Mike Huckabee's Man in New York
Believe it or not, Mike Huckabee has a New York State campaign. And believe it or not, someone has actually volunteered to run it.
Meet M. Myers Mermel. The "M" stands for Mark, but he goes by Myers, his mother's maiden name. The Myers family, he told me, were poor farmers in Indiana. "They weren't rich, but had a lot of integrity," Mermel said.
He took Myers as his first name because, he says, "When people talk to me, I want them to know who I am."
Mermel was born in Virginia, but he's lived in New York since he graduated from college in 1984. "If you can't make it anywhere else, you can make it in New York," he told me yesterday. "New York is a meritocracy and you can succeed."
Mermel runs a commercial real estate ownership and advisory business. Of late, he's also quite busy with the thankless task of running Huckabee’s New York bid.
Mermel, who has never worked on a political campaign in his life (he was a White House intern during George H.W. Bush's presidency, an experience he says taught him "enough about government not to go into it”), now spends much of his time gathering volunteers for the cause. He says there are thousands.
He says that they, and he, are drawn to Huckabee's populism. Reflecting on his candidate's potential appeal to New York, Myers echoes the story that emerged from Huckabee's Iowa victory--a popular uprising of like-minded people who were tired being dictated to by Republican Party leaders. "This comes down to an issue of message versus machine," he told me in an interview last week. Mermel talks a lot about "the message."
The message, it seems, is one of values. And conservatism. And, of course, when it's an ordained South Baptist Minister campaigning, there are some religious overtures.
Mermel doesn't see religion as an obstacle for Huckabee's campaign here. in fact, he says, knowing Huckabee's "dogma" means we already know what Huckabee will do. "The other people, you don't know what you're getting," he told me.. "Why wouldn't you want somebody who has good values," he said. "He has good family values. And that's a negative? How crazy is that?"
He went on.. "I remember the Clinton years," Mermel said. "I couldn't point my children at the T.V."
Huckabee's showing in the New York polls has been on the dismal side--eight percent on January 22, although that was when Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson were still showing up in the surveys. Mermel thinks that might change before February 5. With Giuliani gone, he said, "it leaves [Huckabee] the only conservative running.".
Support for Huckabee is relatively strong in Republican counties upstate, Mermel tells me. And then, there's his own influence. "I've heard many time from people, 'If Myers likes him, we really need to consider him.' [They say], 'Myers is a serious guy and he takes things seriously.'".
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You see there are people in all states that still like an honest politician. The dishonesty in the Beltway just doesn't know what to do with Huckabee because he isn't bought and sold before he goes up there. Gee, could it be possible in the Washington cesspool,that a man from Arkansas that tells the truth, could become President of the United States and actually represent the people. You go New York and may God richly bless you.
Mike Huckabee got my attention the first time he said he wanted to eliminate the IRS. What bravery!. But as I started to listen to him I realize that he really is the Man for the job. Not because he was a Pastor or because he has been the Governor but because he cares. I watch him and I see a person That is not interested in being one of the boys but being the man he is suppose to be as president. He is an example of what I would want my kids and grand children to look at and respect. wow! what a idea to actually respect a government official.He said last night at the debate that the leader has to understand when he makes a decision where it leaves the little people downstream.He is so right, how many really care where we are at when they make a call, do they think about the affects, I don't think so.He gives such a feeling of pride to think that maybe he has a chance. I would really like to ask the newspapers if they would listen to stop counting him out, he is still in the game and if you listened to him last night he pleaded to be put back in the
game to bat. How about we give him the chance he so rightly deserves!!!!!!!!!
My father had a saying which goes this way,"he who stand for nothing fall for everything" Mike Huckabee is a person who has strong moral covictions and a real common sense approach to government. Looking at past presidents those are the ones who have been great presidents. Look at Abe Lincoln a self made person with a PHD in common sense. Ronald Regan who slept through most of his boring briefings but brought down the iron curtain with a common sense approach. We need statesmen in Washington not politicans. Statesmen, are leaders with common interest in our great nation.
Mike Huckabee is an honest man who has actual ideas. Does Romney have either quality? No. Does McCain? He has principles, but not many ideas anymore. All the other GOP candidates have campaigned mainly on what they claim they've done in the past. None other than Mike have campaigned about what they're specifically going to do.
The GOP Media doesn't like him because they don't own him.
Mike Huckabee is being dismissed by the big media folks because they have been bought and paid for by the millions being spent on advertising by the big fund raisers. We need a leader, not a fund raiser. Power reveals character and we need someone with a strong ethical character to assume power in our country. Just like President bush, a person of ethics can expect to be attacked by big media, but a leader of character can withstand the attacks as Mr. Bush does, with a smile.
