Huckabee becoming a pundit

July 27, 2004

Boston (CNSNews.com) - Without a formidable Republican opponent in his U.S. Senate race, Barack Obama has little reason not to take money from billionaire liberal financier George Soros, a man other Democrats keep at a distance.

When Obama takes the stage Tuesday night for a prime-time address at the Democratic National Convention, the candidate for Senate in Illinois will be introduced to a wider audience for the first time, bringing heightened scrutiny to the relative political newcomer's campaign.

Democrats expect him to pass any test he faces. They view Obama as a rising star within their party, touting his good looks and ability to connect with voters. If elected Nov. 2, he would become the first black to hold a Senate seat since Carol Moseley Braun, also from Illinois.

Obama, however, is different from most Democrats because of his willingness to embrace the controversial Soros. Shortly after Soros equated the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Obama joined him for a New York fund-raiser June 7.

The event, held at Soros' home, boosted Obama's campaign at a time he was still facing a challenge from Republican Jack Ryan. After news broke about information in Ryan's divorce records, the candidate was forced to drop out. The Illinois GOP has yet to find a replacement.

Obama, meanwhile, has emerged as the party's young face. He was selected over longtime party stalwarts to speak Tuesday night, and Obama has seized the opportunity.

Little has been made of his connection to Soros, although it is quite unique. Not only did George Soros donate to Obama's campaign, but four other family members - Jennifer, sons Jonathan and Robert and wife Susan - did as well.

Because of a special provision campaign finance laws, the Soroses were able to give a collective $60,000 to Obama during his primary challenge. Obama faced millionaire Blair Hull, which allowed donors to give more than typically allowed.

Obama is one of only a handful of candidates to get a personal contribution from George Soros. The others include Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Bob Graham (D-Fla.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, and former Vermont governor Howard Dean

"Why did George support Obama?" his spokesman, Michael Vachon, asked rhetorically. "Because when they met in Chicago a couple of months ago, it was apparent that Barack Obama was an emerging national leader, and he would be an important addition to the Senate."

Vachon said Obama is the only candidate this election cycle Soros has met personally, with the first powwow in March. Asked why Soros hasn't sought out a meeting with Kerry, the man he is pulling for to defeat President Bush on Nov. 2, Vachon said it was just a matter of Soros keeping his distance.

"George is a major funder of an independent 527 group, and it probably makes more sense for him and Kerry to keep each other at arm's length," Vachon said.

Those meetings with Obama have caught the attention of the Illinois Republican Party, said spokesman Jason Gerwig.

"Barack Obama and his liberal voting record have gotten a free ride," Gerwig said. "His aspirations seemed to be focused more nationally now than they do on Illinois, especially if you look at some of the money he's taken from Soros and from left-coast liberals."

On issues like health care, education, energy and the economy, Obama has articulated defined positions on his campaign website. But on other matters, the candidate hasn't been challenged to say where he stands. Obama's campaign didn't return CNSNews.com's calls.

"He's more of a socialist than he is even a Democrat," said a critic, Cathy Santos, co-founder of the Chicago-based Republican Young Professionals. "A lot of his policies have the government taking care of people. Instead of giving people a leg up, he would rather give them a leg."

Soros initially was attracted to Obama because of his vision on education and health care, Vachon said. But Santos said if Obama got his way, the U.S. health care system would be worse than what Clinton proposed after her husband was elected president. She also said voters should be wary of Obama's "any time, anywhere" stance on abortion.

Illinois Republicans have also grown frustrated with the glowing media coverage Obama has received. Three publications, The New York Times, New Republic and The New Yorker, have all written at length about Obama, who is still only a state senator from the Midwest.

"He's turned into being this darling, but he still hasn't had to talk about the issues," Santos said. "No one really knows where he stands on a lot of these issues. Until we have a Senate candidate, if we have one, no one's going to know how liberal he is until he starts casting votes."

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No it's... HuckaMAN to the rescue!

