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Obama and Huckabee win Iowa caucus

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Iraqi Coug | 1:29 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I graduated from Waukee High School. It appears they are just as far behind the times now as they were in 1992. No wonder I was not liked to much, I wasn't a "conservative christian".
Tai H. | 4:26 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Lisa Riley Roche stupidly states in this article that �Romney�s Mormonism has always been an issue.�

Lisa Riley Roche � that�s a bold face lie!

It is Romney�s liberalism that has become an issue. Mitt Romney�s father was a Mormon too, but it wasn�t his religion that kept him off the GOP ticket in 1968. It was the fact that George Romney stood up and walked out on Barry Goldwater at the 1964 GOP Convention in San Francisco, thus advocating communism. Mitt Romney is no different than his pathetic father. Mitt has defied the conservative campaigns of Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee.

Mitt Romney outspent Mike Huckabee 20 to 1, yet Huckabee beat Mitt decisively. Why? Because Mitt Romney raised the capital gains tax as governor of his state. Huckabee didn�t. Mitt Romney signed gay civil unions into legislation. Mike Huckabee didn�t.

And oh, by the way� last time I checked the LDS Church Handbook of Instructions, the policy of gay civil unions were clearly defined. The Church opposes same-sex civil unions and marriages.

Maybe Mitt lost the caucus because he (Romney) is anti-Mormon.

Lisa Riley Roche is a liberal.
SLC Native | 5:13 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Obama and Huckabee won big, but you'd hardly know it from this article. Just another day at the "Mitt Morning News"...
Comments continue below
Sunny | 5:37 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I think Iowa is ahead of its time! It is about time we stop living from a fear base mentality and dream for a better future for all Americans (not just those with power). Iowa sees that America can do better than the status quo. Thank you Iowa for your vision! Obama!
russ | 6:05 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
For the life of me I do not know what a conservative christian is. Made up hype to sell air time and condos, and to fleece the general public of their precious vote. I always thought one who wanted to be saved would just be a christian. Maybe my bible is missing a few pages...

Romney will stay in the race, he has to. But his money well is deep so don't worry for him. Huck will work his magic until the public actually prints some stuff about his odd ways in Arkansas.
I like the way he reminds people of Bill. Must make some repubs cringe.

Yah gotta love this country!!
Bart | 6:08 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Mr. Romney will not win the republican nomination because he is LDS and not part of the "conservative Christian" group. It's time that Utahns woke up to the fact that we've been "used" for so long by the Republican party--a sure vote--when those in control now, have no earthly interest in how we feel. I'm afraid the chickens are coming home to roost.
R Biddulph | 6:18 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Let's see, Mike Huckabee received 34 percent, Mitt 25%. Evangelicals were 60 percent of the caucus-goers this year, compared with 40 percent in 2004. If my math is correct, if we exclude the extra 20 percent which were hyped by the Evangelical pastors to go to the polls to keep Gov. Romney from gaining the nomination, Gov. Huckabee would have had 22 percent, and Mitt would have won.

Is my math correct? Why must Evangelical pastors engender bigotry in their adherents? The Huckabee website was full of bigotry. The pastors don't sound like Christians to me.
JP | 6:21 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
The headline of this article states "Obama and Huckabee." Yet the article is about Romney with just a hint of Huckabee - nothing about Obama. I understand Romney's local connections will give him some more press here in Utah, but come on - Obama and Huckabee won, let's talk about them - especially if that is what your headline reads!
David | 6:24 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Maybe this is a wake up call to mormon republicans, they are part of a party full of people that don't think they are Christian and hold their religion against them. It's also not clear that the republican party of today best represents the core values of the mormon faith.
Go Mitt | 6:32 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Romney is the only true leader.

JT | 6:35 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Huckster had a subtle anti-Mormon campaign going. if you look at the exit poll data, Huck had a huge chunk of the voters who said it matters a great deal to them that their candidate shares their religious views. If Obama wins the Democratic nomination, it doesn't matter who the GOP picks. Obama will win. If Huck is the GOP candidate, I'm sure the words from his fiery anti-Mormon speech he gave in SLC in 1998 will come out and Utah and Idaho will go blue.
Good memories | 6:38 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Romney better find a way to explain the story he told about his father marching with Martin Luther King in Detroit.
The American people have good memories when it comes to this sort of thing and are demanding truthful leadership.
James | 6:47 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
If Huckabee and Obama are the party nominees come election time, Obama could take Utah. He's smart, being the only Democrat to pay any kind of attention to Utah. He obviously knew something.
Would Utah vote for a black, non-Mormon Democrat?
Yes.
Abe Tschetter | 6:48 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Shouldn't the headline have been 'Cheating Huckabee robs Mitt', or something? It wasn't about he winners but about how Mittney lost, or was cheated. And, what's an Obama?
joe | 6:52 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Scribes, Pharisees and Huckabees, Hypocrites!
What a bigot! Lets say it right, Huckster won because he exploited bigotry! He lost all respect from me. I vote Hillary before a persecuting bigot like the Huckster! I never thought I would say that because of my strong anti Clinton feelings! By the way Good memories, there have been many collaborators who were physically present to verify the fact Romney's dad actually marched with Martin Luther King.
david | 6:56 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Romney lost because of his religion, plain and simple. Any other reasons are poppycock. Sure Romney has flaws and I have some concerns about how he ran in Massachusetts, but he is better than the bigot!
john d | 7:01 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Awe Huckabee!

