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Huckabee Fires Back at Karl Rove
February 10, 2008 2:49 PM
ABC News' Kevin Chupka Reports: Former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee continued to answer question Sunday as to the status of his candidacy. His viability in the race has come into question of late thanks to many inside the beltway all but handing the GOP nomination to Senator John McCain. Huckabee bristles, however, at calls to drop out, arguing that the race is a campaign and not a "coronation."
In a press conference in Lynchburg, Virginia Sunday afternoon Huckabee reacted to claims from Karl Rove that Huckabee simply couldn’t win the nomination. On CBS’ "Face the Nation" this morning Karl Rove told moderator Bob Shieffer when asked if Huckabee could win, "No. Going into last -- after super Tuesday, for Huckabee to win the nomination, he'd have to take 83 percent of the delegates who are yet to be elected or who are unbound. Bob, you heard it from him, himself. He said he could win, provided that there were mistakes made by his opponent, and that some of these bound or pledged delegates would change their mind. Well, even if they change their mind, they're bound or pledged to vote for the candidate who won their primary."
Huckabee responded in kind, "Karl Rove has also maxed out personal contributions to John McCain so I’m not saying he doesn’t know what he’s talking about politically, but he’s not infallible either. And the point is, Karl is a supporter of John McCain. And I’ve not had my supporters yet to tell me to get out of race."
As for the calls from many in his own party suggesting Huckabee drop out? Huckabee says he’s just playing by the rules of the game, "I’m really not very persuaded by the party officials and the party establishment who come out now and are saying ‘Oh, well John McCain has 700 delegates, we oughta just quit.’ Well when they wrote the rules it said you had to have 1,191."
Huckabee, who is fond of speaking about the 1976 campaign and his support of Ronald Reagan during the primary season, was asked why, if that was so pivotal, did the GOP not hold onto the White House in the end. Careful not criticize President Ford Huckabee suggested that it had to do with energizing the GOP base, something no one has been able to do yet this cycle, "if we do not have a candidate who can excite the base of this country, and particularly the base of our party and make them energetic and going out and getting the folks to put the yard signs in and making phone calls and traveling all over the country asking people to vote, we can lose again.
February 10, 2008 in Huckabee, Mike | Permalink | User Comments (39)
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Don't mess with Karl Rove or he may drop a house on you ...
Posted by: JIMBO | Feb 10, 2008 2:56:54 PM
Karl Rove is the dejà vu, elections are about vote, people's voice and not Karl Rove's voice.
Posted by: BKMC | Feb 10, 2008 4:05:47 PM
I wondered where Karl Rove was and when he would surface with the media coverage. He must be helping McCain. If I were Huckabee, I would have told Karl Rove to go to the devil. Anyone who has anything to do with Karl Rove is evil. I knew there was a reason that he left the White House and I have written about him being out there doing his dirty work. Why the heck was he on Face the Nation....OUR nation needs to show him the door and boot him out of having anything to do with OUR political system. This guy lied to us about Iraq and so many other issues regarding our security and for the White Housse spying on it's own citizens. This is another of the Bush's moves to continue to scam all of us, the American legal citizens.
Posted by: DAR | Feb 10, 2008 5:34:41 PM
This guy is still not in jail for outing that CIA agent???
Posted by: Justice Seeker | Feb 10, 2008 5:40:40 PM
So the Evil king maker raises his head again. I thought he was laying low hiding out from supoenas. Funny how he deserted Bush after the damage was done.
Posted by: WordSource | Feb 10, 2008 5:49:54 PM
If Huckabee drops out, I still would not support John McCain. There are 4 previous voting Republicans sitting here beside me as I post. They are all going to write in a name.
Posted by: LP | Feb 10, 2008 7:50:47 PM
Remember David and Goliath?
Posted by: Danna | Feb 10, 2008 7:58:23 PM
The 'polite' discourse between Mike and Mac is about to collapse. McCain's people will do anything they can to get Huckabee out of the race. When that fails, out will come the dirty tricks against him. If Huck can somehow succeed despite that and make it a brokered convention, he could win it all. If McCain and the party establishment succeed in destroying him, they fail anyway, since they will also be destroying their conservative base, and the Democrats will win. If McCain had any brains, he would tell all of them to shut up, he is not the nominee yet, and that they need to continue campaigning vigorously. His response to the 'Huckabee' threat is really his first test as a 'national leader' and will give everyone in America a chance to see how he deals with a tough situation. So far, not very impressive.
