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Minutemen Bash Founder Over Huckabee Endorsement

13 Dec 2007 09:30 am

Jim Gilchrist likes Mike Huckabee, but the organization he founded sent a "special message" to members blasting Huckabee. The headline: "Real Minutemen Do Not Endorse Huckabee."

Here's the full text:

No National Minuteman Group has endorsed Mike Huckabee.

One individual Minuteman has personally endorsed him.

For the sake of clarity, it is important to note that the Minuteman
Civil Defense Corps (MCDC), the nation's largest Minuteman organization,
is a 501(C)4 non-profit organization and cannot and does not endorse any
candidate for public office. MCDC is not associated with Mr. Jim
Gilchrist, who today endorsed Mike Huckabee for president.

Jim Gilchrist’s erstwhile Minuteman Project is itself an organization
which by its own representations as a non-profit civic group cannot
legally endorse candidates. It does not have any volunteers who observe
illegal border activity. It has no border fence building projects. Jim
Gilchrist here speaks only for Jim Gilchrist, he does not speak for the
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, nor is he nationally representative of
most patriots in the "Minuteman movement" – who under no circumstances
could ignore the failed record nor endorse the duplicitous “plan”
recently rolled out by candidate Mike Huckabee. The national media needs
to recognize that Jim Gilchrist’s endorsement is his own personal
statement, nothing more.

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps emphasizes policy dealing with
national border security. The only "plan" to ensure border security that
is acceptable to our constituency would be a candidate policy statement
declaring that his first act as President will be to hold a press
conference and announce to the American people an executive order to
immediately deploy and fund 30,000 National Guard personnel to the U.S.
Borders (25,000 to the southern border and 5,000 to the northern border)
to complement a massive increase in U.S. Border Patrol Agent field
personnel, and a bilateral effort to secure our frontiers, smash the
drug cartels, shut down the human smugglers and protect the public
safety of the citizens who reside along the borders on both sides of our
national boundaries.

Unlike this last-minute opportunism attempted by Huckabee, many of the
other GOP presidential candidates have actually helped push the issue of
national border security forward for some time. Tom Tancredo’s many
years of hard work on the border crisis and illegal immigration issues
have all the candidates striving to sound like him. Duncan Hunter can
take personal credit for getting the highly effective San Diego border
fence built. Ron Paul has been to the border with us first hand and
aggressively pushed positive border legislation. Alan Keyes has done
more than anyone to support the organizational development of MCDC, and
personally participated in the Minuteman Border Fence Groundbreaking –
advancing a citizen’s construction effort which has forced Congress to
finally get the Feds building physical border fence.

Only one Minuteman group is conducting regular multi-state border
security efforts, building fence and aggressively monitoring Washington
DC: Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. We would like to extend an invitation
to all the presidential candidates, Republican and Democrat, to come to
the border and see what is really happening on our nation’s frontier.
Not to take the safe little government photo-op helicopter ride, but see
the lay-up sites full of trash and debris. See the rape trees. See the
violent crime in the border towns. Walk on the pathways of destroyed
environmental terrain trampled by tens of thousands of invading foreign
migrants. See what the American elites’ support of broken borders,
unfettered illegal immigration and sanctuary cities is doing to our
fellow Americans who live on our borderlands, and how these failed
policies imperil our nation’s safety, security and prosperity.

With your support MCDC continues to make Border Security and Illegal
Immigration a national priority that must be resolved. Now more than
ever we need your help to continue the fight.

OK my friends, I think this will do it -now spread my words far and wide!

Volunteer NOW - Donate NOW!

*YOU can make a REAL DIFFERENCE*. So, for your sake, for the sake of
your children, your grandchildren, and for generations to come, *please
help MCDC* continue its fight to protect and preserve the United States
of America and defend our Constitution.

Sincerely for these United States,

Chris Simcox, President
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps

Comments (32)

"but the organization he founded sent a "special message" to members blasting Huckabee."

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps is a difference organization. Even though it has Minuteman in its name, it is founded and led by Simcox.

It is irrelevant whether Huckabee is being opportunistic or not. His plan for the border would be a big improvement and dramatically help to resolve the illegal immigration problems. We have no reason to doubt his intentions to implement his plan. I do plan to vote for Huckabee, but may change my mind before pulling the lever.

