Mike Huckabee: "While the Clintons 'kept their marriage together,' some GOP critics didn't"

[wyldwolf]

--- Republican presidential contender (and former Arkansas governor) Mike Huckabee during an interview set to air today on National Public Radio's The Bryant Park Project:

This will really rankle some of my Republican colleagues: Bill Clinton and Hillary went through some horrible experiences in their marriage because of some of the reckless behavior that he has admitted he had. I am not defending him on that, it's indefensible.

Just let's not let it get lost on us that they kept their marriage together. They raised a magnificent daughter. Chelsea is truly a delightful human being. ... She's polite, thoughtful, intelligent and everything you would hope a daughter to be. But they kept their marriage together.

And a lot of the Republicans who have condemned them and talk about their platform of family values, interestingly, didn't keep their own families together. Give Bill and Hillary Clinton credit for doing something we say they should have done and that is hold their marriage together in spite of enormous trials.

I have great respect for them. There are two things about Bill Clinton I tell Republicans –- it drives them nuts. ...

Number one, don't get it lost on you that a kid from a very small, southern rural state aspired to be President of the United States, this kid came from a dysfunctional family, alcoholic abusive father and yet, he didn't just aspire, he was elected president of the United States not just once, but twice. That is an affirmation of the system. It is a wonderful testament to give to every kid in America that no matter where you come from, you've got an opportunity to do something extraordinary.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/08/huckabee-while-.html#more

[CottonBear]

1. Mr. Huckabee tells the truth about why the Republics hate Bill and Hillary Clinton.

And we all know, most Republics (Huckabee excepted) hate the truth, especially because they are hypocritical liars.

[BOSSHOG]

15. Interesting My Dear

That Huckabee praises a boy from a small Arkansas town that aspired to be President. Huckabee and Clinton are from the same small town (Hope.) However, he sure do speak the truff when it comes to white trash republican hypo-crits!!!

Breathing a premature sigh of relief today, Dean looks as if he is going to be a pain in Texas' Ass next week. And the hurricane season is almost half over, hoo-ray! However, if Dean causes us to get some big ole rain showers that will be fine. Hurricane preparedness is up to date and ready to launch at Casa Hog. (Unless my wife has some gnomes out and about I don't know about.)

[CottonBear]

20. Hello and good day to you BOSS!

I did not know that Huckabee and Clinton were both from Hope, AK. Very interesting. I do admire Huckabee for losing all that weight and promoting good health. His son is a real piece of work though. I'm sure the Huckabee wishes his gun-toting son was as polite and intelligent as Chelsea.

Please send some rain this way! We had very brief (less than 10 minutes) isolated thunderstorms yesterday. I saw on the news that Houston got drenched and flash flooded yesterday. I hope that Dean gives y'all rain and not too much trouble.

It's good to know that y'all and Casa Hog are prepared for hurricane season!
Be sure to keep those gnomes safe in the garage in the event of severe weather! ;)

:hi:

Have a great day down there on the Gulf coast! :hi:

CB :)

[aquart]

27. Are you really sure you want to save those gnomes?

[BOSSHOG]

29. My spousal unit

has gnomes tastefully planted all throughout our landscaping (actually they are pretty cool.) Not to mention the pink flamingos out back. It would behoove me to save them for the cause of marital bliss.

[aquart]

67. That's love.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. WOW!

:wow:

This should pissed off the RW blow hards.

[efhmc]

3. That's unusual, a republican who is an empathetic human being.

[msanthrope]

13. Empathetic? Sure was, to Wayne Dumond......

Huckabee was sorry for the rapist and murderer that he released him on parole because he thought he was persecuted by the Clintons.....

and then he raped and killed again.....

http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/sexual_assault/severed_penis/7.html

[Zensea]

26. Actually you're misrepresenting things

At least according to the article you provide the link to

"In 1996, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee planned to release DuMond from prison based on a lack of sufficient DNA evidence related to the rape investigation. However, he "abandoned his plan" after a public outcry and denied DuMond clemency, Stearns said. In 1999, DuMond was released from prison on parole but his freedom was short-lived."

Doesn't say what you claim does it?

