Huckabee: GOP Needs Minorities

(AP)  Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee of Arkansas said Friday his fellow Republicans would be making a devastating mistake in the race for the White House if they ignore minorities, unions and other traditionally Democratic groups.

While the proliferation of debates has cut into the time candidates have to campaign and raise funds, Huckabee said he has reached out to the AARP, the National Education Association and other groups that tend to vote Democratic.

He said he also plans to participate in a PBS debate on minority issues because he believes it is critical that Republicans speak to these concerns.

"If Republicans don't win minority votes and votes that we traditionally don't get, Hillary Clinton's the next president," Huckabee said in a teleconference with reporters while campaigning in Iowa.

Clinton, the New York senator and Democratic front-runner in the presidential race, was first lady of Arkansas before Bill Clinton became president in 1993. In January, Huckabee completed more than 10 years as governor of the state.

"I want to be the president of the United States, not just the president of the Republican Party," Huckabee said. "I'm still a conservative and I still believe in lower taxes and less government. I'm pro-life and I'm pro-family, but it doesn't mean that I'm not going to listen ... and it doesn't mean I'm not going to govern with a view to being a president to everybody."

Asked about Iraq, Huckabee said he agreed with President Bush's decision to reduce U.S. troop levels to pre-surge numbers by next summer as recommended by top commander Gen. David Petreaus.

"I understand the American people want to get out of Iraq, but I also don't believe the American people want to lose. What they want is they want victory. They want it now," he said. "The question is do they want to get out now even if it means that we lose. And I don't think the answer to that is yes."

Although a White House report Friday concludes that little progress has been made by the Iraqi government toward political stability, Huckabee said the U.S. military presence is proving successful. He said the troops were bringing the security needed to attain political order in the region.

"That's not going to improve if we simply pack up and disappear out of Iraq," Huckabee said. "Is anybody happy with the political diplomatic progress? No, absolutely not. But it only gets better when the military function does continue to bring a level of security."

And while other candidates are coming out with their health plans, Huckabee said he would make his proposal by Nov. 1. He said his plan will focus on preventative care rather than what he described as the current arrangement of waiting until to a person's health reaches catastrophic conditions.

Huckabee planned to campaign this weekend in Florida.

[ov442]

The Republican mantras dont apply to those who are of different races and financial backgrounds than white educated wealthy families.

The GOP doesnt practice what they preach, and since they are all in it for themselves, that excludes minorities or generally poor people.

I find it continually disturbing that Republicans wont stop pretending or Fooling themselves into thinking that America is equal for all. There is NO equal opportunity in this country. If there was, why would private schools, and expensive higher education pay off moreso if they werent given preferential training and treatment?
What makes anyone here think that kids who attend rough inner city schools have virtually any opportunity at all in comparison with the average upper class suburban school district?
The Will to Work has Nothing to do with it, and if you ever had to live as a minority in a terribly depressed and crime ridden area, you''d understand how hard it is to rise up out of that to ever come close to the level of someone that was born and raised in comfort and safety with a parent having education.
You think a guy working minimum wage at a 400 degree grill with grease spattering him in 95 degree summer heat is lazy compared to a guy sippin a latte in a brainstorming session getting paid 78,000 a year plus stock options? If youre so full of Pat-answers come up with something for those people in bad areas to find a way out and up. They''d appreciate it.

[cphine]

I support Huckabee and find much of the rhetoric being espoused on this message board disturbing. From my perspective, I don''t understand why the Republican message of individualism, economic growth, and opportunity to all (if you''ll work!) fails to attract minority populations. (The party has gotten away from this under Bush, but it remains the matra of the GOP as a whole...at least amongst conservatives)
This business of seeing a racist at every turn is laughable to me. I look for competence, a good work ethic, friendliness, etc in determining my views of someone. Race simply doesn''t matter to me. Color doesn''t make the person, values do. With Democrats it always appears to be race first, everything else second.
When I see elitest liberals in power, I recognize that they are in power by exploiting those at the bottom. They don''t want to actually help people, they want to make them dependent on them. You have power when people are dependent on you. If the Dems ever actually solved the problems they supposedly care about, they would be out of power!
The Dems are just too negative and depressing about people. "You can''t do something unless we grant it to you". I think everyone has the potential to be great, regardless of the color of your skin.

