TEXARKANA, Texas (CNN) - Republican Mike Huckabee prides himself on running a positive campaign and has stayed quiet while rival John McCain has recently targeted Democrat Barack Obama.
But on Thursday, the former Arkansas governor went after the Illinois senator for ideas he says would cost Americans $287 billion.
“I hear Barack Obama say that he's going to provide everybody with health care and college tuition and pave the streets with gold,” Huckabee said to laughter from the crowd, “the proposals he's put on the table so far, already are going to cost about $287 billion dollars, so far. Now that's a lot of money.”
“What we don't know how to figure out is how much will it cost us when we walk away and leave Iraq in a mess and the Middle East blows up, how much will that cost?” added Huckabee.
After spending just one day campaigning in Ohio and Rhode Island each, Huckabee began a swing through Texas on Thursday that will end with the state’s Tuesday primary. Of the states holding their primaries on March 4, Huckabee is doing the best in Texas, though a CNN/Opinion Research poll has him trailing McCain by 25 percentage points.
In true Huckabee fashion, he laced his last jab at Obama with humor. “If we were doing the Mastercard commercial we'd simply say we know what some of the costs are. Some of the items on his agenda? Priceless.”
– CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt
From CNN Politics
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How about abolishing the IRS and replacing it with a sales tax? Now that's priceless!! It would sure cost the americans a hell of a lot and destroy our economy
And in between having streets paved with gold or the Middle East blow up without US intervention (it's more like the US started the blowing up process!!!), I'd much rather have golden streets. At least it is positive investment and will last, as well as bring in some tourists.....with war the money is gone forever for a pointless reason!!!!!
Stop the fearmongering, get real, and get positive Mr Huckabee
Good point, Phil–Priorities.
War on Poverty.
War on Drugs.
War on Terror.
None of these wars have been won. Some have been going on for decades. I guess America really does need to itemize it's priorities.
Priorities, Phil. Priorities.
Mike ......please shut up....you have run the MOST POINTLESS campaign so far...and now you are jumping on the "me too" bashing of obama. Please go and give another boring paid speech to people who care cause we dont care about you .
That is indeed alot of money. Almost as much as the 3 trillion we've spent in Iraq, where John McCain wants to keep us for fifty more years.
Phil-
ABSOLUTELY correct.
Thank you.
I thought the Huckster's stock in trade was miracles, not math.
Where did he come up with these figures? The Republicans have not even paved our streets with asphalt, our infrastructure is falling apart. Good comment from Phil!
We can not cry over spilt milk. What was done was done and maybe there was justification and maybe not. The question is how do we move forward? We need to be practical and realistic.
Can someone please provide an OBJECTIVE comparison of all these presidential candidates so we can see who is fit to run this country ? I am looking for the big 5 issues:
Economy
War and foreign policy
Immigration
Healthcare
Education.
I appreciate it coz we all need to make well informed decions.
Wow, the media whoring also ran that is mike Huck is piling on a real candidate.
Let's see...
When Huck ran Arkansas he suppoted the idea of giving illegal immigrants the right and pathway to go to college.
He raised taxes in Arkansas.
Now he's a reformed conservative. Alright, okay.
Maybe the former governor would be best served if he went back to Little Rock and take the stage at Yuk Yuk for his presidental stand up act.
We can not cry over spilt milk. What was done was done and maybe there was justification and maybe not. The question is how do we move forward? We need to be practical and realistic.
Can someone please provide an OBJECTIVE comparison of all these presidential candidates so we can see who is fit to run this country ? I am looking for the big 5 issues:
Economy
War and foreign policy
Immigration
Healthcare
Education.
I appreciate it coz we all need to make well informed decisions.
Welcome to war, Phil. Why are people so ignorant? Why do they not realize that the Middle East is A) a potential SERIOUS threat to global stability and B) Needs immediate attention. You think democrats would listen to General Petraeus, our leading commander in Iraq, who is saying "We need more troops, we cannot let up." He is over there everyday experiencing and seeing whats going on, he knows what we need. But no, you ignorant democrats immediately wave off anything war related. Barack Obama and Clinton, if elected, would 100% insure certain doom upon this planet. Why? They would pull out of the middle east "immediately," the whole country would fall under and lose ALL the progress we've made there, the entire area would once again be controlled by a terroristic threatening society, and all hell would break loose! THINK for once!
When is this guy going to get the message, it is over Mike.
Miracles do happen Mike, open your eyes and see, Obama.
I wonder how much health care we could buy with the money wasted in Iraq, now that is priceless.
Huck-a-who???
in the world's richest nation, we SHOULD have free healthcare, we SHOULD have free college tuition. those in the establishment who oppose it are relics and should be driven out of washington.
I completely agree with Phil. Comparing to what we are spending in Iraq for no genuine reasons. $287 billion dollars on infracstructure, health care and education shouldn't be a problem. i think we deserve better than that.
When/if Obama gets to be president he will learn the difficulty in implementing some of his plans..Independent experts are calling Hillary the most realistic of all the candidates with how she's going to pay for her proposals.
..In the meantime Huckabee is hoping for a little back and forth to keep the cameras on him. Interesting gy the Huck,
Get lost Hackabee, you are irrelevant.
With maintenance of lifestyles eating away at our meager salaries, why not take the leap with Obama! At least it is a conscious decision.
The stock market games have nade paupers out of lowly American citizens while the few elite have seen skyrocketing increases in their boulging financial portfolios You are killing me harshly with multiple competitive choice at daily living.
At least Obama lets me see wherein the mistakes are made and offeres a glimmer at how to correct the damage without being a destitute. Who wouldn't vote for such a person?!
wake up people, we need someone in office with experience and Hussein' Obama doesn't have it. He doesn't even know who the operativties are in Iraq, or does he?
You're irrelavant Mr. Huckabee......Beat it.
Ps isn't it high time you ended you're pointless campaign and contribute your supporters donations to a worthy cause....say OBAMA'S education and health care initiatives???
News FLASH....it's the 21st Century....having higher education and access to proper health care should be priorities for you and all who dwell below the 49th degree parellel.
No child left behind....
OBAMA 08/12
Really Mike, the only priceless thing going on is your campaign. How could you focus on the Democrats, when you're not even close to beating McCain? Very illogical man, very illogical.
I like Mike the Incredible HUCKabee!!
Remember the MOVIE "The Distinguished Gentleman" a conman played by Eddie Murphy?? Seems eerily similiar to whats happening in our presidential race!!
Phil, you are absolutely right. Very good comment. I couldn't believe Bush had to start a war in spite of UN didn't find any of the acclaimed weapons. UN was also correct, because our army couldn't find any either during or after the invasion!
Somebody please help me to ask Huckabee, How much have we spent in iraq so far?.
I think Obama knows what he is talking about and can defend it with facts and figures.
Huckabee is the man! Man up McCain lets see a debate. Huckabee would crush O Bomb us