"Huckabee: 'Big Tent' Philosophy Will 'Kill The Conservative Movement'"

[Clio the Leo]

(sniff, sniff) .... I'm smellin' blood! lol

Huckabee: 'Big Tent' Philosophy Will 'Kill The Conservative Movement'
Jillian Rayfield | December 9, 2009, 11:38AM

As ThinkProgress first pointed out, Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) appeared at a fundraiser in Canada last weekend, and expressed his concerns that a "big tent" philosophy that "accommodates every view" will be detrimental to conservatives.

Huckabee first said that it is "vital that the conservative message not get watered down."

He continued:
One of the things that concerns me is that in the United States there's a real talk of 'maybe we need to have this big tent and make sure that we just accommodate every view.' That's what will kill the conservative movement. Conservatives are conservatives because they have convictions and convictions aren't preferences.

"You'll change your preferences. Your convictions are the things you'll die for," he said.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/huckabee-big-tent-philosophy-will-kill-the-conservative-movement.php?ref=fpb

Here's a thought Huck! Why dont you suggest applying the Reagan Purity Test to any voter before you allowed them to vote for one of your candidates! If they fail? Send them on over to us! lol

[TwilightGardener]

1. That's fine. Make the conservative movement small enough to drown in a bathtub.

[Martin Eden]

23. Take THAT, Grover Norquist !!!

:nuke:

[Voltaire]

2. Well I am all in favor

of every stinking one of them dying for and after their convictions.

[Frances]

3. When I get upset with Obama,

I think of the alternative: Huckabee, Palin, Romney, DeMint

[rebel with a cause]

7. GAG!!!!

I read that list of names and actually gagged. I know they are out there but just don't like putting them together. In hopes they implode and never unite in a force we have to deal with. "The end of the world as we know it" keeps repeating in my head.

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[Frances]

8. I remember arguing with people back when

Reagan ran against Pat Brown and then again when W ran against Bush that there is a difference between Repubs and Dems.

But some people are such purists that they prefer a Reagan or a W against a less-than-perfect Dem.

[rebel with a cause]

12. The arguement I heard when W was elected in 2000

is "they are all the same" and I gave up even arguing over it because it was hopeless. My warning was that W was dangerous and if elected the USA would never be the same. Some voted for Nader, some just didn't vote and some even voted for who they saw as a good drinking buddy. By 2002 these same people were crying to me over the state of the country and asking me how I knew about W. I was heartless and blamed them for being idiots and failing their fellow countrymen. ;)

By the way, our votes in this part of the state don't really count. Chicago rules the elections. Thank goodness for that. People down here tend to be conservative, and those that aren't sometimes are one issue voters/neo-hippies. :eyes:

[Frances]

17. Reading your post made me feel better.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who had some friends like some of your friends. I was in Maryland in 2000 and our state went for Gore, but I was disappointed in the attitude of people who couldn't see what damage W would cause. I had grown up in Alabama and I knew in my bones what W represented.

[rebel with a cause]

18. Glad it made you feel better.

In 2000 I was surprised at the dumbness of people. I am no longer really friends with these people, I am a loner/hermit now by choice. I have been told that I am a misanthrope and I believe it. After those eight years spent with W in the WH I do not trust humanity. Of course there are other reasons that I feel this way, but I think it did nothing to help the situation. ;)

I grew up in the same state that I am now except there are more liberals here than in my old hometown. What is funny is that a lot of people in my old home town are Democrats but are not liberal at all and the Democratic Party here call themselves the Democrat Party. So not everyone that does so is a repub shill. Just sayin...in case I have slipped and done so in the past. :shrug: :tinfoilhat: :rofl:

[Clio the Leo]

9. Exactly! NT

[Ozymanithrax]

4. A fund raiser in Canada?

Wonder what conservatives would do if held a fundraiser in a Buddhist temple or Chinatown?

[The_Commonist]

5. "Conservatives are conservatives because they have convictions..."

And we need to convict a few more conservatives for their crimes...

[Arkana]

6. That's teabagger talk right there, Mike.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. How's that run for the WH in '12 doing, Huck?

Oh, not so good, eh?

Too bad, we were looking forward to have you around.

[uponit7771]

11. Yeap, 1/3rd of America is "non republican like".....time to kill the GOP slowly

[rurallib]

13. Wonder if Hucky realizes the whackos want his ass thrown out?

because he's not 'conservative' enough?

[rebel with a cause]

14. I don't like Huckabee.....

but he is the most likable of the bunch now in the limelight from the republican party. :shrug:

[rurallib]

16. I don't trust Hucky - he's too smooth, too folksy

I went to a Huck event once and felt like I was being sold snake oil.

