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LWA I am not wrong if you think so come and live in SWVa and watch where our tax dollars go. I'm in my 60's and I have seen this all my life.

Huckabee's photo looks like he swallowed the canary.

when people try to divide, how can they run for pres. of the usa!

"Huckabee" and "thinking" in the same sentence. How odd.

Mike needs to shut up and go back to Arkansas. He is a member of the party who only cares about the rich and big business. Any working class person who is a Republican is stupid and believes the lies they have told them. Also the fact that christians cling to the GOP is a mistery to me becuase the GOP only cares about the rich which is not christian by any means..

I got. People in North Virginia have an easier time to bring home paychecks and feed their families. Is that supposed to be a bad thing, Huck? Are they doing smth wrong? Stop throwing mindless insults and dividing people withing their own state.

Gee so that little concave of republicans in southern Virginia that have grown up listening to the hate preached by Farwell think all of Virginia should cowtow to what they think.

There are a lot of rural areas in this country that don't think they are the ones that should count above all.

Virginia has more people in it then them and if they want to think one way and be republican OK but don't expect the whole state to agree with them, because most of the state DON'T.

Mike Huckabee is right. Northern Virginia is filled with highly educated, and in some cases, affluent taxpayers. The Appalachian region, not so much.

I'm really nearing the end of my rope with this kind of idiotic mentality. Different people all over the country have different opinions on every subject. So what? Grow the hell up and accept that not everyone will walk in complete lockstep with your narrow, egotistical, exclusionary view of how things should be.

We have something in NVA that they dont have in the rest of the state...VOTERS!

Here we go again – it's "real" Americans against everyone else. Well, I am a bleeding heart liberal and I am as real an American any "down home" Huckabee follower on the planet. When are the Republicans going to learn that their divisiveness is one of the resons they lost the election. I have voted Rebublican in the past, but as long as they behave this way, it won't happen again.

There may be truth to what Huckabee is saying, but it is rather elitist.

If he wanted to avoid all criticism, Huckabee should have appeared on the Tonight Show and said norhtern Virginia voters remind him of the "Special Olympics or something".

Clearly, the media feel there's nothing wrong with saying that.

Democrat politicians from NY City often will proudly attack the Upstate NY area as being full of backwater hicks and hayseeds. They never apologize.

Barack Obama was caught on tape attacking the western part of Pennsylvania as being full of bitter people who cling to guns and dislike anybody different from theselves. He issued a very weak non-apology "I'm sorry if anybody misinterpreted my remarks."

Why is it any worse to criticise northern Virginia?

I wonder whose target Mike Huckabee is over to get such "special attention" from the democrats. Guess they have realized he is the man Obama is going to have to beat in 2012 and it won't happen. Huckabee 2012!!! Great to hear someone speak the truth.

Appalachia and Northern Virginia are very different with vastly different values and concerns

Those democrats don't know what to make of a politician who speaks the TRUTH! Huckabee has got them scared to death because his HUCKPAC has already helped Jim Tedisco in NY and they KNOW that Huckabee is a man of principle, conviction, integrity AND he has the BEST answers for this country. This article just "fires me up to make calls into Va. for McDonnell. Thanks for the motivation!!!!!

I am a disabled nurse and I was born and raised in West Virginia and my mother lived in Virginia. I know what hard times are, not able to eat or know what was going to happen. I still would not vote for a republican; they are for the rich and care nothing about the poor or middle class. You an believe it if you want to and if you don't then don't.

you are doing such a good job for the democrats, I think you should broaden your stops/audience to the whole U.S.

share your wisdom

Born and raised in Alexandria. I am thankful and glad I don't think like the insular folks in SW Virginia. The world is a big fascinating place and I am grateful I had an opportunity to be exposed to different people and ideas in Alexandria.

For some reason Mike Huckabee seems to think he's royalty.

There is such a thing, as a European Market. With access to the World. You should read their program. You? America. Your just a Corner Store.