[msanthrope]

54. Not at all--it's well-known that Huckabee leaned on the

parole board to grant that parole to cover his butt for clemency--well-documented by no less than Murray Waas:

"Contrary to such claims by the governor, during interviews for my Arkansas Times story, four parole board members disputed Huckabee's account as to what transpired between Huckabee and the board, saying that Huckabee was the one to bring up the subject, and he cleraly advocated for Dumond's parole. Three of those board members spoke for the record and at length for the story.

Board member Charles Chastain told me Huckabee told the board: "There is this one case I want to talk to you about." Huckabee then "commented that Wayne Dumond had received, from his perspective, a raw deal, that he was someone from the wrong side of the tracks ... and that he had received what he thought was too long a sentence for that type of crime."

Chastain said he then replied, "Governor, well that happens. When you rape a cheerleader in a small town like that, that’s what is going to happen."

The board's chairman, Leroy Brownlee, who was reappointed by Huckabee, and who worked closely with Huckabee's office to parole Dumond, has repeatedly declined to talk about the matter at all. But while refusing to say anything bad about Huckabee, Brownlee has also never backed Huckabee's version of events or said anything to contradict his fellow board members."

Snip--more at link----

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2007/01/on-meet-press-this-morning-tim-russert.html

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/28/fact-checking-huckabee-over-his-dumond-comments-from-mtp/

The Wayne Dumond scandal is rather well documented---Huckabee, when he could not do the clemency route, leaned on the parole board.....

[Zensea]

59. leaning is not the same thing as releasing

Yeah, I used google also.

[tanyev]

4. Kick.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Huckabee is one of the rare publicans

who is consistent when it comes to promoting marriage. I can't abide by his position on choice and many other things, but at least he's not hypocritical about this.

[rinsd]

6. Holy shit! I think I just saw a flock of pigs fly by my window!

[Dragonbreathp9d]

7. Wow, he just went up a notch in my book,

that took some balls knowing he could lose the nomination JUST for that alone

[monmouth]

8. A fine human being, should be a Democrat.....

[msanthrope]

12. Read up on Wayne Dumond---the child rapist he

released.....

Huckabee was so consumed by Clinton-hatred he released Wayne to rape and kill.

http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/sexual_assault/severed_penis/7.html

[monmouth]

17. Wow, didn't know that. Eating words for lunch....

[CottonBear]

22. Yikes! What a horrible story.

DO you think that Huckabee feels any remorse for leeting that sicko out of prison?

Why did Huckabee hate Bill Clinton so much? Did he hate him because he was a sucessful Democratic politician? If Republics are all about law and order, why did Huckabee release a dangerous criminal?

[IA_Seth]

36. You keep saying that, but....

The link you provide contradicts your statement.

[msanthrope]

55. Not at all---you should do some fact checking---

When Huckabee couldn't do clemency, he leaned on the parole board---a fact VERY WELL documented by Murray Waas...

"Contrary to such claims by the governor, during interviews for my Arkansas Times story, four parole board members disputed Huckabee's account as to what transpired between Huckabee and the board, saying that Huckabee was the one to bring up the subject, and he cleraly advocated for Dumond's parole. Three of those board members spoke for the record and at length for the story.

Board member Charles Chastain told me Huckabee told the board: "There is this one case I want to talk to you about." Huckabee then "commented that Wayne Dumond had received, from his perspective, a raw deal, that he was someone from the wrong side of the tracks ... and that he had received what he thought was too long a sentence for that type of crime."

Chastain said he then replied, "Governor, well that happens. When you rape a cheerleader in a small town like that, that’s what is going to happen."

The board's chairman, Leroy Brownlee, who was reappointed by Huckabee, and who worked closely with Huckabee's office to parole Dumond, has repeatedly declined to talk about the matter at all. But while refusing to say anything bad about Huckabee, Brownlee has also never backed Huckabee's version of events or said anything to contradict his fellow board members."

SNIP--more at link.

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2007/01/on-meet-press-this-morning-tim-russert.html

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/28/fact-checking-huckabee-over-his-dumond-comments-from-mtp/

Bit surprised at the Huckabee apologists on this thread........

