by Andrew Malcolm
Prepare yourselves. It's going to be very hard to avoid Mike Huckabee for a few days.
The former Arkansas governor, who may or may not be as conservative as he'd like you to think, according to some critics responding to his growing media profile, is going to be all over television for a while. One reason is it's a fresh media story. An underdog come from behind possibility, which the media loves after covering what's-her-name out front all this time.
Another reason is it's a necessity for Huckabee to get on TV because it's free exposure and he has very little money. In the third-quarter he raised barely $1 million, one-fifth as much as little-known libertarian Ron Paul. Another is Huckabee has as his chief communications hand Kirsten Fedewa, a longtime Republican Washington public relations specialist who deftly booked countless governors onto TV shows there for years for the Republican Governors Assn.
Huckabee started this morning shortly after 7 on Good Morning America. Later, he'll be on MSNBC with Norah O'Donnell and then CNN with that wispy-bearded guy and then a whole hour on C-SPAN radio and XM Satellite Radio's POTUS all-politics channel 130 and the same event will pop up on C-SPAN TV next Sunday.
On Wednesday, Huckabee might as well become an employee of Fox. He'll start off on the new Fox Business Channel, head later to Your World with Neal Cavuto, back to the Fox Business Channel in the evening, do a guest stint on The O'Reilly Factor and wrap it up with. a joint appearance with wife Janet on Hannity & Colmes.
Thursday morning Huckabee's up early for Fox & Friends and ends the day with a nice hour-long attempt at conversation with PBS's Charlie Rose, who's so good at interrupting guests. Not to mention the attention he received over the weekend in The Times' Louise Roug's story and even in this humble blog for his musical acumen.
All of this exposure should help the Arkansan's fundraising, which badly trails Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. But it does carry a price, in this case increased scrutiny by critics who question not the former Baptist minister's conservative social stands but his fiscal credentials. He was savaged last week in a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece. Among his alleged sins, raising some taxes and, if you can believe this, appearing willing to compromise with Democrats on a children's healthcare program.
Huckabee acknowledges he did raise taxes to rebuild Arkansas roads, but notes that during his decade as governor he also lowered taxes some 90 times.
As a hunter, Huckabee, who's made a name for himself in GOP debates with some down-home lines, puts it this way: "You never put the cross hairs on a dead carcass. . . . So the fact that we're kind of being aimed at is a sign of life for us."
Andrew Malcolm writes for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times' political blog.
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Comments
Andrew Malcolm writes, "Among his alleged sins, raising some taxes and, if you can believe this, appearing willing to compromise with Democrats on a children's healthcare program." Andy, most times raising taxes is not a good thing (key words here Lefties are "most times.") Also, it seems Republicans are more willing to compromise than are Democrats. Andy, for your info, most Lefties see compromising or dealing with Republicans as "a sin."
Posted by: John D | October 30, 2007 8:57 AM
Johnny:
During the 6 years of a Republican Congress under George Bush, how much "compromising" did the Republicans do with the Democrats?? How much business was conducted WITHOUT consultation with the minority party??
I think you got that compromising thing backwards - it's the Republicans who think compromise is a sin.
Posted by: BobinATL | October 30, 2007 9:14 AM
How about more stories on the guy that raised 5 times as much money as the Huckster?
Huckabee is just another GW Bush socially conservative, fiscally mushy for 'feel good' political programs that we don't need and can't afford.
Posted by: Jason Mitchell | October 30, 2007 9:15 AM
Huckabee is charging to the front.
Watch out everyone!
Posted by: Oscar | October 30, 2007 9:40 AM
"How about more stories on the guy that raised 5 times as much money as the Huckster?"
What does Paul have to show for all that dough? He's slipping in the polls. When he starts surging on a shoestring budget, then he'll get some coverage. Right now, he's just that whacky Libertarian "also ran".
Posted by: AmandaR | October 30, 2007 9:58 AM
Good for Huckabee, I hope he sticks it out and makes the Religious Right look like the hypocrites they are for not supporting him. He has his conservative christain convictions but does not ram it down people's throats. He seems to understand that there is in fact a separation of church and state. His values seem to drive him in a much more compassionate and uniting manner than any other GOP candidate.
Posted by: kb | October 30, 2007 11:00 AM
I think Huckabee is the right man for the time. He is being attacked because he is now a top tier candidate. I think he has a shot to beat Romney in Iowa which will give him momentum for New Hampshire. I think the American people are glad to know that even though the media says Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are the only choices, that its not true. And they are making their voices heard for someone that they really support and that is Mike Huckabee!
Posted by: Jason | October 30, 2007 12:13 PM
The last thing we need is I ☁ Huckabee as prez, or any other Republican for the matter.
They are ALL running to the right of President Dimwit as far as I can tell.
Paul does want to give peace a chance, but he is the crazy man on other topics.
And did you hear Tan-Cretin on Cspan last night? Geez, he makes Goebbels sound like a uniter.
And he is employing the worst form of flattery re. the base; Self flattery.
To paraphrase Winny Churchill;
'Never make the mistake of believing your own self-flattery'.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 30, 2007 12:15 PM
Huckabee is the man for the job. He has more executive experience than any other candidate and is genuine when he speaks. Huckabee understands the issues and is not afraid of new ideas, no matter if they are considered to be Republican or Democratic. As long as he believes they are good for America.
I am not a devout Christian by any stretch of the imagination, I am also not a hardcore liberal or hard core conservative for that matter. I am somewhere in the middle, as are all fair-minded people. Huckabee may not agree with me on all issues, but at least I know where he stands. That is why I am for Huckabee.
