The Huckabee Factor

Assessing the preacher's post-debate bounce.

By Howard Fineman | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Nov 29, 2007 | Updated: 10:37  a.m. ET Nov 29, 2007

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: pattipolitical @ 02/21/2008 6:04:27 PM

    I would like mIke Huckabee to know that I am proud of him for representing the people in this country who still hold to the moral values that should brook no argument.

  • Posted By: Brian Pearson @ 12/13/2007 10:23:35 PM

    I don't see any record of Huckabee making that comment. But if he did, it wouldn't change my support for him. He has the freshest and best ideas for making this country a better one. That is what counts.

  • Posted By: votenic @ 12/12/2007 6:05:12 PM

    2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll

  • Posted By: hawkster @ 12/12/2007 10:01:09 AM

    Let's hear what Mike Huckabee has to say regarding his former comment: "carbon-13 dating cannot prove that man and dinosaur did not coexist" and let's find out more about his gastric bypass and why he won't come clean on how he REALLY lost his weight. Mike Huckabee is a fraud. American citizens need to be aware of this.

  • Posted By: vclayson@msn.com @ 11/30/2007 4:08:03 PM

    If, as Howard Fineman decrees, Huckabee's weakness is an utter lack of foreign policy or military experience or exposure, how would Howard Fineman describe Hillary Clinton's lack of experience in those areas. Would it be utter, near utter or laughably utter. Why does Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, need experience now when Bill Clinton, a former Arkansas governor, had none and was elected to the office of president? Is there any Republican that wouldn't get Fineman's scorn, that "the preacher" headline is a typical Fineman sneer.

    • Posted By: RTGO @ 12/10/2007 9:54:47 AM

      I like how you skip right pass your boy George W. He utterly is deficient in all areas mentioned; moreover, the reason Bill Clinton dodged the draft is because he believed the war to be immoral. George W. thought the war was moral but dodged the draft anyway. So you be sure to include the right people as your example of people lacking military experience.

  • Posted By: RandyCook @ 12/02/2007 2:57:06 AM

    I am a registered Democrat myself. But unlike some here, I fully believe in Mike Huckabee, and I like the Fair Tax part of his platform. I allso like his stance on immigration, just go to his web site and check out his stance on foriegn affairs. He is the real deal in my opinion.

    • Posted By: DATONE @ 12/03/2007 5:38:51 PM

      YOU ALSO MUST NOT CARE THAT HE CATERS TO MUDERERING RAPIST, DESTROYING STATE PROPERTY THAT MY TAX MONEY PAID FOR, AND NOT TO MENTION HE JOKES AROUND QUESTIONABLE ISSUES---HUCK IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIS RUNNING SCHEDUAL!!!

    • Posted By: razbury @ 12/02/2007 6:52:56 AM

      You like his stance on immigration? You must be an employer looking for cheap labor so you can live in a nicer neighborhood and drive a nicer car.

  • Posted By: Dale_Fitzpatrick @ 12/02/2007 8:16:50 PM

    "He is largely skipping New Hampshire;"
    Howard, where did you get that? Mike Huckabee has been on an exhaustive campaign in New Hampshire - I should know I've been with him as a volunteer at more events in the last few months than I can even count. His schedule up here ha. I could not keep up with him if I tried - especially his 4:30 am running.

  • Posted By: Phil Newton @ 12/01/2007 9:23:06 PM

    I'm (mostly) a Democrat and (always) a labor progressive. Mike Huckabee has my vote. He's the only candidate in either party who does not seem afraid to speak his mind. Yeah, he's a politician. That said, I never get the sense the guy is B.S.-ing, and that means a lot in my book.

    • Posted By: razbury @ 12/02/2007 6:53:35 AM

      Have you listened to Ron Paul at all?

  • Posted By: razbury @ 11/30/2007 5:15:26 PM

    CHRISTIANS - BEWARE OF MIKE HUCKABEE
    By Pastor Chuck Baldwin

    http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20071102.html

    With Christian conservatives trying to scramble to find a Republican presidential candidate they can support, some of them seem to be coalescing around former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee. Janet Folger, especially, seems to be trumpeting his candidacy. But is Mike Huckabee someone Christian conservatives should be supporting? Not everyone thinks so.

    Randy Minton, chairman of the Arkansas chapter of Phyllis Schlafly's national Eagle Forum, said, "We called him a pro-life, pro-gun liberal, when I was in the state legislature and he was governor." Phyllis Schlafly herself was even more direct.

    President and Founder of Eagle Forum, Phyllis Schlafly, said this about Governor Huckabee: "He destroyed the conservative movement in Arkansas, and left the Republican Party a shambles." She went on to say, "Yet some of the same evangelicals who sold us on George W. Bush as a 'compassionate conservative' are now trying to sell us on Mike Huckabee."

