http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=219361Former Gov. Mike Huckabee today blasted what he described as "elitism" within the Republican establishment, decrying figureheads like Karl Rove for his criticism of Delaware senatorial candidate and tea-party favorite Christine O'Donnell.
"I was very disappointed in some, particularly Karl and others who were so dismissive of Christine O'Donnell," said Huckabee. "I think it's not the kind of thing that helps us."
He continued, "I've been on the receiving end of some of that when I ran for president. A lot of the establishment types were very contemptuous toward me and treated me like some backwater. And that's one of the things that happens when you didn't go to the right school and you're not a regular [attendee] at the proper cocktail parties on the D.C. social circuit."
Huckabee was speaking in a radio interview with WND's senior reporter Aaron Klein, who hosts an investigative radio show on New York's WABC Radio.
The Fox News host and former Republican presidential candidate blasted what he said was the "country-club attitude" of some in the Republican party.
"Unfortunately, there is an elitism within the Republican establishment," Huckabee told Klein. "And it's one of the reasons the Republicans have not been able to solidify not only the tea-party movement but solidify conservatives across America."
"It's about, again, to be blunt, the kind of country-club attitude that we're not sure there are certain people we really want as members of the club and we're not going to vote them in," Huckabee said. "And we don't mind showing up to events to put up signs and making phone calls and going door to door making those pesky little trips that we don't like to do, but we really don't want them dining with us in the main dining room," he said.
Huckabee predicted a Republican takeover of the House and said he thinks the party can win the Senate, as well:
"The one thing that may keep the Republicans from having the level of tsunami that will take the House and the senate in overwhelming numbers is the Republicans have not been able to define as clear a message of what they should do and why they should win," he said.
In a sign he may run for president in 2012, Huckabee is scheduled to speak in Iowa, the state that holds the election's first primary, after next month's midterms. He has placed near the top of national polls among leading potential Republican candidates. Earlier this month, the New York Times quoted White House officials as predicting that Huckabee would win the nomination.
Asked by Klein whether he would make another bid for the presidency, Huckabee replied, "Nothing is ruled out at this point."
He added, "The field needs to shape up and I want to see where it is headed."
Topic: Huckabee blasts 'elitism,' 'country-club attitude' in GOP (Read 1267 times)