Posted by: Markus | October 30, 2007 12:34 PM
I appreciate your very balanced approach, C. Morris. and I agree completely with your comments. I especially concur with the fact that Huckabee seems to know what he believes and then acts accordingly. He has been clear that he works FOR the people, not the other way around. This is a key point when you consider that more and more Americans are becoming disenfranchised from the government. I believe Huckabee most reflects what our fore founding Fathers believed and worked so hard to achieve in our great country.
I LIKE MIKE!
Posted by: jjlove | October 30, 2007 1:10 PM
Amazing how Mike Huckabee is from Hope, AK - just like our last great President.
But like I have said - once it gets out that he once said some nice things about Bill, Hillary and Chelsea, the right wing nutjobs will be all over him.
Posted by: BobinATL | October 30, 2007 1:57 PM
Mike Huckabee can either make the evangelical leaders look like heros or GOATS. Right now, they're beginning to look like goats due to flirting with supporting Romney who is deeply embedded with one of the largest cults in the world! The religious leaders don't seem to have much faith in their God to get God's man in the Whitehouse. Wake up Dobson & Jones, Huckabee takes his lead from the Creator, not the created.
Posted by: Cameron Novak | October 30, 2007 1:57 PM
I am an independent.
I have been puzzled as to why "so called" evangelicals in Iowa would prefer a cult practioner(i.e. Mitt R.)that used to advocate abortion rights when chasing after MA political office, over a Baptist ministry that appears to me very committed to his faith.
But then maybe most Christians don't follow debates but rather watch entertainment tv 5 hours per day like average American do so they get hit by Mitt R's paid commerical...
Or maybe I am wrong and they really look forward to wathcing the lid-singing, script-reciting contest between Romney and Hiliary...
Posted by: DuncanS | October 30, 2007 4:07 PM
Huckabee seems like a good guy, but I just can't get over the fact that he thinks evolution doesn't exist. If he ignores generally-accepted science, what other wackiness can we expect from him? People accuse GWB with trying to make Revelations come to life, but maybe Huckabee really means it!
Posted by: AC Green | October 30, 2007 6:06 PM
AC Green,
You got it.
We can't elect somebody 'cause they are likable again.
It's going to take 10 or 15 years to fix what Bush has wrought. Some likable Rapture Ready Right Winger is just not up to the task.
Remember America;
Darwin loves you too.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 30, 2007 6:29 PM
C. Morris -
I think it's gonna take longer than 10-15 years, unfortunately. $8 trillion in national debt will take decades to work down (not to mention the future Medicare and Social Security crises), but the problem is that no politician is willing to seriously tackle the issue of spending. Except - dare I say - Ron Paul.
Not saying I agree with everything he proposes, but he's smart as hell (a nice change) and is willing to speak in facts and not political generalisms. I can't believe that people can actually support the front-runners from either party, who simply regurgitate fear or, on the other hand, warm fuzzies, with no real substance. Demand more! At least look into Ron Paul.
Posted by: AC Green | October 30, 2007 7:13 PM
AC Green,
Ack.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 30, 2007 7:21 PM
AC Green, C. Morris:
Like you, many of Governor Huckabee’s detractors cite his lack of subscription to evolution as a disqualification for the presidency. These people assume that evolution is a proven fact, an inviolable law of nature, that all rational people do believe in. What these detractors arrogantly fail to recognize are their own unprovable preconceptions and that it requires more faith to believe in purely naturalistic (atheistic) evolution as it does in a Creator who has something to do with the existence of the Universe and the fact that we live on this planet. I have addressed this issue here:
http://snowbriand.wordpress.com/category/evolution/
Posted by: Brian S. | October 30, 2007 8:21 PM
Huckster's not a dead carcass? LOL! Tell that to his bank account!
Sorry, we don't need a Pastor-in-Chief...
Posted by: Tannim | October 30, 2007 10:36 PM
I'm impressed that HUckabee has come this far with the "bank account" he has! I mean, with the national deficit in the state it is, I think it would be beneficial to have a commander in cheif who knows how to spend money wisely. :-)
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Do you like Mike?
Sign the HUckabee Petition.
http://www.iwouldvoteforhuckabee.com
Posted by: Like Mike | October 30, 2007 10:51 PM
Go Mike! We all need to support more grassroots campaigning for Huckabee. We are building a grassroots social network for Mike Huckabee at huckspot.com! Come check it out and show your support.
http://www.huckspot.com
Posted by: Huckabee Fan | November 1, 2007 3:55 PM
i'll never understand the immediate tossing off of Ron Paul as a "loon". What is more insane? War with Iran or banishing the Federal Reserve? Just because he's zealous about less violent issues doesn't mean he's too crazy to be president. Our current president is senile, so we can't really get any loonier than who we have now. It's sad that someone like Ron Paul looks insane to some people next to the evangelical dimwit Mike Huckabee, who would divide the country even further than Bush has. He's no leader. He's playing up his pastor status to impress the REAL wingnuts that voted Bushie in. It's not gonna work this time. The people want an intelligent president, not another hick with phony passion and "every man" qualities who believes Al Qaeda is the greatest threat we've ever faced as a nation. I mean what a joke.
America! Vote with your head, not your heart! I'm not saying Ron Paul or bust, but he scores major points for not being the other five guys. Guiliani's not a real person, Thompson has pie for brains, Tancredo's a joke, and McCain is way out of touch.
Does anyone smell a third party?
Posted by: Seth C. | November 1, 2007 4:33 PM