This is just another example of Republican arrogance! They think that they are better than everybody else and shouldn't lower themselves by helping their fellow citizens. All they want to do is divide the country into haves and have nots, and they've always been that way. To them, they are the superior group of people that should run everything. Sound familiar?

I am a native Virginia and a business owner in the so called Nortrhern Virginia area. Huckabee's comments are deplorable and Mr. McConnell should denounce them. We in NOVA do understand Mike. Would you like to hear how I have had to downsize my business by half in the last two years. Would you like to hear how I have had to not pay myself for weeks so that my employees can deposit their checks and take care of their families. Would you like to hear how I have had to withhold paychecks an extra week because we didn't have enough money to cover payroll. Despite all that, I continue to pay my employees healtcare premiums. Would yuo like to know how I called my landlord, my creditors, my suppliers to try to rework the terms so I could stay afloat. So Mike, us Northern Virginians do understand and we sympathize and empathize with our fellow brothren from the southern and western part of the state. Please stop the divisive tactics and start acting like a statesman if you want our vote in the future.

If you had to take all the traits, characteristics and idiosynchrosies of modernday Conservative Republicans and roll them into one personality you'd have Frank Burns on 'Mash'. That pretty much says it all.

Here we go again. The same old divide and conquer. The republicans should come up with some new ideas. I did not realize that their thinking was so bankrupt. It is not the different thinking. That is a given when the issues impact us in different ways. Mr. Huckabee, talk about the issues and relate them to the people's lives.

George Bush gave many wanabees the thought that they too could be President. "After all", they argued, "if George the bramble bush could do it we can too". We are not going back. Indeed we cannot go back. The issues are too complex and international for us to elect those who are so narrow minded and insular in their thinking.

Give it up Huckabee. Your time has passed.

I grew up and lived for 18 years in Arlington Va, and then lived for 7 years in Blacksburg in Southwest VA. I can tell you that, yes, of course there are regional differences. But Virginia needs a governor that is for ALL of Virginia, one that can unite and help all parts of the state. The party that tries to divide and pit region against region like this is NOT the answer!

If Huckabee had said "Black voters aren't necessarily thinking the same way folks like you and me think," would this be okay with the people defending his remarks? There is a big difference between saying "they are different from you" and saying "they are different from us." Huckabee is making a value judgement against one group of people that he wants to single out, not an objective observation that different groups are different.

Easy now and everyone just calm down!!.... You all seem angry and tense like you are ready to give somebody a beat down. Do you think you all are upset because of few comments taken out of context and delivered with humor by Mr Huckabee??..............Or....... does the anger come because deep down your scared,worried, and disappointed that your Choosen One has increased spending with nothing to show but an almost 9% unemployment rate and major dept piled higher than the Appalachia Mountains? And don't forget that these people are trying to use the angry meter for political gain. Now go and vote on principal. Finally, it is my hope that many of you do take the time to give Mr. Huckabee a second look, I want even be surprised when some of you have a change of heart regarding Huckabee's character when all is said and done.

Being someone that lives in Virginia and has lived in Northern Virginia, now currently in Roanoke (the "capital" of Southwest Virginia), and visited extreme Southwest Virginia, I can agree with what Huckabee is saying. Northern Virginia is unlike any other part of the state. And with the huge population up there now, sadly, they tend to dictate the rest of the state. A good many of the people up there don't know what it means to be a Virginian, as many of them are transplants. If it wasn't for Roanoke, Salem, and the Christansburg/Blacksburg areas, this part of the state would be forgotten and ignored. Thankfully, Senator Warner while Governor never did. It's a shame that Gov. Kaine has. But Huckabee is correct. For the record, I'm a McAuliffe supporter and commend him for not jumping on the bandwagon but making his own points!

