by Jason George
Mike Huckabee's new book about the 2008 primary race is titled "Do the Right Thing," although the 'right thing' might have been to name the book, "Mitt Romney is a Big Fat Spender."
Romney's expensive media consultants?
His 40 rented golf carts at the Iowa Straw Poll?
The fact that he spent multi-millions to lose the nomination?
All that perceived profligacy and ineptitude appears to delight Huckabee to no end and few pages in the book pass without a mention of 'ol Mitt's mistakes.
In fact, Romney appears more in "Do the Right Thing" than any person except Huckabee himself, according to the book's own index, and about 99.9 percent of Romney's appearances ain't pretty, of course.
For literary benefit, all this focus on big-bad Romney allows the former Arkansas governor to somewhat accurately paint the 2008 race as a financial David vs. Goliath affair. (It's 'somewhat' because Romney's and Giuliani's well-funded losses, obviously, did not translate into a Huckabee nomination.) But it's within this prism of the campaign inequalities, that Huckabee's 2007 ascent from obscurity to winning eight state contests seems even more remarkable than it did when it actually occurred last winter.
Certainly, Huckabee's wins remain a great story of campaign grit, gab and Chuck Norris.
(Norris first appears in DRT on Page 3.)
Saying all that though, the fact that Huckabee's distaste for Romney appears so often in "Do the Right Thing," probably has less to do this year's campaign than one four years from now...
It's obvious that Huckabee is well on his way toward a (presently undeclared) 2012 bid for the White House; and one assumes that Huckabee feels that these early strikes at the former Massachusetts governor will either dissuade Romney from running or at least differentiate their potential campaigns.
So what exactly is "Do the Right Thing" about?
In many ways, it simply reiterates positions Huckabee has stated before in his books and speeches - anti-abortion, pro-assault rifles, etc. - but does so in the framework of contrasting these stances with "Faux-Cons" like Romney. (This book features enough charges of phonyism that Huck should've asked Holden for a blurb.)
Otherwise, the book shares scant post-campaign reflection - Huckabee lingers little on his devastating South Carolina loss, for example, which had nothing to do with Romney. And yet, now-tv-host Huckabee seems happy enough with the race's overall outcome that he appears ready to get back on that horse the next go around.
It's surely no coincidence that former candidate's book tour over the next couple of weeks includes crisscrossing states that Republicans consider crucial primary wins.
He'll hit Iowa this week -- twice for good measure -- where, no doubt, locals will appreciate the title of the book's prologue: "I Love Iowa!"
Comments
After 4 years of Obama's leadership of government control and spending, we will be begging Mike Huckabee, with his common sense conservatism, to be our next President.
Posted by: Debra | November 18, 2008 8:13 AM
Mike Huckabee supports the idea of being able to make your OWN way in America, that is what the American Dream is all about. Define 'Assault Rifles'; The government has no right to confiscate my property without due process, If I'm a crook, then the government has every right and obligation to take my guns away, if I am not a crook and have a clean record, as most gun owners that I know do, then I have every right to own guns if I want to. Guns don't have to be used for killing; target shooting is a safer sport than Hockey or Football, if you break the rules, you're off the range. Many people enjoy the peaceful challenge of target shooting, and some prefer to hunt. The DNR will make sure that those who do hunt are orderly about it, there is no need to restrict it. We can't punish the majority for the crimes of the minority.
Posted by: Robby | November 18, 2008 9:01 AM
He's more qualified than Sarah Palin. Wonder why McCain didn't pick him?? Country First?????
Posted by: jackson | November 18, 2008 9:40 AM
Begging ole Father Huck to be our president? That's the funniest thing I've heard in politics, ever. Or the dumbest. I can't tell if you're being serious or satirical.
Anyway, the fact of the matter is that the only begging anyone will be doing of Mike Huckabee will be by Barack Obama, who will sail into his second term in the calmest of waters if Huckabee is at the helm of the GOP. The guy was a flash in the pan candidate who only did well in a region and a demographic. McCain lost badly, but he still got 56M votes. Huckabee would get maybe 30M votes. Maybe. Besides, he'll have to pump his Fox show all he can if he's going to outgun Sister Sarah in 4 years because she has a far greater appeal to the same base that Huckabee desperately wants to own.
In any event, if the Republicans are going to be competitive again anytime soon, it will not be by following the Mike Huckabee voices. We need a return to sound, pragmatic solutions to problems. That is, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Michael Steele, Eric Cantor and Bobby Jindal. This cerebral wing of the Republican party has to fight it's way to the wheel of the ship if its going to be steered out of the ice. The culturalist wing of the party needs to stop waging war against the cerebral wing because all that does is yield John McCains who yield Barack Obamas.
Posted by: ROFLMAO | November 18, 2008 9:50 AM
"Do the Right Thing?" Huckabee mentions Romney in a disparaging way every chance he gets. Frequently he is a little bit dishonest, exaggerating or misleading in his portrayal of Romney. However, since Romney dropped out of the primary, I have NEVER seen Romney mention Huckabee in a negative way, not once. That has to make you distrust the story that Romney is the "attacker" and Huckabee the victim. Huckabee claims to be the "Christian" from the traditional values center of America. "Do the Right Thing?" I wish he would!
Posted by: trailman | November 18, 2008 10:11 AM
Mike Huckabee is such a whinner! Is that the type of leadership this country needs? NO!
On the other hand, Mitt Romney has done nothing but handle himself with class and dignity after he dropped out the race. He's not only camapaigned for but contributed money to GOP candidates since then.
