During a relatively unnoticed speech in early November, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said he found it "deplorable" and "shameful" that his fellow Republicans were attacking the president for even the most trivial or well-intentioned matters. Appearing before the Hudson Union Society to discuss his forthcoming book, "A Simple Christmas", Huckabee took umbrage with the criticism levied by some conservatives over Obama's visit to Dover Air Force base to see the coffins of returning soldiers. When he [Barack Obama] was at Dover the other day, and went there to pay respect for soldiers, I heard a lot of people on the Right say "Aw, that's just a cheap photo-op." No, I think it was the Commander-in-Chief of our military paying respect to a dead soldier, and I'm grateful that he did that, and I was proud of him for doing that. And I think we all -- as Americans -- should give him credit for doing that. He continued: When he and Michele hosted the tricker-treaters on Halloween, quit finding something wrong with that. Say "Good, I'm glad that he and the First Lady are treating children to an experience at the White House." And I just find it deplorable that some people on my end of the aisle want to find everything wrong and nothing right about the man as a man. The underlying point, Huckabee concluded, was that knee-jerk criticism to the president was counter-productive to civil debate. "I hated it when people did that to George Bush," he said. "They couldn't even laugh at the man's jokes they found something wrong with everything and if we do that to Barack Obama, then shame on us, shame on us. No wonder our country is so divided when that happens." The remarks are fairly vintage Huckabee -- who, for all the firebrand conservative talking points he espouses, has maintained a image and reputation for Southern amiability. It also seems likely to spur even greater anger at his politics among the die-hard conservatives who regarded him with suspicion in 2008. As the conservative site GOP12 -- which first posted on the exchange -- pointed out, Huckabee's remarks came one day after Rush Limbaugh appeared on Fox News Sunday, during which he criticized Obama for his trip to Dover. The video of the Huckabee exchange can be viewed here. It starts at roughly the 25 minute mark.
Vhehn, I'm amazed! Something positive about Huckabee? There's many think his show is corny, but if people would ignore his political affiliation, and just listen to the man, a great impromptu public speaker I might add, they might have a different opinion of him. fwiw,
I am always skeptical of republicans who play to the media by attacking other republicans as too extreme, etc. It's particularly perplexing when someone, like Huckabee here, attacks other republicans for being too hard on Obama. Apparently there is a group of republicans who learned nothing from losing the election to this lightweight with the curious background. McCain and his "braintrust" made an absolute obsession of avoiding going after Obama and spent much of their time chastizing their own supporters for raising questions about him. Sarah Palin noted last night what a dumb tactic this was and how it shortchanged the voters. Voters were left to choose between two candidates the media painted as moderates. Oddly, they chose the young, attractive one over the old guy with health issues.
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I think Huckabee was being sincere. There's plenty of opportunity to distinguish yourself from your opponent on the issues, (which Huckabee is very conservative) without criticizing the man on how he ties his shoes, or making everything into a political statement. But the powers that be on both sides want polarization. So we all have to look mean and growl.
huck might be bright enough to figure out that these tactics are driving thinking people away from the republican party and are doing long term harm.
I like and respect Huckabee, matter of fact I voted for him. However I tend to agree with rush on the honoring a soldier bit , too convenient and exploited as a photo op. bo was getting hammered for his non-stance on Afghanistan, recent deaths there of servicemen made him look like a deer in the headlights blithering and dithering idiot. Ultimately bo is responsible for the military his weakness needed to be balanced. Quick lets get a photo op offensive!