You know, someday the GOP will grow-up and out of this type of thing. I have heard and watched the GOP's us vs them instead of we are all in this as a single nation for years. It's troubling to see them loose elections, one after the other but not wake-up to the reality that the new voting generation dosen't care for devisive people. They generally like each other. Hate based on economic status (by the way there's alot of beltway families trying to make ends meet too), social class, color, ethnicity and anything else they try to classify as not real America only divides us at a critical time in history when we need to be working together.

Until they learn this, they will continue to contrac until a second conservative party evolves. It's happened before and will again!

Come on now people. Did any of you read what he actually said, or did you just read what the article says he said? He said:

"Some folks up there near the Beltway," he claimed, "have never fully understood how hard it is for a lot of people to put a paycheck together, be able to feed a family."

He's not labeling the people of Northern Virginia. What he's talking about elitist politicians who don't know what the average Virginian is going through. That's what he's always talking about when he mentions "the Beltway". Have you guys not been paying attention for the past couple of years?

And to those who are asking whether or not the Governor has ever had to wonder whether or not he could feed his family, he has. In fact, he had to work 2-3 jobs to put himself through college and pay for his wife's medical bills.

I lived in Virginia for years. He sopeaks the truth....it is not plotically correct, but it is the truth.

GO HUCK GO,,,, You got them squirming and overflowing with hate comments..
MUUUHHHAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa )

Transparent. It's just more divide and conquer politics from a GOPer. "Hate the people over there because they're different and then vote for me!"

Mike is correct. I live in Dickenson County, Virginia and it is about an hour south of Tazewell. Life here is more rural and agriculture than the service sectors in the northern and eastern portions of the state. Coal mining, natural gas extraction, timber, prisons, and call centers are the main employers of the area. We are often called the derogatory term “hillbilly” which to me is just as offensive as the N word to African Americans.

When I travel to Richmond, Fairfax, or the Tidewater area I often have people that do not know our part of the state exists. Our roads, hospitals, and schools are definitely different in rural southwest Virginia as compared to other parts of the state.

Mike’s comments I think refer to our labor intensive and socio-economic background of our area. In northern Virginia as I have said is mainly service sector that is less labor intensive.

"Mike Huckabee [told] an audience in Appalachia that voters in northern Virginia 'aren't necessarily thinking the same way folks like you and me think.'"

As a Northern Virginian, I proudly agree.

GOP gaffers, generally and generously, giraffe into a gargantuan set of goofers and Huckabee is generatin' exactly that sort of gibes that are degeneratin' into gibberish gob. They (the Repubs.) just can't make intelligent insinuations, and we are driven to dizzy and dazzlin' departure from decency.

Mike!-you are a religious and pious man, we reckon, and do not
mess-up that impression by your inane intonations about inner city inhabitants. Try to say something sane and sensible so it seizes somebody's senses with splendidly speculatin' speed. Talk something intelligent and perhaps patronizin', a little bit. You know how to do that. You take to those kinds of smart and speechworthy sayings like a duck takes to water.

Americans woke up figured out the "divide and conquer" thing and they showed, in the presidential election, that they won't be suckers for that garbage any more. Good Luck Huck – it didn't work then. It won't work now!

Huckabee's claim to vfame is what ? he won a few states in the Republican Primary,no he upset mitt romney in a few states. that's it.

will someone in the Republican party tell this man to go-away.

This dude with all that gop money should have better teeth!
Oh and of course better sense than he does now! The Earth
is 6,000 yrs old according to Huckabee can I get a Amen for
the Moron!

The problem is that Huck isn't talking about the real differences through out VA – or any state.... he's saying that some people are "real Virginians" as opposed to those who live closer to the capitol.

All Americans are "real" ... and Huck isn't close enough to God to be the one making the decision.

I lived in Northern Virginia and I can tell you, they are in their own world. Let's hope they keep their over-priced, whiny-baby world to themselves because it's not a pleasant place to be.

Huckabee is wrong, and his comments about "not letting people out of their driveways" were also wrong. The Republicans continue to act like the Three Stooges, their party has really imploded.

