Huckabee Almost Gets Honest About Reagan

Speaking about the current crop of Republican presidential contenders on Fox News today, probable Republican candidate and Fox News employee, Mike Huckabee, stated it would be almost impossible for Reagan to be nominated by the modern GOP.  And he almost told the whole truth:

HUCKABEE: Because he raises taxes as governor, he made deals with Democrats, he compromised on things in order to move the ball down the field. As president, he gave amnesty to 7 million illegal immigrants. There were many things that would have been anathema. People speak of Reagan as if he was absolutely steadfast. He was in his convictions, but you have to govern in a way that is different that is different than the way you campaign.

Much to Huck's omitting, Reagan raised taxes as president too, numerous times.  He also tripled the national debt.  He also never once shrunk government or cut spending.  It's nice to see Huck coming to terms with facts but he still has a long way to go.

My theory, though, is Reagan could easily still get nominated for president by the GOP because Republicans do not care one bit about actually doing the things they talk about.  They just want to talk about them.  To think that Republicans just now started talking about shrinking government and controlling spending is a farce of historical proportions.  They've always claimed to stand for such principles, even during Reagan's era.  Heck, Reagan as a candidate said he would privatize Social Security and shrink government.  He did no such thing.  But he sure talked a good game.  That's all Republicans want: someone who will say the things they want to hear, like Reagan and George W. Bush did.