[rebel with a cause]

19. The others are just scarier to me but I agree that he is slimy and not to be trusted.

I had the same feeling with Edwards, and I apologize to anyone that was his supporter but I did feel that way. That is why I could never have been behind him enthusiastically in an election. I worked/volunteered in the Democratic campaign office down here in 2004 and had to bite my tongue when his supporters (or anyone else) came in and spoke about him. I would not talk bad about any D candidates even though I REALLY did not like one of the local guys. Who lost by a landslide. It seems that a lot of people, including most Democrats, did not like him either.

I never felt like that about Barack. Every time I met him, I liked him. I never felt like he was selling me a bill of goods or that he looked down on me. When I raised a question to him or disagreed with him, he would think about it and then explain how he felt and why he felt that way. I don't think he is perfect, and I definitely don't worship him but I like/trust him enough to give him time to do his best for this country. I just like the guy in spite of his not being perfect. ;)

[stevenleser]

25. He thinks if he kisses up to them enough, they will accept him.

There is zero chance of that. He only needs to surf Free Republic for a few minutes. They cant stand the sight or sound of him.

[Peacetrain]

15. Huckabee is treading water, and grasping for the tea baggers..

[stevenleser]

26. Bingo

The Teabaggers hated him BEFORE one of the folks set free under his watch killed four cops. We can argue here at DU about his culpability, but Teabaggers and Freepers don't do nuance.

[depakid]

20. Well, it surely maimed or killed off progressive policies

and if (when?) the Republicans take power back from the hapless Dems- they'll put their policies in place rather efficiently, using whatever means they can.

Glad I'm not going to be around to see that up close & personal.

[stevenleser]

27. That doesnt sound good. Are you OK?

:pals:

[depakid]

29. No worries- It's actually great

to be out of the states- and residing in a sane country.

See, e.g.

Economists hail 'extraordinary' (Australian) job surge.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4178142

I appreciate the sentiments, though- thanks for those.

Here's wishing some of this success for friends, family and fellow DUer's.

[stevenleser]

30. Good. And thanks for the good info too. You can bet I will use it...

at an appropriate time. I love to see the look on opposing pundit faces when I hit them with inconvenient facts.

[BlueIdaho]

21. "convictions are the things you'll die for" - when you're ready Mike... nt.

[tanyev]

22. Yeah, because a big tent is all the GOP can talk about right now.

:wtf:

[RoadRage]

24. There are plenty here on DU that would like a small tent for Dem's as well..

We love to laugh of this stupidity on the right, but many of us fail to see the hypocricy we have on our own side. Look at after just 1 year how many Dem's "HATE" Obama, and only want those on the left to be Abortion Supporting, Death Penalty Abolishing, Anti-War at all cost, Absolute Gay Marriage Supporting, Big Government, Big Healthcare Dems.

I support all of those in varying degrees.. but many Dem's don't. They support a large portion - but others on our "side" want to tell them that if they don't support it all, then we don't want you.

If it's stupid for Republicans to do it.. then perhaps it's stupid for US to do it too.

[stevenleser]

Although I am critical of what I call the Obama haters, time could come where they have a point

the problem is, that time is not now. I have a book coming out in a few weeks that explains some of this. Wish I could talk about it more.

[stevenleser]

28. Dupe: Delete

[Cleobulus]

33. I find it interesting that you use right wing framing on almost all those issues...

We love to laugh of this stupidity on the right, but many of us fail to see the hypocricy we have on our own side. Look at after just 1 year how many Dem's "HATE" Obama, and only want those on the left to be Abortion Supporting, Death Penalty Abolishing, Anti-War at all cost, Absolute Gay Marriage Supporting, Big Government, Big Healthcare Dems.


Abortion supporting? Really? That's how you frame the Pro-Choice position? I think you said all that needs to be said about how you feel about this issue. :eyes:

Anti-War AT ALL COSTS? Who, exactly, holds this position? It seems to me that most people on the left, and even on DU would support a defensive war against an aggressor who attacks us(Think Japan and Germany WWII). Or even perhaps, a war fought to end a continuing genocide. Afghanistan doesn't qualify for this, for many obvious reasons, and I'm not even sure what we hope to accomplish over there anyways. Being against that war doesn't mean you are against all war, just wars of choice and aggression.

Absolute Gay Marriage Supporting: Uhm, are you talking about those who support equal rights? If so, then why not kick the bigots out? What's next, invite the KKK in to win over a few votes?

