by Mark Silva
Rudy Giuliani, the front-running Republican candidate for president, says one of his rivals "makes me laugh." And that same rival is saying nice things about Giuliani today.
That rival is Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, who does seem to have a good sense of humor but is being taken fairly seriously by religious right voters who don't seem to have much time for Giuliani. So could there be a ticket in the two?
Giuliani faces the question on Fox News Channel's Your World with Neil Cavuto today.
"I don't know about running mates,'' Giuliani says of Huckabee in reply, "but I sure like having him at the debates, because he makes me laugh.
"And he has got a nice approach to life,'' Giuliani tells Fox. "You know, he is a man that is -- he has got a happy approach and he has got an optimistic approach to life. And then I -- you know, I have great respect for him.”
And Huckabee, too, voices "appreciation'' for Giuliani today on CNN's The Situation Room, despite their stark differences over abortion. "I hope we can keep working on Rudy and get him to a full pro-life convert before it's over.''
Giuliani ought to have some respect for Huckabee. The Baptist minister carried the house at a recent forum of Christian right voters in Washington who ranked Giuliani near the back of the pack. Giuliani supports abortion rights. Huckabee calls his opposition nonnegotiable.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer asks Huckabee today: "You said that abortion, from your perspective, was a holocaust. Right?''
Huckabee: "Yes.''
Blitzer: "So Rudy Giuliani is the only Republican presidential candidate who supports abortion rights for women. Is he participating in a holocaust?''
Huckabee: "No, and I think Rudy would be the first to tell you that he doesn't support abortion. He just believes that it ought to be legal. He and I disagree with that, in the sense he believes we ought to accommodate that viewpoint...''
Blitzer: "But in effect what you're saying is he wants -- at least a holocaust to be made legal, which is abortion from your perspective.''
Huckabee: "He at least says he wants to see abortions reduced and move more toward adoption. And I appreciate that in him. I hope we can keep working on Rudy and get him to a full pro-life convert before it's over.''
On Fox, Giuliani also is asked today about the pay package of the fired Merrill Lynch CEO, sent off with a going away package worth $161 million:
"“We're great because we have a tremendously great free market and private market. And owners and shareholders have to decide what the pay is. If they want to pay people too much, they're the owners, they're the shareholders; they can do it… that's a much better way for our economy to grow than a bunch of sectional (ph) planners in Washington saying, well, that should be somebody's pay and that should be somebody's pay.”
And the former New York mayor is asked about New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel's tax plan:
"I think he set forth Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and John Edwards's dreams. I mean, this is what they want to do…Well, he put the price tag on their promises… None of them rejected it, because they're going to do it. And they're going to do it more than they're saying.”
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Comments
Guiliani makes me shudder every time I see him or hear his strident war talk.
Posted by: DefendTheConstitution | October 30, 2007 5:23 PM
"Giuliani: Huckabee 'Makes Me Laugh"
Really? the thought of these two knuckledraggers running our country makes me want to cry like a Republican.
Rudy Gigoloiani thinks a great night on the town is dressing up as a woman and making out with Donald Trump.
Mike Buckabee thinks science is a myth that only Chuck Norris (Texas Ranger) can solve.
Posted by: John E | October 30, 2007 5:29 PM
Rudy;'...and his eyes sparkle, and I am happy every time he enters the room. How can I say this?! In a song?'
♬
I have often walked down K Street before
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before
All at once am I several stories high
Knowing Im on the street where Mike lives
Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Does enchantment pour out of every door?♪
No, its just on the street where you live
And oh, the towering feeling just to know
Somehow you are near
The overpowering feeling that any second
You may suddenly appear
People stop and stare, they dont bother me
For there's nowhere else on earth that I would rather be
Let the time go by, I dont care if I can be here
On the street where you live
Posted by: C.Morris | October 30, 2007 6:42 PM
If you agree with Mike Huckabee's message, I invite you to take my challenge at: www.abuckforhuck.com.
With your help, he will make a difference!
Posted by: I Like Mike | October 30, 2007 7:42 PM
I Like Mike.
He seems to be;
Against the right of a woman to choose an abortion.
National Health Insurance
Separation of Church and State.
Against evolution
Women's liberation in general
Supports torture at Gitmo
(and here?)
What's to like about Mike?
