Carl,

Interestingly, I’ve been to Romney’s website and watched all his ads. Romney is clearly hammering his opponent’s on their records, but not their character. I’ve concluded Romney and his team appear to be running an honest and increasingly effective campaign on the issues and experience. I think that’s what political campaigns are supposed to be about. More impressive to me is Romney’s “high-road” response to repeated personal attacks against him, including Huckabee’s most recent character assassination attempt. None of us can judge another’s soul, but we can however, judge their actions.

In the case of Romney vs Huckabee, Romney’s comparative adds appear honest and legitimate, and are effectly making his opponents accountable for their records.

In the case of Huckabee vs Romney, Huckabee’s attacks are personal, sly, and in my opinion, completely unbecoming of one who preaches the word of God. In fact, the word “hypocrite” now comes to mind when I see him on TV.

I hope you’ll continue to present the facts, not candidate spin and surreptitious attack ads like those Huckabee appears to be delivering against Romney by exploiting the media to air for free. Nothing “brilliant” about it… Though they may not know what it’s called, most Americans can perceive an ambitious disingenuous scheme and will vote accordingly.

Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Pat

Thanks very much for your forthright coverage of this story. Since Governor Huckabee wanted the ad pulled, I didn’t look at it. Those from Arkansas I have spoken with, like him very much as a governor, and say he is sincere and honest.

I seriously question why it is found to be so funny by some that Huckabee released it after he said he wouldn’t. I think it strongly shows a lack of integrity. This is a man running for President of the worlds most powerful nation, and in a simple campaign he can’t even do what he says. So tell me….when he is president of our country, can we expect him to tell us one thing but do another? I think the American people are seriously fed up with this kind of politician. At least I sure hope so. Oh yeah…IF people in his campaign released it without him knowing (just in case this is ever said) then shame on him again for not knowing what his key people are doing behind the scenes because this would demonstrate to us that he lacks some basic leadership skills.

Good Word:
paralepsis: (slang=) doing a Huckabee
paralepsis: The act of claiming one will not discuss “it” by succinctly defining what “it” is. A subversive way to attack an opponent. Deceitful.

Carl, thanks for not detailing the ad. I appreciate that you focused on Huckabee’s actions.

It is too bad the Ad actually got out because Huckabee must now carry the mantle of deceit. If the Ad did not actually get out I could have reserved judgement. It matters not if Huckabee “tried” to prevent its distribution because he tried and failed. The impact of one who was deceitful is the result in the end.

Politicians can get away with paralepsis when they are not touting principle based behavior. It works well with liberal voters because in the liberal arena “principled” depends on the circumstances surrounding the behavior. Many leberals would be accepting of Huckabee’s paralepsis. They would rationalize that paralepsis was justified as a tactic to fight back against Romney. In my book, deceipt is wrong for presidential hopefuls.

Thanks for keeping me informed

“Family members reminded Huck he had never run an ad like that in Arkansas”

Once again, the Huckabee team has played the media like a banjo. How many members of the media checked the Huckabee ads from Arkansas before they ran out to reinforce the content of this statement and carry the Huckabee message across the airwaves and pages of print?

We were really liking the Huckster … we even have “I like Mike” t shirts…

We have some concerns now…. hum?

Oh boy.

[...] Click here to read Campaign Carl’s blog and view the cancelled attack ad. [...]

If Huckabee didn’t want to release the ad, Fox should not give him FREE national advertising time by showing it. He just saved a bundle of money by letting y’all pay for it. For someone who didn’t want to release a negative ad, he sure put a lot of effort into getting it out there.

Huckabee has been a real “whiner”. It’s hard to imagine a candidate who wants an apology from his rival for showing shortcomings in Huckabee’s record. Are the statements false? or a truth Huckabee doesn’t want shared with the voters?

If Fox shows this ad, they are giving free campaign assistance to Huckabee and unfairly attacking Romney without Huckabee having to endorse the ad.

plaese let Ron Paul debate…………….

A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for example, if an orator should say, “I do not speak of my adversary’s scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal conduct, his treachery and malice.”

I’ve been really disappointed with Fox news who I have been watching for several years now. Fox claims fair and balanced reporting. “We report, you decide”. Your mantra hasn’t been the case in your coverage of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Clearly most on Fox are Romney advocates, particularly so called campaign Carl. Fox has been trying to undermine Huckabee in Iowa, by doing a hatchet job on him while giving Romney pass after pass. You just barely report Romney’s self exagerations and flip flops on issues from his previous years while being critical of everything Huckbee does coming down the wire to the Iowa caucus. You may think like the MSN that viewers are basicaly stupid and don’t recognize biased reporting. You appear to be scared that Romney might lose in Iowa and then lose again to McCain in NH. I’m tempted to go back with CNN for news coverage. At least you know they are biased and they don’t even try to deny it.

