Monday, February 22, 2010

Huckabee bashes CPAC

 
Politico: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee blasted the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Saturday as outdated, nearly corrupt and unrepresentative of the conservative movement.
Huckabee, a 2008 Republican presidential contender and potential 2012 candidate who had spoken at the conference for years, said the reason he blew it off this year was that the meeting has become dominated by libertarian activists.
“CPAC has becoming increasingly more libertarian and less Republican over the last years, one of the reasons I didn’t go this year,” Huckabee said in an interview with Fox News, where he is a paid analyst and has his own show.
He was responding to a question about whether he was upset by his single-digit showing in the conference’s straw poll, which was won by libertarian-leaning Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).
But it wasn’t the only criticism the Arkansan leveled at CPAC.
Huckabee said the rise of the tea party movement had “taken all of the oxygen out of the room,” rendering the venerable conference far less relevant than it had been in previous years.
“Where CPAC was historically the event, the tea parties are having their ow nevents all over the country and a lot more truly grassroots people are getting involved because of the tea parties,” said the former governor.

If I had to guess what is really sticking in Huckabee’s craw, it would be because he is bitter about becoming less relevant in 2012. Huckabee is GOP old school. He was probably counting on his 2008 showing to propel him to the top in 2012, but now finds that the political sands have shifted and the old paths to the nomination are no longer guaranteed.  Add on the Maurice Clemmons issue and Huckabee’s 2012 chances diminish further.

Bashing CPAC won’t help Huckabee’s situation, grassroots bloggers are already getting ticked off, see Da Techguy, The Lonely Conservative and Left Coast Rebel, just to name a few.


8 comments:

Janelle said...

Best summation I've read about Mr. Huckabee, Clifton!
Apparently, he is realizing that it's 'politics as usual' that is going to be sucked out of the room.

trinity said...

I have never liked Mike Huckabee. Frankly, I see nothing but arrogance in the man. He is always shooting his mouth off about something.

Bastiat Fan said...

If it sounds like sour grapes, looks like sour grapes, and TASTES like sour grapes: it's probably sour grapes.

I'm about done with Huckabee. His 15 minutes are up.

Supergranny said...

Hucks a nice enough guy but it's too bad he has exhibited this attitude. We the people obviously don't want an old school GOP politician. Thanks for the info.

Clifton B said...

Janelle:

Huckabee's words come off as a bitter person. He thought he had great poll position for 2012 and that is slipping away.

Clifton B said...

trinity:

I too was never a fan of Huckabee. From the first time I saw him, he immediately reminded me of a Republican Bill Clinton. One of those "I feel your pain" types.

Clifton B said...

Bastiat Fan:

Sour grapes is the perfect phrase for Huck's CPAC bashing.

Clifton B said...

Supergranny:

I think as the Tea Party moves further along, a lot of the presidential hopefuls from 2008, will find they are completely out of vogue for 2012.

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