Washington (CNN) – Former Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee advised Republicans in Congress to strike a budget deal, warning a government shutdown will hurt the GOP politically.
"Don't let the government shutdown because the consequences of that are going to hurt the Republicans, not the Democrats and the Republicans can't win this battle when it gets down to it," Huckabee said Friday on the Fox Business Network. "I think it's important that the Republicans don't jeopardize all of their chances for both the White House, Senate and the House elections in 2012 by arguing over what amounts to less than a penny."
The former 2008 presidential candidate said Republicans should abandon their crusades against National Public Radio and Planned Parenthood, and instead focus on fighting for the budget proposal put forth by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, that he said "will change America for the future."
"As much as I want to see Planned Parenthood defunded, as much as I want to see NPR lose their funding, the reality is- the president and the Senate are never going to go along with that so win the deal you can win and live to fight another day," Huckabee said.
He also said Republicans are "naïve" to think the media won't blame Republicans for a shutdown.
"If the Republicans are naïve enough to think that the media will say 'oh, you know the Republicans were really trying to save America,' they got to be smoking something crazy," Huckabee said. "I'm telling you, the Republicans have won the battle, take victory, take yes for an answer."
From CNN Politics
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Wow I actually agree with Huckabee, way to admit that the republicans obstructionism of the budget is about their moral positions rather than the actual dollars and cents of it, I guess they know the general public is not with them on their extreme views in this area and they have to be sneaky and underhanded to get what they want.. The bigger question is whether the shutting down of government isn't simply a repulican strategy as what is happening now is very similar to when Clinton was in his first term.
"I think it's important that the Republicans don't jeopardize all of their chances for both the White House, Senate and the House elections in 2012 by arguing over what amounts to less than a penny."
Hey, Huck, whatever happened to doing what's best for the country?
Typical Republican: Party Before Country
Why would anyone want Republicans to take over the Senate and the White House. The last time we had that they almost delivered another Great Depression. Thats silly. Things were better under Clinton, they got worse, much worse, when the Republicans were in charge and now they are getting better again that Democrats have had more power. Why would anyone think what we need now is more Republicans in Washington?
The Republicans ARE to blame for the shutdown! The Democrats have agreed to some cuts, but they're not going to let the Republicans throw in a bunch of ideological CRAP that have nothing to do with balancing the budget (which you can't do without raising revenue – something the Repubs refuse to consider) and everything to do with pushing their social and religious agenda.
Personally, I WANT OUR COUNTRY TO MOVE FORWARD! And it is abundantly clear that the GOP want to turn the clock back, while simultaneously turning our country into just another third-world nation, where the top 1% own and control everything and to hell with everyone else!
Compared to Sarah Palin, Huckabee almost appears to be sane...or is he really a closet moderate?
At least Mr. Huckabee is not delusional and is listening to Karl Rove who also is making a lot of sense unlike some of the irrational "Republicans". In my youth, the parties worked across the aisle for America and put partisan differences aside at least once in a while for the good of the country. Now they are putting the recovery at stake for what? Really ladies and gentlemen, it's not worth the mutual bruising you are giving each other. JMHO.
Don't forget, huckie here is the one who illegally DENIED a mentally challenged woman the RIGHT to a Medicaid-paid abortion, after she was raped, when he was playing "governor".
I agree with Huckabee. As well, the Republicans need to do some deep soul searching regarding the selection of potentials they are offering up for the 2012 election. Palin is the worst thing to hit the party and women in politics in general.
As a Republican woman, I am very disappointed. VERY.
"as much as I want to see NPR lose their funding,"
What a jerk...
huckabbe / ryan 2012 , Is coming soon to a convention near you.
Oooo, that will not get Huckabee any points with the tea baggers.
wow i agree with huckabee now thats a shocker
Well, at least one of them has some sense.
Wow... Mike Hucakabee actually being pragmatic and making sense! Way to go Huck!
Not to worry Huck, us Arkansans won't let the rest of the Country forget what a loser you are and what you did to our State.
The behaviors being demonstrated are childish, petty, and egotistical, among other things. Where, oh where, are candidates whom we can elect who will go to Washington and do what's right for the PEOPLE? Do they even exist? The thing that disgusts me the the most is that if the gov't shuts down, these slimy people in power will still get paid. Come on – try to compromise! If I behaved this way at work, I would have been fired a long time ago.
There are a few voices on sanity on the right, unfortunately, the barbarian teapublicans seem to be in control.
So Huckabee wants to use Paul Ryan's plan to change our budget next year and leave the elderly and middle class to go bankrupt paying for non-Medicare option that Ryan (a multi-millionaire) has thought up. I thought Huckabee was a religious man who looks to help the downtrodden, poor, hungry. Well it turns out he is just a money-grubbing (think $3million home in Florida's panhandle) "religious" hypocrite! If you believe in Hell, there are places reserved for these GOPers trying to help the elderly die – think death panels anyone!
The GOP lost the moment they started catering to their fanatic religious base
I say let'scriminalize Abortion. TAke away all the women's rights. Do it and make sure everyyone knows it was the republicans and the overly christian right that did it. Then maybe we can have some real political discussions. Like the budget. Who's going to take grandma's health care? What do the republicans have to stand on after abortion?? Taking away more rights of freedom; of speech, or personal freedoms? All they want to do is take away what we have. Standing on the alter of pro-life initiatives give them the christian high ground. Taking it away puts them in the closet where they want everyone else to be.
He's the last person I expected to hear this from, but he's not wrong. For the good of everyone, I hope the rest of the GOP listens.
I still consider Huckabee to be a huckster, but he does have his moments of lucidity.
i.e. don't screw up my Presidential chances over criminalizing abortion now. Wait until I win and bring women's rights back to the stone age.
These Republicans are cynical and sick. All they care about is wining politically. Even if that's the case, at least do a better PR job, i.e. don't make it very obvious that all you care is winning politically. I suppose they don't have what it takes to do a better PR job. I'm not pretending that winning politically is not what the Democrats want but they are at least smarter than their Republican counterparts. This is very obvious. All these Republican guys care about is winning. They couldn't care about who suffers due to this shutdown.
well Huckelberry. You're 100% correct, for a change. The GOP's smoke and mirrors plan will hurt only them