Mike Huckabee's Kevo

The GOP candidate now supports a trade embargo against the island nation, a stance sure to satisfy hard-line Cuban exiles.

MIAMI -- As governor of Arkansas five years ago, Mike Huckabee joined a bipartisan chorus of politicians who concluded that the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba was bad for businesses. Now that he's a top-tier candidate for president, Huckabee has decided he favors the embargo -- so much so that he vowed Monday to outdo even President Bush in strangling the regime of Cuban President Fidel Castro and punishing those who do business there.

It was a change of heart sure to please hard-liners among the Cuban exiles who could make up 10% or more of the electorate in Florida's crucial Jan. 29 Republican primary. But it also reflected the latest move by a once-obscure candidate now grappling with how to transform a burst of momentum into a sustainable bid for the White House.

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* First Amendment never intended to shut out voices of faith. (Jan 2007)
* Supports Charitable Choice for funding faith-based providers. (Dec 2006)
* Maintain TANF block grants. (Apr 2000)
* Maintain federal Social Services Block Grant funding. (Sep 2001)
* Maintain flexibility & funding levels for TANF block grants. (Sep 2001)
* More federal funding for Low-income energy assistance. (Sep 2001)
* Supports TANF grants to states. (Aug 2001)

* Train & arm Kurds to prevent cross-border PKK incursions. (Oct 2007)
* Attack Iran's nukes even if Congress says no. (Oct 2007)
* Many don't comprehend the threat: they want our obliteration. (Sep 2007)
* We bought Iraq because we broke it; responsibility to honor. (Sep 2007)
* We made Saudis rich; pressure them to help win with honor. (Aug 2007)
* Iraqi government disappointing, but we can't up & pull out. (Jun 2007)
* Insist that Iraq's neighbors assist military & financially. (Jun 2007)
* We needed 300,000 troops to win Iraq; must finish the job. (May 2007)
* Don't judge Iraq war while we're in the middle of the war. (May 2007)
* Iraq war has made us overlook domestic agenda. (Jan 2007)
* Opposing Bush's troop surge is a dangerous position. (Jan 2007)
* Make sure we finish the job in Iraq and finish it right. (Jan 2007)
* Strength is more effective deterrent to war than weakness. (Jan 2007)
* Deal with terrorism as a joint federal-state responsibility. (Feb 2001)
* Include states in anti-terrorism planning. (Sep 2001)

* Air tech is Jetsons but air traffic control is Flintstones. (Oct 2007)
* No Fairness Doctrine: no equal time if morally objectionable. (Sep 2007)
* Apply broadcast indecency rules to cable networks. (Sep 2007)
* Spend on our infrastructure instead of other countries'. (Aug 2007)
* Cars' navigation systems are better than air traffic control. (Aug 2007)
* TV is like fire; pols must use it even though it can burn. (Jun 2007)
* More bible; less blogs; more music; less network TV. (Jan 2007)
* Supports Internet sales tax. (Nov 2002)
* Arkansas becoming a leader in e-government. (Jan 2001)
* Level playing field for Main Street vs. Internet sales tax. (Aug 2001)
* Permanent R&D tax incentive & more R&D funding. (Sep 2001)

* FairTax is 23%; Bush's study missed prebate & other aspects. (Nov 2007)
* FairTax untaxes productivity & things which we export. (Oct 2007)
* FairTax eliminates all taxes on productivity & saving. (Sep 2007)
* Gut this incredibly complex and arcane tax code. (Aug 2007)
* Attacked as tax-and-spend by several anti-tax groups. (Aug 2007)
* Tax system penalizes productivity; needs complete overhaul. (Aug 2007)
* FairTax puts Going-Out-of-Business sign on IRS. (May 2007)
* FactCheck: FairTax requires 34% sales tax +$600B entitlement. (May 2007)
* Flatter, fairer, finite, family friendly overhaul: Fair Tax. (May 2007)
* First governor in Arkansas history to ever lower taxes. (Jan 2007)
* Wouldn't propose new taxes, but won't pledge against taxes. (Jan 2007)
* Raised Arkansas taxes 5 times, but lowered taxes 94 times. (Jan 2007)
* Supports national flat tax to keep up with globalization. (Jan 2007)
* Eliminated AR marriage penalty & capital gains on home sales. (Jan 2007)
* Illustrated hypocrisy with "Tax Me More Fund". (Jan 2007)
* Remove the poorest taxpayers from the tax rolls. (Jan 2001)
* No national sales tax or VAT. (Feb 2000)
* Let states independently determine estate taxes. (May 2001)

