The Huck-ster?
Friday October 26, 2007
Categories: Republicans
A sure sign that Huckabee's rise is starting to freak some people out: lots of negative stuff about him is coming out. The thing is, it's fairly substantive. John Fund writes about how he personally likes Huckabee, but he governed...
Filed Under: casting stones, Huckabee
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About Crunchy Con
Rod Dreher is an editorial columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and author of "Crunchy Cons" (Crown Forum), a nonfiction book about conservatives, most of them religious, whose faith and political convictions sometimes put them at odds with mainstream conservatives. The views expressed in this blog are his own.
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Rod,
Come on, your a journalist. Shouldn't you at least try to see the other side before passing on this sort of stuff? I like Fund but his article is weak. Quoting Phyllis Schlafly? Why didn't he point out that she doesn't like any of the other leading candidates because they are "pro-globablization?" And delving into Baptist politics is just silly.
As for the talk about Huckabee's fiscal conservatism, I'd encourage everyone to take a look at his record for themselves instead of relying on groups like The Club for Growth. The Club for Growth believes that state sales taxes should never be increased to pay for such entitlements as education, Medicare, highways, and economic development.
Most Americans—and most conservatives—are not minarchists (and I doubt you are either, Rod). I do not think the fiscal conservative bona fides of a man who cut taxes and fees almost 100 times, saving the taxpayers almost $380 million, and left a surplus of nearly $850 million should be denigrated because he took such actions as implementing a 1/8-cent sales tax hike
This guy makes a good case that much of Fund's evidence of Huckabee's fiscal non-conservatism consists of pointing to state road taxes passed by a referendum (not by Huckabee) and to school taxes ordered by the Arkansas Supreme Court (not by Huckabee).
Please, everyone make sure you read the link provided by Stuart after you read Fund's column.
In the Dumond case ...
Look, I have no doubt Huck will be Willie Hortoned on it by both parties, should he get that far. (Particularly given the Clintons' close connection to the case -- the original rape victim in Arkansas apparently had direct personal ties to them.) Heck, Dukakis was Willie Hortoned by both parties -- it's often forgotten that sainted AL GORE used the issue against Dukakis before Bush 41.
But it's worth noting that someone took their own revenge for the original rape in the most graphic possible way -- Dumond had been **PHYSICALLY CASTRATED.** He's also served 14 years in jail; and the release was (supposed to be) a parole, not a clemency.
Huckabee can hardly be blamed morally for thinking the guy wasn't a recidivism risk (as he tragically proved to be in the Missouri case); but that won't stop the political blame, of course.
Funny, I mentioned Huck on another topic a few weeks ago and got zero response. Good to see he is at least getting some consideration.
I agree that Huckabee's record must be viewed in the context of a dem legislature. Unlike Bush who enjoyed a loyal (if not rabid) Republican base and legislature plus a 100% Rep. cabinet (elected) Huck came in to hostile territory and had to navigate it to get things done rather than incur gridlock.
In my opinion he's a conservative idealist that is a breath of fresh air. New ideas rather than recycling all the old.
When was the rule passed that any non-Libertarian-blessed economic/fiscal move is "liberal"? Huck's a quasi-populist. That's why he's liked around here. Of course the every-man-for-himself community-is-a-conspiracy-against-the-rich crowd are not going to try to submarine him.
correction: are going to try to submarine him.
I've read the good and the bad on Huckabee for some time. John Fund's piece confirmed what any person can find on their own just by using google and the Arkansas government websites. A record is a record. The question is will Huckabee be honest about it or try to excuse it? He seems to be choosing the later, either by blaming the agenda driven Club for Growth or he seems to say he did the best I could with a democratic legislature). But if he's going to let the Dems walk all over him in Arkansas, what does that tell us will happen in DC? A lot.
Like it or not, the governer takes the heat for what goes on in his state. Running away from his record, by blaming the democrats or agenda driven conservatives is not helpful and certainly not presidential qualities I would hope for in a conservative Christian candidate.
His last line of defense seems to be his willingess to sign the "No Tax Pledge." Given his record in Arkansas, his signing of the pledge as a distinct "read my lips" quality to it that could come back to bite us in the wallet if Huckabee makes it as the nominee and into the White House.
This 2002 Arkansas Times article lays out the basis for the concerns about Huckabee's parole of
Dumond. http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=154e1aad-fd18-4efd-8d80-b5dab8559419 .
If the Republicans with to continue being beholden to the fundies, then they'll nominate Huckabee. If they nominate Giuliani, that doesn't necessarily mean that they've ceased to fear the fundies, but it would suggest that they're no longer willing to be owned by them.
I'm terrified of a Giuliani presidency (and equally terrified of a Clinton Redux presidency), but would love to see the GOP call the Christianists' bluff.
Just my $0.02 (Canadian dollars ;-)
Rod, here's the thing... The John Fund piece has been pretty thoroughly refuted. First, by a long-time newspaper editor from Arkansas. Second, by the president of the Arkansas Health Care Assocation. And third, by Governor Huckabee himself:
http://roebuckreport.blogspot.com/2007/10/funds-column-assassination-of-huckabee.html
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=563
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010794
The source of most of the vitriol is ultimately the Club for Growth, whose accusations against Huckabee have been responded to by Joe Carter of the Evangelical Outpost:
http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/004053.html
As far as the Hilyer piece... I read through every single bit, and what struck me was how many of the ethics complaints made against him were made during election years, were put forth by the same person (and dismissed again and again), or were put forth by vocal opponents. When you're a Republican governor in a heavily, heavily Democrat state, it's not that surprising that his enemies were looking for any way to take him down.
Max Brantley, executive editor of the Arkansas Times, has had a long-standing hatred of Huckabee. He slams him at every chance he gets. He even had his staff (or maybe he did it himself) type out his old articles as Word documents so he could attack Huckabee again. All of the articles are based on him and one disgruntled former state employee. Seems entirely fishy, to me.
What an informative article on "The "Huck-ster?". Yes lots of negative stuff about him is coming out.I thought i was a terrific writer, however after reading your article i had to alter my thoughts.
........................
James Chapel
Addiction Recovery Arkansas
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