Here is what I think is the best endorsement ad of the campaigns so far. Of course I'm prejudiced, I've always been a big fan of Chuck Norris. And this is a Huckabee blog after all, so it's a two-fer . . .
The Gov. was on Face the Nation Sunday with Bob Schieffer. Here's the transcript of the interview:
SCHIEFFER: Turning now to politics back home, developments on the campaign trail last week are causing long-shot Republican presidential candidates Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee to be taken more
seriously. Paul has barely scratched in the polls, but in one day on the Internet last week he raised more than $4 million. Huckabee hasn't raised much money, but suddenly he is running second in Iowa where the first votes will be cast. We'll talk to Paul shortly, but first, Mike Huckabee.
The New York Times said the other day, Governor, you've become the flavor of the week. And I noticed that the executive director of the Republican Party out in Iowa now says that you could--you could win Iowa, in his estimation. Has anything changed in your campaign? Or why this sudden attention that you're getting?
HUCKABEE: Well, we like to think that maybe the Chuck Norris endorsement. People are now afraid not to vote for me. But whatever the reason, I can tell you this, Bob, it's on fire. And in Iowa earlier this week, we would have two and three times--sometimes four times the size of crowds we were anticipating or prepared for. In New Hampshire it's been the same thing. And these are not just people who
kind of come casually. These are folks who are ready to sign up, and who are ready to walk through eight feet of snow to get to the polls. We've had to upgrade our Web server three times in one week. We've had to hire people to answer the phones and come in and open the mail. So something's working. I don't know all to explain it myself. I think it's a combination of a lot of people praying and a lot of people working, but it's really happening, and it's pretty exciting for us.
SCHIEFFER: And for those who don't follow these things as closely as I do perhaps, Chuck Norris, of course, is the kickboxing champion who was the star of "Walker, Texas Ranger." You're also getting attacked by some of the other candidates now, Governor. I noticed that Fred Thompson said the other day that you are just a pro-life liberal. What's your response to that?
HUCKABEE: Well, Bob, as you know, the Hollywood writers are on strike, and Fred's kind of hurting for some lines, and that's the best he could come up with. He's only half right. I am pro-life, but far from a liberal, and he certainly should know that. I mean, I managed the state budget, every year balanced it, left the state with a surplus, cut taxes 94 times, passed pro-life, family-friendly legislation, strong defender of the Second Amendment. Give me a litmus
test of conservative issues, and I pass the test.
But you know what? This is a sign that we're very alive. It's a real form of flattery when you start getting attacked because no hunter points his gun at a dead carcass. You only shoot for the things
that you want to put on the wall, so--Abraham Lincoln once said, Bob, that when he got ran out of town on a rail, `If it weren't for the honor of it, I'd just as soon pass.' I kind of feel that way about some of the attacks we've endured over the past couple of weeks. And frankly, they're going to get worse. We understand that. We're braced for it. But, you know, I survived Arkansas politics, became an elected Republican, which is a pretty oddity--a pretty rare oddity in that state. And I'm sure we'll be seeing some more of that before it's over.
SCHIEFFER: Governor, you were also a Baptist minister at one point in your life. You've obviously have been seeking the evangelical vote. What do you make of Pat Robertson endorsing Rudy Giuliani?
HUCKABEE: I can no more explain that than I can, you know, him saying he prayed the hurricane off the coast. I just don't fully understand it. I salute Rudy for getting it, wish I'd had it, but I don't. But here's the good news for me. I believe that, if you look at the value voter debates over the past several weeks, we've won every one of them, not just by a squeak, but got more votes than all the other candidates put together. In Washington, in South Carolina and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. So if--even if so that some, not all, but a few of the leaders of some in the Christian movement are confused and not sure who to support, the followers are pretty clear
about it, and they have overwhelmingly rallied to us. And frankly, I'd rather have thousands of supporters than just one of the leaders from time to time.
SCHIEFFER: Well, do you think that this means that abortion is not going to be an issue, at least in the race for the Republican nomination? Are evangelicals and others--because I noticed various leaders in the evangelical movement are endorsing different candidates at this point--do you think that this is not going to be the issue that it has been in the past?