[msanthrope]

9. What a lying sack of shit Huckabee is---he loathes the

Clintons--going so far as to release a child rapist, Wayne Dumond because he hated them so much.

http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/sexual_assault/severed_penis/7.html

[iamjoy]

21. Huckabee Has A Horton

yeah, not that he has a snowball's change, but if Huckabee does get the Republican nomination, this could be his Willie Horton.

[Zensea]

30. Huckabee didn't release him - who's lying?

not according to the article you posted that is which says

"In 1992, former Lieutenant Governor Jim Guy Tucker reduced DuMond's sentence to 39 years, which made him eligible for parole, David Lieb said in an AP Online article. In 1996, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee planned to release DuMond from prison based on a lack of sufficient DNA evidence related to the rape investigation. However, he "abandoned his plan" after a public outcry and denied DuMond clemency, Stearns said. In 1999, DuMond was released from prison on parole but his freedom was short-lived."

yeah I'm repeating myself because you are

edit - Ok, I went over to wikipedia and it looks like Huckabee is alleged to have pressured the parole board, so I see there is more to this than meets the eye. However, the article you provided the link to does not say this and does not say that Huckabee released Dumond.

[msanthrope]

57. You call me a liar??? How dare you.

The Google is your friend----and I never said the Governor gave him clemency--no, he did worse, using his office to lean on the parole board.


"Contrary to such claims by the governor, during interviews for my Arkansas Times story, four parole board members disputed Huckabee's account as to what transpired between Huckabee and the board, saying that Huckabee was the one to bring up the subject, and he cleraly advocated for Dumond's parole. Three of those board members spoke for the record and at length for the story.

Board member Charles Chastain told me Huckabee told the board: "There is this one case I want to talk to you about." Huckabee then "commented that Wayne Dumond had received, from his perspective, a raw deal, that he was someone from the wrong side of the tracks ... and that he had received what he thought was too long a sentence for that type of crime."

Chastain said he then replied, "Governor, well that happens. When you rape a cheerleader in a small town like that, that’s what is going to happen."

The board's chairman, Leroy Brownlee, who was reappointed by Huckabee, and who worked closely with Huckabee's office to parole Dumond, has repeatedly declined to talk about the matter at all. But while refusing to say anything bad about Huckabee, Brownlee has also never backed Huckabee's version of events or said anything to contradict his fellow board members.
SNIP--more at link

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2007/01/on-meet-press-this-morning-tim-russert.html

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/28/fact-checking-huckabee-over-his-dumond-comments-from-mtp/

[Zensea]

58. I dare because

1) it's the internet
2) the information you provide does not prove the point you are making initially. It's a bit more nuanced than you were saying. In this post now you have shown a bit of the nuance but you didn't before.
Specifically you said that Huckabee released Dumond & even with the information you provide now, that is evidently not true.
Granted it looks like he pressured the parole board, but the parole board is who released Dumond, not Huckabee.
So you may not be a liar precisely, but you are definitely misrepresenting the sequence of events -- as I said at the beginning.

[msanthrope]

61. My, my--your defense of Huckabee's actions

reads like one of his talking points....

"It's a bit more nuanced?"

Indeed--I don't think you are a Democrat, precisely.

[Zensea]

62. I don't defend Huckabee's actions - wrong!

I'm just saying that they are different than you initially claimed.

I don't care if you think I'm a Democrat or not. I would think that would be obvious (that I don't care).
Besides which, that's off topic and irrelevant to the facts regarding Huckabee.

[Nimrod2005]

10. Amen, praise the Lord....nt

[patricia92243]

11. This has ALWAYS been my answer to my family who condemn the Clintons on the basis that he committed

infidelity. They are sitting there with there 3-4 wife/husband being all smug - Mr. Huckabee's statement is THE answer.

[Virginia Dare]

14. Trying to distance himself from Republican hypocrisy..

nice try..the Clintons don't need your help Mikey.

[BOSSHOG]

25. Wouldn't that take a space ship to Pluto?

[Virginia Dare]

39. That would be a dream come true...

pack all of the hypocritical Repubies up and send them into outer space...stay safe from Dean BOSS!!!