    Even one of Huckabee's strongest supporters within the Religious Right, Pastor Rick Scarborough, head of Vision America, admitted, "Mike has always sought the validation of elites." Of course, my question for Rick Scarborough is, With an indictment such as that, how can you continue to support Mike Huckabee?

    more at link

    • Posted By: Shankardada2 @ 12/01/2007 11:39:45 AM

      This makes me like Huckabee even more. Because the main thing about him that worries me is that he may be a Bible thumping, "eye for an eye" literarist and fundamentalist.

      • Posted By: razbury @ 12/02/2007 6:51:23 AM

        Then you didn't read the whole article, did you? -- written by a Pastor. "he has always sought the validation of elites." That sounds Christian, huh? I thought he sought the approval of God. Christians were deceived by GWB twice!

  • Posted By: watsonca @ 12/01/2007 8:38:22 PM

    Okay Newsweek...too much opinin in your article. You are hitting on the preacher for not being Jesus....well Huck's not Jesus and isn't perfect, but is the only real choice for President America has......he wasn't being arrogant about winning...he knew and America knew he won...McCain was the only one who came close to Huck in the debate. This is why many people are hoping for Huckabee/McCain ticket

  • Posted By: John Luma @ 12/01/2007 5:33:35 PM

    I think Huckabee is the kind of representative we need more of in Government. But not as President. He lives in la-la land if he wants to end the IRS and our current tax system. It will not happen, but it shows his weakness as a leader: He doesn't put out serious solutions to our problems as a nation. He demonstrates by this thinking he's not ready to be taken seriously on the world stage. We don't need another pie-in-the-sky President like Jimmy Carter. We should be aware of where that kind of unrealistic, disconnected thinking took us as a Nation. It led directly to Reagan.

    I'm a Democrat, and I will vote for the most intellectually honest, innovative candidate, regardless of party. But Huck's ideas are grounded in the practicality needed for success. He falls into the same category with Hillary and her idea of giving every citizen $5,000 at birth. A great way of ignoring the practicality that the U.S. has totally wide open borders right now, and her idea would drive every poor illegal immigrant capable of getting here right into our national amnesty program for illegals. So, Huck, let's stop with the stupidity and get real.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 12/01/2007 4:10:42 PM

    Guilliani had to forfeit his participation in the New York Senate race because of health reasons. Take a good look at George Bush Senior and Vice President Dick Cheney. I think that McCain's health is a legitimate concern but he is not dead yet and has shown that he is more than capable of handling the job. In this case, McCain's age should be an asset , America needs an experienced, "battle tested" President. Like Dwight Eisenhower. Roosevelt was one of America's most successful President's and he had a disability. John McCain is a lot stronger than the other candidates do not let age fool you, however health is always a legitimate concern.

  • Posted By: Shankardada2 @ 12/01/2007 11:35:42 AM

    Eddiewhere - The problem with McCain is that he is too old. He is probably the most experienced, principled and honorable man of the lot, but at 70-something years old I am worried that something could happen with him health-wise. You don't see 70 year-olds undergoing major surgery, or being hired as a new CEO of a major corporation. In fact, many companies/government agencies require mandatory retirement at age 70. The next best is probably Guliani, but the playing field is essentially level.

    • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 12/01/2007 4:07:34 PM

      Guilliani had to forfeit his participation in the New York Senate race because of health reasons. Take a good look at George Bush Senior and Vice President Dick Cheney. I think that McCain's health is a legitimate concern but he is not dead yet and has shown that he is more than capable of handling the job. In this case, McCain's age should be an asset , America needs an experienced, "battle tested" President. Like Dwight Eisenhower. Roosevelt was one of America's most successful President's and he had a disability. John McCain is a lot stronger than the other candidates do not let age fool you, however health is always a legitimate concern.

  • Posted By: williboy71 @ 11/29/2007 2:49:49 PM

    Monah - What a pile of crap.

    • Posted By: Monah @ 12/01/2007 12:12:15 PM

      Crap? One day you may need this "crap" and I pray you have the obvious undeserved mercy on that day. The fool says in his heart there is no God. What are you? May God forgive you for being one if you are.

  • Posted By: iReachable @ 12/01/2007 11:43:10 AM

    check iReachable's online poll too

    http://www.ireachable.com/vote

  • Posted By: iReachable @ 12/01/2007 11:40:15 AM

    check this online poll too.

    http://www.ireachable.com/vote

  • Posted By: waggy12 @ 11/29/2007 5:24:08 PM

    WAKE UP PEOPLE. EVER SINCE WE TOOK GOD OUT OF SCHOOLS, TOOK THE MANGER SCENES OFF PUBLIC PROPERTY AND CAN'T SAY CHRISTMAS, LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR SOCIETY. I.E. PORN INDUSTRY WORTH BILLIONS, GIRLS GONE WILD, KIDS SHOOTING UP SCHOOLS, VIOLENT MUSIC, MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES..... WE HAVE ABANDONED THE LORD AND NOW HE IS ABANDONING US!!! HE IS OUR FATHER AND OUR MASTER... AND OUR NEW PRESIDENT " HUCKABEE" WILL GO TO HIS MASTER AND FATHER FOR GUIDANCE AND ADVICE THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND MAYBE WE WILL GET BACK IN THE GRACE OF GOD BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

    • Posted By: WAKE UP AMERICA @ 11/29/2007 6:01:09 PM

      Only through the end of mythology will we find peace. The heart of man that desires pornography has always been beating. In your family too.