Posted by: Politico | Feb 10, 2008 8:16:02 PM
Danna, you are correct.
Does anyone remember what happened to Pat Buchanan in 96? Once they realized he might win, he was smeared with lies about being a racist, etc. They will do the same with Huckabee when he wins Tuesday. It might not be the "racist" name, but it will be something. All of McCain's surrogates will be out in force.
Posted by: Jeff from Iowa | Feb 10, 2008 8:30:44 PM
Now that the establishment can not divide the conservative vote anymore he might just have a chance. The way I understand it if Mcain does not get the amount of delegates he needs then he will have to goto the convention and it would be decided there. I think some of Romney's delegates could goto Huckster. Let's face it if the conservative vote was'nt divided in the early rounds Mcain would'nt even be the guy. I will never vot for Mcain because he is not conservative, and if the establishment thinks they can just discard conservatives because they think we will support John just to win. Then they will continue to brush us to the side. No, I will not vote for him and they will realize they can't win without conservatives. It will be better for americans in the long run. We will take our party back because you can't win without us.
Posted by: Paul | Feb 10, 2008 8:33:00 PM
Actually it's "Politico, you are correct".
Just realized, the writer of each post is listed BELOW the post:)
Although David and Goliath is appropriate to:)
Posted by: Jeff from Iowa | Feb 10, 2008 8:34:31 PM
Some choice the citizens of this country have: 1) Obama 2) Clinton 3) McCain 4) Huckabee all of them in the back pocket of the shadow government known as the CFR (Council of Foreign Relations). Looks like we're going to get "comprehensive immigration" whether we like it or not. Every candidate I listed wants open borders, a undeniable fact. It is a undeniable fact that comprehensive immigration will be followed by the North American Union=end of the United States as we know it. I don't understand why the people of this great country want to give up their sovereignty and the US Constitution. I must be missing something.
Posted by: JOG | Feb 10, 2008 8:42:00 PM
I am 57 and have never voted for anyone
who wasn't a conservative. I am still
trying to decide what to do about a
McCain vss Hillary campaign. I would feel a lot better about Huckabee than
McCain. I do agree with Huckabee that there is no reason to drop out now. I sure wanted Duncan Hunter. I know he is in no-ones back pocket including the CFR, TLC or the Bilderbergers. It is a sad day for America. You can laugh if you want, but a North American Union is on the horizon.
Posted by: repron | Feb 10, 2008 9:15:24 PM
Anyone think McCain will have a Howard Dean moment?
Posted by: Alan | Feb 10, 2008 10:25:03 PM
I personally made 60 calls for Huckabee today. My wife and daughter made another 80 besides me. Should he call it quits? Huck, NO! Think we would spend over 4 hours calling if we thought he didn't have a chance?
McCain will be fortunate to win 30% of what's left, now that there's only one strong conservative in the Republican race.
Get ready for a HuckaBOOM. It's coming.
Posted by: Tommy | Feb 10, 2008 10:45:20 PM
I have to totally agree with Gov. Huckabee.
What political correctness is saying in the voices of Karl Rove and others, is ridiculous.
If we are to follow this line of reasoning to its most logical extent, then the remaining states that still have primaries should cancel those primaries.
Huckabee -- bless his soul, is not only staying in the primary fight for his supporters, but he is [whether consciously or unconsciously] exposing the pitfalls and weaknesses of the whole primary process.
Posted by: Nathan Bickel | Feb 10, 2008 11:39:34 PM
The sentiment among the electorate that took McCain "to the woodshed" last summer over the immigration bill he tried to cram down our throats, is the same sentiment that will not let the elite dictate our destiny. We want to change Washington, but it is almost impossible. BUT, we CAN keep the established elite from telling us who is going to run it. We CAN change that, and we will go down trying. A vote for Mike is a voice saying "This is still OUR country".