Now the Serpent was more subtle than any candidate in the field, And he said unto the voter, Hath God said, you shall not vote for every candidate in the state?… And the voter said unto the serpent… We may listen to all the cliams of the many candidates in the race, but, for that candidate who is not evangelical enough in the midst of Iowa ye shall not vote…neither shall ye support him or ye shall not be considered a godly person. And the Serpent said ye shall surely not be an ungodly person, but your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as the gods voting between good and evil… And the Serpent said to Ms Voter…surely I will not run a negative ad, but I will be as the Media gods showing good attack campaigning from the evils of voting for my oponent. And when the voter saw that the tree was good for a one liner, she partook of the laughter…not with, but AT the serpent…and her husband with her, and he did laugh. And the Lord said to the voter what has thou done?..and the woman said, the serpent begiled me and I did laugh..

The difference? First, Huck just jumped the Shark. How much more of his snarkiness will Iowans tolerate?

His ad personally attacks Mitt. Mitt merely pointed out facts of Huckabee’s reign in Arkansas where criminals were let out of jail (rapist who later committed murder) and a dozen murderers.

Huck is not conservative when it comes to increases in gov’ment spending and taxation, and is definitely not conservative when it comes to illegal aliens. Mitt merely pointed out facts and didn’t resort to name calling (like I just did).

Huck did resort to name calling and personal, ad hominen attacks. Huck can’t stand the heat of people asking him why he led us all to believe that he had graduated from seminary when he hadn’t? Did he feel that his education was inferior to someone who had two graduate degrees with honors from Harvard (Mitt Romney JD/MBA)?

Huck’s time in the spotlight must end. He will be the end of the modern GOP. His anti-every Christian sect except mine bigotry is so 1930’s. Anti-Catholic in the Summer…(Brownback) …anti-Mormon in the Winter…it makes you wonder who he will attack in the Springtime?!

Huck is not presidential. Mitt is.

I’m glad he decided not to run the ad. I can’t stand how Romney is attacking any candidate that threatens his lead. Romney is not the best person to become POTUS. I can’t wait for him to drop out of the race or be seriously beaten in the election.

The larger point here is, why do we have so many negative adds? Do you really think the electorate is well served by having all these spots filled with “facts” pulled out of context and a series of half truths. The American public has stood for this stupidity far too long!

Whatever Huckabee’s motives were, at the end he did the right thing. He is not running negative adds. The media needs to commend him for that.

Can you say Hypocrite!!!!

Huck seems to have pulled an OJ Simpson. OJ wrote a book “if I did it” as if he didn’t kill his ex-wife, but then describes how he would have done it.
Here, Huck says I won’t attack Mitt personally, but if I would have, I would say this and that about him and I would do it in an ad like this…

What a used car salesman! He is such a sleazy midnight televangelist. No wonder a fellow midnight salesman (Chuck Norris) likes him. They both understand the power of the infomercial to make themselves rich.

Judicialwatch put huck at #6 of the top ten most corrupt politicians. this little stunt just reinforces the truth.

Huck is not presidential.

Yes, and Fox news showing a “real” video of the ad plays right into Huckabee’s hand. Are you part of his campaign?

Typical….all Huckster does is manipulate the system…..so what is new.
He wanted free press well he sure got it.
However, he flat out lies about most of Romneys positions.
Ex: abortion…..Yes there is a 50$ co pay for abortions……why??? because it was MA law. ….lest we forget it is legal.
In other words I DO NOT SMOKE and I dont think anyone should smoke – like abortion there are pro and antis on this position. However, Smoking is legal so why would my state say just because you smoke you can not see a doctor or have a surgery???? Same point people as providing care to people having a legal abortion!!!

Why do you have so much vitriol for Mike Huckabee? Huckabee said Mitt Romney was running a dishonest campaign and guess what, he is. There is absolutely nothing Conservative about Romney’s record and now he has morphed into a completely different figure. Everything from his Father’s walk with MLK to positing Huck as a tax hiking liberal. It is backfiring on Mitt and the polls are showing it. A new poll out shows that Romney has lost his lead in New Hampshire to John McCain. It is because he is a phony. 39 newspapers in Massachussetts and New Hampshire have lambasted Romney because he is phony. He can’t even get support from the Republicans in his state.

The real question is why has Fox News done zero stories on this? Answer: Fox News doesn’t want some Southern Hick in control of “their” party. How many negative stories have you done on Mitt? You guys are so fixated on Mike Huckabee that you guys haven’t even touced MItt’s problems.

It will be interesting to see how you guys handle his nomination.

Huckabee – what a hypocrite! First he takes the holy-than-thou high road and complains that Romney has negatively attacked him. Oh, the poor baby. Get a spine for crying out loud. You’re not running for president of the seminary club. Romney’s negative attacks simply and factually contrast their records. If contrasting is too negative for Huckabee, then Huckabee must be afraid to address his record. If anything, more contrasting would be good for this campaign. Then Huck the Hypocrite decides to go very negative, personally attacking Romney’s character. Then with a wave of his right hand Huck claims to have a change of heart and decides at the last minute to not officially go negative, while his left hand puches the play button to show his negative ad to the media. Seems he voted for negativity before he voted against it. What a chump. Who does he think he is kidding? His actions show he deserves to join the longlist of politicians who are nothing more than wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Carl, Heard Hillary selling all her “plans”…sadly she has no details…We do know what Romney has achieved and how he fought the battle against the Democrat Legislature here in Mass. As someone who knows and has known New York state from the Hamptons to the City to Upstate..I can see the BIG ROMNEY change in the City..I do not see any of Hillary’s Senatorial Promises doing anything upstate…things are still in a terrible state there..and the Hampton’s are just so unaffordable for Normal folks I do not know how my few family members left are surviving there either!