Governor Mike Huckabee is the most influential man in politics today. A down home charmer and super communicator like Ronald Reagan.

Stop by the World Famous Huckapedia to read all about this amazing individual.

http://www.freewebs.com/huckapedia

Huckabee, you rock!!! Can't wait to see you on Fox!

This is wonderful! I will look forward to seeing Governor Huckabee on Fox News.

I had tuned out of Fox after their biased and unfair coverage of the Republican Primaries. However, now that they have hired Mike... I'm back! Way to go Fox!

HuckaBOOM!!!!!! (.......................thundering super sonic boom)

Fox News executive Bill Shine looks out the window and says: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No it's... HuckaMAN!! What??? Bill O'Reily and Sean Hannity come rushing to the window, boss boss... what is it?

Bill Shine says, "it's Mike Huckabee he's faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!" Oh but boss, he will get all the limelight and we won't...pout sob... Shut up you fools, we need someone who will do their job and who the American people are enthusastic to see and trust!

Governor Mike Huckabee is by far the most influential man in the universe today. A down home charmer and superior communicator like Ronald Reagan.

Bill Shine says this is HuckaFANTASTIC! I gotta a HuckaFEELING Mike will bring billions over to our channel. I really need my HuckaFIX today, gotta have it! Mike is so HuckaFUNNY!!

Mike Huckabee is built HuckaTOUGH, he's ready for primetime!

Read all about the amazing HuckaMAN at: >>>>> http://www.freewebs.com/huckapedia

The Huck ERNATOR is ready to crush evil once and for all. A HuckaVICTORY is on the horizon, the morning sun is rising, get your cup of coffee..... here comes...... the....... amazing HuckaSURGE!

I am so excited about this news. I know that Fox News wil benefit by this decision. I'm sure this addition to Fox News will cause their ratings to skyrocket

I'M ALSO A HUCKABEE FAN. WAY TO GO. GOOD FOR YOU FOX. IT'S ABOUT TIME. PS. I'LL HELP SUSAN SARANDAN MOVE AND WON'T EVEN CHARGE HER IF A REPUBLICAN GETS INTO OFFICE. LOVE FOX NEWS, ITS THE BEST.

I can't stand Huckabee! Hopefully he doesn't last very long on Fox!

Happy ole Huck did not go away!

This is highly disapointing as it probobly means he will NOT be McCains VP. This makes me want to stay home on election day.

Better this than the vice presidency for Huckabee. True, he's got a never ending supply of good one-liners. But being clever does not necessarily equate to being qualified. I see too many people who love this clown because he thinks of funny things to say. Nothing wrong with being funny, if you're also bringing something else to the table. Huckabee's constant effort to be cute does not make up for his bad record as governor. I will vote for McCain....as long as Huck isn't the VP. I don't want Obama, but I just don't believe I could vote for Huckabee.

Congrats Mike! Does anyone know if this will squelch any potential consideration as V.P.?

Governor Huckabee lost all my respect when he said during the debates that Governor Romney wasn't a Christian . Huckabee lost all credibility when he questioned Romney's faith. I though it very obvious that he was siding with McKain against Romny. Perhaps he was hoping to be McKain's VP. I hope McKain doesn't pick him.

It is a very strange turn of events that Mike Huckabee should start to appear regularly on the channel that did everything possible to destroy his campaign. I know that Daniel walked into the lion's den and the lions were tamed. But I hope Huckabee knows what he is doing. I personally would like to see FOX News and their cast of boring liars sink into the sea.

GO HUCK----GO GOD

GO HUCK --- GO GOD!

!

I'll be ready to hit the mute button or change the channel when this huckster comes on. I couldn't stand listening to him when he was running: his one-liners really got old. They weren't funny.

RE: Paul
"Huckabee's constant effort to be cute does not make up for his bad record as governor. " Say What?
You must not be from AR. Sure, his methods riled a few on both sides, but he governed well - even his enemies agree (like liberal columnist Brummet). Better roads, better schools, budget surplus... what's bad about that?