December 11, 2007
Posted: 07:00 PM ET

Huckabee had some tough talk for Mitt Romney Wednesday.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (CNN) – Mike Huckabee called fellow Republican Mitt Romney’s new ad “desperate” Tuesday, comparing his actions to those of “a tattle-tale in third grade.”

“We didn’t like it when we were in the third grade, I don’t think we like it running for president either,” the former Arkansas governor said during an Iowa press conference. “The more desperate and frantic campaigns get when they see how much money they’ve spent and we’re winning, that causes people to do some sometimes desperate things.” (Watch Romney's new TV ad attacking Huckabee)

Huckabee also denied that his subtle digs at opponents amounted to negative campaigning. “I’m just telling you, I’m not overtly campaigning against anybody,” said Huckabee. “…I just don’t do it. I’ve got plenty of things to talk about, and I don’t need to use them as the filler for my speech.”

The former Massachusetts governor has continued to pound Huckabee on his previous statements on immigration, a top issue for Iowa Republicans. Huckabee said Tuesday that the negative campaigning would backfire, and that he still stands by his push for tuition breaks for the children of illegal immigrants.

Tuesday, Huckabee appeared with Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist, who has endorsed his campaign – an event that seemed designed to rebut Romney’s criticism. The Minutemen have been criticized for their tough rhetoric on immigration, and their unilateral patrols of the U.S.-Mexico border.

“For months I’ve been searching,” said Gilchrist, looking for a plan that would “end the illegal alien invasion problem… I found the Secure America plan put together by Mike Huckabee to fit right in with what I feel would help at least begin to solve this problem.”


–CNN’s Dana Bash and Rebecca Sinderbrand

Filed under: Iowa • Mike Huckabee • Mitt Romney


Kristy Sanborhn, Buckhorn, Mo.   December 13th, 2007 1:56 am ET

Whoa, I think Romneys getting under Huckabee's skin a little, do we need a short fused President?
Who is acting like a third grader? Huckabee can run down Romney for his religious beliefs, but Romney can't place an ad without Huckabee's approval?
If this isn't a joke, and almost hysterically funny, I don't know what is!
Has anyone ever noticed in past elections, that there are always the ones the media is partial to, the ones who it seems like try to see who can sling the most mud, and spend the most money, and they don't get elected in the end.
Has anyone ever noticed that?

Jane, Des Moines IA   December 12th, 2007 6:43 am ET

Hmmmm, the economy is first and foremost on the minds of American voters this coming year. Who should we elect? A minister? Yeah, that makes sense. NOT! Why not elect someone who actually knows quite a bit about economics and could actually bring America back economically? Vote Romney

Independent in IA   December 12th, 2007 6:19 am ET

LMAO!!!

Poor Huckleberry. Got caught out and feeling the heat of the paddle on your bottom for your actions (or words). Did you honestly think nobody would notice your hypocritical, dangerous and stupid blunders? Sorry, Dumbo, but people do notice. And you WILL be called to account for such irrationality.

Sixtus Ellis Los Angeles   December 12th, 2007 3:35 am ET

he is so right we should just give him the presidency without knowing what his record is or what he believes. why go through the hassle of educating ourselves to decide which candidate to vote for. Is he the republican Hillary?

shannon NY   December 12th, 2007 3:31 am ET

do you still use tattle tale when you are an adult? or is Huckee using his little boy voice to dumb it down for the rest of us? what a putz!

Greg San Diego, CA   December 12th, 2007 1:19 am ET

When people complain about snitches, it's because they've caught and are mad about being called out on the carpet. If Huckabee wins, then I'm going to the Democrats.

Jed in Texas   December 12th, 2007 1:00 am ET

I would rather vote for his stunt double, Jim Nabers

Karen Houston TX   December 12th, 2007 12:33 am ET

"he still stands by his push for tuition breaks for the children of illegal immigrants."

Simply amazing. Is anyone actually buying this candidate?
Apparently Gilchrist has. Uh Hello? Can you say contradiction?