I am sure Huckabee had a Romney like tenure in Arkansas..as for MCCain..he is in bed with too many Democrat Buddies like Kerry and Kennedy for a Republican like me to respect his politics.

As a Mass. Republican let me tell you that I consder Security the number one issue…Immigration plays to that as well and those issues are important to most of us here…of course, being Massachusetts..Taxes are up there as well. Hillary has made many promises and like my acquaintences ..my wallet shrinks at the thought of her and her plans!

There is an under current up here…Union workers are Very upset about all the jobs going to Illegals…and moms and dads do not like the “Instate Tuition for Illegals either”…So when thinking about what matters..to us..the unknown and uncounted VOTERS..remember the above!

Regardless of how you cut it, this little escapade by Huckabee is about as un-presidential as you can get. In that regard it does seem to fit with what I think of his entire campaign.

Has any one else seen the “cancelled” add run? I think I’ve seen it three times here in Cedar Rapids tonight during the local cable commercials on Fox News.

Huck was just on Hannity & Colmes and said he did NOT distribute this ad to anyone! He went on to say that they had a box of CD’s with the ad on it ready to go out but did not send it out. This article clearly contradicts this:
“Huck said they were not distributing it but told reporters repeatedly it had been sent to TV stations around Iowa to run at noon.”
Now for the icing on the cake. Mediacom has shown the ad TWICE today in Iowa City that I have seen! Maybe it was a mistake, but it seems awfully hard to do when they never got the ad in the first place.
Carl, how disingenuous do these characters have to get before you blow the whistle?

Why is Carl Camren refusing to tell where he got the Mike Huckabee campaign add that was pulled. Something about this does not pass the smell test. Did the Romney campaign swipe a copy? If Fox News is an honorable news agency I expect full disclosure before the Iowa caucases.

What a cheap low trick to say you will not use negative ads and then give it out to all the reporters. And why was the preacher not in church on Sunday? He was in a studio making these horrible ads to give out to the reporters. See through him folks. Read what his own state papers said about him being the governor who pardoned more criminals than any governor before him and in any surrounding state. Read how they say he raised taxes like a democrat. Find a real conservative candidate to support like Fred Thompson! Take a few minutes to see why Rush Limbaugh identified Fred Thompson as the only true conservative in the race and National Right to Life gave him alone their endorsement as have many more. Watch this and join the ranks – http://fredfile.fred08.com/blog/2007/video-freds-message-to-iowa-voters/

Wow, no comments on this “attack” ad that Huckabee pulled. Interestingly enough, Mr. Carl, you can’t even tell the Fox viewers how you got an actual copy of the ad. Why? Surely it wasn’t from a Romney supporter that works at one of the Fox affiliates in Iowa, was it? This wasn’t an attack ad. It’s an ad that states the facts. Get real. Middle America is a lot smarter than New York big business thinks and the outcome in Iowa will prove that. Come on Fox news. Where’s the fair and balanced approach? It’s gone and honestly I’m seeing a side of Fox that is absolutely disgusting. All I can say is I hope Mike Huckabee spends a few dollars of his money to send a great big box of Malox to Fox headquarters when he wins Iowa. Then I’m sure that will be twisted into a “Iowa really doesn’t matter” line. Carl, you and Fox have really underestimated the Christian conservatives this time. We bought into the Bush junk and we were used so that big business (inluding Fox) could benefit from it. Well, Huckabee can’t be controlled like some others and I really think it scares the crap out of you. The least you could do is not make it so obvious that you’ve been bought off by the likes of Mitt Romney. Fox and most of the biased views I’ve seen during the last couple of weeks has lost my support. At least CNN and MSNBC is consistently liberal, not just when it benefits a viewpoint or helps them to further a hidden agenda.

News Flash: Just one day into 2008, Mike Huckabee has already blown his New Year resolution to run a positive campaign by unleashing Chuck Norris on the attack!! LOL!! This just keeps getting more odd by the moment. From Huffington Post:

Des Moines Mariott, 5:40 PM: Chuck Norris won’t roundhouse kick Mitt Romney in the face. Instead, he explained to a room of bloggers at a Mike Huckabee Q&A event at the Des Moines Marriot, he’s “gonna choke ‘im.” At this, Mr. Huckabee smiled, sheepishly, seemingly thrilled with at the crowd’s approval. Justifying his use of ass-whoppin’ on behalf of the weight-battling candidate, Mr. Norris listed Romney’s offenses – he’s “flip-flopped” (a campaign term as overused and stale as a Chuck Norris joke) on gay marriage and abortion rights. Worse, Norris cautioned, deadpan, “Mitt Romney has $100 million.” The right-wing bloggers smiled. Huckabee remained, hands in pockets, with the look of slightly bewildered glee plastered on his face.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-palevsky-and-bess-kalb/hungry-hungry-huckabee_b_79116.html

Keeping in mind that I am no expert in Politics, I didn’t think the ad that never aired was as negative as we’ve been hearing. I saw it first on H&C Monday night, then on Special Report Tuesday afternoon and, of course, on Fox News video site. Huckabee’s ad quoted other newspapers and pointed out the same things that some of the rest of us have been wondering about. What was worse….the ad or the pulling of the ad?

