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Huckabee: Watch Out for Pakistani Illegals

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December 28, 2007 12:57 PM

ABC News' Kevin Chupka Reports: At "Meet Mike Huckabee" event Friday morning in Pella, Iowa, the former Arkansas governor and surprising leader in Iowa clarified comments he made Thursday night suggesting that, in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, the U.S. be on the look out for illegal immigrants from Pakistan attempting to cross our borders.

"In light of what happened in Pakistan yesterday, it's interesting that there were more Pakistanis who illegally crossed the border than of any other nationality except for those immediately south of our border, 660 last year form Pakistan who came into our country illegally because we don't have secure borders," Huckabee told reporters at the Pizza Ranch in a town that has probably supplied one the windows in your home or office.

During a media availability after the event, one reporter suggested the comments might be seen as "ethnic bating." 

Huckabee replied, "When I say single them out I'm making the observation that we have more Pakistani illegals coming across our border than of all other nationalities except those immediately south of the border. And in light of what’s happening in Pakistan, it ought to give us pause as to why are so many illegals coming across these borders." 

The governor claims his figure -- 660 Pakistani illegals crossing the border last year -- are from CIA and Immigration reports.

"I'm just saying a lot of Americans sitting in Pella, Iowa, maybe look halfway around the world and say, 'How does that effect me?' And so the way that it effects them is that we need to understand that violence and terror is significant when it happens in Pakistan, it's more significant when it can happen in our own cities, and it happens if people can slip across our border and we have no control over them," Huckabee claimed.

"That's exactly how it can effect us, and if we don't understand that the fact is the immigration issue is not so much about people coming across to pick lettuce or make beds its about people who can come with a shoulder fired missile and can do serious damage and harm to us."

On the broader topic of his foreign policy experience, Huckabee has offered a list of advisors of late that he has met with concerning foreign policy issues.

The list includes, but is not limited to Richard Haas, John Bolton, Newt Gingrich, Ken Allard, in addition to various retired and active military personnel.

What is your reaction to Benazir Bhutto's death? How do you think this incident will influence Pakistan's future? Click here to talk back and join the debate.

And for all the day's politics -- what's happening in Iowa, New Hampshire, and the entire 2008 campaign trail -- read
The Note every morning.

December 28, 2007 in Giuliani, Rudy, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (66)

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America has a multitude of problems these days due to wrong minded foreign policy. John Bolton comes to mind after that phrase, and Newt Gingrich I wouldn't trust around the corner with a nickle. Mike is raising a ruckus in Iowa but the simple truth is that he is a former minister who I don't think will seperate church and state, and faith based intiatives should not be funded by tax dollars.

Posted by: Sandra Lea | Dec 28, 2007 3:21:51 PM

Anybody bother to factcheck this:

"The governor claims his figure -- 660 Pakistani illegals crossing the border last year -- are from CIA and Immigration reports."

Why would a former Arkansas governor have access to CIA reports?

Posted by: D | Dec 28, 2007 3:24:36 PM

Chris Linthwaite wrote:

"Mike Huckabee is merely stating what we should all be thinking. Rightly America should be concerned with Arabs infiltrating the US."

FYI - Pakistanis aren't Arabs.

Posted by: D | Dec 28, 2007 3:28:12 PM

All illegal aliens are criminals. Not one single illegal alien deserves to be in the USA. Huckabee is trying to look out for our security and the stupid media journalists try to make it a race issue. Journalists are morons.

Posted by: Bill | Dec 28, 2007 3:30:00 PM

Please God, let Mike Hickabee be the Republican candidate for President. There is so much out there in his past for the Democrats to attack him on that it could be a new thing every week for months. So all you Republicans out there, please support Mike for President. It will be the wors... i mean best decision you will ever make.

Posted by: jeremyfix | Dec 28, 2007 3:42:04 PM

I agree, ABC News needs some new reporters. They made me click into this story because it appeared Governor Huckabee said something stupid. He did not; ABC simply wrote a race-bating story.

Posted by: Steve | Dec 28, 2007 3:55:29 PM

Huckabee, like Bush, is a Christian fundamentalist nut exactly like the Islamic fundamentalist nuts. Religious Republicans are just the American version of Al Queda. Surely Americans aren't stupid enough to put another one of those in the White House.

Posted by: Greg | Dec 28, 2007 3:59:59 PM

Just what America needs... another BIGOT.