Charles Witt - San Antonio, Texas USA

So much for this endorsement silencing the anti-immigrant crowd. What a rebuke for Huck and Gilchrist.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Wow. Just wow. For all the insane crazy stuff that the US is facing right now, there sure are a lot of folks that seem to think brown people should be on the top of the list. At least they're a fringe minority, I suppose.

I am very disappointed as I learn more about Huckabee. For such a gifted communicator, it is unfortunate that Huckabee is wrong time after time on the critical issues. Illegal immigration and his history of putting his 'wisdom' above that of a jury of peers by releasing 1,033 convicted felons.

Huckabee has lost my vote.

I think everyone sees a last minute pander when one sees it (execpt Gilchrist?). At least Romney switched on abortion nearly 3 years ago and has a pro-life record to back up his pro-life stance.

Huckabee has NOTHING in his record to suggest he's tough on illegal immigration.

(oh yeah . . . and ROmney has a record of being tough on immigration which is consistant with his current position. He even had a 1994 campaign flier that said he wanted "tougher measures to prevent illegal immigration" back when it wasn't even a hot issue).

Michelle Malkin was obviously suprised by this.
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/12/11/minuteman-project-founder-endorses-huckabee/

The problem with Huckabee is that his immigration stance is an obvious pander to deflect criticism over his involvement with Mexican authorities during his tenure as governor. He was pretty much backed into a corner to provide an immigration stance he, himself doesn't even believe in; the opportunistic nature of it is what forced him to do it, knowing full well that if he hadn't, the other information would have taken precedence.

Gilchrist, if you look into his history, is in the courts right now to get name rights to the organization; technically at the moment he has nothing to do with the Minutemen that are currently doing the real work along the border.

I should point this single sentence out of the entire story to demonstrate who's actually been there, and it ain't Huckabee:

"Ron Paul has been to the border with us first hand and aggressively pushed positive border legislation."

So, for Gilchrist to endorse Huckabee, I smell something extremely fishy about it knowing that Huckabee hasn't even been down there himself, much less alongside the Minutemen.

Mike Huckabee has a really decent immigration plan. The plan is TOP notch and surpasses any of the other candidates plans. To bad the minutemen are not on board with the plan, makes you wonder what their problem is. Is border security really the issue here or is something other candidate wooing them, waving $$$ in front of them??

To bad the minutemen are not on board with the plan, makes you wonder what their problem is.

Maybe the fact that Huckabee's as soft on illegal immigration as, say, a wet sponge. The fact remains that up until a week ago, Huckabee was indisputably the softest on the immigration issue and it's increasingly clear that this is nothing but a pander to show the illusion that he's hard as a rock on the issue.

$100 says that if he takes the nomination he rescinds his newfound immigration stance, along with any others he may have contrived along the way. Based on Huckabee's duplicitous record on taxes and many other issues, it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Isn't this letter in itself an endorsement of sorts? Not of Huckabee, naturally, but several other candidates recieved praise. It seems odd to me first of all that these wackos (because they are, their positions don't reflect those of the general public), would take the time to say "we can't endorse" and then go ahead and support several of the other candidates.

Do not waste time hating brown people. Spend time going after the reason they come here.

GO AFTER THE EMPLOYERS!!!!!!

GUESS WHY REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON HAVE NO INTENTION OF GOING AFTER THE EMPLOYERS?????

THEY AND THEIR FRIENDS ARE THE EMPLOYERS!!

WAKE UP FOLKS. YOU'VE BEEN HAD BY THE REPUBLICANS AGAIN AND ALL THEY DO IS LAUGH AT DUMB FOLKS LIKE YOU.

Love to see the looneys at work. The country has so many, some comically harmless, some dangerous; a little like the Republican candidates for President, don't you know?

Huckabee is an Illegal Alien apologist. He always has been and always will be.

What is his position on birthright citizenship?

What is the limit on legal immigration and guestworkers that he would impose?