Whoever believes the big bucks raised by these big time politicians is untainted is a fool. Of ever tracked it to its source we will probably find a lot of Hillary's cash originated from the folks pardoned by her husband in his last days. There had to be a plan behind that. And knowing them, it had to be a plan to benefit them with no regard for the citizenry.
I so hoped Bill Clinton would prove that a man from nowhere could succeed as President. It was exactly the opposite. His (and her) leadership (which she claims credit for or denies according to the circumstance) made me ashamed to be called American.
Only a man of character can return our country to its previous state of excellence. At this point Huckabee appears to be a man of character though I'm sure the big media folks are beating the bushes for some possible flaw.
May our next leader make us and the world proud of America again!
It's really a shame that more people have not been able to get to really know what Governor Huckabee stands for because he doesn't have the money to get his message across. Instead people are left with the image the media puts across. I would encourage anyone who is unhappy with Mc Cain or Romney to do some research and give Huckabee a second look. I think the official website is a good place to start, www.mikehuckabee.com You can also look him up on You Tube. There are tons of videos there covering pretty much his stance on any issue. I think that if you take the time to vote, you should vote for someone you're happy with and not have to hold your nose and pick the lesser of two evils.
I am from California and for Mike Huckabee. I only got to see bits and pieces of the debate online and then an interview with a CNN "big wig." When asked who he thought won the debate, he said, "Mike Huckabee." Mike Huckabee may not have been able to participate as much as he, or we, would have liked, but when he spoke, everyone listened. That's the kind of person I want running our country. And I agree with the person above about the Clinton administration. It was an embarrassment to see how our president conducted his "private" affairs. If a man cannot run his own household, how can he be trusted to run a country? I believe Mike Huckabee to be a man of integrity. He is not perfect, but he doesn't claim to be. He has what it takes to lead our country. It's a shame, but no surprise, that the media does not recognize it. May God get the glory when all is said and done!
No estoy muy segura que el Gobernador Huckabee tenga plan para solucionar todos los problemas, pero a mi parecer es el que luce mas honesto y sobretodo sincero. La primera vez que me gustó lo que dijo, y como lo dijo, no sabía ni quien era ni cómo se llamaba. De alli en adelante su popularidad fue subiendo como la espuma. Escucharlo es un placer, sobretodo porque no anda hablando mal de nadie.
No rocket physics here, Governor Huckabee lost the race as soon as he hired Ed Rollins.
The hiring of Ed Rollins as campaign manager was the end of the Huckster. Rollins has been B Class candidate manager for many years now.
The Perot debacle damaged his standing within the G.O.P., and he became a pariah a year afterward, when, after leading Christie Whitman's narrow win over New Jersey Governor Jim Florio, he bragged about paying off black ministers to suppress the black vote in urban New Jersey—a boast he later claimed to be making up.
Ed Rollins was working down in Florida last year (Kathleen Harris) and left in the middle of her Campaign, receiving negative feed back on that move for leaving a candidate in the mist of a race.......
Ed Rollins then came up to New York State to take the Reins of: "I See Black Helicopters Flying by my Window, K.T McFarland".......(What a story that was) His last campaign was decidedly B-list.
His candidate (McFarland) LOST.....To MY candidate, Mayor John Spencer of Yonkers in a GOP primary ....
In short, with the Huckster hiring Rollins reflected a lot to the money people in New York. He also has the GOP establishment working against him. Good politician but.....
If anything, it's been a source of great amusement to the pros I know. Rollins is a talking head these days, nothing more. His joining Huckabee's campaign says much more about Huckabee's not-ready-for-prime-time status as demonstrated by his rather overt gullibility than anything about credibility. Credible candidates don't hire folks like Rollins.
Jim Kelly - NY Conservative Campaigns
I agree with the spanish-speaking anonymous. You feel like he's actually for real, not some slime-excreting politician. And his background! He was an amazing governor. He actually helped Arkansaw in many ways.
I have great faith in him, and while i'm not sure if his radical tax plan will work, we need something different. A business man once told me that if you always do what you always have, then you'll always get what you've always got.
Huckabee is the candidate that we need. Our economy is failing, and our country needs something new, and that something is not Barak Obama. Great speaker, terrible platform.
People try to pin Huckabee as just a baptist minister. He was an awesome governor, and people who try to categorize him just on his personal beliefs show how little they know of him.
Because he is a strong Christian, talented musically and really interested in strengthening our country, he is my first choice for President of the USA.
Lehrene Zeller
He's my choice for president, and after watching the debate last night, I truly believe I may be a "Huckabee only" voter. I don't think I could vote for McCain or Romney. I've never felt this strongly about a candidate in my life (not even Reagan). Huckabee - you have my vote.