[socrates392]

The Republican party has no future, at least not unless it makes a huge policy swing to the left. I have to disagree with Huckabee, however. The Repubs don''t need minorities, they need to woo young people in general. Currently, the Republicans are the party of the hypocrite baby boomers, who grew up, stopped smoking pot and decided they wanted to make a million on the stock market. I mean, come on, the boomers control everything now. They are still the biggest percentage of the population by far. Thus they are primarily responsible for the Bush administration and the Iraq War. This isn''t about minorities vs. whites, this is a generational issue.

Well, guess what, now that you boomers are startin'' to die, your hypocrite party is going down. The future lookin'' a lot more liberal, perhaps more like you envisioned it before you completely sold out in 1986!!! :)




Face it old folks, the next generation is multi-cultural and more truly liberal than you ever were!!!

[me4prezz]

Also, I am so sick of hearing "The Democrats", "the Replubicans", the "black", the "white". It can be the "purple-polka dotted penguin" for all I care. What ever happened to patriotism and being an American! These elected officials are there to represent AMERICANS. Only, they have forgotten what that is in their race for political angling and correctness.

Maybe everyone should spend a day with their eyes taped shut and their ears deafened. Perhaps we would be amazed at what Americans can do together when we are not so worried about the color of skin or the animal you vote for!

[me4prezz]

Why are the politicans so sure that what Americans "want" is to win a war that is impossible to win? I don''t know about anyone else, but for 1. I am tired of hearing all these politician saying that the know for sure what I "want", when they don''t have the first clue. 2. I don''t care if we "lose". I don''t care if it appears that we are running with our tail between our legs. I want our military to have a chance to rebuild, strengthen, and become the mighty force that once it was. I want our government to stop playing with the military like a game of chess. There are military commanders for a reason. Stop using them as a pawn in politics. That is what lost this war. It was never about avenging the 9/11 attacks. It was all about pushing a political agenda in whatever way necessary, using whatever means possible. I want to secure our nation and not someone elses. What is the good of having a safe, secure, and profitable Iraq if America is poor, anguished, and susceptible to any attack because our military might is fighting someone else''s battles. Win or lose, I want America back!

[brianbwb-2009]

Yo GOP, why should I, a "Black" man, vote for a party that espouses "race" based fascism, and continues efforts to limit my potential development?

You jumped into those deep waters of your own free will, if you reach out to me, I''ll gladly hand you an anvil.

[sgtrds]

In the late 1950''s to 1960''s the Democratic party made a conscious effort to rid itself of the racist elements of itself by deciding to back the civil rights movement. Along with the fact that it brought the minority vote to us, was the truth that it was just the right thing to do. Ever since then the homeless (party-wise) racists in the old South deserted the Democratic party in droves, but didn''t have far to go as the republicans welcomed them with open arms. As long as the republicans feel that the votes of rednecks and KKK members are more important then what those hate groups are advocating, then the White Supremists will be their problem. Now they want to attract minorities? Why should any minority want to move toward the republican party when there''s less chance that they''ll be greeted warmly, then there is that they''ll just be lynched? Want to attract minorities? Stop being racist as*sholes for a start.

[sgtrds]

"the GOP has unveiled a campaign to strengthen their ties amoung beer-bellied red necks, mullet-wearing inbreeds, and klansmen."
-Posted by micma at 03:13 PM : Sep 14, 2007

Let''''s have a big round-of-applause for the Democrat party of "diversity" and "tolerance".

Posted by mike71067 at 03:49 PM : Sep 14, 2007

Hating beer-bellied red necks, mullet-wearing inbreeds, and klansmen is not being intolereant, it''s being sane.

the GOP has actively courted the racist vote since the 1960''s and they''re welcome to them. The KKK, David Duke, White Supremacists, religious intolerance freaks, etc. You''re more then welcome to them and to proudly proclaim yourself the party of scum. We don''t want your base in our party because we are too good for them.

[valentin73]

My oh MY, What graceful politicians.
Republicans I speak of.
when have they ever been interested
in the needs of: Women, Blacks, Hispanics, other ethnic groups, the mentally ill & Handicapped?

When have they ever shown interest in Democrats.
Now that sounds like political philosophy.

[glossypan]

Not newsworthy unless saying something controversial
plus
Mouth is faster than mind
equal
First to drop out of the race