Didn't that sink McCain and Palin playing one America against another? You think they (GOP) would have learn their lesson. They need stop trying to divide us and bring us together.

fair enough, if we in NoVA aren't part of "real Virginia" and are sucking tax money from the rest of the state, then perhaps we should leave.... we'd finally be free to set our own taxes to fix our traffic problems; good luck with funding your schools and infrastructure!

Lynn April 3rd, 2009 5:06 pm ET

Just another phoney "religious" fanatic who spews hate, intolerance and division
-------------–

Are you serious??

Lynn April 3rd, 2009 5:06 pm ET

Just another phoney "religious" fanatic who spews hate, intolerance and division

You know, it's funny...for a guy who refuses to admit we evolved from apes, he does a fantastic job of proving it every time he opens his mouth.

wasabe kid April 3rd, 2009 5:03 pm ET

Everybody gets so huffy about a phrase. All Huckabee meant was exactly what we all understood. ...

That statement is:
1. True
2. Not an insult to anyone.
3. So what?

Yeah, but it wasn't the statement that offended, it was the intent.
"THEY are not like US..." "NON-NATIVE Virginians..." It's all intended to create an "Other" to focus your rage upon.

I'm a Southern Californian. I know that my culture is different from Northern Californians and it is different from Arizonans. You're an El Pasonian who is different from a Houstonian or a Dallas-Ft. Worthian.

But the difference is that you're not a politician inciting hate for a "different" group in a speech.

To ib, you have got it all backwards, Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads constitute the lions share of tax revenue for the state. Tax dollars from those areas go to support rural counties in the southern and western part of the commonwealth, not the other way around.

Just another phoney "religious" fanatic who spews hate, intolerance and division.

These kind of statements are signs of how ignorant Huckabee is and makes one wonder what he says to others in private conversations. Huckabee isn't and never has been a man of God, he holds a bible in his hands on Sunday and the remaining days he does the work of the devil himself.

Everybody gets so huffy about a phrase. All Huckabee meant was exactly what we all understood. There are many people who are not native to Virginia who live around Washington, drawn because their paycheck comes, directly or indirectly, from the federal government or its contractors. Huckabee was saying, in effect, "Those folks are not from the southern tradition that you and I (southern Virginians) come from." That statement is:
1. True
2. Not an insult to anyone.
3. So what?

I live in El Paso, and someone from Austin might say that we El Pasoans have a different culture because we come from different roots. That would be quite true.

What Huckabee was saying is that you and I take for granted certain assumptions that those folks don't have. If we polled attitudes in Virginia, Huckabee's assertion would be proven true, I'll bet.

For the record: I think Huckabee is a nice guy. If he was a Liberal, I'd vote for him.

Mr. Huckabee, exactly when was the last time you couldn't feed your family? Have you EVER gone hungry, in your entire life?
(wink wink...I'm one of you....wink wink)

And when exactly was the last time HE had to worry bout putting food on the table?

Man, all these guys kill me with this I'm like you attitude. I'd be happier if they just said, hey, I got mines. I'd like to help you get yours, too.

Can someone from Virginia comment about their state here?

I'm not familiar with the area, and who knows if what this man says holds water.

However, if NE Virginia near the Potomac and Washington DC is much different than Blacksburg, then he has a point.

That means Virginia is a diverse state with diverse needs... maybe more so than other states.

Until then, you one party biased loons continue to make me laugh with your comments, because anyone with half a brain will NEVER take you seriously.

Yea, your right Huck, we don't think backwards like you....give it up...you don't matter any more Huck....go find Tom and go fishing in those backward woods...

huckabee has a record of sticking his foot in his mouth. some leader he would make!

