Huck camp: NRLC’s Fred nod 'a mistake'

Posted: Monday, November 12, 2007 5:15 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Carrie Dann
Team Huckabee is putting former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley out to give the campaign's official response to the National Right to Life's endorsement of Fred Thompson. Just as Huckabee did last week in reaction to Pat Robertson's nod to Rudy Giuliani, Beasley attributed NRLC's endorsement to "Washington politics" trumping real examination of each candidate's values.

Beasley flatly called the endorsement a "mistake," citing concern over Thompson's plan to end abortions without a constitutional amendment. The former governor acknowledged that Thompson has "a good track record" on some social issues, but said of the choice between Huckabee and Thompson, "It's not even a close call."

He added, "That's what surprises me about this endorsement. It just goes to show that even a great organization isn't perfect. They make mistakes from time to time. And I think this is one of them."

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Comments

Why is the NLRC endorsing Fred Thompson of all candidates? I thought it was a joke when I heard on the news especially after he declared on television that he would not support the human life amendment! Fred Thompson is a horrible choice and his campaign is in shambles---these aren't my words but the words of most members of the media. He will never get the nomination.

Mike Huckabee is the most pro-life of all the presidential candidates who also supports the human life amendment so why are they not supporting him - expect for political expediency??? His poll numbers only climb while Fred Thompson's sink. And, Huckabee is the one Republican that can defeat Hillary Clinton.

Michelle Ashley (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 5:55 PM)

AMEN!!!

Anthony, Port Saint Lucie, FL (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 6:22 PM)

I agree.

dwyap, FP, NJ (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 6:29 PM)

The religious right is neither. Here's to their support splintering in the primaries and staying home in the general election. Let's keep the church and state seperate, as was the founder's intention.

Doug, San Diego (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 6:34 PM)

Endorsing Thompson is a mistake. Huckabee will get the support anyway! GO HUCKABEE!

Chris, Loomis, Ca (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 7:31 PM)

Fred is solidly pro-life and the best small government/pro war on Islamic-fascism candidate we've had, period. So he hasn't been genuflecting before movement leaders like Dobson and Norquist. I like a backbone. It shows what he'll be like as Pres. Stubborn.

Johanna Sawyer, Chicago, IL (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 7:59 PM)

I'm appalled at the lack of discernment and the obvious pandering to political strongholds that is being demonstrated by the leaders of these hugh christian/conservative organizations.

The Pat Robertson/Giuliani endorsement REAKS with the smell of sulphur as surely as if it were birthed in hell itself.

I sincerely hope that all who have ever donated to these groups or supported them in any way, will seek a new, creative way to support the causes we're devoted to and help our fellow man. Personally, I'd rather give to a needy family down the street than give another dime to these social-sell-outs.

It is extremely refreshing though to see the hundreds of pastors and thousands of believers and champions of social conservatism who are following the voice of conscience individually as grassroots groups continue to sprout up around the country.

I'm proud to support Mike Huckabee for President. But I'll end by saying this: Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee are stirring something deep within America. It's a fire that won't be easily quenched and it feeds on hypocracy in high places.

GAmama (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 8:15 PM)

Huckabee can not Beat Hillary as FDT can, and FDT is more conservative then Huckabee..Good Choice NLRC for Backing the Best candidate out there! Huckabee is another Bush, and FDT is not..shake Huckabee's hand and GWBush falls out.

AMN Las Vegas Nevada (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 8:52 PM)

This continues the recent farce and mockery of Christian attempts to be relevant in politics... not only a placing of sheer pragmatism over principle by an organization that is supposed to be founded on principle, but the pragmatism is stupid by even the most secular calculations... political insiders all agree Thompson's lackluster campaign is dying, and his top poll status has now sunk to where he trails both Romney AND Huckabee in Iowa, NH, AND Florida!

steve prost (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 8:52 PM)

Huckabee could be the VP pick. Since our corporate media chooses the nominees, it's doubtful they'd position him as the Repub nominee to run against Hillary because he'd win.

Margaret, NYC (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 8:54 PM)

Disgraceful that they would endorse Thompson over Huckabee. It will turn out to be a mistake. They'll end up backing Gov. Huckabee, but will have lost a LOT of respect and a LOT of ($$$) support.