Posted by: Dominic | Feb 11, 2008 12:01:23 AM
The root of the evil that is taking over this country and the world, is our Federal Reserve banking system. Ron Paul is the only man who has been willing to stare this evil down. The GOP has sold all of us out. I am a RP supporter to the bloody end. I stand with the Huckabee supporters on the issue of the GOP. To the convention we go! May the best man win. That will not be Juan "Amnesty, Debt, and War" McPain.
Posted by: Mike Allard | Feb 11, 2008 1:41:46 AM
Is Huckabee running for "President" of the United States or "Preacher" of the United States? He needs to start thinking about the party and defeating the democrats in Nov. and that won't happen as long as he's in the race. I liked him to begin with and now I find him irritating and arrogant...
Posted by: elli | Feb 11, 2008 6:22:25 AM
what is wrong with them asking huckabee to pull out of the race? didn't he tell romney he should pull out and huckabee had only carried one state at that time. I will not vote for that man and i have checked out some of his records when he was governor of arkansas he was worse than bill clinton. we don't need another president from hope. i can't believe the people that vote anymore that don't check out the person's voting records. i pray that huckabee does not win. he would be very bad for this country. we think we had it bad under slick billy it will be 10 times worse. by the way i voted for the only man fit to be president and that was romney. born in arkansas.
Posted by: donna | Feb 11, 2008 8:08:23 AM
Pick my poison, not much difference?
Huckabee is genuinely pro-life, pro 2nd amendment, against the sodomy lobby, for eliminating the income tax, and as for the NEA...he has the endorsement of the home schoolers whom the NEA hates. He's only been endorsed by one state level NEA. He had the brains to appose the voucher idea that would have given the ed department a foothold in the private schools and destroyed them. Get the schools addicted to the money and then attach a few strings to it.
Posted by: Jeff from Iowa | Feb 11, 2008 8:17:09 AM
Each State has a right to express its Presidential preference. Even if Mike Hukabee can't get enough delegates to secure the nomination on the first ballot; he can prevent Sen. McCain from a first ballot selection. I voted for the Senator in Illinois. I am a conservative and was unhappy about his remarks in 2008 about Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson being agents of intollerance. I vehemently disagree with his stance on illegal immigration. I am unhappy with the legislation on campaign finance; but it was held constitutional by the supreme court. How come there is no movement in congress to repeal it? How come no candidate used the issue as part of their platform to overturn it? It has become a non issue. McCain is a conservative. He is the only Republican that is Ecologically friendly. We will become a permanent minority party if we ignore this reality. We will lose a whole generation of young voters. This is the most important election of my lifetime. I am a service connected disabled VietNam Vet.I suffer excruciating pain every day of my life. I love my country and if John McCain or any other nominee of our party is not elected the next President of the United States, the consequences will be irrevesible. So, let's complete the process to the convention and select our standard bearer; and enthusiastically support and work for our ticket. How about ex Pennsylvania Govenor Tom Ridge for VEEP?
Posted by: Sam Bender | Feb 11, 2008 8:46:40 AM
I have heard that the conservative movement is a three legged stool involving three main issues: social values, financial responsibility, and national security. So far, during the process to select a GOP nominee, there has not been a candidate who has appealed STRONGLY to all three areas. I would submit, that if we lower taxes, reduce spending, and balance the budget that will be a good thing for the country - fulfilling fiscal conservatives. Also, if we protect the borders, defeat terrorism, and stand up for justice across the globe, that will be a good thing - fulfilling national security conservatives. HOWEVER, if we neglect our morality. If we sell our souls to political expediency, or even to the achievement of these other noble goals, then what do we have left to fight for? If we deny the most basic of rights to the weakest among us, the unborn; if we continue to shed innocent blood in one of the greatest human holocausts the earth has seen; what do we have to fight for? Huckabee is the only candidate who is committed to continue mending the moral fabric of our nation. We will rise or fall depending upon our answer to this great moral dilemma.
Posted by: Bryce | Feb 11, 2008 9:45:00 AM
Here in Arkansas we know what kind of leader Huckabee was. And that's why nearly everyone I know called him "The Huckster," a name that really irked him.
Posted by: Mac | Feb 11, 2008 10:41:38 AM
Karl Rove doesn't have a clue. He's part of the problem not the solution.
He is a part of the Washington Beltway.
