Mike Huckabee hints at a hidden agenda

Unless you're a conscientious blogger who dislikes time off on weekends, nobody in their right mind pores over all the blather from the networks' Sunday morning television talk shows with their "exclusive" interviews of people who were exclusive interviews on another channel just seven mornings ago.

But today a perceptive question by wily news veteran Bob Schieffer on CBS' "Face the Nation" caught our eyes, almost as much as Mike Huckabee's answer. Huckabee's been criticized by all kinds of conservative interest clubs for raising some taxes to rebuild Arkansas roads (while cutting others), for funding education and working with teachers' unions, for paroling some prisoners (while executing 16 others). He may, in fact, be too moderate to win the GOP nod, despite being elected four times in a Democratic state.

So Schieffer wanted to know something about the longshot turned front-runner: Are you running to change the Republican Party as well as running for the nomination?

And here's Huckabee's reply in its entirety:

I am a Republican. And I am out to change the Republican Party. It needs changing. It needs to be inclusive of all those people across America for whom this party should stand.

And it's not just the people on Wall Street. It's the people on Main Street. And there are a lot of people in America that come up and shake my hand. They get out of cabs. They come from behind the skycap counter and they tell me that they appreciate the fact that I understand what it's like to struggle.

The Republicans are not just a group of people who sit at the top. They're people who sit around their kitchen table and worry about how they're going to pay their rent.

I think sometimes there's this perception that Republicans all belong to the same club. Well, the one club they belong to is loving this country and loving its future and wanting to do the best for their children. I think I represent those folks.

I'm not angry at all the folks at Wall Street. In fact, I think my policies would do more for them, but it wouldn't just be for them. It would also be for those guys that don't necessarily have a stock portfolio. It would be also for the people who don't have a lobbyist in Washington.

When we do the kind of policies that I'd like to see happen in terms of taxes and regulation, a guy could sit down at his kitchen table, sketch out the idea for a small business, and know that the government isn't his biggest opposition, that he actually might be able to live the American dream. And that's what Republicans ought to be about, helping not just big business but small business as well.

Kinda makes you wonder, while we all tend to focus on the early states and each day's noisy rhetorical fireworks about sanctuary cities and illegal lawn cutters and planting forum questions and hedge funds and arrogance and 527 funds and whether the corner of a bookshelf looks like a cross, kinda makes you wonder if maybe there's a more fundamental struggle, a silent one, going on at least in the Republican Party over the shape of its political personality.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Oscar]

Huckabee is for me!

He appeals to moderates and progressives too!

He needs to be the Republican nominee.

[Winghunter]

The Huckster's record, reinvention of himself and his policies scare the heckster right out of me.

Two high elected republican ex-officials from Arkansas actually traveled to Iowa just to make sure the voters knew the truth about him....can you believe that??

(Wonder who paid their expenses for that trip?)

[Brian D. Hindman]

I watched Mike Huckabee this morning and thought the above quote was the highlight of the show. It was intriguing and well-said. The Republican party, to which I count myself a member, has been courting the "regular folks" (including a large Christian contingent) for years. We (I am a Christian as well) have heard en masse and responded with votes and lots of them. We have "seen the light" when it comes to lowering taxes, limiting government, strengthening the military, etc. But, now that we have a frontrunner that reflects us a little better -- a candidate that is not afraid to say he's "Christian" and tackles problems with an unapologetic Christian worldview -- the Republican party is showing how elitist it can really be. Huckabee, with no money and no media machine is connecting with us. At the moment, the elites are not (that goes for much of "Talk Radio" as well). My message to the Republican party elites is "trust us". We have learned, but we also have some wonderful things to offer the Republican party, such as... well... for one thing, a future...

[Joyce Kennedy]

Gov. Romney not only paid all the expenses of those two Arkansas politicians, it was he who sought them out, hired them and paid them royally to remember how much they didn't like him. It's amazing what people who aren't under oath will remember when money is offered. Don't take my word for it ..... look it up!

[Steve W]

MIKE HUCKABEE THE REAL "CHRISTIAN LEADER"....