HUCKABEE: It's a moral position. And one of the things that becomes troubling is when candidates say, `Well, I believe in the sanctity of life, but I want the states to decide it.' You know, Bob, when you put it in those terms, that's really the logic of the Civil War to say that morality has geographical boundaries. For those of us who believe that life is precious, that it is really representative of the heart of our society and culture, that each life has equality of worth and intrinsic value that can't be compromised, once you've made that commitment to life as one of those very special, inalienable rights that our forefathers talked about, you really don't have the opportunity to say, well, it can be different in one state than it would be in another.
SCHIEFFER: Well, let me ask you this. There's been some talk that you might be a good running mate for Rudy Giuliani if he--if he got the nomination because you're pro-life, he's pro-choice. Could you be on a ticket with Rudy Giuliani or someone else who is pro-abortion?
HUCKABEE: Well, that's a question I hope I don't have to face, and after we do so well in Iowa and New Hampshire that I get the nomination, then I won't have to face it. But it's going to be asked, and my only answer is that that's a question that is months away. Right now, Mike Huckabee's trying to be in the center ring getting the gold medal. My goal is not to see the silver or the bronze.
SCHIEFFER: But you're not ruling out something like that if something like--if you should be offered it, you're not saying right now that `I wouldn't under any circumstances accept'?
HUCKABEE: I'd rather say, would I consider Rudy to be my running mate than would I be Rudy's
SCHIEFFER: OK.
HUCKABEE: And I just don't know. I haven't figured that one out yet. But, you know, I have respect for him. At least Rudy does tell us what he thinks, and that's refreshing and that he's honest and forthright about his positions.
SCHIEFFER: Let's' talk about one thing. You've been a governor, you've dealt with domestic issues. Do you have any experience whatsoever in the area of foreign policy?
HUCKABEE: You know, most governors have more experience than people realize. I mean, I've traveled to nearly 40 countries. I've dealt with not only multinational trade agreements with corporations, but also with heads of state. So it's not that uncommon for governors to do trade missions and to engage in conversations with, both from a diplomatic perspective as well as a trade and cultural exchange perspective, with people across the globe, whether it's in Asia, the Middle East, where I've traveled extensively.
SCHIEFFER: Sure.
HUCKABEE: I've been to virtually every country in the Middle East, including Iraq and Afghanistan and Kuwait and Israel and Lebanon, and even Syria and a host of countries over the course of my lifetime.
SCHIEFFER: Well, let me--let me just ask you this question. If you were president right now, what would you do about Pakistan and the situation there?
HUCKABEE: Pakistan presents a unique problem. We've spent $10 billion since September 11th supposedly trying to find bin Laden and bring some level of cooperative agreements. I think President Bush has done a good job of bringing the Pakistan government and Musharraf back to reality that the suspension of the constitution is not acceptable to us. We have to understand that there is a real threat to us in Pakistan in that, if we have another terrorist attack, Bob, there's a good likelihood that it's going to be postmarked Pakistan. That's where Osama bin Laden is hiding, somewhere in those caves.
SCHIEFFER: All right. Well governor, we want to thank you for being with us this morning.
We'll be back in just a moment.
Allahpundit over at HotAir.com has posted another slam at the Gov. This one is a video of Huck talking about raising taxes on tobacco to generate $100 million for a purpose deliberately cut out of the video. The title of the post is Fat Huckabee gorges on taxes, so you can see the reasoned debate they are looking for.
I won't waste bandwidth reposting the video, but here's the information I sent to the either lazy or prejudiced Allah:
“Gov. Mike Huckabee announced Thursday his support for raising the state's tobacco tax, giving pharmaceutical discounts to Arkansas senior citizens, expanding Medicaid coverage and putting more money into Meals on Wheels and breast cancer research.” (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 03/09/01)
“One part of his approach is to trim state government to offset his tobacco settlement plan's funding of more than 400 previously unfunded state jobs. The other initiates a tobacco tax that has lain dormant in state law since 1997 and shifts funding from his tobacco settlement spending plan to increase state services favored by a number of lawmakers.
The governor said his proposal would pair [money from the tobacco settlement plan] with revenue generated by a two-part tax, including a 2.3 cent-per-pack levy on cigarettes and a 2 percent tax on all other tobacco products. The combined revenue from the tax and the smoking-cessation program would free up general revenue, and the state would increase spending on breast cancer and cervical cancer treatments, elderly services and public school nurses, all of which are priorities among many Democratic lawmakers.