Appreciated your (and Major’s) appearance on “On the Record” Tuesday night. Even though I am one of those Political Junkies, there is always so much more to learn. I would rather hear politicians talk about their own record, accomplishments, visions for the future than negative attacks on others.

It would be interesting to hear what Harry Reid (another Mormon) has to say about Romney’s description of the Mormon Church. Senator Reid spoke to BYU students in October.

Huckabee continues his positive 2008 campaign resolution by unleashing Chuck Norris!! LOL!! this just gets more bizarre. Over at the Huffington Post

Des Moines Mariott – Chuck Norris won’t roundhouse kick Mitt Romney in the face. Instead, he explained to a room of bloggers at a Mike Huckabee Q&A event at the Des Moines Marriot, he’s “gonna choke ‘im.” At this, Mr. Huckabee smiled, sheepishly, seemingly thrilled with at the crowd’s approval. Justifying his use of ass-whoppin’ on behalf of the weight-battling candidate, Mr. Norris listed Romney’s offenses – he’s “flip-flopped” (a campaign term as overused and stale as a Chuck Norris joke) on gay marriage and abortion rights. Worse, Norris cautioned, deadpan, “Mitt Romney has $100 million.” The right-wing bloggers smiled. Huckabee remained, hands in pockets, with the look of slightly bewildered glee plastered on his face.

I saw Carl’s interview with Greta “On The Record” tonight. Greta couldn’t even believe the struggle Carl went through attempting to defend the Hucks undefendable, hypocritical and Personal attack add on Romney. I have no idea why Carl has taken up campaigning for the Huck, but what ever the reason, its out of chacter for him to do it. I have always been a fan of Carls, and have depended on his clear and unbiased reporting, but when it comes to the Huck, he sounds like a cheerleader not a reporter. Other people are noticing this too. It needs to be stopped, or Fox News needs to charge the Huck for the free air time Carl is giving him.

I thought so….sad….evolution in the media is alive and well I guess. I should have known that given enough time you guys would eventually flip and take no suggestions from your viewers, holding to the “We know it all and can’t possibly be wrong” mantra. sad

What I have failed to see in the MSM is that Romney’s ads aren’t mud slinging attack ads, they are not personal but cite facts. If Huckabee or McCain disagree they can point out the error of Romney’s assertions and demand his apology. Not the case here. The public has a duty to study the candidates and if the candidates choose to point out differences in their records and talking points the public should pay attention and render it’s own judgments. If they decide the candidates are being negative they should also make their own judgments. I saw Huck’s response as knee jerk reaction to having his feelings hurt and over-responding and would hate to see our Commander-in-Chief making those same reactions should Putin or Bin Laden make some negative comments.

It is a disgrace the amount of time given to Huckabee without an equal amount of time for Romney to reply. Hannity and Colmes seem to have the volume on their mikes turned down and allowed Huckabee to deny his past record in front of his camgaign posters. He just kept on talking and H & C were like mild mannered puppys. Huckabee has pulled a “Huey Long”on the press. Huckabee said he supported Bush tax cuts? Romney should be given time to reply.

The “cancelled” add aired at least 4 times yesterday during the local (Cedar Rapids) cable commercials on Fox News.

So much or fair and balanced,would’nt you say….you guy’s will dig out an ad that was cancelled,and post it all over the place,for your own obvious,and biased agenda……if you’d go so far as to do this,lets dig up the Bain capitol,and Clear channel that Romney is affiliated with,and how it would benefit you selfih people,that would put that before a country and its people….I’ve been a conservative since the early sixties,and haven’t ever remembered being so disgusted with media coverage that is so obviously biased an claims to be fair an balanced…..having said thatI think you just might have shot yourself in the foot,because people are smarter than you people at Fox give them credit for…..so much for fair and balanced……To try to steer from within the party,like your whole network is doing,is no better than the network you so often criticize(NBC)…it say’s in scripturue “their fruits will bear their spirit”…..so much for fair and balanced
Willis M.

Its about time He fights back,Romny’s faults like “I saw my father march with Martin Luther King ad the leverage being used by his buisness ventures,are being squashed…..where’s the fair and balance folks?????

I see FOX has decided to give Huckabee the free airtime he wanted for his attack ad.

