Maybe Huck was righteous after all
Wednesday January 2, 2008
Categories: Republicans
Maybe Mike Huckabee's decision to pull the negative attack on Romney wasn't Eddie Haskell-like cynicism, but genuine, if utterly ham-handed. The Politico reports that the abrupt strategy change cost the cash-strapped campaign $150K. The Politico's reporting backs up early reports...
Filed Under: Huckabee, negative campaigning
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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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I'll take scatter-brained over Machiavellian any day, Rod. The folks over at NRO (and many here) have devoted themselves so whole-heartedly to making Huckabee look crafty and slimy, I'm really glad to hear this new twist. Methinks all those who see nothing but sneakiness and cynicism in Huckabee might be well-served to look in the mirror. Ever heard of projection?
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the arrogant condescension of the NRO elites isn't actually WINNING votes for Huckabee!
Thanks for posting this, Rod. I think it's important for folks to see. I was really, really discouraged after the infamous press conference: could Huckabee really be just another cynical politician? Looks like not, and for that I am thankful, come what may.
WHATEVER!! He pulled an ad and threw it in the face of journalists to grab some free ad time. Oh, $150,000 worth. excuse me. sounds like a bargain.
You don't have to do much digging to smell the stench called huckabee. He's calculating and dishonest. he expects his tribe of evangelical followers to vote him in to office or "If my own abandon me on the battlefield, it will have a chilling effect."
No amount of positive press can wash off the slime.
The fact that Huckabee proceeded to show the ad to journalists and release the ad so that it can be replayed over and over by news media outlets shows that this was calculated. If he were sincerely pulling the ad out of principle, he would have insisted that the ad be destroyed and would have refused to reveal the contents of the ad. To give you an analogy:
I make a video trashing my parents and then decide at the last minute not to post it on YouTube. However, I show it to some folks anyway who are then able to take the content and put it on Youtube. I would have to be a complete moron not to know that these folks are likely going to do just that; put this on youtube. It is no different in the case of the Huckster's ad.
okay let me get this straight: Christian politician/presidential candidate invites reporters to a press conference room (dressed down with negative signs and placards about his opponent) to swear off negative campaign and pull negative ad only to show the ad to reporters and then releases a statement that it cost him $150K to do so. That's admirable? More like disingenuous.
I don't think scatterbrained is how I would describe Huckabee, nor would I call him Machiavellian. I have been impressed with Huckabee. I think his dillusionment with Wall Street resonates with many voters. I know it does with me. There are many voters like myself that tire of hearing how 160 million retirement packages are fair and just.
I believe the real reason Huckabee is doing so well was on display when he was interviewed on Meet the Press. His eloquence on the subject of abortion was refreshing. He made no apologies, he did not call on Christ or the Bible as his authority. He defended the pro life position reasonably. His argument is one shared by millions of republicans who vote republican because of this issue. I am skeptical of his economic populism, but I do not think there are any other candidates who would go Meet the Press and argue for abortion so strongly and unashamedly. He did not hedge. I think many social conservatives will overlook his faults precisely because of this.
I don't think scatterbrained is how I would describe Huckabee, nor would I call him Machiavellian. I have been impressed with Huckabee. I think his dillusionment with Wall Street resonates with many voters. I know it does with me. There are many voters like myself that tire of hearing how 160 million retirement packages are fair and just.
I believe the real reason Huckabee is doing so well was on display when he was interviewed on Meet the Press. His eloquence on the subject of abortion was refreshing. He made no apologies, he did not call on Christ or the Bible as his authority. He defended the pro life position reasonably. His argument is one shared by millions of republicans who vote republican because of this issue. I am skeptical of his economic populism, but I do not think there are any other candidates who would go Meet the Press and argue against abortion so strongly and unashamedly. He did not hedge. I think many social conservatives will overlook his faults precisely because of this.
Huckabee's campaign manager, Ed Rollins (no squishy evangelical) reported that Gov. Huckabee made the decision after going for his regular morning run and after having prayed about it. Strikes me - a mid-pack runner and back-of-the-pack prayer - as absolutely true to the effects of both activities. Running and prayer both clear one's head, and in Matthew Kelly's words, inspire you to be "the best version of yourself." Based on Rollins' report, I think Huck pulled it for noble reasons. I still won't vote for the man in the Republican primary....but for policy reasons, not because of character issues.