Gilchrist need to retract his endorsement, and put it elsewhere. I can't believe it!

Paul, Des Moines, Iowa   December 12th, 2007 12:26 am ET

Huckabee's a joke. Watch the video. When he says, "It's like a third grader being a tattle-tale". The reporter asks, "are you saying Romney is acting like a 3rd grader?" Huckabee says, "No, I did not say that. I said what I said. It's like a 3rd grader." and then offers a cheesy glance, followed by, "I use a lot of metaphors". What a high road Huckster took on that one. You're right, Mike, you are definitely not doing any name-calling. You are way too sly with those comments.

What a complete dork. Don't let this clown be our president. Please

Troy, Scottsdale, AZ   December 11th, 2007 11:30 pm ET

Bryan…I guess being a governor doesn't qualify someone to be President…do you think both Huck and Mitt should pull out? The only people qualified to be running are the former Gov's and Mayor…none of the others have even balanced a budget and we wouldn't even know who one of them except for the fact she married the right man.

Michael, Mobile, AL   December 11th, 2007 11:15 pm ET

Huckabee's tuition break to illegals is not based solely on their illegal status. The tuition break he supported in Arkansas stated that the children of illegal aliens must maintain a certain GPA, not have any history of drug use, and be applying for citizenship. The idea behind this is that they too can become productive, educated taxpayers in society. What's worse, children of illegal aliens with no education and no means of paying taxes, or educated individuals who will repay their debt to society through a college education and taxes? Seems easy to me.

Jeremy damesworth, Steele Mo 63877   December 11th, 2007 11:11 pm ET

I believe when some one is bringing dirt out on me that makes it very very clear they are not confident that there plan is the best….go future president stand for it be confident in your plan…so far it sounds like it is the best and the american people are finding out.

Dale Davis, Glendora, California   December 11th, 2007 11:10 pm ET

MIKE HUCKABEE=JIMMY CARTER
(A new country bumpkin from the South, who has lots of down home appeal, but in the end will be a down right disappoinment.) Think twice America!!!
The Clinton Camp would love to run against Huck, instead of Mitt or Rudy.
It's a sure bet that a simpleton with a degree in Bible studies from Oachita Baptist Collge would look like another Jimmy Carter buffoon in the long run, within the D.C. beltway. They will eat him for lunch, just like Jimmy Carter. You still need to consider the fact that someone like Mitt has not only 2 degrees from both Harvard and BYU, but had also received top honors. His leadership in business goes without question. Wouldn't that be a plus, if, heaven forbid, we are caught in an economic tailspin in the coming years. Our country will need someone with God-given intellegence and organizational skills. Just take a long look at his stellar speech he gave last week in Texas. And unlike JFK, who had someone else write it, Romney wrote his speech himself. It revealed his human soul and passion for this country. It was very Reaganesque. Elitists don't do that. Even his critics admitted that it was good.
Please America, you can't possibly think you would want to vote for someone who allows the children of illegal aliens to have their college tuition paid for at all of your local and state colleges across this great land that YOU paid for in taxes can you? And the rapist pardon issue? We won't even go there.
THINK LONG AND HARD AMERICA!!!!

Jay, Baltimore   December 11th, 2007 10:45 pm ET

Inquisitivemind,
the "tattler" generally also has things to hide, diverting attention from himself. Certainly we wouldn't wish bad things on children, would we? Do illegals children deserve to bear the punishment of their parents? If you answer "yes" you are truly not conservative or compassionate. Your true colors would show. Mike is doing what many Americans hoped: being socially conservative, yet willing to step up and fight for education and health for all. Mike I commend you and would be honored to vote for you.

