Huckabee's populist rhetoric fit for a pastor, not a president

Huck's proposals during the GOP Florida debate evocative of "New Deal" era

Libertarian Party
January 28, 2008

Washington, D.C. - Mike Huckabee's populist rhetoric may work in the private sector, but it has no place in politics, says the Libertarian Party. "Huckabee's continual call for populism in American policy is making it clear that he will not be a President that is committed to limiting government, lowering taxes and increasing personal freedom," says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory.

"Huckabee would make a great charity director or chairman of a nonprofit agency," says Cory, "but, as President, he would completely undermine the liberty movement in the United States that seeks to decrease the role of government in American society. His solutions for economics, education and healthcare are in the complete opposite direction that we need to be heading."

During last night's debate, Huckabee suggested that a truly "long-term stimulus package" would be in the form of public works projects using "American labor, American steel [and] American concrete"--seemingly modeled off of programs instituted by former president Franklin D. Roosevelt. In FDR's "New Deal," which sought to rejuvenate America's economy during the Great Depression, the federal government established the Public Works Agency that created construction projects in order to pump money back into the economy.

"A Huckabee presidency would plunge America into a new era of big government," says Libertarian Party National Media Coordinator Andrew Davis. "Granted, the Republican Party has drifted far from its libertarian roots championed by icons like Barry Goldwater; however, Huckabee epitomizes the GOP's fall from grace."

"For American's looking for less government and more freedom in their lives, they simply can't find that in most of the current GOP candidates, least of all Huckabee," Cory concludes. "Huckabee's selection as the GOP nominee would ensure the demise of the Republican Party."

For more information on this issue, or to arrange an interview, please call Andrew Davis at (202) 333-0008 during normal business hours, or at (202) 731-0002 at any other time.

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. It will officially nominate its candidate for president during the Libertarian National Convention during May 22 through 26. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.