These guys are like robots. They have no idea what's right for the country. These cronies are not for the average working man. Go Huckabee we need someone that's a leader and not another
corrupt crony.
Posted by: Anthony | Feb 11, 2008 11:03:37 AM
If your issue is illegal immigration and amnesty. The people who are opposed to the massive amnesty which included an additional guest worker program along with massive family unification, we now have some power. John McCain can't win without us. We need to force John McCain to give up his amnesty plan or just not vote for him. Just think what kind of message we would send to the republican party. We will become the new needed voters. If John McCain doesn't back down, then let them send a democrat to White House for 4 years. The republican congress will say no to a democrat president faster than a republican. I watched the so called comprehensive immigration debate on c-span and the democrats did not want to pass that disaster without republicans signing their name to it. (it was that bad) I keep hearing George Bush has kept us safe since 091101. Well, Bill Clinton kept us safe after the first World Trade Center attack for 7 years.
Say No to John McCain-unless he changes his policy. Once we allow millions and millions more people under the amnesty bill, our children will not be able to reverse it. Once it is done, it is done.
We must stand up and use this power that we have been given.
Posted by: Ann | Feb 11, 2008 11:26:15 AM
Read up on Huckabee's 9 point immigration plan, it is not an open border policy, that is why Hunter has endorsed him. Romney should give his delegates to Huck and run as Huckabee's VP, withy the combined delegates Huckabee/Romney would have about 520 to Juan Mc Amnesty's 700 and with Texas, Penn, and Ohio and VA they could easily pass Juan for good. Sound like a plan
Posted by: Big D | Feb 11, 2008 11:54:52 AM
I'm curious, as a moderate dem, what appeal Huckabee has to voters. With all respect, he has no foreign policy expertise. Every time i see him asked about an issue he comes off as having no clear understanding of what goes on outside the bible belt, much less the Middle east.
And the rhetoric about catering the Constitution to the Bible...does no one see the irony here, as our country fights against theocratic terrorist organizations?
To me he seems to be an attention-monger. He loves seeing himself on TV, cracking jokes and being just a swell guy. I think he is staying in the race because he loves the fame that has come with the process and he isn't ready for it to end just yet.
Posted by: dave | Feb 11, 2008 12:41:12 PM
Well Dave, you can say what you like about your reasons as for why Gov. Huckabee is still in the race but I know he is trying to stop McCain and take this to the convention. The comment about changing the constitution was not clear. What he was saying was that we should not lower our standards to include Gay Marriage and partial birth abortions but instead ammend the contitution to match what The Bible has to say about those issues as well as 80 % of American support that we don't want to have Marriage include gay marriage and thereby diluting the value of marriage as a result. Mike wants to ammend the constitution just like it has been done before with other ammendments but this time to put in stone that Marriage is ONLY Man-Woman, just as the Bible says, that is what he meant, not set up a theocracy.
Either way I commend Gov, for standing his ground and staying strong for his values
Posted by: Big D | Feb 11, 2008 1:11:39 PM
Hey Mike, face the music and drop out!
To all of you misinformed Huckabee
supporters, he is Not a Conservative!
Huckabee raised taxes as governor of Arkansas and wants to give grants and financial aid to the children of
Illegal Immigrants!
Don't feel too bad, Romney wasn't a Conservative either!
He said he would be more pro-gay rights than Ted Kennedy when he ran for Senator
of Massachusetts and he proposed and passed Hillary Clintons healthcare law in Massachusetts as governor and he also
raised taxes in Massachusetts!
John McCain is the Real Conservative in this race with an 83% Conservative rating! So get over it unless you want the two Liberals on the Democrat side to
ruin the country!
Posted by: reaganfan | Feb 11, 2008 1:21:58 PM
Big D Let's leave religion out of the politics.
Look what it has done in the mid-east.
Freedom of religion. Not freedom with religion.
Posted by: Igor Lampinski | Feb 11, 2008 1:25:55 PM
....I think he is staying in the race because he loves the fame that has come with the process and he isn't ready for it to end just yet.