Posted by: RW | Dec 28, 2007 4:11:41 PM

I would never support Huckabee, but he is certainly right here. It is called "common sense." BOTH legal and illegal immigration is destroying this country - but that was the INTENT of those who drafted the 1965 immigration laws.

Posted by: Robert | Dec 28, 2007 4:25:53 PM

"They made me click into this story because it appeared Governor Huckabee said something stupid."

He DID say something stupid...he opened his mouth, didn't he?

Posted by: Ryan | Dec 28, 2007 4:32:40 PM

You twist the truth so you can do your "hatchet job" on Mike Huckabee. Trying to pull him down before the Iawa primary, I see. ABC - you're a disgrace. Your "news" reporting even makes tabloids at the supermarket check out look good.

Posted by: Petee | Dec 28, 2007 4:47:50 PM

Mike Huckabee is Bill Clinton; say anything, any where and any time to appeal to the people in front of him. Huckabee is a total phony just like Bill Clinton. Iowians wake up!

Posted by: Huckabee and Clinton the same | Dec 28, 2007 4:48:50 PM

If it weren't for legal immigration this country would have been replaced as a super power decades ago. If it weren't for all the brains we've drained from other countries our science and engineering skills would pale in comparison to countries like India and China...But most likely you're living in a state that thinks evolution is evil.

Posted by: Ohm | Dec 28, 2007 5:04:20 PM

Hey Petee-

IAWA --- come on, get it straight. hahahaha!!!!

Posted by: voteblue2008 | Dec 28, 2007 5:16:36 PM

Huckabee is a joke. If it isn't in the Bible, the man doesn't know about it. The last thing we need is another clueless zealot in office.

Posted by: Tom G | Dec 28, 2007 5:56:42 PM

It's amazing how many things these illegals have been capable of doing. First they take American jobs, then they destroy American health care. Next they cause overcrowding and a crisis in our schools. Then they cause the implosion in the sub prime mortgage market. All the while, voting illegally and forcing Americans to learn Spanish. Now we hear that they are trained assassins planning on taking over the world. The last time I heard of such fiendish plots, I was watching Pinky and the Brain.

Posted by: Blanca DeBree | Dec 28, 2007 6:01:07 PM

First of all, someone (either ABC or Huckabee) needs to learn the difference between "effect" and "affect".

Secondly, the more we close our borders, the less money we make. That's what it's all about. The US won the cold war by being able to induce the Soviets to spend beyond their means to counteract our perceived threat. That's exactly what the terrorists are doing to us, and it's working. They only have to spend $1 to induce us to spend $100,000, and we can't keep that ratio up for long.

Finally, the more we have a "system" for screening people, the more it can be used against us. If we start looking intently at Pakistanis, they'll send Saudis (like they did on Sept 11th). If we look at everyone from that area of the world, they'll send Indonesians or someone else we aren't expecting. The ONLY way to be secure is to have a system that is sufficiently accurate and sufficiently random.

Posted by: Sam | Dec 28, 2007 6:24:11 PM

Only in America a half-educated Huckabee can be the front runner as a presidential candidate. Read and weep:

HUCKABEE: 660 Pakistanis crossed over illegally from Mexico last year ... this is the second largest group of illegals from the south.

FACT: There are 15 MILLION illegal Mexicans, millions of El Salvadorians and other Central Americans. Together these make up the largest segment of illegals. There are also several hundred thousand Canadians, Russians and Polish illegals. Pakistan is not among the top 30 sources of illegals.

HUCKABEE:
I received this info in a briefing .... from the CIA

Fact: LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE !!! Huckabee's staff later reported that the source of this info is a 2006 report from DENVER POST !!!


THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN A LIAR EXCEPT A STUPID, UNEDUCATED LIAR I.E. HUCKABEE AKA "HUCKABEE" !!!!

open your eyes, this guy is an IDIOT and LIAR !!!!!


Posted by: iconoclast | Dec 28, 2007 6:28:44 PM

OMG, this guy makes Bill Clinton look intelligent. Huckabee is just a loser bigot whose 15 minutes are just about up.

Posted by: Karl Tullare | Dec 28, 2007 7:01:33 PM

I got 2 questions for you MR HUCKABEE why you said that?
Is because USA has something to do with Benazir Bhutto's death?

Posted by: hayguey | Dec 28, 2007 7:11:00 PM

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