NPR: Minuteman Founder's Support for Huckabee Shaky

Minuteman Founder's Support for Huckabee Shaky

Jim Gilchrist, one of the founders of the Minuteman Project, seems a little shaky in his support of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Gilchrist, whose group monitors border areas in protest of what it considers inadequate enforcement measures by the federal government, made headlines last week when he announced his support for Huckabee — who was then quick to point to this support as a way to counter charges from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney that he was "too liberal" on immigration policy.

But then Monday there were reports from conservative online news outlets that Gilchrist was reconsidering his support for Huckabee because he had learned that Huckabee's plan included measures he didn't agree with. Yet a day later, in a series of radio interviews, Gilchrist said that he planned to stick with Huckabee, even if his immigration plan was not perfect.

One thing is certain: Gilchrist's support of Huckabee has further widen the gap between him and many of his former anti-immigration supporters. The Americans for Legal Immigration, or ALIPAC, has a posting on its website, signed by leaders of 84 other "immigration enforcement" groups, attacking Gilchrist for this action.

"We denounce Jim Gilchrist's solo endorsement of a pro-amnesty and Open Borders candidate for President. Mr. Gilchrist does NOT speak for us! ... Mike Huckabee is pro-amnesty and favors a 'path to citizenship' for illegal aliens currently in the US, which would require a lifting of the current penalties," the posting declares.

11:01 AM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

End southern rule!

Romney/McCain, Romney/McCain, Romney/McCain, Romney/McCain,

Sent by Harold | 5:22 PM ET | 12-20-2007

For once I agree with Harold. I'm ready for something other than a white, southern, male, (alleged) Christian as president. If you take out the southern part, I might be interested again. And the fact that one of these got-nothing-better-to-do-with-my-time-than-pick-off-illegals-as-they-try-to-cross-the-border types endorses Huckabee is just another nail in the good ol' boy coffin as far as I'm concerned.

Sent by John R. Otten | 2:41 PM ET | 12-30-2007

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