Fred Thompson Apologizes to Mike Huckabee
Well… not really:
In light of Mike Huckabee’s heartfelt apology to Mitt Romney for making reference to Romney’s religion in the New York Times Magazine, we at the Thompson Campaign would like to offer Huckabee our own heartfelt apologies for some references we’ve made about his record as Governor of Arkansas.
We apologize for pointing out that as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee offered in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. That’s something he’d probably just as soon no one talk about.
We apologize for pointing out that in 2002 Huckabee wrote Pres. Bush a letter asking him to lift the Cuban embargo. It’s easy to see how Huckabee might have missed the finer points of a 40-year embargo. While he obviously knew enough about the embargo to ask that it be lifted, Huckabee clearly didn’t know enough to ask that it not be lifted. So for that, we’re sorry.
We apologize for telling reporters that a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University doesn’t, in fact, make Huckabee more qualified to fight the war on terror than say…Fred Thompson.
Thompson’s campaign also apologized for pointing out that Huckabee imposed a 47% tax increase on Arkansans when he was Governor, which is something “[w]e notice he never points [...] out to voters.”
This is a very smart move by Thompson’s campaign. Huckabee is the frontrunner in Iowa right now, but he’s got some serious weaknesses that his opponents could and should exploit. What you see now is that they’re not personally attacking him – there’s no need to do so – they’re simply pointing out, time and again, that Huckabee didn’t always implement policies that go well with the conservative base. They’re repeat this time and again until enough people believe that Huckabee probably isn’t the best choice.
It’s very effective: not if you do it once, but if you repeat it time and again.
Right after Huckabee made a huge mistake (asking irrelevant questions about the Mormon faith), Fred Thompson decides to make life even tougher for the former Governor of Arkansas. The question is whether this will help Thompson himself or whether this will help Romney. After all, if Huckabee doesn’t win Iowa, Romney will. And if Romney wins Iowa he’ll win Michigan, New Hampshire and possibly South Carolina as well.
On the other hand, Thompson may not want to win Iowa, but his attacks may help him win South Carolina – a state he has to win if he wants to win the nomination. In other words, Thompson attacking Huckabee could result in Romney winning the first couple of states, perhaps not Iowa, but then at least two other states, and Thompson winning in South Carolina. That would make it a two-men race, Rudy Giuliani not being one of them.
Meanwhile, it’s good to see Thompson being more active and aggressive. He did well during the last debate, and he continues to go after his opponents on the issues. If he keeps this hope, there’s still hope for his campaign.
One good thing- so far most of the ‘attacks’ have been with good humor, and most based on issues. I still think Thompson may be overdoing it a bit, defining himself mainly by criticizing the others. Obviously that type of campaigning has been proven to work though and again, when done with humor and with honest jabs at another’s record, I think it has its place.
I agree. In fact, I think that Thompson has to do this if he truly wants to win. Sitting back while the others play won’t suffice. He’s got to attack his opponents on the issues and then present his own plans as a valid conservative alternative.
Thompson did define himself by the issues. He is the only one who has spoken about what exactly he would do about Social Security and Medicare. He has spoken about a few other issues, but nobody cared until he redefined himself by refusing to raise his hand, and wittily pointing out Huckabee’s record.
Go figure.
Media
Nobody argued at this blog that he didn’t do that cbircher. That wasn’t his problem. His problem was that he didn’t say anything when the other candidates tried to sell their plans while he has quite some good alternatives.
In elections, you shouldn’t just show "this is what I want to do" you should also show "and what my opponents want to do is useless / stupid / will cause more harm than good" etc.
Surprise, a candidate that is honest and sometimes painfully direct.
Like another one that did not run for president early on, Fred is not just itching to get to Washington. That other person that did not want to live in Washington was named Washington – George Washington. Fred Thompson has a number of good qualities, but not being and not wanting to be a professional politician ranks near or at the top. No one else in the race shares that quality – NO ONE!
Refreshing!
Fred has more years as a Washington based professional politician the Rudy, Romney, Huck combined. So dont say he’s not a professional politician. Romney has 25 years in private business sector. He’s never worked in DC.
As a Romney fan all I can say is, bless you Fred. Keep it up and you may win.