Huckabee wrong on taxes, wrong on immigration

I wrote in an earlier post about Huckabee missing on of the legs of the three legged stool of the Republican coalition (Economy, Military, Family) , namely not being for a strong economy based on his record of raising taxes. He was responsible as governor for the largest tax increase in the history of Arkansas. What I neglected to mention however is that one of the other legs of the stool is wobbly.

I'm talking about National Security. He says he is in favor of securing the border while on the campaign trail, but his actions as Governor have been very much against the rule of the law. Mike Huckabee has been in favor of:

- Tuition Breaks for Illegals
- Amnesty for Illegals
- Welfare for Illegal Immigrants
- Advocated for a Mexican Consulat office to be built in Arkansas so illegals there could have easier access to ID's
- He has said that "Family values don't end a the Rio Grande."
- He has called legistlation to cut off funds for illegals "racist"

Here is a candidate for President who says that he wants to enforce the border, but doesn't want to do anything to stop the sanctuary cities, and benefits that are drawing them here in the first place. Either he doesn't understand the issue, or is not as pro-border enforcement as he is campaigning to be. By blaming only the federal goverment and border agents for the problem he gets to appear pro-rule of law, while distracting from his record as Governor. The long and the short of it is, he was behind the largest tax increase in Arkansas history, supports benefits for those who illegally stay in the country, and has said he would support a Nanny-state nationwide ban on cigarette smoking. Sorry Mike, it's three strikes and you're out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Dp7FaKIJo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pLOC4krZI4


In other bad news for Governor Huckabee, he DID pick up an endorsement. Unfortunately, it's Bill Maher's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pLOC4krZI4

Mitt Romney On Veterans Day

http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Veterans_Day

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on Veterans Day:

"Today, we honor the men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Every American is grateful for the very extraordinary acts these men and women have performed so that we may continue to enjoy freedom and liberty at home.

"On this day, we also must recommit ourselves to honoring their service when they return home. Every wounded veteran, fallen soldier and grieving family paid the price for our freedom and our security. All they require is the care they and their families need. We are indebted to them for their service and that debt needs to be paid without delay or inefficiency.

"In Massachusetts, Republicans and Democrats were able to work together to expand benefits for our state's veterans. In Washington, we must do the same. This is one issue where party identification does not matter. Our men and women are serving in far away places, and they should always be confident that their government stands behind them. On this Veterans Day, let us make a commitment to our military men and women, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and mothers and fathers truly worthy of the 21st century."

Mike Huckabee one leg short

Reading the morning news, I was shocked to see an article saying that James Dobson was going to endorse Mike Huckabee for President of the United States. My state of shock didn't last long as about an hour later, there was another article circulating saying that James Dobson was not in any way going to endorse Hucakabee. (Below)

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/09/457977.aspx



That made a lot more sense to me. I don't follow Dobson much at all, aside from the occasional spot on the radio with his focus on the family program. I know he is a social conservative, but not too much else. That being said, the reason I was suprised to hear of his endorsement is I had always thought that Dr. Dobson was a conservative in the three ways that Mitt Romney talks about, namely being for a strong military, strong economy and strong families. The three legged stool of conservatism needs all three legs to stand, and by my count Governor Mike Huckabee is missing one of those legs. Or in other words, he doesn't have a stool to sit on.

What am I talking about? Well, I think Huckabee has the strong families thing down. He's a former Baptist preacher, so I'll give him that without knowing too much about his record. And, I'll give him a pass on the strong military too, as he seems to have answered the questions fairly well in the debates on this issue.

So, what leg is he missing? It's the economy, stupid. Or, as Mitt Romney put it in an interview a few days ago, "It's about growth, stupid".

Huckabee's record on economics is downright Democrat party worthy. In fact, the Club for Growth has written a stinging rebuke of his record.

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php

Here are some of the highlights:


* Immediately upon taking office, Governor Huckabee signed a sales tax hike in 1996 to fund the Games and Fishing Commission and the Department of Parks and Tourism (Cato Policy Analysis No. 315, 09/03/98).

* He supported an internet sales tax in 2001 (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07).

* He publicly opposed the repeal of a sales tax on groceries and medicine in 2002 (Arkansas News Bureau 08/30/02).

* He signed bills raising taxes on gasoline (1999), cigarettes (2003) (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07), and a $5.25 per day bed-tax on private nursing home patients in 2001 (Arkansas New Bureau 03/01/01).

* He proposed another sales take hike in 2002 to fund education improvements (Arkansas News Bureau 12/05/02).

* He opposed a congressional measure to ban internet taxes in 2003 (Arkansas News Bureau 11/21/03).

* In 2004, he allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law (The Gurdon Times 03/02/04).

* Under Governor Huckabee's watch, state spending increased a whopping 65.3% from 1996 to 2004, three times the rate of inflation (Americans for Tax Reform 01/07/07). The number of state government workers rose 20% during his tenure (Arkansas Leader 04/15/06), and the state's general obligation debt shot up by almost $1 billion, according to Americans for Tax Reform.

* Governor Huckabee is on record opposing the most important element of genuine school choice-voucher programs that allow poor students in failing public schools to attend private schools and inject much needed competition into a decrepit public education system-because of a concern about government control of parochial schools (Arkansas Times 09/22/05). He also called No Child Left Behind "the greatest education reform effort by the federal government in my lifetime," (Washington Times 03/01/05) a program that stripped schools of local control and increased federal spending on education by 48% over three years (Heritage.org 11/09/06).



So, in summary let me get this straight, Mike Huckabee has raised taxes on everything from groceries, medicine, sales tax, the internet, cigarettes, gasoline, and beds, and increased the size of government in his state by 65% and he is anti-school vouchers! And he is running on the Republican ticket?!?! Who is he getting his advise from?

Rudy vs Hillary- Differences On The Issues

Hillary Clinton was elected in New York - Rudy Giuliani was elected in New York

Hillary Clinton is Pro-Tax Increase - Rudy Giuliani is Pro-Tax Increase

Hillary Clinton is Pro-Abortion - Rudy Giuliani is Pro-Abortion

Hillary Clinton is Pro-Sanctuary Cities- Rudy Giuliani is Pro-Sanctuary Cities

Hillary Clinton wears dresses on occasion - Rudy Giuliani wears dresses on occasion



I guess there weren't as many differences as I thought.

Luntz: Romney Sledgehammers Clinton

This is the reason Romney is man to beat the Clinton machine. He is the only Republican running that can talk about his accomplishments when it comes to health care reform. He has extremely high credibility on the issue, the others treat it like the fourth rail and don't want to touch it.

Also, the bar hit the 90's when he talked about free market reforms - especially among the moderate voters. He has the message that Americans want and need.

Gov. Romney: Hillary Not Prepared To Lead

Mitt works the crowd and wins the debate in Florida. He scored big points in the Gator state during tonights debate.

Mitt Romney on FOX Business Network

Great Interview- Mitt explains why he signed the "NO TAX PLEDGE" and does a great job explaining conservative principles and economics. Actually, he explains it like no one else could.