Huckabee Takes Conservative Party's Money, Does Not Mention Hoffman

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee Talks About His Bold Leadership
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The Conservative Party of New York paid Mike Huckabee good money to speak at their event. Less than 30 miles away their candidate, Doug Hoffman, was doing some late campaigning in a hotly contested special election for the 23rd congressional district of New York. The Republican candidate, selected by the County Chairman rather than by a vote of the grass-roots, is an ultra liberal on everything but gun rights. This is a conservative up-state district. That is why the latest polls show Hoffman beating her and the Democrat in the three way race that ends next Tuesday. Hoffman is far more in line with Huckabee's professed values than any candidate in the race, and even Mike Huckabee has said so.

The RNC may leave right-wing candidates hanging out to dry, but they spare no expense to prop up lefties like Arlen Spectre (who rewarded them by switching to the Democratic party) and Scozzawhatshername, their candidate in NY23. They have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars and sent out of state shock troops to bang on doors for her. Still, the polls show it to be a two person race between Hoffman and the Democrat. Let me add that Hoffman wanted to run as a Republican, but was turned away in favor of the ultra-liberal Scozzawhatshernameitdoesnotmatterbecausesheisabouttogoaway.

Sarah Palin took a principled stand and stood up to the RNC and endorsed Hoffman in the race. Fred Thompson and Tim Pawlenty soon did the same. Newt Gingrich scolded them for it and tried to get folks to hold their nose one more time. Political leaders from across the nation are taking a stand. But while these statesmen were biting the bullet, Mike Huckabee was biting his nails. He went to the dinner, took the money, and gave a speech which did not mention Hoffman.

Many of his more idealistic supporters back home are perplexed by the move. I will explain it to you. Mike Huckabee cares about Mike Huckabee much more than he cares about anybody else. He cares about Mike Huckabee much more than he does about any cause, including the causes he has made a good living off of. When I was one of a roomful of state legislative candidates back in 98, he told us straight up that he was not going to risk anything for any of us because he cared about his race more than ours. That was Huckabee then and it is Huckabee now. I say without malice that he is a self-serving politician because it is the truth. Those who love him, don't hate me for saying it. Either accept him for who he is or move on. Don't even take my word for it then, look at his actions.

Huckabee does not want to offend the Republican beltway big dogs- the very people that the grassroots are furious at. Why is he doing it? Can you think of any explanation besides either cowardice or perceived self-interest? I don't write this simply because Huckabee would not endorse Hoffman. He was not obligated to any more than any other national leader claiming the mantle of conservative champion. But he accepted the role of keynote speaker at the Conservative Party event. He took their money and then left them hanging on the big issue, just like the RNC leaves committed conservative candidates hanging and has for years. I used a picture of a chicken to represent the ex-Governor, but I should have used a photo of what comes out of the chicken (and I don't mean eggs) to describe the character of his actions in taking the money to give that speech and then ducking out on the big issue of the day.