What a loser. Divide and conquer is an old war tactic that works in lots of arenas. But seriously: people in Virginia want to work and want to provide for their familes; regardless of what our professions may be. I live in Fairfax in northern Virginia, and I don't need Huckabee to COME FROM OUTSIDE MY STATE and start ruining things for his own political gain. We all need to stand together right now, period. I am so sick of people just running for offices and saying stuff to people just to get elected. Do something to make life better for working people; whether they live in northern Virginia or southern Virginia, or simply SHUT UP!

Does anyone think the vast majority of Northern VA voters were going to vote GOP in this election??

PLEASE!

You people crying about this are nothing more than partisan hacks. You lamblast Huckabee and wildly applaud the Democrats buying a billboard mocking a private US citizen (Rush).

Many of you need to buy a clue.

Huckabee needs to be concerned about Arkansas affairs and stay out Virginia business. This is the home of the our military. Plus we are Virginians. We are not Northern Virginians or Hampton Roads Virginians or Southside Virginians, we're Virginians!!! Stop the divide and conquer tactics Huckaboo.

Way to reach out to different voting blocks.

At this rate all the Republicans will be left with in 2012 will be two dueling banjos.

And ib –

The reason why most tax dollars are spent in Northern Virginia is because most Virginia tax revenue comes from there. If the rural areas paid more taxes, they'd see more returns.

Also, you're not getting your tax revenue back as a check. You're getting it back in services. DO you have any idea how expensive it is to pipe running water, electricity, and cable out to the middle of nowhere?

Aaaaand this is why we need to increase taxes by 3% for the upper 1%, because federal monies would then flow freely to people in under-serviced areas like yourself.

The GOP should stop blasting populated areas as "not like them" or areas with a population will stop voting for them.

What happened to the Rev. Huckabee who use to pastor in Texarkana, AR? His wife was an educator and you want to tell me he wants to be President. I'm glad I left Arkansas. Where's Huckabee now, I pray he's nobody's pastor spreading venom in the guise of Christianity.

Why, do losers continue to think that citizens want to hear, or believe what they say? McCain, Palin, Romney; Huckabee, Thompsom, and the rest of the also-rans should shut up as they are only hurting future Republican hopefuls.

Fortunately for our country, not a lot of people think like Mike Huckabee.
Snide remarks, derisive chuckling, and pompous strutting came to an end when we threw the former administration and all its minimions out of office. Go ahead, Mr. Huckabee, try to maintain the Republican status quo, completely disconnected from the people who are the core of this country. Oh, and fire up your resume. You're going to be looking for a new job soon. buh BYE now!

this huckabee is a real loser!

voters in northern Virginia "aren't necessarily thinking the same way folks like you and me think."

Thank God.
Have a nice day!

"aren't necessarily thinking the same way folks like you and me think."
–

You're right – we disagree with your statement that the constitution should be altered to coincide with the bible. It's that whole pesky separation of church and state thing – but I bet you'd fit right in in a country like Iran.

Keep stepping away Gomer Pyle, you're irrelevant.

Yep.. these "We are the REAL Americans" type comments worked really well for Palin... Are these people campaigning really this stupid? Ok.. with Palin the answer to that is yes. But Huck? He's not a dumb guy... I have a feeling Huck is trying to sabotage something here

All of 'em should get a spanking, they are dividing our country for self-fulfilling gain.

You call yourself a Pastor....I live in Northern Va. and serviced this country for 24 years and I'm not real (Va)...

Maybe the people of Northern Virginia really don't think like the people of Appalachia.... is there something wrong with that?

He spoke the truth so get off his case. I've watched my tax dollars from the area go into northern and eastern va. all my life while the area did without. Typical Va. democratic spin.

I'm not a fan of feigned outrage, but this one deserves it. Come on, how dare Mike Huckabee label an entire region of a state as not understanding what the real world is like? They don't understand how hard it is to put a paycheck together? Why, is the unemployment rate in Northern VA 1% all of a sudden? More attempts to divide, divide, divide the country.

He's right on the money. NOVA is a bureaucratic cesspool.