      • Posted By: Monah @ 12/01/2007 10:30:04 AM

        Does this not ring a bell to any one?? "My sheep hear my voice and another they will not follow!" Awesome comment by the way. God bless you!

      • Posted By: lj84 @ 11/30/2007 5:47:26 AM

        Only through the end of mythology will we find peace. That's exactly true--Christ is real and no myth, and that's where my peace comes from.

    • Posted By: razbury @ 11/29/2007 5:33:45 PM

      Seem I heard the same thing when Bush was running.

      • Posted By: razbury @ 11/29/2007 5:36:30 PM

        and I was one of the deceived then. I voted for Bush. I pray for guidance that I won't be deceived again. Huckabee is not 'the man'. Sorry.

        • Posted By: christopherwilkerson @ 11/30/2007 2:56:57 AM

          Huckabee is the man. So there. Sorry. I really see very few similarities between GWB and Huckabee.

  • Posted By: Monah @ 12/01/2007 10:25:14 AM

    Where is the comment that "MONAH" wrote??? I wanted to proof read and boom...it is missing!!!!!Help, someone deleted this comment? Can someone put it back, please? Thank you.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 12/01/2007 5:25:23 AM

    Comment: Let me answer my own questions. The most qualified person on the Republican side capable of leading this country is John McCain This is based on facts and history not madness and "unproven truths". He is a man that is battled tested. The worst candidate on the Republican side is Nick Romney. This guy is turning into a pathalogical liar. The way he flip-flops on issues leaves me dizzy. This guy will say anything to get into office. You cannot trust what he is saying he just changes his opinions based on what is popular, especially on issues like immigration and abortion. Niether him or Guliani(this nut wants to build a wall any president that wants to build a wall is a divi der not a unifer) are ready to be President. The argument that John McCain looks mad all the time is not proper criteria to judge a President. Look at Abraham Lincoln appearance. John McCain has the courage skill and experience to be President. No one else in the Republican party even comes close. It would be hard to vote against John considering his resume. People get blitz by the media. They put Guliani and Romney as front runners and give Macain no respect because they say he looks mad all the time. He not angry he is just serious is not a clown like these other Republican candidates. I am really disappointed on how Gulliani and Romney would deal with major issues. These candidates would definetly be divisive. They are not experienced enough to stick by their guns. If people educate themselves there is just no way they can say that Romney and Guiliani compare to McCcain. McCain can bring people on both sides of the isle together because he commands much respect. He knows what are brave men and women are going through in Iraq. The man is a soldier, statesmen and gentlemen. I do not know if I would vote for him in a Presedential election(I would have to learn more about his domestic policies) but he has long had my respect and admiration. What do you Republicans think?? Do you think anyone in your party has better qualifications and experience than McCain. And please do not tell me that Romney's experience of organizing the Olympics compares to Macain's experience. Please do not tell me that Gulliani can run Washington better than McCain. Guilliani will cave under pressure, who knows what that man does in private. I can tell you that Macain would never be caught in a dress.

  • Posted By: payman2003 @ 12/01/2007 3:06:15 AM

    I find the Journalists hype on Huckabee just plain laughable.... There is no one running for President on the Republican side of the spectrum that is more stealth and uncommitted to discussing ideas and policies than former Governor Huckabee.... From a Conservative perspective he is Great on Socail issues such as Abortion, Gun Control and the Sanctity of Marriage..... He is extremely weak (and I mean "weak", not graceful or whatever other word this columnist used) on Immigration, the Economy, (including Taxation policies), and Socail Security..... He virtually has zero experience in Foreign Relations or in National Security, not to mention his lack of Military knowledge and experience (and, he doesn't have the funds to have a staff of experts to get him up to speed on those topics).... And notice, I didn't even mention all the ethics issues that we all know almost nothing about (something that seems to be ever-lurking around former Arkansas Governors).....

    I will grant you that he is fairly quick on his feet with "one-liners" but so was Henny Youngman and thank goodness he never ran for President.... Guys who are quick with humor does not mean that they are qualified to run thos country or even be consered a serious candidate.... Instead of talking about Jesus not running for office, or sending Hilary to Mars, i would just as soon that he spend that time telling us about his ideas for America and highlighting his experience so we have an idea of whether or not he can pull those ideas off....

    As for the Author's assertion that a "flash poll of the viewers" declaired him the winner of the debate I really have to wonder.... who was polled? who did the polling? and how scientific was it.... Because, that is not how I scored it at all...

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse