Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Re: You Have to be Kidding Me   [Byron York]

Mike Huckabee just released this statement:

I do not support an amendment to the constitution that would prevent children born in the U.S. to illegal aliens from automatically becoming American citizens.  I have no intention of supporting a constitutional amendment to deny birthright citizenship. 

The Times story looked a little odd from the start; I've never heard Huckabee talk about that idea.  But hooking up with the Minutemen was not a good idea for Huckabee.  One can be plenty tough on illegal immigration without doing that, and Huckabee is just not a good fit with the group.  In Iowa a few weeks ago, I talked to Jim Gilchrist about the endorsement.  Why Huckabee?  Wouldn't the Minutemen dislike his position on the children of illegal aliens and college tuition in Arkansas?  Gilchrist told me that he had sent out detailed questionnaires to all the candidates, and Huckabee was the only one who bothered to fill it out.  So he got the endorsement.  At the time, Huckabee was looking for any advantage he could get.  Now, he might be rethinking things.

01/08 01:04 PMShare