[BOSSHOG]

42. That would be a very large space ship

I've had a perverse thought about hurricane season which I haven't shared with my wife. WELL OUR HOME SURVIVED KATRINA. I don't think that would fly with the Missus if we had another one barrelig in on us. Even though we had minimal damage from Katrina I'd hate to think and find it hard to believe that we could sustain any more harm from another storm as we are 30 miles inland. I guess I'm just getting in touch with my stupid self.

[Virginia Dare]

44. Right now, it looks like it will go to the west of you..

but I wouldn't play games with a cat. 3 or 4. It would do damage pretty far inland. Heck, I've only been through a high tropical storm/borderline hurricane and that was scary enough. I'm sure your missus will be able to get you back in touch with your smart self...:7

[rodeodance]

16. and Bill and Hil do seem happy together.

[goodgd_yall]

18. I just recently viewed the Stephanopolous Republican debate

and Huckabee was one of the least offensive Republicans in my book.

[trashcanistanista]

52. He's the least offensive to me too, despite

the fact that he doesn't believe in evolution. He also got the Colbert bump and is riding that right now which is probably why anyone is talking about him at all.

[pepperbear]

19. anyone remember the West Wing episode, season 6 when Arnie Vinnick

wins the GOP nomination? He goes on to praise Bartlett in his acceptance speech. The assessment on the part of the democrats was that by doing so, he successfully dismissed the other dem candidates as children who can't sit at the big kids' table. Of course, that was a TV show, but the real life games these guys play are not much different.

Most GOP are more afraid of edwards than they are clinton. alot of the GOP will have no problem with her as the dem candidate.

they think she's unelectable. My cynicism says this isn't a real compliment. What's interesting is he's right: some in the GOP can't hold their own marriages together; but he can. Isn't this an oh so convenient way to point that out?

Mike would like nothing more than to run against Hillary.

[jgraz]

23. Nail, meet Hammer

All of the GOP are terrified of running against anyone but Hillary. Just wait: if she wins the nomination, you'll see a flood of opposition research that will make the Swift Boaters look like mealy-mouthed wimps.

[Hippo_Tron]

28. I think the assessment was that he won 5 million Democratic votes by doing that

[wyldwolf]

31. So you think the GOP is using a fictional TV show for strategy? Oh boy...

[pepperbear]

66. hey, uh...did you miss the part where I said "I know this is just a tv show"

or are just being a smart ass to make yourself feel better, somehow more enlightened?

just an observation, sparky. lighten up.

[Old and In the Way]

24. The 28% base isn't gonna like this turd dropped in their Kool-aid Punch Bowl.

Sorry Mike, your honesty, while good to hear, won't help you with the Base. You committed a mortal sin....speaking well of the Clintons.

[Freddie Stubbs]

35. This might be his way of criticizing Giuliani and Thompson without

directly mentioning them.

[LosinIt]

56. Bingo!

Good call, I agree.

[TlalocW]

32. That stuff other than the marriage stuff...

"A kid from a very small, souther rural state," not only aspired by succeeded in getting elected president twice. That's part of why republicans hate Clinton - republicans are born to rule; they have nobler blood that makes them better than anyone else and should be looked upon as natural leaders. For this hick upstart to come in and take the presidency away from one of the bluest blood republicans out there... unforgivable.

TlalocW

[DU GrovelBot]

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[phylla]

34. Beware of Huckabee..he is the one Republican that all R's can agree on.

I place heavy odds that he will be the R nominee.
And we should take him very seriously.
He would be acceptable to the I's, the mod R's and the far-righters. I think that Huckabee is the only candidate that could defeat Sen Clinton...or any of the rest of them (except perhaps Wes Clark)

[IA_Seth]

37. I'd agree

I think Huckabee is going to be the R nominee, or at least finish a lot better than where he is at right now. He has fewer negatives than the others bring with them.

[sueh]

41. That's right. He comes off as being mild, calm and reasonable...

but he really wants to stick it to us.

[TwilightGardener]

50. Tax-raising nanny-stater, pro-illegals. Nope.

[ElizabethDC]

38. I find Huckabee to be a very likable guy

I mean, I disagree with him on just about all policy matters, but he seems very affable from his TV appearanes.

[karynnj]

43. Unfortunately, I have to agree with you

I saw one of the C-SPAN Road to the White House segments on him - while waiting to see one of the Democrats. He was very appealing - his speech was of the "uniting" variety and he seemed a nice guy. He spent a lot of time on health and used his weight loss as an example of what could be done.

