Huckabee took thousands in gifts, records show

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Source: The Guardian

A $1,000 pair of cufflinks from a supporter, tens of thousands of dollars of clothing from a wealthy Little Rock businessman and thousands in gift certificates and cash from staff and appointees were among the lavish gifts given to Republican presidential candidate and unexpected frontrunner Mike Huckabee while he was governor of Arkansas.

The gifts fell within Arkansas's ethics rules but have raised questions among the governor's political opponents and ethics analysts at a time when scrutiny of the candidate is intensifying, and are at odds with the humble persona Huckabee has adopted on the campaign trail.

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Huckabee's chief source of largesse was Jennings Osborne, a Little Rock businessman who made his money in the medical testing business. In 1996, Huckabee's first year as governor, Osborne bought furniture for the governor's office and a fountain pen for the governor's use, and regularly sent flower arrangements. In subsequent years Osborne bought Huckabee gift certificates to department stores and clothing boutiques, 200 copies of a book Huckabee wrote, ties, flowers and air travel.

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A former top Huckabee staffer said the governor saw nothing wrong with Osborne's gifts. "It was because of his background as a preacher," said the staffer, who asked to remain anonymous. "They typically get gifts. In his own mind he was righteous, so the appearance didn't matter." Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/mikehuckabee/story/0,,2227378,00.html