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."
From CNN Politics
- Trump seeks a 'miracle' as virus fears mount February 28, 2020 01:21 pm
- Lawmakers react after coronavirus briefing: 'I do not think we're prepared' February 28, 2020 07:21 pm
- Pence is leading the coronavirus response but he's still heading to Florida to fundraise February 28, 2020 04:13 pm
- Pence's public health record raises concern as coronavirus spreads February 28, 2020 02:26 pm
- CNN polls: Bernie Sanders holds big leads in California and Texas ahead of critical Super Tuesday vote February 28, 2020 06:17 pm
- The fight over Medicare for All gets more expensive in South Carolina February 28, 2020 07:00 pm
Huckabee is not a politician but a religious leader. So who cares his opinion when it relates to politics.
HUCK – A – BYE is praising Palin for the Washington Pose Op-Ed she truly did not even write!! Come on now – Palin wrote that!!!
But like all REPUB men, they are BLIND by her LQQKS and ELECTRICITY that they could not even tell someone wrothe that Op-Ed for her... Jeez!!! Come on NOW – give me a BREAK!!!
Let Palin do what she wants,,,its time that both the Dems and Reps dissolve. THe two party system is old hat as is the electoral system. Presidents should be elected by popular vote so everyone truly has a vote that counts.
Just why shouldn't / wouldn't she abandon it. She does everything else she commits to...
Her becoming an independent would be the best thing for the Republican party. Let the Christian Right and other RIght Wing Loonies depart so that a much more sophisticated version of conservativism can arise as it has in the UK and Canada.
Has she ever sat down with anything other than a right-wing news outlet since her earlier disasterous interviews? The Washington Times?? Faux News?? Sending an Op-ed piece to the Post means nothing unless she actually sits down and answers questions that are not mashmallow-softies like she would get from those 2. I guess Dregs (Drudge) is next eh? Maybe NewsMax? Hey Fido, want some credibiity? Meet and provide an interview with someone who doesn't lob softballs at you.
Of course they don't want her to abandon the repugs. They need her to be the fall guy after they all use her to get money and crowds.
Huckabee and Palin should both be in Republican Party. This will ensure Obama's re-election.
I can't believe that Huckabee does not believe in evolution. I believe in God but I also believe in evolution.
Stay, Sarah, Stay!! Please!!
Palin-Bachmann 2012
Good news, Sara! Perhaps Huckabee will "call you on the phone" in 2012, say about July 1st or so, and ask YOU to be his VP Candidateii Good Luck!!!
I guess Huckbee didn't read the article from WaPo – Let me sum it up: Palin threw out her statements and backed nothing up with facts. John Kerry wrote a great article yesterday taking each point and giving the facts.
Who cares!
The only democrat who would let this "brain stem with lipstick" campaign for them is when Cheney runs as one!
Mike Huckabee is scared to death of Sarah Palin.
He and she would share the same base in a 2012 presidential run, which would be detrimental to his ambitions.
So he subtly makes it sound as though Sarah Palin is not a real Republican, which is clearly a swipe at her. Look forward to other subtle dismissals of Palin from Huckabee in the future!
A rabid pit bull would bring plenty of excitement to a nursing home; doesn't mean you open the door and give it full reign.
Huckabee DOES remember that McCain-Palin suffered a crushing and humiliating defeat in November, right? Even with a war hero on the top of the ticket, Palin managed to lose not only OH and FL but also VA, IN, and NC.
The only 'excitement' Palin brought to the ticket was for Obama supporters. I hope she brings the same kind of 'excitement' in 2012.
'quitter' seems to be a running theme for yet another repug coward ... they all suck
CNN- trying to make something out of nothing....again...Palin's agenda is her agenda. Why report on it unless she's announced she's running for office? Are you that entrenched with the Obama administration that you are required to consistently attempt to tarnish her? Give it a break...
Hey, I know, report on the US Army Major who refused to deploy to Afghanistan – reason? His Commander in Chief has yet to prove he's a US citizen by birth....what happened ? The Major won the lawsuit; his orders revoked, and he doesn't have to go....that's unprecedented for the military to rescind orders without cause; in this case it will draw thousands of refusals and rightfully so. Obama's going to have to provide a TRUE vaulted copy of his birth certificate or he could have a military refusing orders..hahaha...it's his own fault!
Most Dems are gonna read this and P&M all over the place about the GOP and how lost they are. Fact is, there are more core Republicans who are just waiting for a good cantidate to roll over Nobama. It will take time to rebuild the GOP, but it can be done. So, to all the Republicans out ther waiting for the next Gipper, I submit it is time for you to toss your hat in the ring and help find him/her.
Yes, by all means please stay in the Republican party Ms. Palin.......you will delay any attempt at a serious comeback for several years just with keeping that "R" behind your name. Do us all a favor and stay put.
Is it really going to matter who the Republican candidate is? The base of voters that bought the Reagan argument is dying physicially every day. The country is changing and there is really nothing anyone can do to stop it.
To be perfectly honest, it terrifies me to think that politicians want Sarah Palin back not only in the spotlight, but in politics in general. She was a terrible choice as a Vice President, for time and time again she proved her incompetence and how out of touch she was with reality. I know this has been repeated ad nauseum, but if she feels that continuing her position as Governor of Alaska will be useless if she is a 'lame duck,' I do not feel that she is ready for a position as large as the Vice President of the United States, never mind the President. I truly hope that the public becomes more informed and listens carefully to her speeches, and realizes that she is not worth endorsing as a serious political candidate, in any capacity, or in the future. Her sweet-talking and down to earth nature, and the fact that she is a woman, cannot and should not sway the public toward giving her blind devotion.
both these morons should go to iraq and never to come back.
Maybe she will join the Alaska Independence Party
"saying it shows her "serious side.""
– Good one, Huck! Such a jokester. I would bet my life that palin didn't "write" much of that article – even though it did seem juvenile and plain ignorant, I just don't think she is at that level yet. Huck is though!