* Personalization of retirement funds, not privatization. (Oct 2007)
* Personal retirement accounts allow investing in one's future. (Sep 2007)
* Replace payroll tax & fund Social Security with FairTax. (Sep 2007)
* Maintain long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare. (Aug 2001)
* Maintain federal funding of Social Services Block Grants. (Sep 1999)

* I'm a conservative, but I'm not mean about it. (Nov 2007)
* The social conservative's candidate for president. (Oct 2007)
* Even if GOP loses elections, we should no lose our honor. (Sep 2007)
* N.H. strategy: stick with convictions & straight answers. (Aug 2007)
* Not thinking about Vice Presidency despite heavy speculation. (Aug 2007)
* Defining mistake: neglecting his health for decades. (Aug 2007)
* Never forget that ordinary citizens are the President's boss. (Aug 2007)
* Plenty of choices for candidates who don't believe in God. (Jun 2007)
* GOP lost 2006 election because they failed to do their job. (Jun 2007)
* Valuing life is the country's most pressing moral issue. (Jun 2007)
* Character IS the issue; we DO legislate morality. (Jun 2007)
* Took office amid felony investigation of Gov. Jim Guy Tucker. (Jun 2007)
* One worldview will prevail: God-centered or human-centered. (Jun 2007)
* Pastors & politicians have same skill set in common. (Jun 2007)
* Ten Commandments are basis for appropriate behavior. (Jun 2007)
* A "grace Christian": dislikes "law Christians" AND liberals. (Jun 2007)
* Our culture of life separates us from Islamic fascists. (May 2007)
* My faith does affect my decision process; it explains me. (May 2007)
* America needs optimistic leadership to revive national soul. (Jan 2007)
* We are a nation of faith, and we are stewards of God's world. (Jan 2007)
* Plays bass guitar in rock band "Capitol Offense". (Jan 2007)
* George W. Bush has done a magnificent job. (Jan 2007)
* Vertical lift-up politics rather than horizontal left-right. (Jan 2007)
* Ordained Baptist minister; I make no apology for my faith. (Jan 2007)
* People of faith feel responsible for God's world. (Jan 2007)
* Finished Little Rock marathon in 4:38 after 3 years training. (Jan 2007)
* Thermometer leaders just read room; thermostats adjusts room. (Jan 2007)
* Published four books; completed Little Rock marathon in 4:39. (Dec 2006)
* Live beyond your lifetime by planting seeds in others. (Oct 2000)
* 10 Commandments: principles to live by, not just pop culture. (Oct 2000)
* Religious affiliation: Southern Baptist. (Nov 2000)
* Member, National Governors Association/Economic Development. (Jan 2001)
* Member of Republican Governors Association. (Aug 2001)
* Member of Southern Governors' Association. (Sep 2001)

* Unions more prominent to fight high CEO salaries. (Oct 2007)
* Blacks still face racism & unequal opportunity in job market. (Sep 2007)
* No "sexual orientation" in Employment Non-Discrimination Act. (Sep 2007)
* Supports farm subsidies & fully-funded crop insurance. (Sep 2007)
* More R&D & tax incentives for small farmers. (Sep 2001)
* Repeal the federal unemployment "temporary surtax". (Feb 2001)

* Focus on demand: penalize employers of illegal immigrants. (Sep 2007)
* Some anti-immigration advocates are based on racism. (Sep 2007)
* People are angry at government for failing to track illegals. (Sep 2007)
* Problems with McCain-Kennedy: credibility; secrecy; spending. (Jun 2007)
* Allow in professionals as legal immigrants, but seal border. (Jun 2007)
* Change rule barring immigrants from running for president. (May 2007)
* Path to citizenship if illegals admit guilt & pay fine. (Jan 2007)
* Share costs of legal immigration between states & federal. (Feb 2001)
* Federal government should deal with criminal repatriation. (Feb 2001)
* Import farm workers from Mexico. (Sep 2001)

* Raise enlistment rates with Veterans' Bill of Rights. (Sep 2007)
* No student visas to citizens of terrorist states. (Sep 2007)
* Guantanamo prisoners are treated very well. (Jun 2007)
* Better to make mistakes at Guantanamo to protect Americans. (Jun 2007)
* Islamic jihadists celebrate death; we have culture of life. (May 2007)
* Guard & Reserve did their duty; it's beginning to wear. (Jan 2007)
* Strength is more effective deterrent to war than weakness. (Jan 2007)