Huckabee Has Heart, And It May Be Enough

INDIANOLA, IOWA -- A string of foreign policy gaffes has made it clear to the national political press corps that Mike Huckabee is manifestly unqualified to be president. Those questions dogged Huckabee at a press conference in Iowa today, and Mitt Romney's campaign is taking steps to ensure that his gaffes are indelible.

But what if none of this matters?

To some observers, the issue landscape in 2008 reminds them of 1992; voters seem to be inwardly-focused; Democrats, in particular, seem to want change; Republicans seem to be equally as frustrated that the government doesn't work for them. It's a weird disjuncture because the paramount conflicts of the day are outer-focused; Pakistan, Iraq, global climate change, worldwide economic instability. But none of those issues -- on either side -- has ticked the needle in any direction. Republicans are moved by immigration; Democrats, by health care; Democrats seem to want competence; Republicans seem to want authenticity.

And the reasons why Iowa Republicans fell in love with Mike Huckabee don't seem to have anything to do with nuclear proliferation or with any prospective evaluation of his fitness as a leader. They really like him; his personal attributes are megavolts more powerful than any of his rivals; his unvarnished evangelical worldview is enough.

Owen Walker, a farmer from Indianola, became a convert today. "He's got.. he's got heart. He's a good man," he said. A fundamentally decent guy. "A down to earth person who we're going to be able to trust."

His friend, Jim Meadows, told me: "When I really came to realize that he'd be a good candidate is when he demonstrated during the debates that he showed a lot of wisdom in the way he answered the question. The man is a genuine next-door neighbor type."

And all the criticism? It makes these men more convinced that Huckabee is their guy.

Comments

I am behind Mitt Romney for President, but Huckabee is definitely my choice for VP.

Posted by Jed | December 29, 2007 6:25 PM

You just hit the nail on the head. The man has a shortcomings but he seems genuine and is definitely likeable. That's what's drawing people that meet him or hear him. He'll be a good VP. Maybe a future president.

Posted by Greg | December 29, 2007 6:32 PM

It is amazing to me that anyone could support Mike Huckabee as president. If you were running a company, say a hospital, would you hire an unqualified applicant just because he was a nice guy? I don't mean to say that Huckabee supporters are unintelligent, but I do believe they are being blinded by a candidate willing to substitute charm for capability. His politcial views are too close to Hillary's (he's above all of us, "protecting" and "giving" us what we have as Americans), his foreign policy is too much like Carter's (people will like the superpower as long as we're nice about it), and his economic policies are too much like Bush's ("Uhhhh, what's supply side mean again?). I hope and pray that Iowans wake up from this spell. A couple thousand people are about to have a huge impact on this country's future. Please don't waste that vote on the "nice guy" who would lead this country down an ugly path.

Posted by Baffled | December 29, 2007 6:42 PM

Mike Huckabee is as prepared to be President as any other former Governor who ever served. It is utterly ridiculous to think Mitt Romney is any more prepared in foreign policy than Huckabee. What Romney does have is foreign policy experts on his payroll who tell what to say. Huckabee, whose campaign only flourished recently, has not had the financial resources up to this point to hire such people. The very idea that, as president, he would not have access to the advice of the best foreign policy minds in the world is just plain stupid.

You can get advice. You can't just manufacture honesty and authenticity. The people know that.

Posted by BSR | December 29, 2007 6:50 PM

Huckabee is not as good as Romney when it comes to addressing substantive issues...he is good at calling names and being personal.

Posted by AmyLynn | December 29, 2007 7:17 PM

Excellent analysis. Maybe these voters don't believe in competence? Might help explain our current Prez.

Posted by Kit Stolz | December 29, 2007 7:22 PM

Go to mikehuckabee.com to see what this Candidate's all about. I am an Independent
and will be registering Republican so I can
vote for Mike in the California Primary.

Posted by Michael Patterson | December 29, 2007 7:24 PM

What kind of foreign policy experience does/did anybody running for president ever have before taking office? The ability to make good decisions is not limited to those who have "foreign policy experience." If you can govern as a Republican in a Democrat state (Arkansas) I would say that is pretty strong evidence that you have an ability to negotiate and get things done. That translates on the world stage. Please give it up with the "foreign policy gaffes" accusations, Mr. Ambinder. Saying "apologies" instead of "sympathies" proves Huckabee isn't qualified to be president? Lord help us all. Romney said today that he wouldn't remember the people of Iowa. His wife corrected him. Does that mean he isn't qualified to run for president? Can we all lighten up a little on the minor things? How about focusing on the things that really matter - like issues.

