Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, victor in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses, called into the Radio Iowa newsroom this morning for a chat. I’ll be posted snippets over the next few hours. Here’s the first question and response to get things started:
Henderson: “What are your thoughts on the 2012 race that you decided not to enter? And you live in Florida, where this race ultimately may be decided. Are you going to remain a celebrity observer, I guess I’ll use that phrase, or will you wind up endorsing somebody before the Florida primary?”
Huckabee: “I don’t intend to endorse anyone before the Florida primary and perhaps not even after, until we settle on a nominee because I want to maintain a level of objectivity. Quite frankly, Kay if I walked in the booth today I’m not sure who I’d pull the lever for. Nobody has so persuaded me that I’m ready to get a yard sign and put out in my yard, so I’m watching and waiting to see, you know, which of these candidates come forth with what I would consider a broad and balanced message and that shows the capacity to lead and not just campaign.
“One of the reasons that I was so frustrated and decided not to get in the race was because it appears to me, and it still does to a large degree, that many of the Republicans are more interested in just defeating Barack Obama than they are in rebuilding America. Well, defeating somebody without a plan to really resolve problems, to me, is a worthless endeavor. You know, I want to see us really focus on how to get the country back to work. We’ve got 15, 16 million people that don’t have jobs that would like to have them. Let’s talk about that, not: ‘Let’s spend our time talking about what’s wrong with one of the candidates we’re trying to defeat,’ and that’s unfortunately been the focus of this primary.”
AUDIO of exchange above.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
The only way to rebuild America is to defeat Obama, so at the moment that should be the main priority. Any one of the Republican candidates would be 1000 times better than Obama (well, Paul would only be about 500 times better.)
And that is why we need Ron Paul. I think he has the best shot of out all of them to beat Obama. I don’t care what Romney says. Romney has so many vulnerabilities it is almost intkinable that they would risk putting him on.
Ron Paul they only think they could attack him on is the newsletters and that has no legs. attacking Iran? Noone wants to go to war with Iran to protect Israel. Most American could not find Israel on a map if you held a gun to their heads.
And we all that the feds is a racket. We don’t need to have economics degree for that. Just look at how much you are getting on your saving in interest from the bank. Mine is zero how about yours. Bailout after bailout. All that because of the feds. Give me 2 good reasons to keep them around.
In that regard Huckabee is right people are buying into the electability sham not understand that if you don’t have dedicated people, enthusiastic people who are willing to bring out the vote, you won’t get far. Obama knows this and he sees his rise to power in Ron’s movement. He might be saying it, but he is hoping for anyone but Ron Paul.
This reminds me of why I didn’t like Huck the first time (although he has grown on me since). Huck my man, a defeat of Obama is the first step to rebuilding America. It means the repeal of Obamacare. It means energy being opened up. It means a reduction in Federal Regs. It means that maybe we can reverse the growth of parasitic government. The president can’t create jobs. That’s why O has had a hard time of it. But like O, you don’t understand that govt can eliminate jobs, or make them difficult to create. I think any of the candidates will be head and shoulders above O. Even you Huck, my friend, would have been better. You should have run. You would be the winner tonight. But I understand how the Fox News gig is pretty good. Who wants to be ripped apart by the jackels in the media? But don’t go insulting the people who were willing to stand up and be counted by saying they don’t have a plan. They all have plans – even Ron Paul! 🙂
Hey Mike, half the battle is beating the destroyer. No need to talk about the 2nd half yet. The 2nd half does not matter if he is not defeated. Back slapping like you and McCain do won’t work.
I’d like to think Mr. Huckabee realizes the first step in rebuilding America is to remove the sitting president. How can R’s ‘rebuild’ America when only controlling one-half of one-third of the government.
Voting whatever R versus Obama come November. Its addition by subtraction.
If Huckabee were correct, then Romney would probably be way out in front and he can probably beat Obama with both hands tied behind him.
The problem is that conservatives know trust Romney because of his ultra-moderate record, his many flip flops, and his support of so many policies that have and will continue to depress the economy such Global Warming and Carbon Taxes. Conservatives don’t believe that he would make any effort to repeal Obamacare and he has said that he would keep parts of it–but he hasn’t said which parts.
Therefore, there has been a barroom brawl trying to find someone other than Romney who represents conserviatives values and principles. The large field of candidates has divided the Republican votes so far and the MSM has been hell bent on naming the Republican candidate for us.
Personally, all of the current candidates have serious flaws. There isn’t a Reagan among them and so consolidating the Republican and independent votes will be an up hill battle for whoever wins the nomination.
