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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Palin is independent of common sense.
Yes, she brought fire to the party in the form of speeches that incited riots. She did not write the op-ed. Why is he saying that she brought excitement to the ticket – it was the wrong kind of excitement and still is.
I said it the minute she announced her resignation. This woman is toast.
A serious side? You can't be serious.
Who cares, she is a nut. She represents everything that is wrong with the Republican Party. The Republican Party needs moderates whom stand for the basic party principles and not the extreme ant- everything religious right. They need moderates that can agree and work with people whom don't get down on knees and kiss the extreme portion of the party, moderates whom would actually listen and represent the other 75%. Moderates whom actually feel that democrats are not un-American and that democrats can have a good idea. Moderates whom when a democrat says the sky is blue can actually say: "Yeah, you're right the sky is blue".
Seems like Huck needs her in the party so that he can call her a quitter during the primaries. He knows that if she runs as a 3rd party canidate she will split the Rebublican vote.
Huckabee and Palin...president and vice president of " The Earth is Flat and There's No Such Things as Dinosaurs Society ". As a nation we have truly hit rock bottom.
Mike the best thing you good do for Sarah is get her a spot on fox news with you. Thats the place for her along with the rest of the fox gang you will have one more to help you bash the president. Thats all the fox gang and the republicans can do.
Palin wants to create a third party? What's she going to call it, the Pity Party? That's what she's been throwing for herself since Day One, every time that big ol' bad press tells the truth about her.
Seems to me the Conservatives may be more scared of her than the Dems. Go third party Palin.
Sorry Huck, a Huckabee/Palin 2012 ticket isn't going to get off the primary floor, let alone be a viable national ticket.
I'll grant the "fire going forth" comment. Probably not in the same context as Huckabee meant though.
I viewed her more as a "speaking in tongues" person.
Let her go to another planet – why do they want to keep her?
OMG are these people serious?!?!? Palin is ALL ABOUT THE GOP! Talk about massaging oneselves egos here. Although, Palin is quickly becoming the Michael Jackson of the political world. Who knows what crazy random thing she'll do next.
Palin for Prez on the Independence party line in 2012!!!
I agree with ol 'Huck'. She should stick to the [R] party. That way all the deluded, hypocritical, neo-moronic rightwingers that follow the likes of Palin, Huckabee and Bush can be corralled in one place. They can then be put in a box, wrapped in festive paper with a bow, tied to a large rock, and thrown into a deep lake.
We need more Democrats and Republicans to abandon their party if they don't agree with the principles. In this two party system, politicians and voters are given two choices. They have to choose with which option the lose less, or sacrifice the least amount of beliefs to follow. The Republican party does not espouse the ideals of a republic. They need to fix themselves and follow the Constitution, which is as unlikely as Democrats deciding to respect the Constitution and ideals of the Declaration of Independence as well. James Madison said there are three things that drive a politician: 1. ambition 2. personal interest 3. public good. Notice which comes in third.
Huckabee, Palin is going to do what Palin wants to do. She listens to nobody. If she wants to say that the GOP never overturned Roe v. Wade (even when they controlled all 3 branches of govt) b/c abortion is such a nice carrot to get those voters to polls every election cycle, then she will.
I personally hope she does stick around. She united the Democrats better than anybody could have last election, and shoved most of the independents (and some moderate Republicans) into Obama's camp (and they are staying).
Enjoy Fox Noise while you can Huckabee.
Why on God's green Earth would ANY party want to claim this woman?
Note to Sarah: Go fishing and don't come back.
I don't care where she goes. I am an independent and was backing McCain until he chose Palin for his running mate. I dont know if he intentionally wanted to loose the election or his team made a bad decision. If she really cared about the country, she would finish her term and finish what she started . Obviously she cannot even do that.
Finally!!!! Now here's something both Republicans and Democrats can agree on.
I hope she doesn't desert the Republican party either. Huckabee and Palin are like two peas in a pod! You can interpret that however you wish.
For crying out loud.....Huckabee is worthless, just like Palin. They both need to get over themselves.
I hope she does leave the GOP! It's a fantastic idea! Split the conservatives in two! Yaaaay!
It really doesn't make a difference if she stays or goes. They're both losers. They're too narrow for this country and it's diverse population. This country has enough problems with people from other countries and their hatred of us, we don't need internal problems due to candidates that want to exclude and divide.
What a couple of dumb-bells!