Posted by Chris | December 29, 2007 7:42 PM

Romney's contrast ads are working. He now is leading in Iowa. Thanks Iowans - you've restored my faith in your ability to look past religion. This is the POTUS we're electing.

http://americanresearchgroup.com/pres08/iarep8-716.html

Posted by Eric | December 29, 2007 8:03 PM

My believe in financial markets extend to the political marketplace as well and will not pretend to know more than Iowa voters. I suspect that there might be a little bit of elitism here; difficult for some to see a former pastor from Ark with a degree from a "mediocre" school as president.

Posted by Kwame | December 29, 2007 8:07 PM

The Federal Government is an extraordinarily complex beast. When you put someone extremely stupid in charge of it, or in charge of one of its parts, it's a recipe for disaster, as we've seen with George W Bush and his idiot cronies like Mike Brown and Alberto Gonzales.

Now along comes Mike Huckabee, who makes George Bush look like Immanuel Kant. Can you imagine the Huckster in charge of this country? We might as well put a chimpanzee in the White House - you know, one of those primates whom Huckabee assures us we're not related to.

Posted by lampwick | December 29, 2007 8:09 PM

Why am I voting for Mitt Romney, and why should everyone in Iowa be voting for Mitt?
1. A simultaneous degree in business and law at Harvard (with honors) versus one and a half years of Theology school.

2. A reputation for successfully fixing broken businesses, Olympics......a track record unmatched by anyone in the nation, politician or not.

3. An amazing campaign organization. In other words, being able to surround himself with competent people who know how to get the job done.

4. A family unmatched by any other GOP running the race. Look at his support, the love and devotion of his wife and kids. Wouldn't we all love to see this for the next 8 years in Washington?

5. Mitt's level of productive personal energy is also unmatched by the other candidates. He's the most hard-working, clean-living one-woman man in the bunch.

I could go on and on, but these are just a few reasons. Please vote for Mitt!!!!

Posted by Ruthie | December 29, 2007 8:29 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzb02nDQFKk

part 1 of 7 parts of Huckabee's speech to the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS).

A really good speech on foreign policy that was totally overlooked by the MSM (I did search to see if this was reported upon...didn't find anything, but I'm not perfect.)

Posted by bekel | December 29, 2007 8:32 PM

Marc, you're right in that the gaffes won't matter in Iowa, but what about elsewhere - and in the long run? Republicans want a candidate that can win the overall race and that can stand up to the heat of a general. Is Huckabee really that candidate?

http://political-buzz.com/2007/12/29/last-minute-questions-for-huckabee/

Posted by matt | December 29, 2007 8:43 PM

Watched The Huckster on C-Span at an event today. I can see his appeal. He's not a 'let them eat cake' Republican...that is why he's hated.

Romney has not an iota of international experience.

Huckabee's a governor too, so they're even.

Posted by rikyrah | December 29, 2007 10:47 PM

Romney is a power hungry unprincipled flip-flopping third rate politician. Romney can be really good as a used car salesman.

Posted by Mitt | December 29, 2007 11:43 PM

BTW, Romney is a lair too. He lied about MLK, NRA endorsement, being lifelong hunter, etc.

Posted by liar | December 29, 2007 11:44 PM

Marc, did the "national political press corps" consider George Bush "manifestly unqualified" in 2000 and 2004? Its hard to imagine that any of these 'national political press corps' people are conservative Republicans. Huckabee is a conservative, AND a Republican AND a social conservative, that's three strikes, isn't it? I can imagine a group of liberal Democrats, moderate Democrats, liberal Democrats, those who think the Democrats are too rightwing, and perhaps a few liberal or moderate Republicans.

Romney and Huckabee are both Govs, if you wanted the most knowledge about foreign affairs, you'd choose a Senator. However, I think that many people prefer govenors (in the leadership role) for President, over Senators (in a group of 100) for President. Besides, this is 2008, the President of the United States is surrounded by "experts" in the Pentagon, CIA, FBI, etc. None of the leading candidates are PhD students in Islamic History, nor do they need to be.

Posted by voter | December 30, 2007 5:05 AM

The post is generally correct, but not complete. The issues are important to us Iowa folks, as well. Only Governor Huckabee would move to abolish the IRS. Only Huckabee would get us off foreign oil without kowtowing to all of the envirommental nonsense.

