Crazy Like a Fox?

Some think he's actually a Wackobee -- Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

by blogSpotter
Who is Mike Huckabee? He is the charming ex-Governor of Arkansas, who's now a come-from-behind phenomenon in the GOP presidential race. According to the latest polls, he's neck and neck with Mitt Romney in Iowa -- a state where Huckabee has invested comparatively little time or money. Matt Taibbi is the Rolling Stone's ace political reporter and he gives us the low-down on Huckabee in the latest issue of Rolling Stone.

Huckabee takes a page from the Clinton likeability playbook -- he's very congenial and likes to play bass in a rock band. He's jammed before with Percy Sledge and Grand Funk Railroad. Many people know him from a well-publicized diet in which he lost 100 lbs. Huckabee is also a devout Christian who places a literal interpretation on the Bible and has been quoted as saying, "When Armageddon comes, the Christians will win". Arkansas public school performance declined during his tenure, and it was partly attributed to the governor's abhorrence of evolution and in fact, most science. Evangelicals will be delighted to know all this but others not of his ilk will be subtracting it from the "likeability" column.

Arkansans know Huckabee from other things, maybe not as appealing to the Republican "like" factor. He's an economic populist like John Edwards who believes in prison reform and poverty relief. He believes in a "fair tax" -- a flat tax alternative that conservatives dislike. He has expressed some leniency toward illegal immigrants, even suggesting tuition help for their children. As governor Huckabee even had the nerve to expand health care for children and then he raised taxes to pay for it. He's quoted as saying "We shouldn't allow children to sleep under a bridge" which are horrible words for a typical "Dickensian" Republican to hear. Huckabee's populist themes would be music to a Democrat, but there's no telling how they'll play in the GOP.

The Huckabees as First Couple of Arkansas have also taken some other hits to their reputation. There was a scandal over a $60,000 taxpayer fund which the Huckabees allegedly used for a shopping spree. Items bought: dog food, pantyhose and Taco Bell food. Adding into the “white trash” column, they publicized their wedding registry at Dillard’s and Target when they renewed their vows; they made it known that cash and Target gift cards would be perfectly OK from the general Arkansas public.

In all, they don’t seem like over-the-top shysters. Target gift cards are hardly on the same level as scandals that have played out elsewhere. Huckabee has gained a lot of momentum – his daily fundraising proceeds have increased from $6,000 at the start of his campaign to $30,000 today. He doesn’t have the “negatives” that are unspoken Republican realities about his rivals: he’s not Mormon, Italian, too old (McCain) or Hollywood Elite (Thompson). Those are four categories that he doesn’t fit, and it might just propel an evangelical populist to the White House in 2008.

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