by Rick Pearson
DES MOINES—Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he's as conservative "as anybody could hope to be, or want to be, or needs to be" in defending a record that has come under attack now that he holds frontrunner status in Iowa.
Making his first visit to the nation's kickoff presidential state since a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll over the weekend showed him overtaking longtime frontrunner Mitt Romney, Huckabee also likened himself to that conservative icon, the late President Reagan.
Appearing before reporters, Huckabee was asked about a mixed record on taxes during the time he was governor of Arkansas from 1996 until last January and said that "most everybody who's ever governed'" would have the same kind of record.
"Ronald Reagan raised taxes (as California governor) by a billion dollars in 1967 after he campaigned in 1966 saying he wouldn't. He cut taxes as president. He also raised taxes as president. Ronald Reagan also signed the amnesty bill that has created such grief for us," Huckabee said.
"When I hear people say, "Well, Ronald Reagan would never…" they might want to do a little history," the former Arkansas governor said. "But does anybody in the Republican Party call Ronald Reagan a liberal? Does anybody say that Ronald Reagan wasn't a true conservative? He's the gold standard of Republican conservatism now."
Huckabee also contended Reagan's presidential bids in 1976 and in 1980 had "rankled" the GOP establishment. "He did not have the support of the insiders," Huckabee said of Reagan. " Neither do I, and in many ways that may be a good thing."
Facing criticism from Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, over policies regarding immigration and taxation as well as criminal sentencing, Huckabee acknowledged he's become a target but said, "it's a lot better than being ignored."
With some critics calling his credentials as a conservative into question, Huckabee said he believed in lower taxes, "a strong adherence" to gun-owner rights, "the sanctity of life," a strong military as a deterrent, and the "Jeffersonian model" of limited central government that gives more power to the states.
"All of those are conservative bedrocks," he said. "When people call me anything but that, I think they have to be quite creative in coming to a different conclusion to end up saying I'm anything but a conservative."
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Comments
Mike Hucksterabee has a "Willie Horton problem", and its’ name is Wayne Dumond.
Huckabee, whose self-deprecating humor and easy candor have charmed many on the campaign trail, bristles when asked about the case, in which Dumond - now dead - was paroled from an Arkansas prison, with then- governor Huckabee's endorsement, only to sexually assault and kill a woman in Missouri.
---snip---
"Dumond's case is notorious in Arkansas. In 1984, he raped a 17-year-old girl. While awaiting trial at his home, he was castrated by, he said, masked intruders. Later, after Dumond went to prison for life, some people in Arkansas saw the sentence as excessive, especially given his mutilation.
Huckabee was one, and, after becoming governor in 1996, he announced his desire to commute Dumond's sentence. Dumond's rape victim, Ashley Stevens, saw it differently.
Stevens, now 40 and living in the western United States, said she tried to persuade Huckabee not to shorten the sentence for Dumond.
"I told [Huckabee]: If you ever let him out, he's going to do it again," she said in an interview.
She was able to get a meeting with the governor - who, she said, had not spoken to her before announcing his intention to commute Dumond's sentence - but realized Huckabee had "made up his mind." So Stevens stood up, she said, walked over to Huckabee, who was seated on a sofa, squatted down and thrust her face inches from his.
"I said, 'This is how close I was to Dumond's face for an hour,' " Stevens recalled. " 'I'll never forget his face, and you'll never forget mine.' "
The parole board - following a closed meeting with Huckabee - decided to let Dumond go. The following year, Dumond committed the Missouri slaying. He died in prison in 2005.
To break this down to the bite size piece that can be digested by "Joe Flag Waver" – Mike Huckabee lobbied for the parole of a convicted rapist in an unprecedented manner over the protest of the victim and the parole board. This convicted rapist then sexually assaulted and murdered another woman the following year.
Another twist to this is that conservative commentators (read:talking meatsticks) harshly criticized Bill Clinton for NOT granting clemency to Dumond because the victim was a distant relative of Clinton’s:
Full story here:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/14/huckabee_could_face_hurdles_from_the_past/
Mike Hucksterabee is just another Republican phony who carries around a bible and smiles alot
Posted by: Jimmy Justice | December 3, 2007 6:14 PM
Did Ronald Regean pardon 12 convicted murderers overturning jury decisions? Huckabee did.
Huckabee used his pardon power over 600 times. More than 3 times his previous two predecessors combined. He was sued and his own attorney general nullified one of his pardons. A first in AK history. Huckabee pardoned these people in cases where there was no apparent miscarraige of justice, without consulting the victims families.
Socially conservative? I don't think so. Where was Huckabee's compassion for the families of the victims?
Posted by: Eric | December 3, 2007 6:28 PM
Mike Huckabee is just a "nicer" version of George W. Bush, he even gets personal phone calls from god just like W. does:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yj_okz7ZwI
Huckster doesn't believe in science and he thinks his religious background will help him in the fight against Islamic terrorism.
Our Christo-fascists vs their Islamo-fascists?
Huckabee is a slick talking, bible thumping freak, nothing more
Posted by: John E | December 3, 2007 6:33 PM
I'm not sure being the front runner is where Huckabee wants to be this many weeks away from Iowa but...
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | December 3, 2007 6:33 PM
I do question his conservative credentials. His record is one of raising taxes-repeatedly. And his use of religion is blatant and just plain wrong, and I'm a family values
person.