Big Government, Big Healthcare: Uhm, talk about right wing framing! I'm not sure what the hell people talk about when it comes to "Big Government" because, Democrat or Republican, Moderate or a Winger, most people support "Big Government" just in different ways. As far as "Big healthcare" that's an equally meaningless phrase, and a stupid one at that, hell, we have the Biggest Healthcare system in the world, in that our mostly private system is filled with claims adjustors and investors rather than doctors and nurses. Overhead costs are through the roof, and you frame it as if those wanting cut out the middle men are the ones who are for "Big Healthcare" ha! That's a laugh!

The problem is how a big tent is constructed, not whether you should create one or not. Using your post as a guide, you basically want the Democratic party to stand for nothing, after all, if it stands for nothing, then EVERYONE would want to vote for it, because it would be "safe".Isn't the real goal just to make sure your team wins? It doesn't matter what the results of winning are.

[RoadRage]

34. Because I'm talking to left wing board.

See, if I was talking to a RIGHT WING BOARD - I'd use terms like "Women's Right Opposing" "Pro-War at all costs" "Complete Gay Right Inequality" "No Government support to help anyone, No Healthcare for anyone let the fuckers die" Repugs.

And, My post seems to hit home with you - and you are probably the kind of left-wing liberal i'm talking about. Either support everything and see every view exactly as I do - or go fuck yourself and leave the party.

Again - many on the left see things through the same lens as those on the right.. it's just that the lense is transposed - so every issue is opposite. But, the contempt and inability to see anything other then their extreme view remains the same.

Abortion supporting? Really? That's how you frame the Pro-Choice position? I think you said all that needs to be said about how you feel about this issue.
* No, actually if you'd ever read any of my posts on the subject - then perhaps you'd know how I feel about the issue.

Anti-War AT ALL COSTS? Who, exactly, holds this position?
* Are you KIDDING ME? Probably 3/4ths of the posters here on DU.. and frankly it's FINE. Maybe because I have a very good friend who is from Afghanistan, and half of her family still lives there (in total terror I migiht add by the Taliban) that I think we do have a justified cause to go in an finish training some of their military, and trying to hold some of the Taliban back. I'm entitled to my opinion on it even if it doesn't jive with yours.

Absolute Gay Marriage Supporting: Uhm, are you talking about those who support equal rights? If so, then why not kick the bigots out? What's next, invite the KKK in to win over a few votes?
I'm as big of a gay rights supporter as anyone else here on DU. But, I realize that different people have different upbringings and sometimes it takes a while to get the Religion BS out of peoples heads before they can accept the idea that gay people aren't gay for the "fun" of it like all of their priests and ministers have told them their whole life. Inviting them in, and then trying to show them this seems to make more sense then labeling them a close cousin to the KKK.. but what the fuck do I know, right? GOD.. I should just go get my Republican Voter Registration today.. i'm so supid.. what the hell am I thinking, right? :eyes:

Big Government, Big Healthcare: Uhm, talk about right wing framing! I'm not sure what the hell people talk about when it comes to "Big Government" because, Democrat or Republican, Moderate or a Winger, most people support "Big Government" just in different ways. As far as "Big healthcare" that's an equally meaningless phrase, and a stupid one at that, hell, we have the Biggest Healthcare system in the world, in that our mostly private system is filled with claims adjustors and investors rather than doctors and nurses. Overhead costs are through the roof, and you frame it as if those wanting cut out the middle men are the ones who are for "Big Healthcare" ha! That's a laugh!
* I'm talking about those who think that if Single Payer isn't the Healthcare Plan passed, that Obama and all others are complete failures. That would be at least 1/2 the board.. and there are plenty here who happily think that if you're not for Single Payer, you can just leave the Party. Again - this is the extremism that I speak of.... not saying that I'm against it - but i'm against people who lay down ultimatiums on what does or doesn't qualify you to be a Democrat. "If you're not for Single Payer.. just leave the party - get out - we don't want you".

The problem is how a big tent is constructed, not whether you should create one or not. Using your post as a guide, you basically want the Democratic party to stand for nothing, after all, if it stands for nothing, then EVERYONE would want to vote for it, because it would be "safe".Isn't the real goal just to make sure your team wins? It doesn't matter what the results of winning are.
* My point about "big tent" is that you don't ostracize those dems in the middle who agree with 3/4ths of what's listed above.. but have hangups with 1 or 2 issues. Dem's who are opposed to Abortion... Dem's who work for big business and perhaps don't always want the government running everything. Because again - we seem quick to laugh at those on the right when they do it, but eager to do it on the left.

[jaysunb]

31. No, don't send them to us....

let them form their own third party. Seriously....

[LynnTheDem]

32. Yep, gotta weed out any non-blue-eyed-blond-haired untermenschen!

Gotta march in lockstep!

That IS the rightwing way.

[JVS]

35. He's right. It's killed any movement in our Democratic party.