His plan is nothing more than a Touchback Amnesty Plan. All of us who have been fighting illegal immigration want to end this sad chapter in America's history. We want the result to reflect our heartfelt effort. However, supporting Gov Huckabee without Beneficial answers to the above questions will amount to leading a Trogan Horse into the White House when it comes to the illegal immigration issue.

What he does offer conservatives is the following:
1. Pro-Life position
2. Pro Traditional Marriage position
3. Support for the FairTax
4. Support for Education Vouchers

How he scares conservatives:

1. Illegal Alien Apologist
2. Advocates BIG GOVERNMENT Solutions
a. cap and trade
b. just what will he do with healthcare
when he has access to your checkbook?
3. National Bankruptcy is the limit on his
potential for wasteful spending on education
4. He has survived and thrived on being a low
cost producer (thing Wal Mart & Tyson Foods)
That may be fine for Arkansas but it won't
work for the rest of the nation. He will soon
be a confused fish out of water not unlike the
situation Jimmy "Peanut Farmer" Carter found
himself in. The Washington Power elite will
rathole the Huckster so fast it will be
pathetic.
5. What will the Huckster do in an environment
dominated by Washington elitists? Cave in and
seek acceptance, what else.
6. He will not stand strong as a Conservative in
the face of Liberal Washington.

Given the rest of the top tier there are many who will identify with his strengths with the attitude that something is better than nothing. Go ahead, that will be on your conscience not mine.

Vote Tancredo for a Secure & Prosperous America

SovereignMan

Rich Lowry was on the Laura Ingraham radio show yesterday morning.

He said that one of Huckabee's staffers found Huckabee's new "plan" on illegal immigration in a two-year old issue of National Review.

He basically "adopted," "stole," whatever his new plan from NR.

And because so many people are too lazy to research Huckabee's love of illegals when he was Governor, they're buying into it hook, line and sinker.

Darius, it's TOP NOTCH because it came straight from the pages of National Review. Just ask Rich Lowry.

Another interesting fact: The debate in Iowa yesterday was hosted by the Des Moines Register.
They stated at the beginning that they weren't going to discuss illegal immigration because it wasn't important to Iowans.

One of Huckabee's weakest issues is illegal immigration. And guess what?

The Des Moines Register is in the tank for Huckabee.

If everyone believes what the main stream media puts out about every candidate you have just listened to the people who lie in your face each and every day. Go to Mike Huckabee's website to find out the truth of what he believes.On his main page, click the little sign that says "truth squad", it tells all of what he believes. And if you don't like what he states, its a free country,vote for who ever you think will be a good leader.

Go to Mike Huckabee's website to find out the truth of what he believes.

Because it's gotta be an objective source, right?

Thanks, but no thanks.

Everything you need to know about the Dope from Hope's pathetic record on immigration, taxes, crime, corruption, and foreign policy: The REAL Mike Huckabee

Mitt Romney is the Republican Howard Dean!!! Read all about it!

After the Iowa debate yesterday Mitt Romney stopped in Marion, Iowa to give a speech at Linn-Mar High School. He said the following:

“And I’m convinced the world will remember as well because you’re going to do something which people don’t expect, which is give me a victory,” Romney said. “And then I’m going to New Hampshire where I’m pretty solidly in the lead in New Hampshire, and I’m gonna be in Nevada, and I’m gonna win Nevada, and I’m gonna be in Wyoming, and I’ll win that one and Michigan. And we’re gonna do pretty *** well—that’s at least what I plan."

.... Yahhh Hip Ha!!!

Everybody is reading all about this now. Mitt Romney is Howard Dean all over again. The media and the Democrats will now play this over and over and over and over.

This is what brought down Howard Dean and now is bringing down Mitt Romney. Republicans don''t need another Howard Dean.

.... Yahhh Hip Ha!!!

Thanks for clearing this up. A lot of eyebrows were raised when this story first broke. I could understand half informed know it alls being fooled by the Huckster's slick willy tactics but was amazed that someone close to the issue would be.

Apparently it has been misreported by the main stream media sources,(what a shock).

To any voters reading this, please do your homework on the actual history of the candidates before you pull the lever for them. Every bride looks great in a wedding dress.

I have yet to read a postive story about Governor Huckabee on Atlantic.com...