Carl,

I have been a regular watcher of Fox for years & am a conservative “born again Christian” (snicker if you want). I don’t have a candidate ( I like Duncan Hunter); but Gov. Huckabee walks and talks like a born again Christian. He, more than any candidate, you fellows want to shoot down. I won’t vote for a Rockerfellow Republican; but I feel this man is my brother in Christ…. you guys take this personal and are nasty and sarcastic. What happened to “fair and balanced”? Many of you Fox guys are just like the other networks. Leave go of the meanness and nicknames. Do you nicknames for the others that you air? Romney seems to be a personal favorite of many newsmen. The bias shows . diane

Carl,
I have to say I’m one who thinks this was a cheap attempt to look like he took the high road while traveling directly in the middle of the low road. This shows his “morality” for what it is: a campaign tactic, not a personality trait.

The “non ad” shows just how desperate Mike Huckabee has become and how poorly his campaign is being run. The good news is the latest polls (1/2/08 Strategic vision) show Romeny in the lead by in IA by +2 points. This is despite (or maybee because) Huckabee being disengenuous for showing the ad he wasn’t goign to show. I looked at the Ad and there are some problems with it, first of all Romeny came into office with a 3 Billion dollar deficit and left office with a 2 billion dollar surplus without raising taxes. I challenge anyone to find another 2008 presidental candidate (Democrat or Republican I don’t care) that has done this. The last budget Romney worked on was the FY 07 budget (Fiscal year ended June 30 07) and it was a balanced budget. The current MA budget woes (FY 08 and FY 09) are the result of the current administration…imagine that.

Lets look at Hucks record according to the AK leader 3/15/06 he has a poor tax record. “a string of tax increases largely on Arkansas working families that far offset the little income tax cut: three sales tax increases, expansion of the sales tax to many services, an income tax surcharge, gasoline taxes, diesel taxes, cigarette and tobacco taxes and a drivers license increase. The delegates may not have known that he helped arrange the largest expansions of government-paid medical care in Arkansas history (largely paid by U.S. taxpayers), compiled a larger general-obligation debt than all previous governors combined, increased the number of government employees by 20 percent (to 52,440 in January) in only nine and a half years and conducted a liberal policy of criminal pardons and commutations.” Also Huckabee Went From a “Fiscal Responsibility” Grade of “D” to “F”. The conservative Cato Institute gave Mike Huckabee a “D” grade, the 3rd worst rating among non-freshman state executives in its Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors in 2004, only to earn an “F” in 2006. (Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card, 2004-2006)

As far as no executions once again Huckabee and the media show their ignorance. There is no provision allowing the death penalty in MA the most you can get is life in prison. The ad implying Mitt is soft on crime because he didn’t execute any criminals is amazingly dishonest. If Romney had executed a criminal as Governer he would have gone to jail for murder. Unless of course he was in AK then he could just have gotten pardoned by Huckabee. One thing Romney didn’t do is pardon any criminals, Huckabee pardoneed over 1000 including 12 murderers so they can mingle with us and our families. This is a slap in the face to the victims and the men and women of the juries.

As far as the co-pay for abortions goes since the Supreme Court ruling of Roe vs Wade ensures a womans right to choose any health care plan that did not have a provision would be challanged and overturned in court. Once again Romney is smart enough to know supreme court history and Huckabee isn’t. It would be foolish to spend all that effort getting a universal health plan passed then have it overturned by the courts.

Since Fox news decided to show the ad that Huckabee wouldnt they have an obligation to fact check it and report on the lies. Anything less would not be seen as fair and balanced and would appear like Fox is giving Huckabee free advertising. Carl please have someone look into this and get the facts right sicne you chose to run the ad without Huckabees permission/accountability you have that obligation.

As an Iowa Republican who will caucus tomorrow this move by the Gov. is not surprising. His staff and volunteers have waged a campaign built on out and out lies about Huckabee’s “conservative” record as Governor and on mean-spirited attacks on Gov. Romney’s faith and record. This act ensures everyone will know about the ad while not having to spend the money to run the ad. Free media can be better than paid mdia in a campaign. I am saddened that so many Christians would buy-into a campaign with such dirty tricks and so many lies.

Gov. Huckbee is merely a pro-life, anti-gay marriage Bill Clinton. he will never win in a general election.

For what it is worth I am not a Romney supporter … I just hate to see Huckabee rewarded for the campaign he has waged in Iowa for these last few months.

Carl,

I have a question about the Iowa poll showing Obama 6 points up. Was this poll by the same newspaper that moderated the debates?

I’m asking because I thought the moderator (and editor) preferred the Dems and Hillary especially.

Great job!!!

Thanks

I feel this will backfire on the Huckster, obviously he could not substantiate the facts that he supposedly had. What next is he going to show Romeny as a Mormon with horns. It appears that Mike is just as dishonet as any other politician or was this change of heart a flipflop on the Romney issue. Since he is obviously dishonest on not attacking Romney’s faith, who is he not going to attack next, the issues.

The whole exercise smacks of desparation and dirty politics. Is it simply a case of Gov. Huckabee really doesn’t want to run the ads or perhaps doesn’t have the money to run the ads?

I guess we will never really know but the whole thing smacks of very poor judgement for producing the ads in the first place but then thought that perhaps they would have more weight if he got the media to do his dirty work for him.