Like you and I suspect everyone here, I disagree with him on policy - but just as the Republicans were wrong to discount an Arkansas Governor, we should be too. Remember that Clinton did not win on his resume - Arkansas had a horrible environmental record and, because it was a poor state, was in the bottom 10% on nearly anything you looked at and he was not that good on foreign policy issues. (nor that liberal - he had been for supporting the Contras.) He won because he was charming, spoke very well and made people believe in him. (That he was extremely intelligent was more obvious after 1992 - his economic conference between the election and when he became President was awesome.)

From that one show, I fear him more than many better known candidates.

[electprogdems]

40. imho - he is setting the stage to separate

himself from the vast right wing swift boaters.

[karynnj]

45. An excellent move on his part

With a nice guy personality, if he can win the nomination - he could seem to independents as the candidate that could unite us and end the devisiveness of the last 15 years. He would have a hard time pushing this against Obama, but it would by an advantage against Hillary.

I think the in 2006, the people did reject SBVT type tactics - all the vets Kerry defended when those techniques were used won - one of them likely would not have won if the guy he ran against had not attacked his service. (I think this got lost in the attack on Kerry himself at the end.) It may well be that the Democrats, who really did take the high road in 2000 and 2004, might find themselves hurt by in 2008 being perceived as the party that is attacking unfairly - if the Republicans get a mild mannered person who looks and sounds like the nice guy down the block.

[Tellurian]

48. The old adage, "beware of Republicans bearing gifts"..

says it all in a nutshell. You can never trust a Republican that views pain, poverty and pollution as someone else's problem. The only thing worse than that, is the Republican who causes it.

[Forkboy]

63. We find little room for agreement...but we just did right there.

Well said.

[Tigermoose]

46. He is in favor of getting rid of income tax and the IRS

Instead, he wants to tax consumption. I heard this on NPR this morning. I think I think that I would be in favor of that, as long as luxury items were taxed heavily while necessities are taxed lightly. However, I disagree with his other positions as listed on Wikipedia.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huckabee


Main article: Political positions of Mike Huckabee
Huckabee opposes abortion, same-sex marriages, and civil unions
Huckabee supports the death penalty
Huckabee has expressed support for allowing Creationism and Intelligent Design in school science classes along side Evolution.
Huckabee supports the War in Iraq, the troop surge, the PATRIOT Act and the continued operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp
Huckabee endorsed the use of foreign workers from Canada and Mexico for agricultural labor.

[BeyondGeography]

47. Very smart politics above all

If Hillary's the nominee and the Republicans figure out how to run against the Clintons and Rove-style right-wing extremism at the same time, they just might have a prayer. Huckabee seems to be the only candidate on their side with an idea how to do this.

[TwilightGardener]

49. Who can forget this lovely news about Huckabee's son:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=769801

[AX10]

51. This is not going to help him with the GOP's kooky right wing base.

Huckabee could also be trying to make himself look better in the eye of the public. Huckabee is a right winger at heart who is anti-gay, anti-roe v. wade, and anti-corporate regulation. I don't trust his motives.

[Bongo Prophet]

53. Gosh, he is just SUCH a "NICE GUY" and the TV just WUVS him!

He is a creampuff VP pick to soften the harshness of MittJuliompson.
Jinn you ein Godly fluffball.

Like those holyrollah prechers who get in your personal space to the point you are gagging on the Olde Spice.
So easily slips in the knife, so soothingly goes your brain.

[Mojambo]

60. He's got an outside shot at the nom, but he's a no brainer for just about all of them for VP. n/t

[AnnieBW]

64. Wish he'd free the West Memphis 3

Or at least grant them a new trial. But, 'dem boyz was Saytanists, so we'z got to string 'em up. :mad: http://www.wm3.org/splash.php

[in_cog_ni_to]

65. I have to say...I honestly cannot remember the last time a repuke said something kind about Bill and

Hill.:wow: I-am-speechless!:wow:

[IndianaGreen]

68. Like Big Dog, Huckabee is from Hope, Arkansas

a fact he delights in telling his audiences by saying "give us another chance!"