Of all the fundamental issues that concern the majority of Americans, this ranks 4th or 5th. Illegal immigration is a 3% population problem...who also happen to be the least powerful, politically or economically. This is a obsessive issue with

At the recent debate Mr. Huckabee said:

"I'm going to be a lot more careful about everything I say, because I find that it gets amplified to a new level."

Should not a person running for the esteemed office of US President understand, expect and assume that everything he says will be considered? Should not a person in that postion ALWAYS be careful about everything he says?

Scary.

Why did Jim Gilchrist endorse Mike Huckabee?

Americans say they want another Ronald Reagan to run for President; if that was true Duncan Hunter would be doing much better than he is. If Illegal immigration was the only issue that Republicans care about, Tom Tancredo would be ahead by double digits. Dr. Keyes is the smartest and most conservative of the entire field of candidates, but he is polling less than one percent. Ron Paul? Do I really have to say it? Unfortunately, none of these really good choices seem to have any chance of winning.

From a pragmatic perspective, there are only five candidates that can win enough primaries to be nominated for President. They are Giuliani, Romney, Thompson, McCain and Huckabee. Let’s look at them one at a time; no cheap shots, just a good hard look.

Giuliani: Rudy had the guts and determination to take on organized crime in the most corrupt and crime ridden city in the Nation. As the Mayor of New York he drastically lowered crime, cleaned up Times Square and lowered taxes. He also made New York a sanctuary city, second only to Los Angeles in the number of lost jobs and illegal aliens receiving Federal assistance. Good man, bad choice for President.

Romney: Regardless of what you may think about the Mormon religion, you have to admit they make great neighbors and friends. Mitt Romney has successfully run a business as well as a government and is running on a traditional family values platform. However, Mitt has signed the toughest anti-Second Amendment legislation of anyone currently running for President (Republican or Democrat). Mitt also did nothing about several sanctuary cities in his State while he was Governor of Massachusetts, nor did he do anything about enforcing immigration laws. His claim, "I authorized the State Police to enforce immigration laws" is not true. That “authorization” never took effect; it was just a hollow attempt to obscure his immigration record.

Thompson: I like Fred Thompson, not just as an actor, but also for his brief service in the Senate. Fred Thompson is the author of the Thompson Report that gave clear details of the many sins of Bill Clinton, including the many traitorous deals Clinton made with China. Many Minutemen (like me) supported Fred for President until we were denied access to a Thompson rally because we were wearing Minuteman Project T-shirts. Mr. Thompson has also never returned a questionnaire or a phone call to any organization in the movement. Clearly, Fred Thompson doesn’t want our support.

McCain: John McCain is a war hero and a patriot. He has also never seen an amnesty bill he didn’t like. McCain advocates open borders like he has money ridding on the outcome. Hillary Clinton has a better chance to get an endorsement from a Minuteman than John McCain.

And then there’s Huckabee…

The only thing I knew about Mike Huckabee six months ago was he was a Republican Governor and that he had lost over a hundred pounds.

The Club for Growth claims he is soft on immigration and a tax raising RINO (Republican In Name Only). What do they site as proof he will raise taxes? They site a butchered clip of Mike Huckabee addressing a democratically controlled Arkansas legislature on the eve of a government shutdown (budget crisis). Of course, the Club For Growth didn’t explain these details and they intentionally edited the clip to make a monkey out of Huckabee. In the clip, Mike Huckabee is telling the legislature he would be “OK” with their decision to raise a number of taxes. The truth of the matter is the Democrats engineered a budget crisis for the purpose of raising taxes; the tax hikes Huckabee was talking about were ideas the Democrats had proposed and Huckabee had resisted until the crisis. A crisis brought on by the Democrat’s “tactical over spending.” You would have known this if the Club For Growth had not omitted the last eight seconds, when Huckabee finished with, “If this is what it takes I would be fine with that, but please don’t shut down the government”. Mike Huckabee has signed a pledge to not raise taxes if elected President.

On immigration, Mike Huckabee did support an “In State Tuition” bill for illegal alien children that had completed four years of High School in Arkansas. In State tuition was not available for aliens from anywhere else and only if they spent all four years in an Arkansas High School. This was not a scholarship or a grant, just the same price break that any of their classmates were entitled to.