Carl,

I suspect the average Iowa voter might relate to the diddy below when it comes to caucus night:

Twas the night of the caucus and all ‘cross the state,
few voters are happy with the names on the slate.
Though each name is printed on the ballot with love,
the clear choice is missing: None of the Above.

– Bob McCarty Writes™ at BobMcCarty.com

You guys are unbelievably biased. Fox is obviously rooting for Rudy so anything that helps Huckabee win in Iowa is good. Your showing of this ad and acting like this wasnt all part of the plan for Huckabee is pathetic. How many free ads have you shown for Romney? Why haven’t you called Huckabee out for being the liar that he is? If Huckabee was really trying to take the high ground he wouldn’t have had the press conference, he wouldn’t go on attacking Mitt in any interview he gets and he wouldn’t have his surrogates out attacking either.
Huckabee’s pathetic move just shows how he speaks out of both sides and Fox’s promoting all of this just shows how desperate you all are to help Rudy get the nomination.
All year you have had Dick Morris on as a “Republican Analyst” attacking Romney and promoting Huckabee and Rudy without once making him declare his relationship with Huckabee until he was called out on it by Drudge. I hope everyone else see’s how bad you all have become. You are now officially the MSM…………

The ad doesn’t mean anything if He retracted it ,why don’t you give as much attenion to the lies that Romney puts forth…..I saw my father march ith Martin Luther King ….thats a lie and we don’t need anoher liar in the hie House….bill And hill did enough of that
Butch
Bellefonte Pa.

I was surprised to see no comments posted when I read this and heard the ad myself. I do not feel this response to Mitt Romney’s ads was too harsh! In fact, I feel it should have been showned!
As the old saying goes, ” the truth hurts “, Mr. Romney is a part of the Washington crowd who has run our country and our people down for too long. Think about it , where did Mr. Romney have his response to the Mormon religion speach, George H. Bush introduced him and furnished Mr. Romney with the place to make his speech from.
Well, Mr. Romney, I hope the truth blowes you right out of the water! Your money can’t buy the American people’s vote.
Gov. Mike Huckabee is the best hope for the Republican Party and the best hope to return the United States back to the people and to keep us out of the hands of the Washington Crowd!!!

Huckabee has mastered the sleazy and manipulative art of using the networks to air his hit-piece for FREE under the guise of his desire “not to be negative?” What a lie. You don’t take your negative ad directly to the press and then spout how you don’t want it to air. Who wants a president that tries to manipulate the people and doesn’t even have the guts to stand behind his dirty work. Huckabee has lost my vote!

Hello, anyone there? Come on Carl, let the comments that so many of us are trying to post here go through.

Fox News – We Decide and You Take It Or Leave It.

Does Huckabee honestly believe that we’ll fall for this political stunt? He tries to take both the high road and the low road at the same time. You can’t have it both ways! Romney has been comparing records and Huckabee has resorted to personal attacks. Then he goes all holier-than-thou and pretends he’s above this sort of campaigning. What a fake.

I would suggest that you go to http://www.mikehuckabee.com and click on the button “TRUTH SQUAD”.

There you will find rebuttals of the many attacks against Governor Huckabee.

When evaluating Governor Huckabee you MUST accept what he says at face value. Don’t be cynical looking for the hidden meanings. It was a bookcase, not a floating cross.

The Governor listened to some bad advice and made the infamous commercial. He decided to not run the ad, but because the press is so cynical he made the mistake of showing the ad.

In my opinion his next mistake was not saying “I am asking that the media respect my wishes and not show this ad. I have made the choice not to run the ad and I would like you to respect
my wishes, I am not looking for a free media run”.

Mike Huckabee is the true conservative in this race. He was Governor for over 10 years and signed into law over 90 tax cuts. The income tax rate remained the same when he left office as what it was when he entered, the sales tax went up one cent. He increased the standard deduction, elimanated the marriage penalty, lowered the capital gains tax and raised the gas tax by 3 cents. He balance the budget every year and turned a budget defcit into a 1 billion surplus.

To me that is the mark of a conservative!

Just saw this posted on Politico, seems that Huckabee’s ghost just seems to keep following him. I thought he had moved past this, but they are still coming:
NEWS RELEASE MOTHER OF WAYNE DUMOND VICTIM DEMANDS GOV. HUCKABEE RELEASE ALL OF HIS GUBERNATORIAL RECORDS REGARDING WAYNE DUMOND
Ms. Lois Davidson issued a statement today through a newly formed 527 group named Victims Voice calling on Gov. Mike Huckabee to release his gubernatorial records regarding Wayne Dumond before the Caucus Elections on January 3, 2007. Ms. Davidson was surprised to learn of other victims who had written Gov. Huckabee warning him of the likelihood of Mr. Dumond committing repeat offenses if he were released. These letters were not in the records at the State Parole Board because they were letters sent directly to Governor Huckabee’s office. These letters were made public due to the reporting of the Huffington Post(1) who obtained a copy of the letters from a former employee of Governor Huckabee. Ms. Davidson would like to know if any other letters were sent to Gov. Huckabee from former victims, prosecutors, victims advocacy groups or any one else. Ms. Davidson would also like to see copies of any internal memos that may explain the rationale for Mr. Huckabee’s decision to support the release of Wayne Dumond. Additionally, in light of a recent report by National Review and others regarding Mr. Eugene Fields, whose sentence Gov. Huckabee commuted after Mr. Fields donated a substantial amount of money to the Republican Party of Arkansas(2); and the revelation that Wayne Dumond’s wife’s boss held a recent fundraiser for Gov. Huckabee(3), Ms. Davidson would ask Gov. Huckabee to release the donor lists to all of the “funds” which he received compensation from (Action America, Next Step Foundation, Twelve Stop Foundation, etc?)