Gadbot, TH, WI (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 8:55 PM)

I am pro-choice. And a Democrat. And I will be voting against whomever the Republicans nominate. But-- as an outsider who supports none of the candidates-- I could not agree more with the commentors. The endorsers are running scared away from Huckabee who, although I disagree with them, stands for the value the Republican party says it believes in.

to stl, mo (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 9:25 PM)

I totally agree with Beasley's comment, these two are not even close - Senator Fred Dalton Thompson is so far ahead of that hypocritical hick Huckabee, it is not even funny! No man is worth being president when he tells God he does not want His job to pastor a Church, then lays it down and goes chasing rainbows hoping to find his pot of gold at the end of it. I am from South Carolina- AND Beasley did not get re-elected governor again EITHER!!! Ask Huckabee why he chose to use the Governor's discretionary fund to donate funds to the city's fundraiser before he left his office - it was supposed to be private money, but he took $50K out of the $500K discretionary fund and ask him WHEN HE PAID IT BACK!!! This shyster is for political gain, not for the good of the Nation PLUS he is for the law-breaking illegal immigrants, but you New-Age-Nit-Wit liberal looneys would not know the difference between a skunk and a mink!!! Senator Thompson has everything HANDS DOWN OVER ANY OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES...THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF WILL HAVE HIS WAY, NOT ANY OF YOU BRAINLESS TWITS!!!

JVByars, Asheville, NC (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 9:33 PM)

YOU DO NOT PRINT THINGS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT RIGHT FOR THIS NATION, ONLY THE LIBERAL LEFT LOONEYS!!!

JVByars, Asheville, NC (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 9:34 PM)

Huckabee could never beat Clinton. You're all way wrong.

California (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 9:52 PM)

Mike Huckabee is a pro-lifer who also happens to be a tax-raising, nanny state liberal.

He's pro-life, but perhaps the NLRC has a better relationship with Fred. Perhaps, they also wanted to go with a guy who has a better chance of securing the nomination.

fijwrijwr, ny,ny (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 10:00 PM)

I totally agree with the above comments. Mike Huckabee MUST be our next president! He has it all, with no skeletons in the closet, no excess baggage.

Peggy Bost, San Antonio Tx (Sent Monday, November 12, 2007 11:58 PM)

The Giuliani campaign explained his strategy today in a conference call -- winning delegates, not early states! Though a full analysis of this strategy shows that it might very well be fundamentally flawed. Read full roundup and analysis: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/11/conference-call-explains-giulianis.html

Daniel, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 1:52 AM)

There are still those of us who believe that the states have done a pretty decent job of managing criminal law, marriage and family law, wills and estates law, etc. for the past two centuries, and that the true CONSERVATIVE position is to stick with what works.

"Sticking with what works" is, in fact, the very DEFINITION of conservatism.

Amending the federal constitution to provide for a national, one-size-fits-all definition of when life begins may be described as a lot of things, but CONSERVATIVE isn't one of them.

It's a symptom of just how jacked up things have gotten when the people who advocate radical and unprecendented changes to the federal Constitution are described as CONSERVATIVES, while those who advocating keeping the law as it is are described as LIBERALS.

Ken Emanuelson, Dallas, Texas (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 2:45 AM)

I have a gut feeling that Mike Huckabee is going to be the big surprise of the 08 election. Even if he doesn't win the nomination, which I think is wide open now, he will certainly emerge as the leader of a new generation of Christian Conservatives.

William, Little Rock, Ar. (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 3:56 AM)

It just gets stranger and stranger, Fred is a low tier candidate, will this endorsment give him traction, I don't think so. The leaders of the evangelical movements are grasping for the power that they have petered away, money is drying up and grassroots efforts are growing, it is a good thing for our country when people see these leaders for what they have always been, movers ans shakers that have grown large in their own mind and who forget who they represent. Power and money do that and when it gets that far people distance themselves from it unless they are sharing in the spoils.

John S. Alexander, Edinboro, PA (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:56 AM)

Nothing warms my heart like the ongoing pissing match between groups and leaders of the radical right. Dobson, Perkins, Robertson, and Weyrich (sounds more like a law firm) deserve each other.
Now NRLC joins the fun. Don't tell me it was Jerry Falwell that held you all together. Will wonders never cease!

