Words to the Wise – Do Your Own Candidate Research - Huckabee, McCain, Romney and the National Review

There is a growing unease among the rank and file in the Republican Party regarding the ability of the media and special interest groups to foist one candidate over another on the rank and file - so much so that these entities will generally mislead or flat-out lie about the competition in order to achieve a desired outcome. An interesting piece by Adam Graham, a conservative, regarding National Review and their relentless and misleading attacks on Governor Mike Huckabee is one worth noting. In the article found here, at American Daily, Graham regrets believing what he was told about Governor Mike Huckabee's fiscal record by these party elites – finding when he did his own research that the truth was a bit different. Mike Huckabee was by far the best candidate that the Republican Party had seen in decades, and yet because the Governor was not part of the Washington elite inner circle, he was ostracized and demonized endlessly by his own party. Their first choice, Mitt Romney, is now a footnote, and the man that was not even considered a threat, John McCain, is now the party standard bearer.

They are not in the best position to judge or make judgment calls for anyone in the party. Graham indicates that the Review is set to release the names of people who should not be considered for the V.P. slot. Not surprisingly Mitt Romney is not on that list. Mike Huckabee is, along with Crist of Florida – two governors that would help McCain with the all important southern states as well as more conservative voters within the party. The problem with Mitt Romney is that he had little appeal outside the beltway, and had it not been for a mis-statement by Shannon O’Brian the Democrat that was leading him by 20 plus points going into the Mass. Gubernatorial race, he would never had managed to become Governor of Massachusetts. It was not so much the fact that he was a Republican running in a blue state; it was the fact that he was not particularly well-liked or trusted; he won that race by default. It is the National Review that has failed to do its homework when it comes to choosing a candidate, how then, can they be in a position to choose a running mate?

The Daily Kos, just a side note, did the same to Hillary Clinton. Voters are now faced with a choice between the lesser incompetence of two candidates. It is where ideology, not enthusiasm, drives the vote. It may well be the first time in history that choosing an acceptable running mate actually makes a difference.