Wouldn't it cost more than $150K to actually run the ad in the paid media? I understand that the campaign can't get back the money they paid to make the "enough is enough" spot, but it's hard to believe that all told they would lose money on the decision.
Just as interesting, in the same Politico, are reports of dittohead master Limbaugh dissing all the candidates except Fred Thompson, and specifically lashing out at front-runners Huckabee, McCain, and Giuliani.
He warns of a "bloodbath" in the general election. Sounds right to me.
Ok So Iowa caucuses tomorrow and NH votes in 6 days. It's crunch time.
Thinking out loud.
What's important in a candidate? Policy. Integrity. Experience. Moral Issues. Foreign Policy/Military experience.
Anything else?
Now what's most important? Rank them. What's crucial. What's a deal breaker. Who's a phony. Policy without integrity is my dealbreaker. Romney/Edwards out. Who's 'using' God as a campaign tool. Obama? Huck?
Why's Huck bringing along the ol' Bushie, Chuck Norris. Is it HuckaBushabee. Just can't tell.
Hard to say.
No candidate seems to have it all in balance. I'd say it's enough to make a voter's head spin. Chances are many people will go with their gut reactions this time around. That's what the campaigns are saying.
Word is it's down to a 10,000 vote margin on the Republican side in NH and less on the Dem side. Haven't seen a horse race like this in a long time. . .
I'll probably fall back on "Less talk, More walk" Never let me down yet. That leaves Huck, Obama, and McCain.
Just saying. . . Think I'll just go play with the kids :)
[My brain hurts.]
One last post, the entry above is broken.
Since you're talking NH, our state is unfortunately a testament to the GOP's penchant for legacy candidates. Both US senators are sons of NH Governors - Gregg and Sununu! It's not so much about what you know as who your parents are up here. Romney fits right in with that crowd, also being the son of a Governor.
This time may just be different though.
Oh, and Sullivan's a little behind. McCain now has 26 of the 27 newspaper endorsements. with only Foster's Daily Democrat going to Guiliani.
Merry 9th Day of Christmas!
I'm not sure how that gets him off the hook. I mean, it's one thing to say that he really wanted to no longer run the ad. Fine, but how does that still explain the decision to play the ad to the media when you are announcing you won't be running it?
And if 5 million bucks raised in a quarter makes a loss of 150K cash strapped I must be living in a different world. Not insignificant waste, but it still only represents, what, 3% of what he raised this quarter.
The general may be a yawnbath rather than a bloodbath as the voters, utterly sick of the whole thing, simply decide not to vote for anyone.
I think, in the end, this election will be decided not on the basis of who is best for the job, as probably none of them should even be let near it, but rather on whom the voters despise the least with the winner riding into the White House on a sea of public contempt.
I'm with you, Charles...almst laughing, almost yelling, and thoroughly disgusted enough to say, you know what, let's call off the whole thing and start fresh with new candidates. Bar the current crop of lost causes from running for a decade or so.
In either interpretation, my original assessment of that disastrous press conference applies:
NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME.
Huckabee is hated mostly by Leftists and power-moger Righties, because he can out come-back them. And snappy answers to stupid questions is a typical Christian way of dealing with idiots that desire only your destruction (read the Gospels or google Polycarp and see). Huckabee will be a fine president. And in comparison with Bush and Clinton, it will be nice to have a smart guy in the White House, rather than the typical products from our over priced and morally corrupt big universities.
This stunt of Huckabee is inexcusable. As above, he is not presidential material. Huckabee is a comic preacher whose jokes will get old very quickly. Look at all of his gaffes in forgein policy and his poor judgement as Gov. He doesn't have the experience to be president.
The ad ran anyway despite the pathetic attempt to come off looking more nobler. Me thinks he's not so righteous.
http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/ad_attacking_romney_ran_in_iowa_after_huckabee_said_he_was_yanking_it.php
also in Newsweek
http://www.newsweek.com/id/83514
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