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards are all (1) in their only marriage, (2) married to persons of the opposite sex, (3) people of faith, (4) love their children, and (5) grieve over family and friends they have lost. Now what "focus on the family" am I missing here?

Huckster Huckabee has the "right" radical right position on abortion, plays rock music (the devil's playground). Maybe that is the reason NRLC made it's choice.

Nah. You've all lost your way! You're all nuts!

Gary, Franklin, WI (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:28 AM)

This endorsement is rather curious given Thompson's "states rights" philosophy on this and other issues. I think Huckabee is right to point out that if it's morally wrong in Tennesee, it's morally wrong in Arkansas. However, it is a rather savvy political position, even if it isn't the most honorable one. A bit Clintonesque if you ask me. Otherwise, Fred Thompson has really grown on me. I thought his Meet The Press showing was impressive, and I like how he answered everything honestly, esp. the part about his friend who'd been indicted a long time ago on cocaine charges. He does seem a bit nonchalant about everything, but that I think that will come across as charming, particularly to us southerners... However, I'm a McCain/Huckabee man- either one of these guys would be cool w/me, but unless it's one of these 2 I'll probably be voting Dem.

Cedric, Charlotte NC (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:35 AM)

After careful examination of the candidates. I beieve that Gov. Huckabee is by far thape best candidate. He is a main-street Republican not a - lifewall-street Republican. He not only is pro-life but is opposed to the unfair tax cuts that favored the top 1.5% of americans. He has the values of life and liberty that I am looking for if a candidate.

Joe Kidwell.Milwaukee,WI (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:38 AM)

If this Huckabee guy is so conservative and religious, why is he not getting any play from conservatives and the religious right? They seem general to latch onto Romney, with a few splintering out to Rudy or Fred. With Huckabee emerging in Iowa, it cannot be because people think he cant win. Maybe On' Mike is pulling a fast one on all of us? I say these words as deep rooted conservative...I wonder?

Trey, Tempe, AZ (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:58 AM)

Thompson's lobbyist backround does not justify this endorsement. Sure they are backing the horse they think can win, but I'm not sure this horse will wake up for the race. Huckabee has character and charisma, Thompson is lacking. By looking at "Conservative" support for Giulianti and Thompson, I am convinced that these so called conservatives fit a quite liberal definition when it comes to government. Constitutional amendments? Sweeping reforms? Big government to protect us all from foreign invaders? They are feeding a culture of fear, and telling us we need big government to save us. These guys should be more worried about their Prostrates than Al Queda. If you want to know what conservatism is about, get your constitutional advice from Ron Paul and your life issues from Huckabee -- and Huckabee actually wants people to have healthcare, and ways government spending against adverse social costs of not spending. (A poor child gets access to a health clinic for a minor cold, versus going to the E.R. 2 weeks later with Pneumonia. Costing much more to taxpayers.) If that is liberal I can live with that.

Nick (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:01 AM)

The implosion of the major social conservative values groups during this presidential primary campaign has been striking to watch. It's as if liberals have been given a wishlist and it's all coming true. Social conservatives have formed a circular firing squad.

One social conservative group after another has made a truly weird choice. Romney? Giulianni? Now Thompson?

Why are the Christian conservatives not standing behind those who have stood for their values consistently? Huckabee's positions are solid and unquestionable. And McCain's are far more solid than Thompson, Giulianni, and Romney.

Mark, Dallas, Texas (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:51 AM)

You don't endorse a candidate because you think they might win, you endorse a candidate with the same moral values. I am very upset that they endorsed Thompson. They should have chosen Huckabee or Paul.

