September 3, 2008
Posted: 10:27 PM ET

From
Huckabee mistakenly attributed a Gerald Ford quote from 1974 to Abraham Lincoln.
Huckabee mistakenly attributed a Gerald Ford quote from 1974 to Abraham Lincoln.

Did McCain even consider Mike Huckabee for the ticket?

In his speech tonight he stuck the knife in Joe Biden but he did it with wit. ("Sarah Palin got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden received running for president!") One historical correction: Huckabee said Abraham Lincoln once said, "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have."

Watch: Mike Huckabee's entire convention speech

Problem is, Lincoln didn't say that. Gerald Ford did – on August 12, 1974. Gerald Ford was a great Republican. He deserved credit for his line. And once again, never once was the name "Bush" mentioned. Poor George.

Filed under: Paul Begala • Republican National Convention


PJT   September 3rd, 2008 10:56 pm ET

Biden did get more votes (or delegates anyway) than Palin. It is a silly argument to compare them but it is a false statement. Check the Wasilla Town website they have the election results listed.

JT - SoCal   September 3rd, 2008 10:55 pm ET

Ahhh – Cornbread!! These people love drinking the Kool-Aid and eating some warm cornbread.

The RNC is a country club that never quite gets it that the party is over.

It's funny she wants privacy for her family, but she makes a thinly veiled slam to Obama's wife.

Gotta love the Hypocrisy of this whole thing.

4 more years of the country club with Muffy and Biff Dirt Bag running the show is intolerable.

These people will say anything to stay in power evidenced by the pandering of this pick.

She has no business talking about internation affaiirs. The only international affair she knows about is the Great Caribou invasion of 2005 and the Polar Bear conspiracy of 2007.

Gracie   September 3rd, 2008 10:51 pm ET

If I was McCain I would be kicking myself just about NOW. Huckabee would have been a far BETTER CHOICE than Gov. Palin. I may have switched my vote had Huckabee been on the ticket. NOW that would have been a good match.

His speech is MUCH better than Gov. Palin's. She's reading the Teleprompter and her speech is too robotic, not natural at all. This comes from lack of experience on a "national level" and lack of exposure. She doesn't come off very convincing at all.

Go Obama!!!   September 3rd, 2008 10:50 pm ET

Why did Guiliani rehash what we heard Thompson say last night??? We KNOW he was a POW.

And how dare he be so dismissive of Obama being a communit organizer — are Republicans really opposed to public service?

They are truly shameful.

MIchelle   September 3rd, 2008 10:47 pm ET

Shame on Mike Huckabee for his continued allegiance to the corrupt Republican Party. Many of us would love to see Roe vs. Wade overturned but cannot and will not tolerate more of the Republican filth and sleaze in order to achieve that end. The Republican Party does not represent true Christian values.

Klippa   September 3rd, 2008 10:46 pm ET

Who needs Mike Huckabee? McCain has made the fundamentalists delirious by choosing Sarah Palin. (And for those of us who prefer misquotes and slip-ups I'm sure Palin will be more than capable.

Terry from GA   September 3rd, 2008 10:46 pm ET

Rudy, Mitt and Mike can say what they want about Barack and Joe but Joe was selected as Barack's VP. So while Rudy, Mitt and Mike go home tonight to watch television, Barack and Joe will be on the campaign trail trying to get us out of this 8 year depression caused by the republicans.

Nevada dude   September 3rd, 2008 10:45 pm ET

McCain/ Huckabee would have been a decent ticket, except for the warmongering. McCain blew it.

Valerie   September 3rd, 2008 10:44 pm ET

Ha – Palin just made a sexist joke:

"Do you know what the difference is between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."

HA!

Talk about a double standard. It's OK for Sarah to belittle women, but not OK for anyone else to question her experience.

millijava   September 3rd, 2008 10:44 pm ET

Actually, wrong again. The quote "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." if you research a bit further is generaly credited to Thomas Jefferson.

shadowgovernment   September 3rd, 2008 10:43 pm ET

Who is Huckabee trying to kid? " Sarah Palin got more votes for mayor of Wasilla than Joe Biden got when running for President" Uh, yeah, and your point is? Wasilla, population under 10k vs. the US population 300 million plus. What a dipstick! There is no rational corollary between these two!

Dylan in CA   September 3rd, 2008 10:42 pm ET

What filthy, ugly, disgusting night in St. Paul. Americans are tired of this Rovian, Bush-esque garbage. They are trying to appeal to the most ignorant but only turning appalling people with half a brain in the process.

This convention may do more for Barack Obama than the Democratic National Convention even did.

