Another Arkansas Governor?

Governor Huckabee appears to be on the move in the Republican primary for president. The former governor of Arkansas is engaging and charismatic. The country once elected an engaging and charismatic Arkansas governor, and the country suffered.

Now that is not to suggest that Mike Huckabee is Bill Clinton. There are clear differences. The first one is that Gov. Huckabee is pro-life. Governor Huckabee's position on the right to life is identical to Fred's position, and he deserves respect for his unabashed defense of the unborn while under the national spotlight.

But being pro-life does not make one a conservative. For instance, if Ted Kennedy all of a sudden started preaching pro-life doctrine would he be considered a conservative? Absolutely not! He would be considered a pro-life socialist. Similarly, the fact that he is unabashedly pro-life does not make Mike Huckabee a conservative.

For that, we have to look at his record as governor.

According to the Arkansas Leader (Editorial, November 30, 2007), Mike Huckabee raised more taxes in 10 years in office than Bill Clinton did in 12. According to their editor, Huckabee raised the sales tax by 1.5 cents on the dollar and expanded it to cover more services. He raised the motor fuels tax, the mixed drink tax, the cigarette tax and a number of other government fees and taxes. And according to the editor, the aggregate of Clinton's tax cuts dwarf any Huckabee tax cuts.

The Club for Growth has published a white paper on Huckabee's record on economic issues. It is very informative. The Club for Growth concludes: "While Governor Huckabee's record displays some flashes of economic conservatism, especially during his early years, the overwhelming evidence of his record and rhetoric over the past ten years leaves the Club for Growth and economic conservatives around the country to wonder if a President Huckabee would espouse the relatively pro-growth policies . . . circa 1997 or the anti-growth policies of Governor Huckabee circa 2004."

Gov. Huckabee's record on economic issues pales when set next to Fred's voting record. When all is said and done, Gov. Huckabee can not credibly claim to be the consistent conservative that Fred has been.