FACT: Mike Huckabee stole over $70,000 worth of furniture from the Arkansas governors mansion.

Google: Counting the furniture Huckabee takes his office furniture; a conflict on Mansion gift. (Source: Arkansas Times 12/14/06 Leslie Newell Peacock)

FACT: Mike Huckabee set up a nonprofit entity so he could give paid ``inspirational'' speeches without having to disclose the donors.

Google: Huckabee's Boom May Be About Ready to Bust: Margaret Carlson (SOURCE: Bloomberg Dec 12, 2007 Margaret Carlson)

[Mary Stewart]

Huckabee not only needs to be the Republican nominee, he needs to be President of the United States Of America. When a governor in Arkansas, Mike Huckabee probably upset a few people. Sure, because he had to cut the school budget, as it was not self supportive. He attempted to unify a very Democratic State under a Republican leader (himself). That being the task, of course he's going to hurt some Republicans' feelings/strongholds. He had to pull both groups together to improve that state's struggling education system. In the meantime, he improved the conditions of the bridges and roads that were becoming unsafe. He is a candidate that is unowned by big business, the lobbyists on capitol hill and the mass media. His phenomenal campaign success on a shoestring budget should be a clue that America is going to love Huckabee. Iowa already does.

[Ian]

Doesn't look like a "hidden agenda" to me - when he's out there on national television stating what he wants to do! He's making a statement that needs making. The Republicans haven't done the best job of "living their [political] creed." Huckabee is quite perceptive to this and, I believe, is doing a masterful job of reframing the debate while at the same time distinguishing himself from the troubled Republican status quo. Economically, with his advocacy of the FairTax ( http://snipr.com/fthuckabeeonirs ), he is making Wall Street nervous. They have been the one's in charge over tax policy, and how the current system benefits the wealthy elite - and the not-so-scrupulous-elite - ( http://snipr.com/nakedshortgdarkside ) in our society. However, he's looking at how the tax system has failed the working American ( http://snipr.com/nextrung ) and he's piggy-backing a tenacious and growing national FairTax movement ( http://snipr.com/becomeamember ), setting the agenda on tax reform even before he becomes President.

[Mary Stewart]

In reading that article about the supposedly stolen furniture, it seems the whole thing involved a mix up between Williams and Huckabee's attorneys. The whole thing is still awaiting consideration by the proper authority in the matter. I actually read the whole article and not just the first few lines, Steve W. After checking the first accusation and finding it sensationalized, I scoffed at all your other allegations, for to me you have proven yourself a liar already.

[Tom]

Finally a candidate that has some guts...the tax system should be abolished. Too many people don't pay their fair share while others get killed. The national sales tax makes everyone pay taxes...no matter if you get paid under the table, you get paid tips, or if you simply lie on your taxes. Same with auto insurance, pay for it when you get gas $.05 per gallon...you drive a lot you pay more, your drive less so you pay less, no more of the 4 in 10 people uninsured motorists.

[Will Argyle]

I like Huckabee. I like Billy Carter. I want neither for President.

Huckabee is smooth and personable, but he's not tough or organized enough to lead the nation. Give me McCain or Romney any day.

Or better yet, Romney/McCain or McCain/Romney.

Huckabee's a one trick pony: "Look at me! I'm a Christian! I'm a Christian!"

Yesterday we wouldn't vote for Catholics; today we won't vote for Mormons; will a Methodist be the next candidate deemed 'unworthy' by the evangelical right?

Do we really want to live in a Christian version of Iran?

[DLounsbury]

Huckabee's biggest fan is the Democratic National Committe--they have yet to run and attack article on him. They have ran nearly a hundred on Romney. Hmmmm I wonder who they are the most worried about? Scandal follows Huckabee--he had dozens and dozens of them while governor. Contrast that with Romney who ran a scandal free business, Olympics and government. The Dems have dirt on Huckabee and the press will take the gloves off in the general and devour him. I like Huckabee's populist message but it won't win Ohio or Michigan in the general.