Alex Kenosha Wisconsin   December 11th, 2007 10:34 pm ET

its good to know we will have somebody who talks like a five year old for the next GOP nominee

L.M., Ardmore, Oklahoma   December 11th, 2007 10:07 pm ET

So the Huckster and the Christ-man make it the dynamic duo of monolinguamerica against those English-language-challenged scourges of the interview domain, undocumented alien immigrants; now those Canadians are going to get it, big time. Jesus, the ticket taker for stadiumerica has the Gilchrist stamp of approval. Biff!bam! pop! pow!

John NYC   December 11th, 2007 10:07 pm ET

Hmmm. Not a very classy thing to do. Let's raise the level of the discussion, shall we, Huck?

scott,manchester NH   December 11th, 2007 9:56 pm ET

its absolutely the cutest thing in the world to watch the R's fight this out…only to realize (as they will) in several months that they are ALL going to be desperate to come up with a single thing they can do to defend the GOP's leadership vacuum, abuses, and disgusting behavior for 8 years…and given that their whole Party is goin down the tubes.

Lets roll………LMAO

EB Rideout, Georgia   December 11th, 2007 9:55 pm ET

Oh goody, a food fight in the GOP lunch room.

They're all a bunch of whiny losers.

Jose Card   December 11th, 2007 9:39 pm ET

"Huckabee still stands by his push for tuition breaks for the children of illegal immigrants."

Some of the children of illegal immigrants are citizens or permanent residents. Some are neither.

If Huckabee is speaking for God, I can understand. Once a pastor, always a pastor. Being a presidential candidate, he may have a problem with this tuition break, which is not available to citizens from another state.

Illegal immigration reform discourages potential immigrants from obeying our laws. It's not presidential to discourage people from obeying the law.

However, it is justified for non-citizen children of illegal immigrants to get a college education with a tuition break, IF these children have an outstanding SAT score.

Erik Zimmerman Morton, IL   December 11th, 2007 9:36 pm ET

Mike is right
ROMNEY GROW UP!
The number one thing I hate is when candidates mudsling
tell me your views, don't bash others' views!

Bob, Brookfield, WI   December 11th, 2007 9:23 pm ET

Governor Huckabee, why should we let these children go to college when they can be mowing Mitt Romney's lawn????

MikePost, Bosie, Idaho   December 11th, 2007 9:18 pm ET

Huck is calling himself a compassionate conservative and yet he wants to treat AIDS as something different than other diseases… a social or moral problem rather than a medical one. Shame on him!
AIDS is a managable disease and is not spread by casual contact.

Beckster   December 11th, 2007 9:08 pm ET

Romney will soon learn that money cannot buy the people.

pam Eugene OR   December 11th, 2007 9:07 pm ET

I am so disgusted with my own party I was r=taking a look at Huckabee. I have liked what I have seen until now. He is wrong about special breaks for illegals on anything. Just because they can sneak into our country and drop a child should never give them any advantage for breaking our laws. You are in LEFT field on this one Huck.

Henry, Fort Lauderdale   December 11th, 2007 8:55 pm ET

I feel sorry for Romney, Here is a guy who has spent over 7-10 million dollars and it has gone down the drain, What a waste. This is the same Romney who hires illegals to mow his lawn on his mansion and when caught says he knows nothing about it. He is one of the biggest magnets for bringing illegals here CHEAP LABOR FOR BIG BUSINESS!!!

Craig Love   December 11th, 2007 8:53 pm ET

Huckabee is right on by calling Romney's action "desparate." While Romney has mostly failed to take a consistent position on ANYTHING, he has managed to come back with the same retort anytime another campaign questions his flipflops or mediochre leadership: "Just desparate attacks from flailing campaigns." Surprise, Romney, now you're falling like a stone in the polls and you thought you'd get away with blatantly negative attacks? Not only does Romney apply his trademark doublestandard, he even lies through his teeth and denies that he's airing a negative ad. Romney is no Mormon, he's too good at lying.