John, St Louis (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:02 AM)

Everyone has missed the boat here. The polls say Huck doesn't have a shot, the drive-by media says Huck doesn't have a shot, even Fox News says Huck doesn't have a shot, based upon what? Polls? Poll's are inaccurate, just ask Dan Rather and the rest of the funneral procession from the '04 election, you would've thought their mother had just died when Kerry the "Amazing Waffle-Boy" didn't get elected. It doesn't matter what the polls say, or what the liberal media says, it matters what the PEOPLE say. Romney won the straw poll in Iowa because he paid the $35 for people to vote. Anyone remember who came in 2nd in the Iowa Staw Poll? Mike Huckabee, and he didn't buy a single vote for 2 reasons #1, he's above that and #2, he couldn't afford it. Anyone remember the Value Voters' Debates? Who won? Mike Huckabee, he had more votes than all of the other candidates combined! Several of whom are interested in the conservative vote didn't even show up to this, the most conservative forum to express their ideas. Forget the political analysts because NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX, etc sign their checks. Forget the polls because pollsters have an agenda too. We'ver heard from everyone but the people themselves.The only reliable source is the people and the people will deliver an OVERWHELMING VICTORY for Mike Huckabee.

IKNOWTHETRUTH

IKNOWTHETRUTH (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:05 AM)

I did not like that the NRLC implied that all the state and local chapters were endorsing Fred as well. I do not believe this is the case.

Jason Tolbert, Benton, AR (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:48 AM)

Huckabee is a fraud. He is more liberal than Bill Clinton. Having a divinity degree does not pardon Huckabee for his lies.

Fred Thompson has a proven track record on right to life. Huckabee only has promises on a Constitutional Amendment he knows will not be accomplished (Hucksters lip service for votes).

So go cry all you want Huck. The proof is in the pudding.

Mark, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:51 AM)

To Mark in Dallas -

We Christian Conservatives are standing behind our principles. That's why we are supporting Fred Thompson rather than the Waffle Kings (Giuli & Rom), the Gay Marriage supporting John McCain, and the half-truth (lying) telling Huckster from Arkansas.

Mark, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:58 AM)

Right on JVBayers. The Arkansas Huckster is a fraud and he is being exposed day by day. He is all about Huckabee - he is the epitome of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Mark, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:07 PM)

Mark, how can you be standing behind your convictions when you are standing for a candidate that has no principles. Fred Thompson, like it or not is a pro-choice candidate, how do your convictions stand up to those facts. Fred is against a constitutional ammendment that will protect human life.

tg (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:37 PM)

To: tg

The best way to protect human life (at least 3,700 and growing) is to get out of Iraq. How come you guys never talk about human life after birth Inquiring minds want to know.

Gary, Franklin, WI (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 2:13 PM)

tg -
Fred Thompson's Senate voting record is clear - 100% pro life. What the other candidates are not telling, with thier promises of a Constitutional Amendment (lip service for votes) is that they cannot get a Constitutional Amendment - it is only to tell you what you want to hear.
With all due respect, tg, It sounds like you need to do more research on Thompson's voting record and on how the Constitution really works. Stop listening to lip service politicians and investigate, investigate and investigate all candidates. I have and Fred Thompson most resembles my Christian conservative values.

Mark, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 2:23 PM)

I am always surprised at people who believe you can pass a law and a problem will go away. We have books full of laws against illegal drugs and even people as dumb as Rush Limbaugh can find access to them. Abortions have been happening throughout modern history. Don't worry planned parenthood groups as long as it can get votes for the republican party it will never be outlawed. Bush was asked twice in his first term if Roe v Wade should be overturned and his answer was "The country is not ready for it".

Rufus Gibbons, DC (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 3:48 PM)

Gary -

Why don't you libs talk about the 12,000 legal U.S. citizens that died "last year" at the hands of illegal aliens (drug dealers, murderers and drunks)? Why don't you libs carry your signs in the streets in protest of the illegals that killed these innocent Americans?

12,000 dead U.S. citizens at the hands of illegal aliens is 400% of the U.S. casualities in the whole of the Iraq war. I don't hear you libs putting up an outcry over this. But your Democrat legislators want to give amnesty, welfare, free health care and education to these illegals.

So, how about you left-wing do-gooders crying out about something other than your narrow minded b. s.?

Mark, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 4:03 PM)

YOU DO NOT PRINT THINGS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT RIGHT FOR THIS NATION, ONLY THE LIBERAL LEFT LOONEYS!!!
JVByars, Asheville, NC

-- looney by definition

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, November 13, 2007 4:29 PM)

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