Things are getting hot in both parties’ presidential contests, with charges and counter-charges – sometimes followed by apologies – beginning to fly with increasing frequency. CBN’s David Brody, who has seen a few campaigns in his day, asked why former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee doesn’t respond more frequently and aggressively when he’s the object of criticism by a GOP rival.
Brody’s column inspired Huckabee’s Joe Carter to offer the following response and explanation. I have tremendous respect for Joe, who first became well-known in the Blogosphere as the mind behind Evangelical Outpost. Frankly, I’m not sure about Huckabee or any of the other GOP contenders but Joe’s response offers some interesting perspectives:
“In his article “Romney, Thompson Body Slam Huckabee,” CBN’s David Brody raises a point that a lot of people ask me about:
“David is one of my favorite journalists. He’s a smart, witty, and always fair. But I disagree with him that we need to change our approach.
“The reason we don’t send out streams of emails and press releases bashing our opponents and responding to every scurrilous claim is not a reflection of the size of our staff, but of our campaigning philosophy. We respond when we feel it is necessary to set the record straight. But we don’t feel the need to participate in the constant barrage of mud-slinging.
“Governor Huckabee is a man of character and integrity and he expects his campaign staff to reflect the same principles. We feel this is important not just for the election but for the country. Staffers on a Presidential campaigns tend to become staffers in a Presidential administration. How they act when they have the pseudo-power of a campaign insider is indicative of how they will act when they have their hands on real power. A staff that will leak dishonest opposition research to the media to smear a rival candidate will have no qualms about leaking classified information to smear a rival bureaucrat or legislator.
“While the American people may not make that connection explicitly, they recognize it intuitively. They realize it’s an issue of character and consistency. If a candidate stands on a stage in Iowa saying they abhor negative campaigning while their staff is sending out smear releases, the voters are going to pick up on the dissonance.
“We don’t feel the need to play that game. Some might argue that we are being naïve. Perhaps we are. But I’d suggest they look at the campaigns that are sending out the negative oppo, take alook at the polls, and then ask them, ‘How’s that working out for ya?'”
And now you know.I wonder, though, how Huckabee would respond if he did have the big staff, which he almost certainly will if he starts winning GOP primaries. Joe would still be Joe, but …….
