Andrew Stuttaford: "The idea that Gov. Huckabee could conceivably be the GOP’s presidential nominee is simply appalling"

Huckabee's Record   [Andrew Stuttaford]

There's still no sign that Mike Huckabee is going to release the text of the sermons he gave as a pastor — curious behavior, to say the least, from a candidate who has chosen to make his religious beliefs a central part of his campaign.  Other aspects of the governor's record, are however, more easy to ferret out. Here's Cato's Michael Tanner on some of them:  

On its annual governor's report card, Cato gave Huckabee an "F" for fiscal policy during his final term, and an overall two-term grade of "D." Only four governors had worse scores, and 15 Democratic governors got higher grades, including well-known liberals like Ted Kulongoski of Oregon, Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania. But Huckabee doesn't just embrace big government in the form of big taxes. He truly appears to believe that if something is a good idea it should be a federal government program. For example, having become health conscious while losing more than 120 pounds (a remarkable feat), he now calls for a national smoking ban. Because he believes that "art and music are as important as math and science" in public schools, he wants these programs funded — and thus, directed and administered — federally. Huckabee is, incidentally, the only Republican candidate for president who opposes school choice.   
 

Ugh. The idea that Gov. Huckabee could conceivably be the GOP's presidential nominee is simply appalling, and so, while I'm on the topic, is the notion (that I've seen floated around here and there) that he could be a vice-presidential pick. Just say no.     

No Laughing Matter

Below you will find some information about Governor Huckabee’s troubling record on illegal immigration, his key immigration endorser’s assessment of that record as a “disaster,” and the following on the record quote from spokesman Kevin Madden:.
 
“Mike Huckabee is known as someone who is very witty, but his record of using taxpayer dollars to provide tuition breaks to illegal immigrants is no laughing matter.  At a time when the American people are looking for leadership that will deliver stronger border security, it is clear that Mike Huckabee’s weak posture towards illegal immigration is entirely at odds with many grassroots Republicans who want stronger enforcement.”
 
-Kevin Madden, Romney for President campaign spokesman
 

 
NO LAUGHING MATTER: GOV. HUCKABEE'S TUITION BREAKS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS "A DISASTER"
 
 
The No Laughing Matter!:  A serious look at Governor Mike Huckabee's record and policy beyond the one-liners.  As in:
 
·        Governor Mike Huckabee:  "And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night."  ("Imus In The Morning," 12/4/07)
 
·        National Review:  "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate."  "In sum, conservatives should have worries about the depth and soundness of Mike Huckabee’s foreign-policy views. And staying at a Holiday Inn Express is not going to be enough to allay them."  (Editorial, "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate, National Review, 12/10/07)
 
 
Today, Gov. Huckabee Says The Jim Gilchrist Endorsement Shows That He Was Not "Soft On Immigration":
 
Gov. Huckabee:  "You know, clearly Iraq we've been through, and I think there could have been questions on immigration, in part, because some major developments.  Even though I'm being attacked on it, it was our campaign who got the endorsement of Jim Gilchrest, the founder of the Minutemen Project.  So I think the issue of soft on immigration is taken off the table for me."  (MSNBC's "Morning Joe," 12/13/07)
 
To watch Governor Huckabee, please see:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=favuJq2i-jg
 
However, Yesterday, Huckabee Supporter And Minutemen Founder Jim Gilchrist Calls Gov. Huckabee's Tuition Breaks For Illegal Immigrants "A Disaster":
 
Lars Larson:  "But I want to ask you a couple of questions. I've looked at Huckabee's record.  I've actually interviewed the Governor and I think he's a nice guy, but on illegal aliens, he's a train wreck."
 
Jim Gilchrist:  "On a couple of issues.  Offering the illegal aliens in-state tuition, that's a disaster.  And I've talked to him about that."  ("Lars Larson Show," 12/12/07)
 
To listen to Jim Gilchrist, please see:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1lWTNua5xY

 

CITIZENS UNITED FILES SUIT OVER LIMITS FOR ISSUE ADS

New Court Battle with FEC over Hillary Clinton Film

Washington, D.C. — As it prepares to release its hard-hitting political documentary, Hillary: The Movie, Citizens United, a grassroots advocacy organization, led by election law attorney James Bopp, Jr., today filed suit against the Federal Election Commission, arguing that issue-oriented television ads are protected by the First Amendment and should not be subject to disclosure requirements under McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.
At issue are sections of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act ("McCain-Feingold") that imposed a blackout period before elections on television advertisements that mentioned the name of a federal candidate -- "electioneering communications." Earlier this year, the United States Supreme Court, in Federal Election Commission vs. Wisconsin Right to Life, ruled that groups could not be prohibited from running "genuine issue ads" during the blackout period, but the FEC has insisted that such groups must still put disclaimers on the ads and file reports about the ads, including naming their contributors. Citizens United is challenging these disclosure requirements, arguing the ads for the film Hillary: The Movie, is a commercial ad, exempted in recent FEC rulemaking, and that disclosure requirements cannot be applied to such ads consistent with the First Amendment.
Citizens United has retained James Bopp, Jr., the Indiana attorney who successfully argued the Wisconsin Right to Life case.
In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court today, Bopp asserts that Citizens United "intends to publish advertisements that will meet the statutory definition of electioneering communications…but are not properly considered electioneering communications for any purpose, including disclosure, because the 'ads may reasonably be interpreted as something other than as an appeal to vote for our against a specific candidate, …are not the functional equivalent of express advocacy and therefore fall outside the scope of McConnell's holding.'"
Citizens United has asked for a injunction so that it may begin running its ads by the first of the year.
Citizens United is a national 500,000 member, conservative grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to restoring government to citizens' control and reasserting the traditional American values of limited government, free enterprise, strong families, and national sovereignty and security. Citizens United Productions is dedicated to producing thoughtful documentaries to educate citizens about significant public policy issues. Its most recent production, Rediscovering God in America, is available on DVD. Other films include "Celsius 41.11," "Border War" and "Broken Promises: The United Nations at 60.