Romney had sharp words for Huckabee Monday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney Monday dismissed rival Mike Huckabee's recent charge that he once stood against Ronald Reagan, and accused the former Arkansas governor of "getting a little desperate."
"I must admit that I find the vision and the direction that Ronald Reagan laid out for this country to be very powerful and very compelling," Romney told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I'll tell you, Ronald Reagan would have never raised taxes like Mike Huckabee did, Ronald Reagan would have never said let's give tuition breaks to illegals like Mike Huckabee did, Ronald Reagan would have never stood by and pushed for a budget that more than doubled during his term as president."
"Mike Huckabee as a matter of fact has a very different record than Ronald Reagan, and I'm pretty proud that my record stands up quite well."
Romney's comments come a day after Huckabee assailed Romney's conservative record on CNN's Late Edition, claiming the former Massachusetts governor had changed his positions on abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and gun control.
"He was against Ronald Reagan's legacy and said he wasn't a part of that Bush-Reagan thing, I was a part of that Bush-Reagan thing," Huckabee said of Romney Sunday on CNN's Late Edition.
Meanwhile, in a conference call with reporters Monday, Huckabee brushed aside criticism about his record on taxes - most notably from the anti-tax group Club for Growth.
"If Reagan were running today, the Club for Growth would be running ads against him because he raised taxes by a billion dollars in California, and that was one of the attacks on him when he was running for president," he said.
The back and forth comes shortly after a new ABC News/Washington post poll showed Huckabee trails Romney by just 4 percent among likely GOP caucus-goers in the crucial early-voting state of Iowa. With a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, the poll suggests the two could be essentially tied.
Watch Wolf Blitzer's full interview with Mitt Romney on The Situation Room, 4-7 p.m. ET.
– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
From CNN Politics
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"I must admit that I find the vision and the direction that Ronald Reagan laid out for this country to be very powerful and very compelling," Romney told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Yeh, like secretly and illegally trading arms for hostages with Iran? Not to mention the ballooning of the national debt. With presidents like this who needs enemies? So, we don't need or want you, Mitt Reagan.
Poor Romney. He'll say anything anytime. His mouth is his biggest liability. If the Democrats offered him the nomination, presto – he'd suddenly be pro-choice all over again. Flip-flop and flip again.
I truly would like a un-moderated, round table discussion of the issues facing America today attended by the Republican candidates. The discussion should start in the morning, break for lunch, and conclude before dinner. The leaders will emerge. The false will be found out. The people will know who should be our next President. Trouble is, there may be a few wolves in the flock. But, if they choose NOT to attend the discussion then they would only convict themselves. How about it? I believe the Mr. Huckabee would truly shine in this format. This format could, just maybe, be the 'answer' to a clear, forthright vision for the American folks.
Romney is right. Huckabee is not presidential material.
Huckabee is a nice enough guy and always has a funny comment to add. But, I am not voting for 'most popular' or 'class clown'. I want someone who is qualified, experienced, and intelligent. Huckabee needs to quit wasting his and our time.
Hey, Romney – you're no Harold Stassen.
At least your father did something constructive, building Ramblers.
Well, Reagan isn't running for president so no one needs to run on his record. If they did, after R.'s first year in office he doubled the national debt. After that, it was tripled and quadrupled for the most part, being only surpassed now by G. W. Bush. Conservative, my eye!
A pox on all of you.
Wow, this comes in the heels of the scathing attacks Huckabee had aimed at Romney yesterday.More dramatic news in presidential race today from a new Kansas poll that has Clinton VERY competitive in the general election in this massively red state.
No kidding Mr. Romney. Huckleberry's drachonian ideas and planned disenfranchisement of middle class (under $100 K year)working men and women...make him appear more of a Stalin than a Reagan. He's only a Reagan to self-made millionaires and corporate America–or mabye ""Daddy Warbucks".
All these blowhards trying to be the next Ronald Reagan makes me sick. Ron Paul was the only one who knew Ronald Reagan and supported his race as president in 1976. I'm sorry but Ron Paul knew Ronald Reagan and neither one of these guys are a Ronald Reagan. Paul was ahead of his time in supporting Reagan and is ahead of his time in many other issues. No IRS, No Fed Reserve (devalue the dollar), No Iraq war, and a non-interventionlist foreign policy.
I just checked, and the size (in absolute dollars) of the federal budget doubled between 1980 and 1988 under Reagan's watch. Amazing that someone as financially savvy as Romney would make such a misleading comment.
For Huckleberry to compare himself to Ronald Reagan is shocking. He is a big government conservative.
In fact, Romney's record compares very favorably to Reagan's. Both have an approach based heaviliy on the power of the free market. Both were more liberal in their past and went on to become staunch defenders of social conservativism. Romney may have a little better record on balancing budgets.