Posted by: dave
The fact that you are a Moderate Dem is revolting to us Conservatives but your intuition and intellect is spot on. Huckster is all about himself and could care less about the political health of this nation. He proved this by splitting the conservative vote and allowing McCain to gain momentum. If we dig deep enough we may find that he was a plant by the GOP establishment to do just that. Making him a scab and a political whore of the highest order. Now he wants Romney to give him all his delegates? please spare us!!!!!!
Posted by: Turk | Feb 11, 2008 1:33:48 PM
donna, you (and other Romney) supporters need to take your own advice and check the record. Romney, as governor of Massachusetts, was anything BUT conservative. (I applaud his conversion, but I want to see action before I put him in the top office.) Also, you need to look a little closer to Gov. Huckabee's record. What taxes did he raise? Did he leave Arkansas with a deficit or a surplus? He is also the ONLY pro-life candidate still in the running. Ron Paul is also a true conservative, but is clueless about our enemies, so that makes him unacceptable.
So, I agree with donna - EVERYONE should check the records and vote for the best candidate, not who the elites tell us is winnable.
Posted by: Jeff | Feb 11, 2008 1:51:10 PM
Igor
Religion that allows for terrible violence against women and children isn't the kind of religious investment we want in government.
Religion that calls for the elimination of all religious and political adversaries isn't the kind of religious investment we want in government.
Religion that calls for its own disgrace by blowing up young people with Down Syndrome isn't the kind of religious investment we want in government.
There's a tremendous difference between the government that Christianity shapes and those that Muslim lawshave and could shape. Its called the United States of America.
Posted by: Andy | Feb 11, 2008 2:18:43 PM
Karl Rove has betrayed the social conservatives if he is asking Huckabee to quit now. Huckabee is the only real shot the GOP has at holding onto the White House in 2008. McCain won NJ, NY, CT and CA. He did not carry the South. Huckabee won in AL, TN, GA, AR, LA and WV. Any GOP hopeful must carry the South to be elected in a general election...it's the base and Huckabee is exciting the base of the GOP...McCain just makes us want to stay home.
m
Posted by: Chuck Campbell | Feb 11, 2008 3:07:50 PM
I'm voting for Huckabee in the primary. There's no way I can vote for John McCain in the general election if he takes the nomination. So, I'll do a write-in for the general election if need be.
Posted by: Marilyn | Feb 11, 2008 5:26:11 PM
Those that say Huckabee wants to change the Constitution to become religion, please check your facts. The constitution was created, the Amendments are changes to the original context, so amending an amendment isn't always changing it, so a change could equal to restore the original context/intent this document was meant to serve. As for Huckabee wanting to be a movie star, he faired fine when media wouldn't give him a shot. If you wonder why we support Huckabee, check his issues and plans for America, I don't need to defend him because his issues are my beliefs, not his religion. Security and America's democracy are my main reasons. I want God in America no matter what brand of religion people have labeled their church.
Posted by: callenfallen | Feb 12, 2008 12:50:06 PM
You saw so many deeply nasty posts everywhere by Obama supporter to silent Hillary at such a personal level, and media's unfair treatement of Hillary, people's feelings really hurt and many will naturally stay home in G.E if Obama finally wins the nomination. This definitely divides and harms Democratic party for a long time. I think that all or most Michelle Obama Barrack SUPPORTTERS ARE HAVING A KIND OF FOIBIA OR FEAR FROM REAL CHANGE. THEY MUST CHANGE THEIR WAY IN THINKING . THEY MUST THINK OUT OF THIER OLD FASHION BOXES. WAKE UP AMERICA.
Posted by: YD | Feb 13, 2008 7:27:04 AM
OBAMA-The controversy stemmed from remarks Obama made at a private fundraiser in San Francisco on April 6 when he explained his struggles appealing to working-class voters by saying they were frustrated with the loss of jobs under both Republican and Democratic administrations over the last decade, adding: "It's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment."
CLINTON-For the second straight day, Clinton's campaign focused on the remarks, and advisers traveling with her were beaming at the opportunity to turn attention away from Bill Clinton's latest gaffe. The former president made a number of factual errors in trying to explain his wife's description of taking sniper fire on a trip to Bosnia in 1996, resurrecting an issue the campaign thought it had put behind it when the senator acknowledged she had misrepresented what happened.
Posted by: ARTICLE POST | Apr 13, 2008 12:58:51 AM
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