Jack, Nicole, Chip, Vicki,Lenore, CambridgeMA   December 11th, 2007 8:49 pm ET

Mitt Romney in a desperado mode is PRICELESS !! He is entertaining. First, his holier than thou marriage tour with his bloated wife. Second, all his lies and flipflops. Third,his pathetic last-resort desperate Mormon speech (TeamRomney did NOT even want to have to take this speech out of the mothballs ever!) Fourth, desperate times call for even more desperate measures by the blinking, giggling, lying, shady snakeoil salesman, Romney. Go away, loser! You're not the man Huckabee is. He has our votes!

David, Oregon City, Oregon   December 11th, 2007 8:45 pm ET

Mr. Huckabee, please don’t allow the other candidate’s to pull you down to their level. Just tell them to keep spending their millions on negative media ads, that you only explain yourself to the American people, but most importantly always tell them to have a nice day!

John Allen, Boston MA   December 11th, 2007 8:39 pm ET

C'mon Huck. The frontrunners have been facing criticisms of their campaigns for months. This is part of American politics. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Calling people names like "tattle tale" just shows you are a weak candidate. Think that will work with Hillary Clinton in the general election? I'm voting for Romney.

KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT   December 11th, 2007 8:31 pm ET

So, if you don't have a shoe to bang on the table with, complain that someone else's shoe is bothering you?

Come on Huck, talk about some ISSUES here, like the Death Penalty, Abortion, Poverty, Corruption in Politics… Anything that doesn't make YOU look like a whiny 3rd grader!

Ben Dribus   December 11th, 2007 8:11 pm ET

Gilchrist's endorsement of Huckabee sure makes Mitt look dumb.

mario, Streamwood, IL   December 11th, 2007 8:06 pm ET

Why is it a negative campaign when your records are simply being exposed? Isn't it only proper for the voters to know what does a candidate stand for? Unfortunately, candidates will not voluntarily reveal much of themselves. So the best source of such information is the candidate's opponents. As long as the opponents are being factual, and not attacking Huckabee personally, then that is not mud slinging. Huckabee is upset because he is not too proud of his record. He has been soft on illegal aliens. He is also soft on crimes, as he has commuted sentences of many criminals. So why is this considered an attack?

Ted, Santa Ynez, California   December 11th, 2007 7:56 pm ET

Huckabee sounds like such a moron. "Tattle-tale", good Lord Huck, get a vocabulary. Oh wait, you're trying to connect with your toothless, high-school dropout, southerner fan base. Go Chuck Norris!

Thomas, PHX, AZ   December 11th, 2007 7:42 pm ET

It would be nice if Huckabee would actually do what he has said, and say what he believes. Every time he is asked a question (i.e. the CNN/YouTube Debate) he would only answer with a joke or some "great" one-liner. This guy is not presidential material, and Mitt is completely right in pointing this out.

Kaz, Hurley, MS   December 11th, 2007 7:42 pm ET

Hmmm if Romney is the tattle-tale then Huckabee is the kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar denying it was him. His cookie jar contains positions of isolating victoms of AIDS, massive tax increases, tuition aid entitlements for illegal immigrants and a clemency record in Arkansas that is downright scary.

Al Lexington Ky   December 11th, 2007 7:39 pm ET

You headline on the main page says Dems race takes nasty turn. Most people won't click the link, but will think the Dems are acting unseemly. If they take the time to read the article they will see it is the Republicans acting badly.

Mike in Austin   December 11th, 2007 7:32 pm ET

Huckabee is coming across as very arrogant in his responses to criticism. It's clear that he hasn't been in this situatin much, prior to his ascent in the polls.

I, for one, think it's good that we see him pressured a bit… so his true colors will come out.

kyle, Salt Lake City   December 11th, 2007 7:29 pm ET

Don't sweat it Huck, Jesus is with you and against the liar grand wizard.

Lev Klinemann, Redondo Beach CA   December 11th, 2007 7:20 pm ET

It's going to be a quick rise and quick fall down for the Huckster here…

He just has no clue on how to answer questions about his past…

…and calling Romney "tattle-tale" is just plain childish.