Huckleberry is a flash in the pants.
So typical of Republicans to hold a petty discourse on who most resembles their true god–so far removed from reality they're disconnected from important matters, such as the broke middle-class in a Bush economy.
Considering Romney is more like Carter, that's a jpretty low blow!
...and Ronald Regan would never have approved of any of the nut-jobs that are trying to run for president today. Oh wait a second. Good ol' Ronnie was a nutcase too. Nevermind the bullocks.
Oh my Republican friends are again re-writing history. Let's not forget that after Ronald Reagan cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans – the very next year at the advice of Greenspan – he raised taxes on every working American through the payroll deduction.
I haven't forgotten that one.
Ahhh,more of that good old "Trickle Down Economic Theory",or as Bush Sr. called it Voodoo Economics.But Jr. says its workin real good for somebody as he continues reading "My Pet Goat".
I'm no fan of Huckabee but since when is not being Ronald Reagan a bad thing?
Arms for hostages.
Oh, how easily we forget, and how easily time changes images – or at least a false front perpetrated on the American public. I can't believe how the GOP is still taking Reagan's grave. Romney so stupid, he'll probably divert campaign funds to the Contras just for nostalgia's sake.
Oh, how easily we forget. I can't believe how the GOP is still taking Reagan's orders from the grave. Romney is so stupid, he'll probably divert campaign funds to the Contras just for nostalgia's sake.
The story says ""He was against Ronald Reagan's legacy and said he wasn't a part of that Bush-Reagan thing, I was a part of that Bush-Reagan thing," Huckabee said of Romney Sunday on CNN's Late Edition."
That is enough reason to vote against him. Regean was the second worse disaster to sleep his way thru 8 years in the White House. That was the beginning of the ethical rott and the selling of the national treasurey with borrow and spend economics. There were only 2 things Bush the First was right about. One of them was calling the policy voodoo economics. But he showed his true colors and joind the voodoo leader and the big lie. Now it is time to ask each GOP candidate, will you pay down this debt and repudiate the policy or do more of the same? Then there is the problem of having a right wing preacher in the White House and not as the Chaplin. Separation of Church and State must not be further threatened.
"Ronald Reagan would have never said let's give tuition breaks to illegals"
Mitt should learn about the real Ron Reagan. That guy turned his back on the illegal immegration problem in California and let 4 million illegals spill into Califonia. Many feel it was a strategy to undermine the trade unions especially in construction. Reagan was the single greated savior to illegal immegration with his open border policy that has reshaped life in Southwest America.
LOL! I had to laugh at this one..
Romney is the one who said during the debate in the 1990's that he wasn't for the Reagan-Bush Policies and he was an independent. I couldn't believe how Romney could say how he liked Reagan now with a straight face. What a two-faced politician.
By the way, Romney, maybe you should take a look at Reagans record. Reagan raised taxes in California by 1 billion dollars and also he signed in the first amnesty bill in the 1980's without securing the borders.
Stop lying Romney.
How does Mitt expect to be respected when he distorts the record of his opponents?
Who cares if Huckabee doesn't live up to Reagan? Reagan's legacy, viewed through the lens of time, doesn't live up to the adoration he receives... Iran/ Contra? Borrowing against Social Security to make up for unsustainable tax cuts? The dismantling of Carter's plan to get the US off foriegn oil?
Please. Reagan is no president to try and live up to.
EARTH to Romney:
You're no Ronald Reagan either, nor are you a viable candidate. Now, please, sir, get on board and give your support to someone who can actually win, and stop trying to muck up the process with your own personal dreams.
According to Romney, Hackabee "...raised taxes ..." gave "...tuition breaks to illegals..." and "...pushed for a budget that more than doubled during his term...".
Thank you Gov. Romney.
Although you have no chance whatsoever of winning 1st District TN, but your statements will come in handy to widen Ron Paul's margin of victory.
Thanks again!
Ronald Reagan granted amnesty to millions of illegal alliens in 1986. Who wants more amnesty?
I think Huckabee and Romney need to run for president in the United States of Jesuit Crackpots. Ronald Reagan was a good actor and that's about it. You whacked out neocons are worshipping a false idol. Reagan killed the unions, corrupt as they were, they were angels compared to the thugs running our economy now. Oh yeah Mikhail Gorbachof ended the Cold War not Reagan. Ask him he lives in the U.S. in the fancy home we bought him. Salamanders, Jesus and Indians, OH MY.
One candidate complimenting another. Don't see that too often.