The governor took pains to stress that the Republicans were not acting in a partisan manner but had resolved differences to work with Democrats. He said he knew he would need votes from Democrats to pass the dozen appropriation bills that would implement Initiated Act 1, which voters approved Nov. 7.” (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 04/05/01)
Gov. Mike Huckabee and legislative leaders acknowledge that the $ 100 million tax increase enacted during last week's special session is only a temporary budget fix if the economy doesn't improve and growth in Medicaid and other programs isn't contained.
Spending on Medicaid, corrections and education at public school and higher education levels takes up 91 percent of the state budget, the governor said. "That's where the cost is, and that's what continues to go up. They go up at a higher rate at the expense of everything else."
It would be up to Congress to make changes that would allow the state to cut its Medicaid costs, Huckabee said. Controlling spending on education and criminal justice will be up to state officials, he said… (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/11/03)
Like I said, you won't see this info on HotAir, Free Republic, TownHall or any other of the conservative elite blogs that are rooting for Rudy. These guys are just a prejudiced as any Democrat, you won't get the whole story from them. Dig for yourself, I'll provide whatever I can to help. We've got an uphill battle.
Here's a video advertisement for Huck, hopefully the first of many more to come. With the wealth of bite worthy interviews of the Gov., someone ought to be able to turn out cool vids on a regular basis.
A nice bit on the Gov. at RealClearPolitics.com by Michael Gerson yesterday. It's a general overview type article about the Gov., nothing terribly new, but it's always good to get a little love from the media.
"Huckabee is a fine debater and a compelling speaker who punches far above his fundraising weight. He has strong conservative credentials. He is solidly pro-life -- in our conversation he was highly critical of Fred Thompson's view that abortion policy should be left to the states. Huckabee supports the troop surge in Iraq. He boasts of being America's first governor to possess a concealed weapons permit."
"But he adds an element that distinguishes him from the rest of a Republican field competing for the title of Mr. Conventionality. 'I'm a conservative,' Huckabee told me. 'But if that means I have to close my eyes to poverty and hunger, I'm not going to do that.' This, he said, would be to 'refuse a larger allegiance, to my own soul, and also standing before God.'"
"'There is a disconnect,' he went on, 'between past generational leaders in Christian conservatism and their own followers.' Note the use of the word 'past.'"
"'Overall,' he says, 'the macro economy is doing very well. ... But in the micro economy -- how specific groups are doing -- there is a growing disparity between the top and the bottom, and not just the bottom.' He worries that even people with a college education are falling behind because of insurance costs and fuel price increases. 'People will only endure this for so many years before there is a revolt. But leaders in the Republican Party seem oblivious to it.'"
"This kind of talk has earned the enmity of fiscal conservatives such as the Club for Growth, which Huckabee has dismissed as the 'Club for Greed.' 'They view everything as accounting,' he told me. 'For a kid with asthma, who is sitting on the steps of a hospital -- let them (the Club for Growth) have an economic policy that doesn't care about that kid.'"
"As governor of Arkansas, Huckabee occasionally raised taxes, but mainly to do what governors are supposed to do: increase teacher pay and improve roads and parks. He is proud of extending health insurance to 70,000 Arkansas children and winning 48 percent of the African-American vote -- achievements that would be impressive to most voters, but have been received with yawns so far from most conservative and Republican leaders."
"The contrast comes on domestic policy, and here Huckabee has the strongest general election message of any Republican. Perhaps it is time for religious conservatives to suspend cynical calculation and bank-shot endorsement ploys, to re-examine another man from Hope."
"During our conversation, Huckabee's most compelling response concerned his background as a pastor. 'There isn't a social pathology that I wouldn't be able to put a face to. I've talked with a pregnant 14-year-old who hasn't been able to tell her parents, with a 17-year-old high school student who believes he is gay and doesn't know how to break the news, with parents who have a son on life support after a motorcycle accident. ... It makes me a different kind of public official, not as rigid, not blind to problems.'"
Many Blogstream members are there
already! Quotes from members: "It's like blog lite!" -- "I like the instant
gratification!" -- "Stop spectating, get in the game!"
If you have not joined in, you are really missing out!