After watching the very civil Democratic Debate tonight and the rediculous senseless bickering last night with McCain and Romney, it is crystal clear to me that Mike Huckabee is the only Republican who can debate run and win this most important race for the White House. He is the only person I can vote for. We know who he is, what his values are, what his priorities are. I have never before given money to any presidential campaign but I will give money to Huckabee. Our country's future is too important not to help him get some recognition. It seems as though the networks think if they ignore him, he will go away. Go to www.mikehuckabee.com and you can find out more about him.
My priority is MORAL VALUES. MIKE HUCKABEE is our only hope of ever getting back to the morals & principles our country was founded on.
This says it best!! (Copy & paste in you browser.)
http://www.interviewwithgod.com/patriotic/highband.htm
If preachers make $10,000 for a sermon (texas) during campaign season when they benefit from the exposure anyways, I need to look into a different career. I thought preachers were charitable??? (I don't buy Huckabee's honest preacher front, but that's not important)
It's true that he polls well nationally, albeit worse every week, but for delegates he only has a chance in the south.
I think one of the biggest lies to the american people is that Huck is using a front of a genuine canadacy to get a VP position.
If you don't think a vote for Huck is a vote for McCain, you need to pencil out which collection of states will bring him a majority of delegates. If you like McCain as a second choice, then don't hesitate to continue with Huck.
After all the interviews and debates, (including the unfairly run debate on Jan. 30th), it's clear that Mike Huckabee has earned the titles of, "Great Communicator of the 21st Century" and "True American." His proven record and experience as Governor of Arkansas are examples of what we can expect in Washington. Mike just gets things done.
Mike has a plan for each of the major issues facing us as a nation, and he always turns attempts to discredit him into true examples of what this country needs: honesty, conservative values, humor and genuine character. This must have been what it was like when Abe Lincoln was running for President. Like Honest Abe, Mike Huckabee is the best choice for President of the United States.
If voters want someone who listens and cares, someone who will stand up for what's right, someone who will stay positive, inspire them and lead them and America in the right direction, then they need to look no further and vote for Mike Huckabee on February 5th.
mike huckabee bring america back to god !!!
So I take it then that you buy the Romney act, Anonymous?
I don't and here's why:
www.trueromney.com
A vote for Romney is a vote for Hillary.
Huck's an awesome candidate and a great man. He's got an uphill fight, though, now that Bain Capital (Romney's company) is buying Clear Channel Communications (masters of Rush, Hannity, et al.). It doesn't take a genius to see that Rush is kissing up to his future boss. Funny thing is, Rush would've HATED Ronald Reagan in the 70s and would've been propping up Ford as the "true conservative," LOL.
I tried to read the the comment that was in spanish, and I'm pretty sure he was saying nice things about Gov. Huckabee. I feel many latinos will appreciate the fact that Gov. Huckabee is pro-life!
I agree with Luis. A vote for Romney is a vote for Hillary. So many people are missing the point in the Republican race. The Republicans cannot win without the southern social conservatives. Although an impressive individual, Romney will never appeal to enough evangelical christians and other social conservatives from the south to win a general election. Not only is his faith difficult to overcome, but his flip-flopping on issues and smug "I've run a business and I'm better than anyone else attitude" are a turn off for most southern conservatives. Mike Huckabee on the other hand is very charismatic, honest and humble. A vote for McCain or Romney is a vote for a Democrat. McCain is too much like a Democrat and Romney can't win against a Democrat. It appears that the MSM is leading the Republicans to slaughter by trying to make this a two man race. If the GOP puts forward either McCain or Romney the south will go to the Democrats as the social conservatives stay home or vote against them. After all, I don't like Obama's policies, but I can see he is an honest liberal with character. He would make a better choice than McCain or Romeny. America, there is still time. Mike Huckabee is our only true conservative choice who has a chance in a general election. Please help turn the tide.
I'm a lifelong liberal and supporter of the Democrat party, but despite my best efforts, I can't shake my good feelings about Huckabee. Of course, being a Jewish supporter of the separation between church and state, I have major qualms about Huckabee's extreme Christian persuasion. I would also be highly concerned, not to mention embarrassed, about having a President who doesn't believe in evolution.
But beyond all that, I find it hard to ignore Huck's upstanding, morally rigid persona. I remember the first time I saw him speak, on a news show in early January. I was in a room full of liberal friends, and all of us had written off Huckabee as an evangelical extremist who aimed to turn the country into one of those mega-churches with him as the bombastic preacher. But when he started talking, we found it hard to ignore his message. He talked about how the Republican Party had swayed from its original identity, and how his Christianity guided him to responsible positions on the environment, education, helping the poor, and beyond. He just seems so damn honest.
I'm a little disgusted by the extreme similarity of Obama and Hillary. Hillary is a cold sell-out and Obama seems to be running on nothing but this ephemeral idea of "hope". I don't want to think about this question right now but if Huckabee were to run against Clinton I'm not sure who I would vote for.