We've had a dangerous arrogant kid in the whitehouse for the past 7 years, we really don't need another one.

Huckster, take your fake charm and PLEASE, for the love of those angels that helped you kill an elk while hunting, leave this country to the sane people.

Shawnie - Grants Pass, OR   December 11th, 2007 7:19 pm ET

Huck, you're the one that prattles like a juvenile.

curtis in WI   December 11th, 2007 7:08 pm ET

And Huckabee has let his recent surge in the polls go to his head already.

Derek, Honolulu HI   December 11th, 2007 6:58 pm ET

If Romney is acting like a tattle-tale, then Huckabee is acting like a … hmmmm … religious zealot? tax-hiker? moron? …. I think I'd rather be the tattle tale even though I don't like Romney much better.

Brian   December 11th, 2007 6:58 pm ET

Regardless of the negative ads, Mitt's was actually pretty nice for one, simply a comparison of postions. But I really DO NOT LIKE Hucklberry's name calling. That to me is more like a 3rd grader. This guys is really starting to rub America the wrong way at his most crucial time.

Jason C.   December 11th, 2007 6:54 pm ET

Let's just say Gilchrist has a very, hmm, "interesting" background pertaining to his last political race. Wikipedia has some very enlightening passages regarding his alleged involvement with white supremacists.

Is Huckabee not vetting his endorsements or something?

Disappointed Voter, California   December 11th, 2007 6:46 pm ET

Romney's negative comments only show how desparate his campaign has become since his precipitous drop in the Iowa polls (a 22% drop according to the Newsweek poll.) Romney's recent ads criticize Huckabee's position on "illegal immigration" and attack the children of undocumented aliens. Huckabee's words from one of the recent debates resonates with truth and reason. "We are a better country than to punish children for what their parents did," he said. Thus far, he is the only [Republican] candidate to address the issue with such candor. As an aside, my family is Mormon. I can only say that we are sad and disappointed in the way Romney's campaign tactics have deteriorated. At this point, I honestly do not know who I will vote for. Given that I am a Democrat, I doubt that I will support anyone on the GOP ticket. However, I find Huckabee's honesty refreshing, and Romney's negative politicking, distressing.

Charles, Miami, FL   December 11th, 2007 6:44 pm ET

I agree with Huckabee. Romney wants to buy the election with his millions. Earn it on your own merits and then flip flop again.

Andrew, NJ   December 11th, 2007 6:39 pm ET

Huckabee needs to realize he is running for office, and that means your record is allowed to be scrutinized.

Maybe next time he does something unethical he'll think about how it'll affect him in the future

Dean, Eugene OR   December 11th, 2007 6:36 pm ET

I did not realize Huckabee had been doing something a 3rd grader would know better than doing. Giving away there own collage tuition. Maybe he should be tattled on.

InquisitiveMind   December 11th, 2007 6:33 pm ET

Usually when someone is "tattled" on, they are usually guilty and trying to hide something.

Huck, are you trying to hide your past? If not, why are you bothered that Romney is calling you out on your stances?

Bryan, Firestone, CO   December 11th, 2007 6:32 pm ET

Desperate? If a candidate is clearly not qualified to be President, why would you not call out the reasons for that candidate's deficiency? That's what Romney is doing here, and it's a smart move. Huckabee does the same thing on the campaign trail…he just masks it behind a holier than thou facade. I don't appreciate giving special tuition breaks to illegals, so I'm glad Romney is bringing up the fact that Huckabee still supports such special treatment. This country already helps the world in so many ways…do we really need to divert taxpayer dollars to give illegals a piece of our higher education too? The illegals come here, don't pay taxes, yet their children use our taxpayer dollars for higher education. No thanks. And I don't want our President to do it either. No on Huckabee.

Wayne, Greenville TX   December 11th, 2007 6:22 pm ET

If I posted what I call Huckabee, Romney, and all the other mental midgets running for the GOP nomination, CNN would never post my message…..

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