Huckabee: Let’s Close Gitmo Because the World Doesn’t Like It

American Pundit ^ | 12/4/07 | Staff

[pissant]

Pretty much. Here’s what he said:

MIKE HUCKABEE: I’ve been to Guantanamo, I was there, I guess it’s been about a year and a half ago. I think the problem with Guantanamo is not in that its facilities are inadequate. It’s the symbol that it represents. It’s clearly become a symbol to the rest of the world as a place that has become problematic for us as a nation. I was quite frankly impressed with the quality of the facilities and even the attention to care that was given to the detainees, but that aside, it doesn’t alter that Guantanamo to the rest of the world is a symbol that is not in our best interests to continue pursuing.

Never mind the fact it’s been a valuable source of information. No, he thinks it’s a bad symbol, so it should now be closed.

After the Iowa poll showed that Republican voters like him but found him much less “presidential” and “electable” than Romney, Huckabee sought to build his foreign policy credentials, meeting with a group of retired generals who are in Des Moines to urge the 2008 candidates to commit to opposing torture. After the meeting, Huckabee joined Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in declaring his opposition to the interrogation procedure known as “waterboarding,” and said he would support closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a contrast with the other leading Republicans.

Bryan:

That paragraph suggests that you’re easily swayed by a single meeting on important issues that have been before the American people for years…

My take: He’s putting symbolism over substance and putting worldwide condemnation ahead of the security realities. Those are not good qualities in a commander in chief who’ll lead a country that was globally envied and reviled long before the war even started.

Paul Mirengoff:

I suspect that Huckabee required little lobbying. Waterboarding and long-term detention aren’t very “Christian”; they merely keep terrorists out of action and, in special circumstances enable us to find out where we’re going to be attacked next and/or where we can find those who are planning the next attacks. But if Huckabee actually did reach his position based on the views of a handful of generals, and without consulting the people actually charged with protecting this country from terrorists, then he’s even less qualified to be president than I suspect.

With any luck, this will be the end of Huck’s presidential chances.

[pissant]

This oughta sink that idiot.

[ari-freedom]

oh great, he really is a liberal

[Petronski]

LOL

[pissant]

Confirmed

[NonValueAdded]

No wonder the MSM loves him.

[Petronski]

Yes, that’s why I’m laughing. That’s why I pinged those two clowns.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“This oughta sink that idiot.”

One would think so, pissant. This joker is as bad as Carter.

[pissant]

Yep. Fred had him pegged (as do a few freepers)

[lesser_satan]

The REAL Mike Huckabee

[NeoCaveman]

Can I get a flashing Schadenfreude on this one?

[ari-freedom]

huck still is pro Israel though right?

[pissant]

Dane will be pissed. His open borders guy is stepping in it.

[I see my hands]

"a symbol to the rest of the world"

Hey you stupid bastard! This is the USA.

[Greg F]

I don’t see any reason to care if the government does stuff for PR purposes so long as the basic needed function of detaining the terrorists stays . . .

That said, who gives a rip about Gitmo anymore? It’s an issue that peaked years ago and has faded from memory. Why reinvigorate it? So I give Huckabee a “D” on the issue.

[RockinRight]

Dane/Dano-1, whaddaya think of your boy now?

[pissant]

He’s McCain without the spine.

[KC_Conspirator]

What are you talking about! He says he is a Christian and he is a man of the cloth! So who cares if he raises my taxes 21 times, lets rapists go free, and wants to close Club Gitmo.

(Thats heavy sarcams folks)

[MEGoody]

So Huckabee thinks we should do away with all 'symbols' that might offend someone? I guess that means he'll have to be sure never to display a cross or a creche at Christmas. Those are symbols known to offend.

Sheesh.

[lesser_satan]

Who knows? Perhaps he has compassion toward the poor, disadvantaged pali suicide bombers as well.

[pissant]

You never know. Rudy being the frontrunner says much about the current state of the GOP

[JamesP81]

Huckabee is soft on illegals, terrorists, and government waste. We don’t need that in the oval office.

[bmwcyle]

This boy is a F up.

[pissant]

Well put!!

[Owen]

This gaffe took what to unfold after his “surge”? 24 hours? 48?

Not ready for prime time.

[traditional1]

Well, Huck fans, whatdya think of that?

[Petronski]

[ConorMacNessa]

[stephenjohnbanker]

“huck still is pro Israel though right?”

I have no idea......Huckster has lied so many times about taxes and open borders,and the like, I don’t believe anything he says
about anything whatsoever.

[keat]

What's next?:

Dear Abdul:

My desire is that you be released from detention. I feel that closing Gitmo is the best way for your reintroduction into society to take place.

Sincerely,

Huck

[ConorMacNessa]

Beat me to it. :)

[ari-freedom]

argh
why do we have to have so many liberals running

[traditional1]

"raises my taxes 21 times, lets rapists go free, and wants to close Club Gitmo"

Hey....that's the same philosophy as the Hildabeast !

LOL

[1Old Pro]

Let’s move it to Devil’s Island, it worked for the French, yea, let’s copy the French.

[True Republican Patriot]

This guy isn’t fit to be a Dog Catcher!! I hope thia sinks the IDIOT quickly!

[Route66]

I just hope Huckabee keeps talking. With enough of his own unscripted words [in between the jokes], he will sink himself.

[Diogenesis]

[stephenjohnbanker]

“You never know. Rudy being the frontrunner says much about the current state of the GOP”

As far as it goes, the GOP is run by open borders flakes. They have done nothing for Hunter, or Thompson.

[madison10]

Huckabee=huckster

Sure hope he isn’t the nominee, he’s worse than Giuliani or McCain.

[fweingart]

Forget Gitmo. Let’s ignore this fumbling Arkancide twit!

[ari-freedom]

and quickly. we can’t be stuck with this guy

[NeoCaveman]

Thanks to both of you!

[mmanager]

“This oughta sink that idiot.”

My question is how did this idiot/one trick pony get where he is today? Even here on FR we have folks calling him conservative and Hucking for him.

Fred/Duncan 2008

[org.whodat]

Yes, that’s why I’m laughing. That’s why I pinged those two clowns.

Has anyone ever checked to see if isn't the same person?

[Rummyfan]

The real Huckabee emerges.....

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

The Socons (who I identified with until they started lining up behind this socialist clown) better wake up before they foul this election up beyond repair. The Huckster is a dangerous, dangerous fraud.

[stevio]

What the HELL is wrong with this party!

[M203M4]

There are bad reasons for closing gitmo (Ron Paul’s reasons - overly expansive interpretation of the US Constitution), and then there are HORRIBLE reasons (feeeeeeeeeeelings of the “international community” ala Huckabee).

[pissant]

What really suprised me is that Fox news is so down on Fred (of course, they ignore Hunter altogether). At this point it is a feather in his hat, because they sure pimp the RINOS.

[Rummyfan]

You never know. Rudy being the frontrunner says much about the current state of the GOP

I don't give a rat's rear who they say is the frontrunner. Not a single vote has been cast yet!

[sageb1]

I hope so. I just got a call from Citizens United. They asked for a donation to support Dick Morris’s anti-Hillary film. I told them that whereas I support all anti-Hillary efforts, there is no way I am going to send Morris money after his endorsement of Huckabee and that my husband and I support Fred Thompson.

The guy countered with “Well, we support President Bush.” I said I supported Bush on Iraq, but not on shamnesty.