His supporters and fundraisers are using negative push polls, which is a disgrace. Dirty tricks for Jesus?
http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/huckabees-hutzpah.html
Posted by: Anne Leary | December 3, 2007 6:47 PM
Find out for yourself what Huckabee is all about go to mikehuckabee.com Mike is a straight shooter.
Posted by: Michael Patterson | December 3, 2007 7:42 PM
Mike Hucksterabee is just another Republican phony who carries around a bible and smiles alot
Posted by: Jimmy Justice | December 3, 2007 6:14 PM
Another televangelist too. The sad thing is that the media doesn't ask these guys tougher questions in debates and elsewhere. Just one big bible thimp-a-thon. Sad state of affairs.
Posted by: Andy Dick | December 3, 2007 8:44 PM
I like HuckaBuck. He's nice.
Posted by: GW | December 3, 2007 9:54 PM
Evangelicals are on a witch hunt....Salem Mass. all over again...I think that was led by ministers too! Just because a million people say something is true does not mean that it is true.
Posted by: KW | December 3, 2007 10:41 PM
Mike Huckabee: Social Conservative, Fiscal Liberal. According to fastcheck.org Mike raised $505 million in taxes as Governor of Arkansas. Additionally, he fought in favor of giving in-state tuition breaks to illegal aliens. The thing is—Gov. Huckabee still stands by his decision to raise taxes and give illegal aliens our hard earned tax money. Mike won’t be getting my vote in January. When it comes to the issues that a President can have a real impact—Mike is as liberal as they come.
Posted by: Danny C. | December 3, 2007 11:37 PM
hey research b4 you post guys.
that's all i wont push my oppinion down your throats.
but seriously... research w/ an open mind.
Posted by: jack s. | December 4, 2007 2:18 AM
Something voter's should know:
Huckabee's Not a Conservative
http://www.huckabeefacts.org/
"Huckabee and Giuliani Support Tuition Breaks For Illegal Immigrants"
Mon, 12/03/2007
http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48738158_mitt-romney-huckabee-and-giuliani-support-tuition-breaks-illegal-immigrants
Posted by: Debrar | December 4, 2007 3:28 AM
Huckabee is just the latest of a long line of religious hucksters in American politics.
It remains possible because Americans really cannot decide whether they want a national leader or a national pastor.
Imagine a Bible at a political debate? The genuinely faithful should have been deeply offended.
I am reminded of the dramatic scene in "Witness for the Prosecution" when Charles Laughton tells the court he is surprised the Testament did not leap from the witness's hand.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | December 4, 2007 7:49 AM
I love all the chatter from self-identified "conservatives" who question Huck's conservative credentials. You folks must not have gotten the memo:
A "conservative" is not going to be elected President.
The country has seen what a supposed "conservative" does and the country does not like it. This will be the case regardless of how earnestly you pray. You are lost, just like the dinsaurs (who had a swell time on Noah's Ark I'm sure).
Whether it's Rudy the Thug, Mitt the Flipper or Hugabee the Slim, the Republican candidate is going to be a moderate, not a conservative. And Dem will be a moderate, not a liberal. That's our world, for better or worse.
Posted by: a blinkin | December 4, 2007 9:01 AM
DNC Swamp since it's inception:
24 articles with "Huckabee" in the headline. Republican Mike Huckabee is ahead in the Iowa poll of Republicans.
43 articles with "Dodd" in the headline. Democrat Chris Dodd is, and has always been, at less than 1% in the polls of Democrats.
Yes, a 1% Democrat is written about almost twice as often as a leading Republican.
The DNC Swamp: biased and boring.
Posted by: Bruce | December 4, 2007 9:20 AM
The viciousness out there in the world is really dishearting.When are you people out there going to realize that unless we stick together and find common ground the good old USA is going to crumble. I sure hope the day never comes when I have to say I told you so.!
Posted by: Paul Jaeger | December 4, 2007 9:23 AM
There will never be peace this side of heaven. The devisive words will always spew forth from the misinformed. Everything we believe and everything we are is a result of how we were raised and the life experiences we encounter. For me, yes I am a Christian but it saddens me when people can't see the real compassion of true Christians. Some Christians have given Christianity a bad name and caused people to be weary of us. But I cannot answer for them, only myself.
Finally, Mike Huckabee is not forcing any type of religion down your throat. He believes some things but doesn't say to you: Hey, you better believe what I believe or your going to jail. No...thats because our constitution guards from that. Seperation of church and state is the straw man people use to knock public officials down. If you don't believe what others believe then thats OK....we are not forcing your hand on anything.
Mike Huckabee is the REAL DEAL...the true compassionate conservative who is so right on when it comes to the fiscal side too.
GO MIKE GO....WH '09
Posted by: MD | December 4, 2007 10:07 AM
The DNC Swamp: biased and boring.
Posted by: Bruce | December 4, 2007 9:20 AM
RNC Bruce: biased and BORING!! Yaaaaawwwwwwn!!!
What kind of a loser spends all his time whining about a paper that he does not have to read... or is that he does have to read it?? Eh, RNC Bruce? Your paymasters should be disappointed in you- your propaganda capapulting has been exceedingly weak, even for you, of late.
Posted by: Jones | December 4, 2007 10:26 AM
The viciousness out there in the world is really dishearting.When are you people out there going to realize that unless we stick together and find common ground the good old USA is going to crumble. I sure hope the day never comes when I have to say I told you so.!
Posted by: Paul Jaeger | December 4, 2007 9:23 AM
It's already crumbling you moron. Bush.Cheney, impeach and imprison.
Posted by: An Inconvenient Truth | December 6, 2007 12:02 PM