Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was on the Kelly File on Fox News last week when he took shots at U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) because they havenāt gotten behind Donald Trump.
Hereās the video:
Hereās the transcript:
Megyn Kelly: So Governor Huckabee what do you think of Ted Cruz, āTrump is utterly amoral, heās a pathological liar, hey everybody Iām Ted Cruz welcome to the Trump convention.ā
Mike Huckabee: (Laughing) Well let me tell you something one of the reasons you donāt say that kind of stuff during a primary is that one of two things will happen. Youāll be the nominee and all of those people youāve been talking about have got to go up there and put their arms on you, or you have got to put your arms on people you said were a bunch of bums.
Kelly: Right
Huckabee: If you are the Democrats you are going to beat the daylights out of a guy like that. Youāre going to say, ok which time were you lying? When you said this or when you said this?
Kelly: How is anybody supposed to take him seriously when he gets up there and what is he going to say? āDonald Trump is the man for us!ā The best he could probably do credibly is something weak saucy like ābetter than Hillaryā and who needs that at the convention?
Huckabee: He could just go up there and say, āIāve seen the light, Dear Jesus.ā Now Iām going to be there with Donald Trump. No, itās disingenuous no matter what and itā¦
Kelly: (Imitating Cruz) Thank God for Ohio.
Huckabee: Thatās it, and it is a very awkward thing so I think the longer you are in politics the more careful you are about saying things that you are going to have to eat later with syrup on top of it.
Kelly: What do you think of the conduct of some of these Senators in this meeting? Trump goes to Capitol Hill. He didnāt have to do it, heās trying to unite the party.
Huckabee: Sure.
Kelly: These people they donāt like him, they give him a hard time. Ben Sasse heās not a Trump fan, why bother? You know? Why show up to give him a hard time?
Huckabee: You know, I guess to get some attention since weāre talking about him tonight, but look hereās the fact if Donald Trump is President, and I think he likely will be and I hope he is, it will be a bad place for Jeff Flake to be in two years not because heāll have his election upended by Donald Trump it probably wonāt be that big of an effect. But when Senator Flake needs something for Arizona he aināt gonna get it, and Iām going to tell you Presidents can play hardball and can punish the people who didnāt want to stand up there with them.
Kelly: How?
Huckabee: Do you think there will ever be an appointment to West Point, Annapolis or the Air Force Academy that will come through his office? Do you think there will ever be a grant with his name on it? That he will ever be able to make the dedicatory speech at a road? Iām telling you there are ways that are painful.
Kelly: They are punished.
Huckabee: And you never get so much as a White House pass for some tourists from your state.
Kelly: Are we going to hear from you at this convention?
Huckabee: Donald Trump told me a few weeks ago that he would like for me to speak. I donāt know when. I donāt know if it is going to be at two in the morning while the crew is setting up.
Kelly: Thatās just a little offensive.
Huckabee: I just donāt know, but Iād like to know pretty soon because I need to be working on it.
Kelly: Hey Trump 9pm would be a good time for Governor Huckabee.
Huckabee: Letās do it, Iām all about it.
Kelly: Good to see you sir.
Huckabee: Thanks Megyn.
Okā¦ Iām not sure what Megyn Kelly was drinking, but wow, Iām embarrassed for her. That had to be one of the most juvenile interviews Iāve seen in some time. Her 180 on Trump is giving me whiplash.
Iām also embarrassed for Mike Huckabee. He looked petty, vindictive and small. Everything he said about Ted Cruz you can apply to Donald Trump. As far as Cruz speaking at the Republican National Conventionā¦ It is the REPUBLICAN National Convention. He came in second in terms of delegates. He wants to go thank them, and he wants to lift up conservative principles. I highly doubt he will sing the praises of Trump, but I donāt expect him to tear him down. His speech wonāt likely be about Trump at all.
For all of this talk about wanting to unite the party, this is how you are going to treat the runner-up? Also, Governor, itās easy not to attack a candidate who is not personally attacking you. Did Huckabee miss all of the crap Trump said about him, his wife and his father?
I donāt believe for one second Huckabee would have taken that type of abuse without responding.
As far as a President punishing a Senatorā¦ First I do see Trump doing this. Thanks Governor for giving us another reason to oppose him. Trump has already said he wants consequences for his rivals who donāt support him.
Second, does Huckabee believe this is how the chief executive and Commander-in-Chief should act? Is this how Governor Huckabee acted when he was elected Lt. Governor and then became Governor? The fact he would say this says much about Governor Huckabeeās character.
Where is the Christlikeness in this attitude? Thatās just being vindictive. Granted I donāt expect Trump to be pals with people who opposed him, but he shouldnāt punish a Senatorās constituents because he feels the need to settle a score. They need to come together to work for the good of the nation.
Also, does Trump not think it cuts both ways? Does he want his priorities to pass Congress?
Itās much better when our elected officials donāt act like two-year-olds having a temper tantrum. Itās very disappointing when someone I thought was a Christian statesman condoning that sort of behavior. I expect more out of Mike Huckabee than this.