Posted by: C.Morris | October 30, 2007 7:54 PM
Huckabee is a rational well-spoken man. He is humble and rising fast in the polls. I think we are seeing Huckabee growing strong.
Posted by: chris | October 30, 2007 8:16 PM
Rudy is a lying scumbag.
Posted by: Alberto G | October 30, 2007 8:35 PM
correction;
He supports 'not torture' at gitmo (and here?)
Posted by: C.Morris | October 30, 2007 8:54 PM
Huckabee will be making Giuliani cry come January and February. Find out why Huckabee is so great here: to find out more go here, http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=VerticalDay.Home&l=50F49E7D03868E58F54AA1ED674B0C61
Posted by: Kyle B | October 30, 2007 10:09 PM
w00t! Huckabee FTW! (for the win)
Let's support HUckabee with our VOICE (before elections!) by signing The Huckabee Petition.
http://www.iwouldvoteforhuckabee.com
Posted by: Like | October 30, 2007 10:38 PM
To John E
If you want your point of view to be taken seriously, give real reasons for your dislike of them.
One of the worst things that has happened to American politics is people who don't inform themselves trying to inform other people.
Huckabee has never said anything remotely like "science is a myth". He has however said that he believes a creator was involved in the beginning. And that he doesn't know whether the process took six days or billions of years through evolution.
This is a very rational explanation for a religious point of view, and one that any fair-minded person can agree with.
Huckabee is eloquent, smart, genuine, compassionate, and rational. He is the man for the job.
Please visit his website and learn more about him before you rush to get an illegitimate point across:
mikehuckabee(dot)com
Posted by: Markus | October 30, 2007 11:54 PM
Huckabee has never said anything remotely like "science is a myth". He has however said that he believes a creator was involved in the beginning. And that he doesn't know whether the process took six days or billions of years through evolution.
Posted by: Markus | October 30, 2007 11:54 PM
So in other words he ducked the question. Science has proved to a large extent that the planet has been here for allot longer than Mr Huckabee will admit to. Then again he does have to suck up to those religious nut-balls that make up so much of the GOPs base.
Posted by: Alberto G | October 31, 2007 7:52 AM
I want to like Huckabee. He gave some very thoughtful answers on his faith that, if any one bothered to listen to them, should alleviate some of the fear of him being this right wing maniac.
But, I can not support him given his comments on immigration. He actually called people who support denying tax-payer benefits and voting rights to illegal immigrants "racist, un-Christian and un-American."
Posted by: Catherine | October 31, 2007 10:35 AM
I think that immigration is a problem for christian because we are taught to "love your neighbor as yourself" and therefore it is hard to square that with "go home you poor hard-working mexican". I don't like ILLEGAL immigration either and I want to believe that my faith would keep me from illegally crossing the border....but if my family was starving and I knew there was a job and food over the next hill...I might have a moral deliema that would take things beyond the theoretical. I want a leader who can understand the poor and try to find a real solution that will make most of the people happy and nearly all the people safe without compromising his core beliefs.
Posted by: Steve Huckabeerealfriend | October 31, 2007 5:14 PM
I'm one of those "religious nuballs" and a Baptit pastor, so of course I like Mike. I do not agree with his views on illegal immigration, but i respect his honesty and unflinching openness to express his opinions. I do agree with many of his opinions (i.e. abortion, taxes, & gay marriage).
I believe Mike to be a good man and I'd rather have a good man be our president than a good politician (i.e. the Clintons); which is what we usually end up with.
Posted by: James Welch | November 1, 2007 9:48 AM
As I come to listen and know Mike Huckabee more, I am more convinced he is the person I can trust and vote for.
Posted by: Barnabas Park | November 1, 2007 11:44 AM
Mike is the man He's presidential in his approach, transparent and can tackle real issues without getting into the politics. Up Mike!
Posted by: Dee | November 1, 2007 6:26 PM
Those ineterested in what Huckabee is like face-to face may enjoy this humorous (but totally true) column.
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/02/title_14
Posted by: lane | November 4, 2007 7:34 PM
As a fairly moderate republican, I can appreciate a Rudy-Huck nomination. Where Rudy satisfies the democrat in me, Huckabee supports my views on abortion. Having been adopted myself, I can't say that I abortion is an "okay" route to take otherwise I might not be here.
I think they even each other out, and could absolutely win the White House.
Posted by: Kristina | December 10, 2007 2:53 PM