entire body of work: fiscal, economic, defense, social etc.
technopeasant on November 5, 2009 at 11:32 PM
The Huckster is scared $hitless, too.
Mirimichi on November 5, 2009 at 11:37 PM
At least she got in the arena, Huck.
yogi41 on November 5, 2009 at 11:38 PM
I would not mind the GOP giving the huckster 900 large to go away. Maybe he can help Nicolas Cage out and buy one of his islands and create the land of huck.
As far as hockey fights go I partial to Doug Gilmore getting PWNED by Super Joe
jdkchem on November 5, 2009 at 11:54 PM
LOL
beachgirlusa on November 6, 2009 at 12:05 AM
It’s one thing if Huckabee doesn’t care for Palin. It’s another if he says crap like this and proves it, thereby alienating a good part of the base. Smooth move Ex Lax.
Erich66 on November 6, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Right. If he wants to be president, he’ll learn to keep his mouth shut. The left doesn’t, and never will, like him and there just aren’t enough “moderates” out there to get him elected.
ncborn on November 6, 2009 at 1:08 AM
LMFAO!!! First, it’s HISTORIC that a DEM beats a PUB in a RED district, then Palin had no effect in getting a true conservative to d@mn near beat the donkey with about a weeks prep time????
Can you smell that?
Fighton03 on November 6, 2009 at 2:33 AM
Bite me, you coward.
Hawkins1701 on November 6, 2009 at 4:12 AM
Aside from a single shot takedown of a RINO and bringing clarity to the choices for future elections, nope no big impact. Well there MAY be the factor that for the next few years when people think about Election 2009 they will also think of Palin. Huck, not so much.
MikeA on November 6, 2009 at 6:43 AM
Man, I hate this guy. How the heck is he coming out so high on the straw polls?
S. Weasel on November 6, 2009 at 7:38 AM
Simple really. A lot of people polled will vote for Obama in 2012, no matter who is running on the right. So if bewtween now and then they prop up a weak GOP candidate to get him nominated, Obama will win. How do you think we ened up with McCain in 08? He was endorsed by the left to be their chosen rival. If we allow that to happen again we probably deserve what we get.
MikeA on November 6, 2009 at 7:48 AM
The smarmy puke is such a weasel…
tree hugging sister on November 6, 2009 at 7:55 AM
Sarah Palin made two postings on Facebook in favor of Hoffman. And as a result – his contributions shot up over $200,000 in 24 hours.
He lost a very confusing and divisive election. And he can run again for it 12 months.
Barack Obama spent WEEKS campaigning for John Corzine in New Jersey. The DNC poured millions into his campaign. In the closing days – the Obama White House personally took over the management of his campaign.
Corzine lost in a BLUE STATE STRONGHOLD. In a three man race – his opponent achieved a near majority of voters (49% and could go higher in the final tally). That seat is lost to Democrats for at least four years.
Now you tell me – who took the bigger blow? Sarah Palin for making two face book postings? Or Barack Obama for sinking every once of credibility he had left into Corzine?
Nuff said.
HondaV65 on November 6, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Let’s see, seems to me that Newt himself was sorry about being an idiot. And when Scozzafava retired from the race, that was a victory for every conservative right there and a clear message to the RNC — hey Michael can you hear us now? Hoffman came within a few votes of winning outright after his late start. Thanks to Palin, Thompson and Bachmann.
Christian Conservative on November 6, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Huckabee is showing us (feeling sorry for Newt) and discounting Palin just where his values are.
Christian Conservative on November 6, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Ask Dede about that one. Or Joe Biden, who physically stumped in NY while Palin sat at her keyboard.
cs89 on November 6, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Someone has either been hitting the bottle recently or has no firm grasp on reality.
Well said. Seems like a no-brainer, but some just live in an alternate reality.
rukiddingme on November 6, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Only that?
Count to 10 on November 6, 2009 at 10:20 AM