Huckabee is a completely phony loser. He should go back to televangelism where he can make some real money from his sheep. As Rush Limbaugh has said, Huckabee is no conservative. His record speaks for itself on immigration, taxes, spending and crime. Is it negative campaigning to point out the truth about his record? The media has built him up as much as possible, but there is no way he can win the election. His injection of religious bigotry into politics has turned-off millions of voters. His fanatical supporters are fewer in number.

To say that this ‘Shock and Awe”ad has been stopped is just as much a lie as Clintons statement ” I did not have sex with that woman.” If you watched Cspan coverage when they interviewed Huckabomb in Iowa, the huckster rehearsed that same ad no less than four times in his press conference Q&A session.. He repeated that ad nearly verbatum with the exception that he stated that he was not going negative…”just trying to set the record straight” That was his canned response to questions about his record as oulined in the Romney comparison ‘ads… No commentary of his record, he just called Romney dishonest… Sounds like he thought he was being clever to make it into an ad until his camp told him it would was not a smart idea… FLIP FLOP..

Perhaps Huckabee is the best Democrat running in this race.

Hmmmm, let’s see….a hypocritical evangelical pastor/entertainer (Huckabee) vs. an experienced, supremely intelligent presidential candidate (Romney). As a nation, we are voting to represent and run the most powerful country in the world. The future of America and the direction it is headed is an extremely important and serious matter. I want the best, most qualified person leading us, not a clownish amateur that doesn’t have a clue. I can see why all the respected, true conservative talk show hosts, journalists, bloggers, etc. have come down so hard on Mike Huckabee and John McCain (have you read the list–including Rush Limbaugh’s latest statements today) on Iowansforromney.com?). Huckabee’s latest wacko mis-statements and publicity stunt fiasco on Monday just reiterates why I’m voting for competence. McCain’s just plain mean and is way too liberal. Go Mitt!

Watching you on with Shep right now. Hope you are right about Iowans being sophisticated and wanting to “kick the tires”.

Hoping Hillary gets a flat.

Great coverage Carl, but try and stay off the Red Bull! Whatever happened to a cup of Joe?!!!

Does it strike anyone else that this so-called “pulled ad” that is now running FOR FREE on all the news outlets is a clever way to run it without paying for it like all the other candidates have to? I woudl certainly refer to it as a soft campaign contribution, and Huckster should get slammed for it.

He is as slimy a politician as any Clinton out there. Shame on him, and shame on the news people for falling for his tricks.

Paraleipsis \Par`a*leip”sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to leave on one side, to omit; ? beside + ? to leave.] (Rhet.) A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for example, if an orator should say, “I do not speak of my adversary’s scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal conduct, his treachery and malice.”

Nice choice of words. I agree that Huckabee is an artful pretender.

Huckabee connects with people and is authentic. Romney is not.

Paralepsis…true, true…

I am not going to personally attack Mitt Romney (other than make bigoted remarks about him and his religion, like I did with Sam Brownback and catholicism…) but if were to make them, here is a video of me making personal attacks, please do not show it to anyone, but since this is a press conference, and I already distributed the ad hominen attack ad to the local media…

what a lying jackal! Sorry, I don’t mean to insult jackals, but this man is barely fit to be the jester-in-chief.

Huck is not presidential. Sure, he can crack jokes on leno and play his geetarr, but he is not fit for president of the United States of America.

Look at the stunts he is pulling. Do we need another Bill Clinton in the White House? Will Huck try to steal the furniture from the White House like he tried to steal the furniture from the Arkansas Governor’s mansion?

Huck is not presidential. period. unqualified.

What?? Is the Fox News Network the official bash Huckabee channel??

Every time your man on the scene (Carl) is given air time, he can’t wait to throw dirt on Huckabee. Stop it. It is making me change my opinion of the Fox channel.

