You're watching...
Governor Huckabee provides perspective on the nascent 2012 primary season and offers comparisons to the 2008 primary season in which he competed.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
And god bless you governor Rick Santorum -- social conservative once the dictate what happens in your bedroom.
Is changing his tune in trying to sound like Ron Paul.
Don't believe us listen to Santorum himself answering a question about social issues.
He -- follow me out on the trail I haven't been talking a lot about this although I fear I strongly believe that.
What I've been talking about as I did last night in my acceptance speech -- -- didn't talk about this issue I talked about the importance of getting this economy going.
Getting this economy going because you don't have the time to we've been listening to each and every one of -- a senator santorum's campaign events.
And we're hearing his talking points repeated over and over.
The themes of fixing the economy the themes of the free market he's.
Will voters really buy into Santorum.
As a limited government candidate.
Joining us now from Florida.
Home to this month's biggest about primary governor Mike -- post of Huckabee here on the Fox News Channel.
And as you remember the winner of the 2008 Iowa Caucuses governor -- You end up -- Florida where all up here in freezing New York City in January.
Because -- -- enough to be in Florida in January and instead of New York -- New Hampshire one of these places.
Where you Frazier keys are off this time a year that's now I don't know if you just heard my -- back and forth whether -- not very happy governor.
Sununu but do you think that that nominee is the conservative.
That you are the conservative that Rush Limbaugh is the conservative that George Will is the conservative that Ronald Reagan was.
Well you know it's interesting that Rush Limbaugh's attacking Romney has for years ago he couldn't get enough -- and he -- him some Romney.
And I don't understand what has happened with Russia's feelings because Romney is the same today that he was four years ago.
If anything he might have kind of matured and become.
More conservative at least more.
I think.
They bid said in his own convictions better than he was four years ago but Rush Limbaugh has been attacking him I can't figure that one out here.
Here's wider don't want -- to be -- conversation about rush.
Mike Huckabee has always been against government forcing it to purchase something whether it's broccoli or health care.
Mike Huckabee as always believed life begins at conception Mitt Romney has come to those views when it was convenient politically to do so.
That's the rub against him because -- he changed his mind once on fundamental and fundamental issues might he change his mind again.
But judge.
Those were positions that he would change for years ago when he was candidate Romney care had already passed admitted left office so that doesn't really explain.
Why some of these conservative Talking Heads.
Who were so much in his corner for years ago and against me by the way because they set I wasn't a conservative and that was news to me and everyone in Arkansas who thought -- any thing.
I was way over to the right.
And I think the point would be this is he as conservative as let's say me or maybe someone else in the field may -- not.
Is he more conservative than Barack Obama every day of the week and twice on Sunday he is so I think Republicans have got to.
Except the fact that the real issue is not mirror mirror on the wall who's the most conservative of the mall the question is.
Do we have some wanted to could be any one of these guys -- support any government -- -- yard sign up if they get our nominee he'll he'll agree with anybody will be better than Barack Obama.
He's not a small government conservative he's a guy who likes government and likes big government he just wants to manage it well would you agree with that description -- Mitt Romney.
I would think there -- some things where he and I different I mean I was one of the few people.
That openly and vehemently opposed -- I thought it was horrible.
And it where it was Republicans including President Bush and John McCain and any other Republicans who thought we had to do it.
I said Dan I've continued to say to this day I think TARP was a big mistake that was against the stimulus bill I called at the pork it was built.
Here's what I never understood judge.
I mean I think those are very conservative positions.
So why -- people like -- Coulter and Rush Limbaugh attacked guys like me for not being conservative enough and that's why when they attacked Mitt Romney.
I sort of take it shrug of the shoulders grain -- -- insight what.
On any given day some of these folks will attack anybody is not being conservative enough.
And it doesn't bother me as much as it does to ask this question.
Are we going to be able to replace this president who doesn't understand the private sector economy who doesn't understand the constitution and the limits of executive power.
Can we at least replaced him with someone who knows that all three branches of government.
Have equal footing under the constitution and were created to have a natural tension not for one branch to -- over the other two.
Newt Gingrich.
Rick Santorum.
Mitt Romney.
Establishment Republicans.
Insiders.
Big government types.
Do they have the courage to shrink government by not barring any more money and forcing it to live within its means.
Well I would hope so you know whether they would push for that let me tell you what we're we have to have that happen.
The election of the president is not going to be as critical that.
As it is to get sixty conservative Republican senators.
And to get a super majority in the House of Representatives that's the key to shrinking government because -- president having been a governor understands something of the limits of executive power.
Congress is still going to -- -- and set that budget.
And there's gonna be a limit of what a president can do he -- propose but it's it's the purpose of the congress to dispose.
Governor we turn the heat on in your office on the eighteenth floor and it's waiting for you.
-- I'll look forward to being there -- -- -- always a pleasure thanks for joining us our next guest says his father is surging adjust their.