It is becoming clear that Willard *family values man* Romney, will say & do everything to get where he thinks he belongs or wants. My question...Willard, how if you ever become president would you decide who's divorce you are going to testify in??? Why don't we ask him about Staples, grainbelt and the former CEO who he wanted to protect his "product & his investment" in the company.
Even at the expense of a young mother with a three year old son. You didn't care about them...Why, should we think you would care our country?
Mr. Romney, were you telling the truth then or now?
Was the company Staples really going no where in 1986 or are you lying now and saying...Once, Tom Stemberg , showed you the invoices...It was the EURKEA moment for you. When do you ever speak the truth? WE THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!
"Ronald Reagan would have never stood by and pushed for a budget that more than doubled during his term as president."
Um...can someone tell Mitt Romney that Ronald Reagan increased government spending to an astronomical level and left office with a bigger budget deficit than any President in history (soon to be surpassed by Bush)?
I think Romney holds more potential than Reagan did, Reagan was a man for his time, but Romney in this new complex world is the man for the job now and women are warming up to his genuine compassion and concern for a better America, while the democrats play lip service to the real problems.
I DON'T THINK MR.HUCKABEE IS LIKE REAGAN.THANK GOD.REAGAN MADE SO MANY CUTS TO PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR,OLD & MENTALLY DISTURB THAT WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WALKING AROUND IN THE DEAD OF WINTER,IN THEIR UNDERWEAR,LOOKING IN GARBAGE CANS FOR FOOD.THESE POOR PEOPLE WERE SLEEPING IN ALLEYS LITERALLY HOMELESS.THANK GOD MR HUCKABEE IN NOT LIKE REAGAN!!MR ROMNEY SHOULD READ ABOUT THE DISASTER THAT "OL RONNIE" DID TO THE POOR & MIDDLE CLASS.
GIVE ME A BREAK , HE BETTER THEN YOU ROMNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe its just me but. What was so great about Ronald Regan. I keep hearing about him like was icon like Winston Churchill, or John F. Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt
I'm amazed that the Republicans are striving to be like the man that took more naps in the White House than George Bush took vacations. Not to speak ill of the dead, but he was in a demented haze most of his second term.
Would Reagan wear that tie, Mr Romney?
You know, when you consider that the great leader of the conservatives, Ronald Reagan, was the one who came up with the philosophy that ' government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem', you have to say that electing a conservative to government makes no sense since their vested interest in their ideology is to see that government remains dysfunctional. If government functioned well in meeting the needs of our society the conservatives would not have any political leg to stand on. So to meet their vision of government they need to do all they can to make it as dysfunctional as possible. So again, why would anyone vote to elect a conservative?
Mitt Romney (READ: not Ronald Reagan)
...enough said
"scholarships for illegals again?" As someone said, Romney would rather take people out of college and keep them mowing the lawn...
"Moneybags" Mitt is sinking to new lows. He must be worried to start mudslinging in earnest
what is this reagan crap he wasnt that good of a president to begin with. Anybody remember the snl scandals, iran contra etc. "I dont recall" the crack epidemic all things brought to us by the reagan admin.
On Saturday in South Carolina, Huckabee said if there was an "imminent threat" inside Pakistan, he would take military action there, even if it meant violating Pakistan's sovereignty under international law.
******
Can the country afford another Christian Cowboy – no country left unbombed ... ignore international law ... he makes Mitt look good ...and that takes some doing!
I respected Reagan because he was our president BUT only the republicans & the Reagan democrats think that he was the greatest president EVER...in reality he was just a very very good smooth talking politican, he busted the unions, increased the debt, & looked out for the rich...sounds like most republicans...
I am sooo tired of the "you're no..." line that Lloyd Bentson started. lets hope these candidates aren't carbon copies of past leaders and can stand on their own record.
Romney, please follow the advice my dear sister Jane used to give me when I kept running my mouth: "Stop talking and just go somewhere and sit down, please."
In 1986 Ronald Reagan granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegal immigrants...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50359
Ronald Reagan also raised taxes several times during his tenure as President including a hike in the gasoline tax...
"Faced with looming deficits, Reagan raised taxes again in 1983 with a gasoline tax and once more in 1984, this time by $50 billion over three years, mainly through closing tax loopholes for business. Despite the fact that such increases were anathema to conservatives..."
"Reagan raised taxes a grand total of four times just between 1982-84."
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0301.green.html
Using the definition of fiscal conservatives, Ronald Reagan was a liberal.
Just imagine if Ronald Reagan were campaigning today on a platform of granting amnesty to illegal immigrants (which he did) and raising gasoline taxes (which he did). Would Reagan be called a liberal? Absolutely.
Using the definition of fiscal conservatives, Mike Huckabee is more conservative than Ronald Reagan and George Bush.
I'm voting for Huckabee.