The question at hand is, “Why did Jim Gilchrist endorse Huckabee?”

Mike Huckabee contacted Jim Gilchrist and asked Jim to read his 9 point plan to solve the illegal immigration problem. I guess Huckabee figured that if Jim Gilchrist liked it, the minuteman movement would like it too. Unfortunately, most of the Minutemen haven’t read it; they seam to prefer taking the word of anonymous partisans on the internet than to read it for themselves. In the spirit of fairness, you can read it here:
1. Build the Fence
• Ensure that an interlocking surveillance camera system is installed along the border by July 1, 2010.
• Ensure that the border fence construction is completed by July 1, 2010.
2. Increase Border Patrol
• Increase the number of border patrol agents.
• Fully support all law enforcement personnel tasked with enforcing immigration law.
3. Prevent Amnesty
• Policies that promote or tolerate amnesty will be rejected.
• Propose to provide all illegal immigrants a 120-day window to register with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and leave the country. Those who register and return to their home country will face no penalty if they later apply to immigrate or visit; those who do not return home will be, when caught, barred from future reentry for a period of 10 years.
4. Enforce the Law on Employers
• Employment is the chief draw for most illegal immigrants and denying them jobs is the centerpiece of an attrition strategy.
• Impose steep fines and penalties on employers that violate the law.
• Institute a universal, mandatory citizenship verification system as part of the normal hiring process.
• Prevent the IRS and the Social Security Administration from accepting fraudulent Social Security numbers or numbers that don't match the employees' names.*

5. Establish an Economic Border
• Move toward passage of the Fair Tax.
• The Fair Tax provides an extra layer of security by creating an economic disincentive to immigrate to the U.S. illegally.

6. Empower Local Authorities
• Promote better cooperation on enforcement by supporting legislative measures such as the CLEAR Act, which aims to systematize the relationship between local law and federal immigration officials.
• Encourage immigration-law training for police. Local authorities must be provided the tools, training, and funding they need so local police can turn illegal immigrants over to the federal authorities.
7. Ensure Document Security
• End exemptions for Mexicans and Canadians to the US-VISIT program, which tracks the arrival and departure of foreign visitors. Since these countries account for the vast majority of foreigners coming here (85 percent), such a policy clearly violates Congress' intent in mandating this check-in/check-out system.
• Reject Mexico's "matricula consular" card, which functions as an illegal-immigrant identification card.
8. Discourage Dual Citizenship
• Inform foreign governments when their former citizens become naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Impose civil and/or criminal penalties on American citizens who illegitimately use their dual status (e.g., using a foreign passport, voting in elections in both a foreign country and the U.S.).
9. Modernize the Process of Legal Immigration
• Eliminate the visa lottery system and the admission category for adult brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens.
• Increase visas for highly-skilled and highly-educated applicants.
• Expedite processing for those who serve honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Improve our immigration process so that those patiently and responsibly seeking to come here legally will not have to wait decades to share in the American dream. Governor Huckabee has always been grateful to live in a country that people are trying to break into, rather than break out of.

Jim Gilchrist read the plan and noticed it sounded very familiar; it was as if it was written by someone that had just read Jim’s book, Minutemen: The Battle to Secure America's Borders. Jim called Huckabee and agreed to meet with him. The plan was good, but Jim needed to meet him face to face first.

No one in this movement is more dedicated than Jim Gilchrist. Anyone that would suggest Jim “sold out” or “is smoking something” is rude, childish and ungrateful for all that he has done for the cause. Jim has endorsed Mike Huckabee because Mike Huckabee has a plan and a good chance to win. Have any other “top tier” candidates written a plan? Do any other candidates with a plan have a snowball’s chance of winning the nomination?

It’s coming down to the wire; the Iowa caucus is in less than three weeks and if we don’t make practical decisions about supporting a viable candidate, we will end up with Rudy vs. Hillary. I encourage those of you that have sent the Minuteman Project hate mail to take a fresh look at Mike Huckabee. Research primary sources and be savvy to cheap political hit pieces.