Alphonso from Washington D.C   September 3rd, 2008 10:42 pm ET

Lol, this is funny. I dont like Republicans for this exact reason. Idiots! Example: George Bush

Deb, Allentown, PA   September 3rd, 2008 10:42 pm ET

Unfortunately, the line about the votes Joe Biden got vs. what Sarah Palin got was a lie. Joe got at least 23000 votes….there are only what, 8500 citizens in Wasilla. Maybe the GOP learns in small towns how to count extra votes to make sure their candidate wins.

frank Honolulu HI   September 3rd, 2008 10:41 pm ET

Did McCain even consider Mike Huckabee for the ticket?

Nope. He just forgot.

California Gold   September 3rd, 2008 10:41 pm ET

Don't bother asking McCain if he considered Huckabee. He can't remember what he ate for breakfast or how many homes he owns.

No Hillary = No Obama   September 3rd, 2008 10:40 pm ET

I find Mike Huckabee to be intelligent, creative and cogent and he also has a nice sense of humor and irony. He should have a cabinet position in the McCan administration – replacing bobble headed- Condi Rice.

Reese from NC   September 3rd, 2008 10:40 pm ET

Just a little info Begala apparently does not have available. Joe Biden received over 15,000 votes in Florida alone. That's about twice the population of Wasilla.

Ann   September 3rd, 2008 10:40 pm ET

"Sarah Palin got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden received running for president!"

FALSE. Biden got 18,000 votes just in CA.

Q Glenn   September 3rd, 2008 10:39 pm ET

As neither a black guy nor a white guy (I will let you all guess the rest)… I watched the camera pan through the audience and is it just me or does this crowd look like a klan rally of about 18,000?

Repubs, stop making empty false statements and lame attacks…. You're desperate! A black man is going to win, get over it and let's really show why America is great. Diversity is not a bad thing!

Stacy from Beautiful Loudoun, VA   September 3rd, 2008 10:38 pm ET

I may not agree with Huckabee, but I have a lot of respect for the guy.

S. Boatman   September 3rd, 2008 10:38 pm ET

If Mccain Would Have Considered Him He Might Be On His Way To Being President. . . But He Chose Poorly!

JS   September 3rd, 2008 10:36 pm ET

Wasilla – population 9,780.

Florida 2008 primary – 15,704 for Biden

Tristan   September 3rd, 2008 10:35 pm ET

I cannot believe the arrogance that Mr. Huckabee has for our country. Americans want "less government" My god Mr. Huckabee, if you mean Americans want to ignore every issue that we face today without the governments help such as medicare, social security, global security, economic laws and regulations on corporations than someone should s be U.A.'ing these politicians. This is exactly the same path that the republicans have been taking the last eight years under George W. Bush, how can you preach change but say Americans want 'less government'? I haven't seen anything from the government the last 8 years but war, death, economic drought and plenty of tension throughout the global community. If this is the path that Americans want to follow it sure sounds like I will need to take on the attitude that its every person for themselves.

Democrat in colorado   September 3rd, 2008 10:35 pm ET

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have."

was also said by thomas jeferson, i am guessing that would make him the first american to use it?

Breck   September 3rd, 2008 10:34 pm ET

God Mike Huckabee is such a moron….. Though this does bring up the interesting question of whether they are ignoring Ford because he opposed Iraq…. And how is that possible, the town of Wasilla has less people in it than the amount of people who voted for Biden…..

LeeAnn   September 3rd, 2008 10:34 pm ET

I've been wondering the same thing. The Religious Right never did get behind Huck in the Primaries either. Why?

mike   September 3rd, 2008 10:33 pm ET

Huckabee makes mistakes because he is not so bright, borderline stupid. Listen to hjim, Barney Fife reincarnated!

So is Sarah Palin running For????????   September 3rd, 2008 10:33 pm ET

I agree. He should have been the nominee

Yvonne   September 3rd, 2008 10:32 pm ET

Paul, the line about the votes was wrong, too. Biden got more than 15K votes in FL and he wasn't even still in the race.

Huckabee is the best speech make the republicans have. Glad he didn't get the nomination.

Clay W.   September 3rd, 2008 10:30 pm ET

Another problem, his claim isn't true. Via Talkingpointsmemo.com:

[I]t turns out that in 1996 she won the mayoralty by 200 votes — and given the size of Wasilla, it turns out that this constituted a landslide victory.

From the Anchorage Daily News in 1996, just after the election (via Nexis)…

Palin's victory was seen as a major upset. Stein has been mayor since 1987 and was seeking his fourth term. He lost by more than 200 votes, with a final tally of 616-413.

Marie-Lynn   September 3rd, 2008 10:30 pm ET

Not at all

mike   September 3rd, 2008 10:29 pm ET

the argument that Palin has more experience than Obama and Biden combined means she has more experience than McCain as well.

gotta say this about Lieberman….."First time I've seen a rat swimming to a sinking ship."

hick   September 3rd, 2008 10:28 pm ET

warmongers,hatemongers and outright liars. not convincing.

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