Huckabee warns Palin: Don't leave GOP
(CNN) - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a warning for Sarah Palin: Don't abandon the Republican Party.
The former presidential candidate and potential future White House rival of Palin's said Tuesday he's concerned about speculation the Alaska governor may leave the GOP to become an independent.
"I hope she remains - let me be real clear - a part of the Republican Party," Huckabee told FOX News. "I'm a little concerned when I hear her say that she may sort of branch out and go third party or go independent. That would be a big mistake because we need to rebuild the Republican Party, not abandon it."
The comments come days after Palin told the Washington Times she intends to spend her days out of the Alaska governor's mansion campaigning for both Republican and Democratic candidates whose ideas she supports. That prompted speculation the onetime GOP vice presidential candidate could consider running for office in the future as a third party candidate.
But Huckabee - who, like Palin, is thought to be considering a White House bid in 2012 - said Palin has an important role to play in the Republican Party.
"I want her to succeed, and I'm delighted to see her continuing to use her voice because I do think that she rallies people," he said. "She brought electricity to the Republican ticket last year, when, frankly, there was about as much excitement as you would see, you know, at a - at a Baptist dance, which means there wasn't any, until she showed up for the ticket. And then there was fire going forth."
Related: Poll: Majority of Republicans don't think Palin's qualified for prez
Huckabee - now a commentator for FOX News - also praised Palin's recent Washington Post op-ed attacking President Obama's support of a "cap and trade" program, saying it shows her "serious side."
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Ah, yet another Palin story...... and more fodder for the left-wing liberal hate machine. CNN, you just love to do this, don't you?
Nooo Leave!!! PLEASE!!! and Huckabee turned Arkansas into the pits!! So he can leave too!!
Can she type?
To your ticker on whether or not Republicans think Palin is qualified to be president, this is an old story so I'm not sure why you resurface it. It was said that during the presidential debates that Palin wasn't qualified to be president, but she wasn't nominated to be president. The Republicans went on to say that while she may not be ready to be president, she had much more experience than Obma, who is definately not ready to be president, as can be seen from his on-the-job training.
The GOP is nothing but a bunch of CONFUSED people!
If the important role to play is some kind of brainless beauty queen who can't speak coherently and makes a fool out of herself every time she gets in front of the cameras, then yeah, she could definitely fill that role.
However, if the GOP wants to be in existence in the future, then they'd better dump Palin fast because she's dragging the down worse than a 20 ton boat anchor.
Mr. Huckabee, with all due respect, you cannot rebuild the Republican Party with Sarah Palin.
Of course he praised her op-ed...he's a Republican who is against anything that the Obama administration says or does. We all ready had a successful cap and trade program...Obama is only increasing it.
Huckabee and Palin are losers!
Too bad Huckabee is not as interested in seeing our duly elected President succeed as he seems to be in Sarah Plan succeeding. That is a HUGE part of the problem for the repulicant's!!!!!!
Huckabee and Palin should both leave. Their intolerance and unacceptance of any belief, religion, or point of view other than their own is a threat to the freedom of choice this country is founded on.
Its blatantly clear to anyone with a slight bit of intelligence that Sarah "The Moron" Palin did not write that cap-and-trade op-ed. I wish people would stop repeating that lie. She is barely literate and has trouble forming complete sentences. It took her 6 years and 5 colleges to get a BS in journalism! That says enough right there. She is dumb.
Sarah Palin is NOT the future of the Republican Party. Teach her to substitute "hope" for "bridge to nowhere" and give her to the Demosocialists.
Palin's serious side? Her grasp of energy issues is minimal and slanted by her support of big oil.
As for running as an independent (read – she knows she'd never win a primary), she may take part of GOP lunatic fringe (base) with her. No wonder they're worried.
Who else but the GOP would want this divisive know nothing quitter. It would be funny though for her to announce she is leaving the party, just to watch the Republicans slam her like the McCain camp did after they were through with her.
No one, and i mean no one, makes Democrats foolishly expose who they really are, what they want for America, and that their hearts are filled with hate and closed-mindedness than Sarah Palin.
Independents who were conned into voting Obama by the media are shocked to see that a majority of Democrats in America would like nothing more than for Sarah Palin and her family to be killed. Those of us who don't posses this kind of hate need to fight America's National Socialist Party aka liberal democrats. Just don't be surprised that you as a law abiding honest citizen will now be on the Barak/Janet DHS most wanted list, seen as much more evil than Osama Bin Laden.
BTW, remember that when libbie cries about Palin's comments about Obama, 100% of what she has said is fact and the gods honest truth. Libs attack her because they cannot counter her truth without looking like the liars that they are.
Palin should start her own Party so that all the folks who are so angry that their "values" aren't represented in government will have a place to go.
Then we'll see how popular those "values" really are.
Mike, I'm sure Palin could become an independent, heck, even a democrat, the problem with her is what killed Curly: name recognition. Wherever she goes, even as a bald, toothless nun, this woman is recognisable. I, like many Americans, believe in a strong democracy and the Constitution, but Palin was such a dolt on interview that even she couldn't say otherwise. If the GOP wants her, take her. She's a liability of the same strength as W: remember, NOBODY wanted anything to do with him when they were running for office, NOBODY. She's the same, an idiot in idiot's clothing! GOP – keep her, please!
I like Mike Huckabee. I don't like Sarah Palin. I would never vote for either for President.
He's right, average Americans can relate to Pallin She needs to attend some of the tea parties that are put down by the current administration and watch...
"Huckabee — now a commentator for FOX News — also praised Palin's recent Washington Post op-ed attacking President Obama's support of a "cap and trade" program, saying it shows her "serious side."
You know, that's what I'm afraid...I don't even know when she is serious, LOL!!! 🙂
Do Not listen to Mike, Sarah stick to your ideals. leave the dark side of the GOP and join with us, help restore freedom and liberty in the USA again. Come and see me, CNY Libertarian Chapter....
Sarah Palin is a bigger liabilty than an asset. They should be glad to see her go.
"as much excitement as you would see, at a — at a Baptist dance"
Ya must be joking Micky, how about a funeral ???!!!!
Do these morons think anyone cares?!