When I hear the Huckabeans, so often I hear, "but Mark, Mike is a good Christian and he's honest, unlike McCain and Romney." Uh-huh...Well, check these slices of goodness out and try to explain them away:
Bryan Jeffrey, a Little Rock CPA, gave Huckabee free accounting services for one year, and the next year he was named to the state’s Development Finance Authority. Jeffrey contributed $2,300 to Huckabee’s presidential campaign and his firm works for Huckabee’s presidential campaign, earning more than $70,000 in the first nine months of this year.
Ron Fuller, a lobbyist who was Huckabee’s top fundraiser and paid for his wife to scuba dive in Puerto Rico, later got appointed to the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Last year, Fuller’s company contributed $1,000 to Hope for America.
Jerry Davis, the late CEO of a food wholesaler, and his wife gave the Huckabees more than $5,400 in gifts, including an $800 cashmere and fox cape, a pair of $600 watches, $1,000 cuff links and a suit. Davis was named to the state police commission. He died in 2004, but this year his widow, Shirley Davis, gave $2,300 to Huckabee’s presidential campaign.
William Ferren, who founded and is chairman of an Arkansas oil company that gave Huckabee a suit, was appointed to the Correction and Community Punishment Board. He gave $750 to Huckabee’s presidential campaign.
In all, Huckabee accepted more than $54,000 in clothes for himself and his family during his decade as governor. And the lion’s share — $25,000 — came from Jennings Osborne, a colorful businessman who was by far the most generous gift giver to the Huckabees.
Osborne, whose website describes him as “Little Rock's own version of Elvis” gave Huckabee, his family and staff more than $60,000 worth of gifts, including $11,000 in flowers, nearly $12,000 worth of pastries and more than $25,000 in clothes.
Huckabee appointed Osborne to a seat on the commission that oversees the stadium where the University of Arkansas football team plays some home games, and Osborne and his wife contributed $4,100 to Huckabee’s presidential campaign.
Osborne, who was rebuked by the Arkansas Supreme Court for an extravagant Christmas light display he set up annually at his home, has said he expects nothing for his generosity.
Just gifts, no campaign cash
Huckabee also gave appointments to givers of less extravagant gifts who have yet to appear in his campaign donation reports. He accepted a barbecue grill from a resort owned by the family of a man he appointed to the state’s State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission.
He accepted as gifts seemingly common services, including car repairs. He reported receiving free eye care and “eye wear” from an optometrist and an ophthalmologist — both of whom he tapped for spots on the boards overseeing their respective professions.
In 1996, when the governor’s mansion was being refurbished, Huckabee received free “general contracting and interior design services” from designer Georg Anderson and furnishings from cotton magnate Charles Adams. The next year, Huckabee named Anderson, as well as Adams’ wife, Myrna Vine Adams, to the Arkansas Governor's Mansion Commission.
When Adam's furniture gift, worth more than $70,000, was first revealed, Huckabee claimed it was his family’s to keep. He backed down after a lawsuit was filed over the furniture and his family’s use of a $60,000-a-year fund, which the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported had been used to pay for pizza, a doghouse, a magazine subscription and pantyhose for Janet Huckabee.
So, if I give a few bucks, can I be in the State Department? Can I give a few baseball cards for Interior? What is the going rate for attorney general?
More reasons why I DON'T (heart) HUCKABEE....
AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