And that is action, action, action, action, not talk, talk, talk, talk.
Posted by: janele | November 18, 2008 10:24 AM
Huckabee is basically the male version of Sarah Palin. All that country fried rhetoric is embarrasssing. I would never want either one of them to represent America--because neither one does.
Posted by: Vivian | November 18, 2008 11:07 AM
Huckabee is already disqualified to be the GOP nominee - he has said nice things about Bill and Hillary Clinton. Once Hannity, Limbaugh and the rest realize this, he will be immediately ostracized as a dangerous individual.
Posted by: BobinATL | November 18, 2008 11:23 AM
Neoconservatives like Huckabee are directly responsible for the fall of the Republican party. We need REAL conservatives to get the Republican Party back on track. That means smaller government, less spending and more individual liberty. Please, Mike Huckabee, do not run in 2012. We don't need anymore big government 'conservatives.' That is exactly how the party has lost its credibility. It no longer stands for conservative, small government principles. And neither does Huckabee....
Posted by: BenB | November 18, 2008 12:02 PM
I find Huckabee to be as appealing as someone of his extremist ilk can possibly be. The country could do worse than him: Exhibit A -- George W. Bush.
Still, I agree with Rolling on the Floor that Huck's voters are limited to XtremeXtians. The best thing that could possibly happen for progressives would be a Huck/Palin Republicant ticket in 2012. Too bad Bush can't run again.
Posted by: a blinkin | November 18, 2008 12:42 PM
A Huckabee and Palin 2012 ticket would be very interesting. In 4 years the inexperience charge against Palin goes away. People forget that she has been an elected official since 1992. She will also have improved on her foreign policy credentials. Governor Huckabee will also have been out in the public eye for more than five years throught his presidential candidacy and media shows. These two combined have an ability to connect to the American people. Sarah was never really allowed by the McCain camp to connect with the people. She had a great story to tell but her campaign script was too directed by McCain. I just relate to these two while the other candidates come across as elitist and Washington insiders.
Posted by: Doug Storms | November 18, 2008 1:15 PM
Doug Storms: I guess I have to ask what campaign were you watching? Palin overshadowed McCain, and all we heard about was the same short 2 paragraph story come out of.....Palin's mouth. As the self proclaimed maverick that she said she was, she is perfectly in charge of creating her own narative.....Biden surely did! Yes, Palin Huckabee would be a great pair in 2012....keep telling everyone that.
Posted by: Xcellentform | November 18, 2008 2:58 PM
Yes! Huckabee/Palin!!! Please, please choose them on the same ticket! That will get a solid 30% of the national popular vote. Everybody that feels deep in their heart that "the president should be a guy, or gal, just like me" will be thrilled. And, they're almost interchangeable. No compromises to make. No coalitions to form. No need to bring together many factions with paritally overlapping agendas. You could get 100% overlap with these two - in 30% of the country. And, 30% of "us" will feel really, really good about it, right up till the first Wednesday in November, 2012. Brilliant.
Posted by: amused | November 18, 2008 4:45 PM
Low class Huckster. He needs to point the finger at himself considering that he never saw a tax hike he didn't like.
Posted by: Bart | November 18, 2008 6:56 PM
Mike's still sore about Mitt beating him in the primary. He stuck around in the primary just long enough to get more votes and then he dropped out. Get over it Mike, Mitt's just a smarter guy than you are.
Posted by: Lisa | November 19, 2008 4:46 PM
It's about time Huckabee preaches to these people who bashed him especially the Romney supporters [some Christians thought he's not conservative].They really need to hear a hard preaching from you.Huckabee 2012. Romney supporters are thin skin people.If you say something against a religion like Mormonisn or you're against homosexual and abortion,to them it's hateful.Homosexual is sin.God hate it,but He love these people.We Christians, we don't hate them, we just don't agree with their lifestyles.
Posted by: NSM | November 19, 2008 11:32 PM
Mike Huckabee tells the truth. You don't like it, do you! The guy with the most money wins (Obama). The guy with the most media people on his side wins. Common people have lost their voice. If Lincoln or Reagan were running in this past election, they would not have won, either.
I really liked the book.
Posted by: NLH | December 27, 2008 1:16 PM
I just got done with the book, its a great one. Sure he takes his shots as Mitt Romney but what real CONSERVATIVE would'nt? Any one know of Romney Care? The mess this guy has created in his home state is embarrassing. Huck knows how to run a successful state with a surplus, as a matter of fact huckabee is the only republican I trust, besides McCain but he's long and gone, Huckabee runs his office with vertical politics not horizontal one's. It like he say's in his book, people dont care who takes care of the problem as long as the problem is taken care of. Also the guy has some real good ideas for this country on issues such a healthcare and taxation. Huckabee wont go for the reversal of Roe Vs. Wade right away he will take care of things that americans want to be taken care of first, then he will wage his war on big government.
Posted by: Jose R | August 16, 2009 3:01 AM
The only person smart enough, quick enough, and well-spoken enough to "outspeak" Obama in any style of debate is Huckabee. The man is crystal clear and beyond intelligent when he speaks. Being white or black, male or female, young or old won't cut it next election. Whoever speaks and debates best will win. If Republican's want a surefire way to put a lid on the persuasive power of Obama's rhetoric and lies, we need Huckabee.
Posted by: TooSmart4LiberalGarbage | January 18, 2010 1:37 AM