He is almost guaranteed to nominate Justices who will protect the lives of the unborn and the institution of marriage.

He better understands the threat of Islamic fundamentalism.

I believe he would have done something to save the life of Terri Schiavo.

He is willing to carry out the death penalty. He would have gotten OBL's #2 man.

Posted by Grassboots | December 30, 2007 5:11 AM

voter,
Comparing Bush's perceived weaknesses with those of Huckabee is not a good idea when it comes to winning elections...unless you think Bush could be re-elected that is...

Posted by sam | December 30, 2007 7:41 AM

Please read the actual "foreign policy gaffes." They are Huckabee's comments in last Friday's papers about "Pakistani illegals coming across your border."

Besides having all of his facts completely wrong, the sheer stupidity of this sort of fear mongering is almost breathtaking.

Posted by Robert McGonegal | December 30, 2007 9:44 AM

In other words, Mike Huckabee is just like Jimmy Carter. What a train wreck of foreign policy that was--caving into PLO Yassir Arrafat terrorism in a way that haunts the world and Israel still today. I wouldn't mind Huckabee for a neighbor (unless my dogs got ill). I can't imagine him as my President. I am a registered republican but I seriously can't imagine voting for him. He is a democrat with republican window dressing.

Romney knows he doesn't know everything and so he has a history or surrounding himself with the best and the brightest. He then sets up and organization based on data driven, argued out decisions. The result is this guy simply turns things around. What you will never find--a former Romney staffer who is disaffected. Why? If you look at Hillary she has had several major firings and resignations on her staff Romney genuinely likes and is admired by those who work with him. You can not find that history and dynamic on any other staff of any any other candidate. It is something truly unique to him that the press never talks about.

Posted by DLounsbury | December 30, 2007 3:28 PM

Huckabee is qualified to be President. Just cause the guy was exhausted and mis-spoke does not take away from his proven leadership. Governor Huckabee has more experience than any of the candidates running, democrat or republican. I think that the press is just digging for stuff to slam Huckabee with, give the guy a break!!

Now Mitt Romney I would be concerned about him, hallucinations of your deceased father marching with MLK is very disturbing. One must call into question his sanity or could it be that he also mis-spoke..

You can pick pick at Governor Huckabee all you want, but there is not stopping the grass roots movement. You washington folks need to realize that it is main street Americans who put people into office NOT YOU!!!

Huckabee FOR President! Don't let the media tell you who to vote for!!!!!

Posted by jenny | December 30, 2007 3:32 PM

@Ruthie:

In international power politics, being "clean living" and a "one woman man" are about as relevant as whether you use Q-tips or another national, leading brand to clean your ears.

Posted by Solo500 | December 30, 2007 5:21 PM

If Romney is such a wiz with his education and family connections, why doesn't he dominate in the polls?Maybe he isn't as great as his backers think.

Posted by Conrad | December 30, 2007 5:24 PM

BSR I couldn't have said it better!! Mike Huckabee is not only a "nice" guy, he's honest. As President he will be surrounded by experienced advisors. Mr. Huckabee has a heart for the American people. Also, regarding his so called "gaffes" recently it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that it doesn't matter if it's 6 or 660 illegal muslim radicals cross our borders, they pose a threat to American safety. The number quoted was just poor data gathering by an advisor, the message remains the same. And yes, Mr. Romney has a great education, however he doesn't seem to be able to figure out who he is and what he stands for. GO MIKE!

Posted by DeeDee | December 30, 2007 5:43 PM

The question is not whether Mike Huckabee is qualified to be President of this nation. He is eminently qualified. The question is whether the media pundits are qualified to do their job of helping us make the right decision about who is best suited to run this country. In most cases, they are not. Over 90% of mature Americans believe the media are corrupt. I believe that individual media personalities should be held accountable for their twisting of the truth. The people need to take back this country from those who pretend to be patriots but are in fact scoundrels, and the sooner the better.

Posted by David Anderson | December 30, 2007 5:55 PM

I think Romney's impossibly flexible political positioning rubs too many conservatives as highly Clinton/Kerry-like. Many of them also still highly approve of George Bush's performance (a similarly prepared Southern governor running for president) so the foreign policy gaffes that sends the punditry howling have little to no effect. That and Mitt's a phony.

Posted by Matt | December 30, 2007 6:43 PM