[Clay Willis]

I was delighted to see the article on Mike Huckabee and the Fair Tax reform program given knowledgeable treatment by someone in the MSM. There are approximately 20 million voters in the USA who support the Fair Tax. These are people who've either followed the progress of the Fair Tax for the past 25 years or those who've discovered the reform plan by reading John Linder and Neal Boortz' "The Fair Tax Book". This program is the first proposed tax reform in my lifetime that truly does wonderful things for the low end of income earners and at the same time relieves business of the costly process of withholding and income tax reporting. It moves power from the Washington politicians and restores privacy to individual citizens and gets rid of that most hated and despised and un-American bureaucracies -- the IRS. Since everyone pays the same tax rate when they purchase at retail, it truly is a "Fair Tax" and the "pre-bate" insures that everyone making less than $60,000.00 per year gets real, true tax relief. The beauty is that it taxes the underground economy from gamblers and prostitutes to ILLEGAL aliens and removes the power of politicians to reward their contributors and big business friends with creation of new loopholes in the present system. Anyone who claims this system is unfair or overly beneficial to the "rich" is either ignorant -- does not understand the system -- or is deliberately lying about it. It's the most researched tax reform proposal every made and though no system will ever be perfect, doing away with the costly and intrusive IRS and giving a tax break to low income earners makes it worthwhile to examine carefully and not just give some knee jerk reaction to it. Most of the MSM is still obsessing over Huckabee's religion and ignoring the FACT that those 20 million voters who believe in the Fair Tax and want to see it enacted have realized that Huckabee is intelligent, a good communicator and seems to be a man of honor who will keep his word. Good work, LA Times and keep digging to see just how important Huckabee's proposing, explaining and defending the Fair Tax is going to be not only in the primaries but when he's facing the "tax and spend" Democrats in November 2008.

[Dave]

Huckabee sure doesn't act like a christian and I was him would be telling everyone I was a christian with his record. He is nothing more than a smooth talking, do as I tell you, not as I do TV evangelist. Case in point...
1. Lied about the reasons why he raised taxes in Arkansas. See Youtube.
2. Hundreds of thosands of gifts from people, then gave those same people government paid appointments. $53000 from one guy alone and $112000 in one year alone. See NBC report on Youtube
3. Wanted to give "in-state" college tuition pricing to children of illegals, but US Citizens from other states have to pay "out-of-state" fees to Arkansas state colleges and universities. This is immorally wrong. see Youtube
3. Son caught a stray dog, hung it from a tree and slit it's throat. He was accused of asking the state police not to investigate. That's what I call family values. See CNN story on Youtube

As a christian, I am offended by his behavior and his families behavior and they are hurting our religion, not helping it. The truth is out there and it isn't really hard to find, don't be sheep and blindly follow this pied piper down the road to death and destruction to our constition and our country.

[grassboots]

Winghunter asks:

Two high elected republican ex-officials from Arkansas actually traveled to Iowa just to make sure the voters knew the truth about him....can you believe that??

(Wonder who paid their expenses for that trip?)

RON PAUL! (Surprise! Its the one who thinks that anyone to his left - and who isn't? - is a fascist!)

[Joseph]

We are proud to announce the new President: "Mike Huckabee"!

He is the only one who appeals to the majority of Americans...Regardless...

[JoplinJimmy]

Join the growing grassroots support for the only authentic, articulate conservative who has the momentum needed to WIN--Mike Huckabee. Don't take my word for it. Check him out for yourself, and find out why average Americans are coming out of the woodwork and joining his campaign:
www.mikehuckabee.com

[Robert W Logsdon]

I like Mike because he likes www.fairtax.org.
I am voting for the future of this counry that I love.
www.fairtax.org will make the dollar strong and bring back good paying jobs.