This is just another major fault with Huckabee. The guy is a panderer. Not only is he pro-illegal aliens, he's also a tax hiker! How in the heck can you call yourself a Republican and be for big government?

Go to www.taxhikemike.org for the truth about him. If you are Republican and planning on voting for Mike, please switch your party affiliation to Democrat first.

I'm voting for someone who stands for limited government and NO AMNESTY OR WELFARE OR BENEFITS (OF ANY KIND) FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS.

SOUND THE ALARM


Subject: Huckabee Purpose Driven

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=658

Don't know if you all know this yet ...but baptist preacher 2008 Rep. Pres. candidate Huckabee is Purpose Driven (PD).

Ref. Link is to Huckabee's official web page above...his blog...Huckabee uses PD's founder, Rick Warren's quote...hoping for an official endorsement from him. Purpose Driven is a cult that has taken over the mainstream church.

SERIOUS PROBLEM: There are 38.8 million baptist in the USA. This is what has spiked Huckabee ahead in the polls suddenly. This could spell disaster for the US if these millions of baptists vote. Approx. 50% of voters vote, then say, the last election went something like 62 million for Bush vs. 59 million for Kerry-Dems. ---you see, now in 2008, we have 38 million baptist....then, add on to that, millions of foolish nonbaptist christians who will get on the bandwagon--especially, if Dobson and other 'leaders' endorse Huckabee? Huckabee has the baptist's vote...then, think if PD Warren does official endorse him. Huckabee is the worst choice on the republican ticket--and the 'chrisians' are fixed to give us another Bush. I've friends personally who were PD 'resisters' and were thrown out of Lamar Baptist Church in TX. Huckabee (and you know the baptist demonination has fully accepted PD false teachings) does not recognize the error of PD---what kind of christian is he--another deluded one, like universalist GW?

In the minuteman letter at the top of the page, WTF is a rape tree?

The media elite have chosen Huckabee as their choice for the Republican nomination. They praise his understanding of complex issues (this means more taxes and at least de fact amnesty for illegal aliens. Whether its David Gergen ( a real RINO) or Ellen Goodman or Howard Fineman they like him. That certainly makes me suspicious!

Of course, the elite media will back the Democrat in the general election and will begin to attack the "religious" Huckabee if he receives the nomination.

Mr. Gilmore may be sincere but he is foolish for backing this man.

There's only one Minuteman in the whole country that buys the disingenuous garbage Huckabee is peddling; Jim Gilchrist.
Gilchrist hasn't been anywhere near the border since 2005.
After giving his ( personal ) endorsement to Huckabee, Gilchrist couldn't even answer simple questions about where Huckabee stood on related issues! ( anchor babies, touchback provision, etc. )
He didn't know and he still doesn't.
Gilchrist got sold a bill of goods by the biggest panderer on the Republican roster!
Don't be fooled into voting for this charlatan!!

All the anti-huckabee people's comments are not worth a pile of dung. Not one reference on how he is soft on immigration. Goto www.mikehuckabee.com and then to issues and then to immigration.

He won't "deport" illegals by doing raids. What he will do:

1.) Deport any illegals that law enforcement runs across...but only after incarcerating them and making sure they are not criminals.

2.) Fine businesses in a real meaningful when they are caught hiring illegals.

He's for the fence. He's for better security on the border.

Seems like the minutemen group is a bunch of wacko's crying because they don't get exactly what they want. You do yourself a huge diservice when you attack a candidate that accomplishes your ultimate goal. Further when you go to Huckabee's website and it shows your statement as idiot ...then say...yeah but he's a liar...you look like Cindy Shehan yelling at Bush for "lying" about the IRAQ war.

I was a Tom Tancredo supporter and as a person "I Like Mike". Since Romney proved he was another sellout crooked Republican and I could never support amnesty McCain we must support Huckabee to the last gasp of life. Hillary and Obama are pandering to the illegal community and John McCain's record speaks for itself. Mike has a very conservative record reguarding the 2nd ammendment and social conservative issues. His heart and desire to create jobs for Arkansas skewed his judgement on immigration policy. But tell me now (honestly) of the 4 who are left - who can you vote for? Vote Huckabee and then keep the pressure on to be tough on border control.