I’m not going to claim Huckabee is an “anti-tax warrior”.
I’m also not going to allow my opinion of the man to depend on a one or two issues. Most peoples’ argument against Huckabee is taxes and immigration.
I don’t discount those issues at all, but I am not going to allow them to be the “make-or-break” point, as some have.
I have read both sides. Yes, Mike Huckabee raised taxes. I don’t know of a single State government that didn’t. I CAN say that Arkansas had a surplus at the end of Huck’s tenure. That shows fiscal constraint to me. Your thoughts?
All Mike Huckabee advocates on immigration is sealing the border, and a guest worker program similar (or identical) to President Bush’s. These seem more reasonable to me than trying to deport 15 million people, against their will, at once. The most logical approach to me is the State of Arizona approach. To my knowledge, Huckabee hasn’t expressed an opionion on that approach, but I can guarantee our democratic opponents would not endorse it.
I like most of the other candidates; I just have a favorite.
Just remember, you catch more flies with sugar, than with vinegar.
Sorry for not responding to your post sooner. I agree most people think Huckabee is bad on taxes and immigration. I also think he has a very simplistic view on foreign policy. He seems like Carter in that regard.
Maybe all states raised taxes during the period when Huckabee was governor, but you missed the point. Huckabee raised them faster than necessary to keep up with inflation. In other words, he expanded government. He didn’t just keep up with inflation. I suppose you can argue that shows fiscal restraint, but it’s hardly a conservative approach to governance.
As for immigration, he’s NOW advocating he wants to seal the border. His history as governor shows quite the opposite. You don’t discourage illegal immigration by opening your arms (and state coffers) to welcome them.
In regards to your claim it is more reasonable to seal the border than deport 15 million people against their will, that’s a straw man. None of the top five, to my knowledge, advocate forcibly rounding up all of the illegals. Thompson, for example, wants to seal the border and increase enforcement so illegals largely deport themselves.
My apologies if my posts on Huckabee seem like “vinegar” to you. If it seems like I’m attacking him, it’s only because some of my fellow Christians seem blinded by Huckabee’s faith. They aren’t, in my opinion, seeing the candidate as he really is.