Hardly news….this has been a right wing talking point since Obama was elected
Jan 22, 2009 Rush Limbaugh: “So I shamelessly say, no, I want him to fail”
October 25, 2010 Mitch McConnell: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”
Oct 12, 2011 Sean Hannity: “Defeating Obama’s My Number One Goal Right Now”
A question I would love to ask Mr. Huckabee:
President Obama does have plans to get people back to work, to rebuild our country. You might not agree with any or all of them, but at least he has some plans and ideas. If Obama’s opponent on Nov. 6 has NO plans, will you vote for Obama?
Because if his answer is no, he won’t vote for Obama and that he’d vote for the planless opponent, then you will know why the Republican candidates don’t bother putting any ideas out there – they know their base will vote for them anyway.
The GOP has made it clear by their deeds and actions that they will burn this country to the ground and proclaim themselves heroes because, while America burned, they happened to have a bucket of water.
The GOP has also made it a point to blot out the memory of George W. Bush from the media. Seriously, any time anyone implies that a particular problem might not be Obama’s fault, the host will run him over. And they hope desperately that voters have as short a memory as possible. Fortunately for the GOP, people are already saying ‘You know what we need in the White House? A businessman.’ That’s right, only three years after the only President to hold an MBA robbed from the middle class and gave to the rich, forgetful people are talking about ANOTHER eight years of that.
And before you applaud your ‘slash and burn’ candidates, remember that Wisconsin, Indiana, and Florida elected guys like that to their governorship. And all three are facing recall because voters were shocked SHOCKED, I tell you, that these people did exactly what they said they were going to do.
This is only news because a Republican is finally stating the obvious. Do you really think the party that caused this mess in the first place seriously has any solution… or intention… to fix it?
Most commentators here are delusional. The last Republican President got us into two wars, ran up the debt by a factor of 3x, blew out our education department and spent a trillion on failed bailout policies. The Presidents on either side of him reduced the deficit or dealt with the destruction of his predecessor. Literally, Clinton won the Bosnian war in 49 days with the loss of ONE soldier. Obama killed Bin Laden, initiated Khadaffy’s demise, and got us out of Iraq. Keep sipping the crazy juice Republicans and seeing things 180deg from what they actually are.
It’s interesting that some people seem to think Huckabee is wrong to say the R candidate really sort of needs to have a plan just in case he’s actually elected. The ONLY thing that seems to matter is getting rid of Obama. So, yes, Huckabee was right about the R candidates (if they do have a plan it’s not a feasible one – ) and the commenter is right who said it won’t matter to those who will vote R plan or no plan. Clearly, POTUS is not an easy job in the best circumstances. But for Newt to not even plan adequately to get on the ballot in VA for the primary is a sure red flag. He’s toast. Essentially, Obama probably has it in the bag unless he does something completely stupid that the r-wingers would normally love, but due to party loyalty and their Obama derangement syndrome wouldn’t vote for him anyway…. while the rest of the country freaks out about it – hoping that not even a R (Romney) would do such a crazy thing. So, in other words – the extremists have lost this race for the R’s and I am eternally grateful. Thank you.
Huckabee is part of the Republican establishment and has the views of a liberal Republican. There is very little difference in the Democratic Party and the “Elites” in the Republican establishment. All are part of the good ole boy group of professional politicians. They are essentially like 2 NFL football teams – all of the players could equally play on both sides of the line. Pelosi and Reed look at the states as their recruiting base and that those who are sent to Washington are there only to play by the rules established by Pelosi, Reed, and Obama. The Republican establishment is as afraid of a conservative as the liberal Democrats. They know that a true common sense conservative that puts the country first would destroy their power and that is the reason that they are going all out in pushing Romney – they know that Romney is a member of their elite club and they would be protected. This country needs a strong principled leader that serves the people – not one that serves the political establishment. It is truly unbelievable that out of 300 + million people in America, that the likes of Pelosi, Reed, Obama, and the Republican elites think that they can set the direction for this country and rule against the will of the people and think they can dictate to the rest of us. That is the reason that there is always a push for gun bans to disarm the citizens – the government should be fearful of the citizens – not the citizens being fearful of the government.
Huckabee should stick with day job at FOX and stay out of politics – who actually wants to know his opinion. It is the likes of Huckabee and the professional politicians that have created this mess.
spot on! since Cain spoke of his tax reform, I really haven’t heard a great deal about any policy promises or direction. It would be interesting to hear what each’s first 100 days would look like. I would not be surprised at all, that anyone will turn around Obamacare. On the whole, one party is like the other…….worthless, inactive and self serving.
Congress went into recess around 1980. Has that recess ended yet? Can anyone tell me? Because all I see from congressmen is a bunch of bickering like kindergardeners.