AND, please stop reporting on the elections as if they were a freaking football game. No wonder the candidates act as they do…they get caught up in winning eaach play, rather than the honest overall effort of doing what is best for the country. So stop it. Get some professionalism, or give up election reporting…to the media.

couldn’t have said it any better! and it’s really starting to bug me about carls bias towards romney, i hear it in his voice everytime he reports, HUCK IS AMAZING, romney is in trouble……. let me guess another religious bigot? attack romneys record, it’s obvious you don’t like him coz he’s mormon

Hmmmm, let’s see….a hypocritical evangelical pastor/entertainer (Huckabee) vs. an experienced, supremely intelligent presidential candidate (Romney). As a nation, we are voting to represent and run the most powerful country in the world. The future of America and the direction it is headed is an extremely important and serious matter. I want the best, most qualified person leading us, not a clownish amateur that doesn’t have a clue. I can see why all the respected, true conservative talk show hosts, journalists, bloggers, etc. have come down so hard on Mike Huckabee and John McCain (have you read the list–including Rush Limbaugh’s latest statements today) on Iowansforromney.com?). Huckabee’s latest wacko mis-statements and publicity stunt fiasco on Monday just reiterates why I’m voting for competence. McCain’s just plain mean and is way too liberal. Go Mitt!

I don’t comprehend why you run interference for that dirty little coward, Willard Mitt Romney.
He is disgusting…………McCain is an American Patriot and War Hero!!!!!!!!!

Seems like the people of Iowa are a lot smarter than were given credit for…They appreciated the fact that Huckabee,didn’t lower Himself to the standards of Romney,when He pulled the ad,and the media should applaud Him for that

Of course they planned it! Classic Rollins. With much less money to spend, this was a way to get the negative ad out there without paying for it! I’m not sure about Huck.

Jon Hanson, you are correct. I guess you had to have lived among them to understand it. But Huck is nothing more than a Southern Democrat dressed up in Republican clothing. He pays lip service to the Fair Tax only becuase without it his Fiscal record would be scary to the GOP. He knows it would never pass, DEMS would go nuts. But if was to get elected he could easily announce that we would have had tax reform but the DEMS blocked it. Come on folks this guy is so easy to see through it hurts.

All we heard last night was “Look at what Huckabee has done with no money and no staff to speak of” – “How could he have beat Romney, I guess money doesn’t win elections after all”. It was making me sick.

There were three things that ensured Hucks slick stealing of the Iowa Caucus.

1. Folks don’t be fooled, Huckabee has a massive Army of Evangelicals doing his bidding for FREE 24/7 everywhere but the North East and Far Left Coast – duh. Why pay for it like Romeny has to when you can get folks who are terrified that a “Horned Devil” is about to move into the White House (Evangelicals used to teach that Mormons had horns). I mean look at what UBL does with his minions.
2. Then the news media outlets gave him millions in FREE air time for his abortion of an ad (Oh, I made it then I pulled it, but I really didn’t – Oops did I do thaaat!?!). He is playing the media like a string quartet and they are eating out of his hand – “Please sir may we have more”. They keep this up and he won’t have to spend another red cent and I bet Carl will drive him to the inauguration.
3. Also, its obvious McCain and Paul were the spoilers last night. If Ron Paul wasn’t wasting everybody’s time (for FREE) Romney would have pulled it out I’m sure. It also appears that McCain and Guiliani are set to continue to team up and ensure Romney has to fight for every single vote.

Hummm…I wonder if his little trick should be brought up to federal charges, free press and the other candidates didn’t get the same. Isn’t it against Fcc Campaign laws to do what he pulled? Lets say we are not going neg. then so the press knowing fool well it would be leaked out one way or another and get free ad and airtime. then say just to prove how clean I am I will show you the tv ad. Stink stink and I will not vote for him if he gets the nomination for the republican I will vote for O’Bama so again thank you Republicans for handing more government over to the Dem’s and don’t cry when it hits you hard and america becomes a joke.

Carl,
Is there a whole lot of difference between pulled ads,and outright lies,because this is reflecting,not in a comparative way,but its becoming personal…Huckabee pulled the ad,if the people who aired it would have honored that we would’t know about it however Romney,emphasized the word “saw”when he refered to his Dad’s march with Martin Luther King,but we don’t hear that anymore….Is there more integrity in an outright lie,than an attempt to pull an ad and redeem yourself

Romney without question won last nights forum. As an independent NH voter, I was very interested in seeing how Romney would hold up after the beating he took the night before. Surprisingly, Romney did not look like the beaten up, fading candidate that the media and I myself thought he was. Facing some very tough questions and constant attacks from all the candidates, Romney just looked above all the other candidates. Under such an intense spotlight and being the target of every other candidate, he did a fantastic job. I am now convinced that this man is the best of the bunch. I really am scared of an Obama or Clinton presidency, and I think Romney can definitely stop either one of them. McCain will alienate too many. Huckabee is a joke. Guiliani is finished. Thompson should retire. After last night’s performance, Romney is my man.

You are all going to be supprised by Dr. Ron Paul’s popularity with the N.H. voters.
The fact that Fox excluded Dr. Ron from their establishment elitist “debate” the other night really exposes the degree of fear the establishment press has for someone who campaigns on a platform of true devotion to the core values that define what The U. S. A. is all about. Why don’t the pol leading politicians stand up and openly and honestly proclaim that they are working tword and plan on dissolving the sovergnty of The U.S.A. in total surrender to the U.N. and their one world government? All I see is that Fox News is just another sold out globalist media machine.