RWL in SW ILt

[Wilton Jere Tidwell]

Anyone who cannot keep evading taxes or are politically connected, getting politicians to vote them favors, hates the FairTax.
All patriots are for this FairTax, because they realize that is the only way to preserve democracy in the USA.
A professor at a universary in Scotland, in about 1776, said Democracy always fails when voter find out they can vote politicians into office and keep them there, who will give them benefits from the treasury, paid for by a minority. Well we are there and the FairTax is our only salvation.
25 million voters is a large block, which any sane politician would not ignore.
Don't vote for the insane---vote for Gov. huckabee..
Wilton Jere Tidwell, Huntley IL

[Ward Ciac]

The real struggle is between scandalous politicians like the take-every-gift Huckster who will flip flop and say anything for a vote, and the few with honesty and integrity who maintain their position like Ron Paul.

[Shane L]

Neither Huckabee nor Romney should get the rebublician nomination. Any politician who uses their religion to advance votes is a scum. To be a proper witness to their beliefs they should just let their actions do the talking not exploit their faith through politics.

Does anyone else see how 'wrong' this is, what they do?

I don't even like McCain as a person or a politician, but I would rather see that guy get the nomination before those other two phonies.

[Jeff S.]

Andrew, I don't see why you are not more skeptical of a polished liar and opportunist like Huckabee. Huckabee has lied about his record, he has proven himself an opportunist by changing his policies and his rhetoric to pander to the constituency and race that he is running for... He is a smooth talker, maybe a natural, but a con-artist can also be a smooth talker.

To assume that Huckabee's hidden agenda is an altruistic one to cause the Republican party to reach out to the middle class and working class I think is terribly naive.

I assume that Huckabee's agenda is simple: to amass as much political power and the wealth it brings, and to do it if he has to pander, lie, and/or do unethical things.

The vast majority of politicians are trained liars. One glaring exception is Ron Paul, a true man of integrity and prinicipled consistency.

[Steven W.]

I am a medical student who lives in Arkansas, and the claim that Huckabee had "dozens and dozens" of scandals is complete hyperbole. The very few questionable instances that did occur during his tenure in the state have come out in the national news already. Let him be held accountable for those, but do not try to levy scores of additional charges against the man when only a minimal number of controversial items exist. To do so is unethical and more than a little hypocritical.

[Progressive Independent]

the democrats are just as stupid to arrogantly dismiss Huckabee as the greedy bigoted republican rich and powerful establishment who have created their fundamentalist theocraticevango-fascist monster and don't want to live with the consequences. Huckabee may not be very educated but he's smart like a fox and he has a grasp on the truly silent usually compliant sheeplike naives who have bought the republican manipulation for the past 30 years.

Other than John Edwards, I don't think the privileged, equally rigid, equally blind sycophants of the democratic party really have a handle on the working/middle class discord either. An incoherent, lazy approach to immigration is likely to be one of the reasons that democrats may lose the white house in 08.

At least Huckabee has recognized a major voting block (of repubs, dems and independents) increasingly fearful about their and their childrens' well being who are having serious discomfort with the establishment republican LIARS and FRAUDS of the past 30 years -- the dems would do well to pay attention.

[Jose L. Martinez, M.Ed.]

Huckabee?? Why does this country keep looking to Religious Fanatics to lead and govern? We've had eight yrs of Christian Conservatism and look at us now. People in this country need to start reading more informational magazines, newspapers, and other sources of information, but not just from the US(or a pastor who received an M.Div from a closed minded Bible College) but from all over the world.
It's really sad what the US has become. I love this country, but I’ am just really disappointed with what this country has become

[louis gander]

Mike Huckabee is FOR the people - and except for a few ELITE special-interest liberal Republicans - I see an EXCELLENT reason to move away from them and give Washington back to the people again.... IF THAT is a "hidden agenda", I'm ALL FOR IT!

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"Do we really want to live in a Christian version of Iran?
Posted by: Will Argyle | December 23, 2007 at 11:21 PM"

Saddam killed tens of THOUSANDS of INNOCENT women and children and invaded Kuwait. America took Saddam OUT of Kuwait AND took Saddam OUT of Iraq to save many thousands more people. There is NO similarity Will.
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And John, get your news somewhere other than uTube.

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Get used to hearing, "President Mike Huckabee"....
The MOST experienced, the MOST qualified.