The Reagan conservative block is fracturing and it is because of the hypocrisy of Evangelicals. I know there are many good and fair people in the block, but they also possess the most bigoted and hypocritical block. Don't they know the Constitution has no religious test for a president? So they made up their own Constitution! Supercede the Highest law of the land isn't right! I don't trust the so called Religious Right any more! They have sold us down the river and that won't be forgotten.
JAMES STOWE | 7:06 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
TWO GREAT THINGS HAPPENED THIS MORNING, I HEARD MITT LOST IN IOWA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I GOT MY MARRIAGE LICENSE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
Ken Baguley | 7:16 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I like Huckabee, but I've found he is slicker than slick Willy...When you have the whole of the media giving nothing but good reviews to Huckabee and pounding Romney unmercifully, who's going to come out ahead. Where's the fair and balanced reporting?
Anonymous | 7:27 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Mike Huckabee would be a dangerous President. He clearly has no tolerance for anyone who isn't perceived as a mainstream Christian. Can you imagine how much worse things will be in Iraq and other areas if he is elected?
Anonymous | 7:29 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
on GMA yesterday a young woman stated she would vote for Obama just because it's time for a mintority to be President. That's a poor reason to vote for a candidate. Don't vote for Obama just because he's black or Hillary because she's a woman or Mitt because he's Mormon. It's your responsibility as a citizen of this country to vote for the person who you think would be the best President, the best leader.
re: Good Memories | 7:30 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I think there's some truth to that. I think Mitt has told one too many lies in his campaign. I've been swayed by the media who've made his Mormonism such an issue and wanted Romney to succeed just to shove it in their faces. That's what steams me about Iowa. People didn't vote for a candidate who supports their views; they voted for a candidate whose lone peg in his platform is that he isn't Mormon. To heck with what the guy's actual record is.

That's about the dumbest thing I've ever seen. Voting for a pastor in chief who has absolutely no shot at being elected.

"Vote for me; I used to be Baptist minister. (Wink, wink. That means I'm not Mormon)" Well, why didn't you say so from the start? Everyone knows being a former Baptist minister is the only qualification needed to be president of the USofA.
Mahershalalhashbaz | 7:42 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I'm amazed that Huckabee can pull the biggest gaffe in American political history (his little stunt with the press where he showed he was not a "negative" politician by showing his negative campaign ad), and still win. Makes Iowa Republicans look like bufoons. I lost all respect for them. I mean, hate Romney for all I care, but don't choose the biggest Moron of all the Republican candidates.
Anonymous | 7:45 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
A vote for Huckabee is a vote for a liberal Democrat becoming Presiodent. Anyone remember Perot and how we ended up with Slick Willie Clinton being elected? Huckabee has a worse record as Arkansas Govenor than Willie Clinton.



liberal larry | 7:46 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Romney's shot at the presidency was to run as a highly competent "middle of the road" conservative. By swerving hard to the right, he alienated his natural constituency, and veered right into the head lights of the christian conservatives.
Dream on | 8:06 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Lies do catch up with you.
Alex | 8:11 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Obama winning is absolutely fantastic. I hope that he continues to win and gets the Democratic nomination. This is the first step in turning Washington around and giving the power back to the people.
Dutchman | 8:22 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
To Tai H: Why do you refer to George Romney as "pathetic"? That is a stong indictment of someone you obviously don't know. George Romney stood against Goldwater for his views on civil rights not his views on communism. As the CEO of American Motors George Romney was a free marketeer and had no symphathies for socialism or communism. Utah voted overwhelmingly for Lyndon Johnson in 1964 against Goldwater from neighboring Arizona. Apparently, most Utahns felt the same way George Romney did about Goldwater. George Romney went on to serve with distinction as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. I knew federal workers at HUD at the time who said Romney was the best Secretary that HUD ever had. Romney was also later proved correct on his assessment of the Viet Nam War that the nation was being lied to (brainwashed-his words). Read former Defense Secretary Robert Macnamara's book on the war. I think you should withdraw your description of George Romney as being the "pathetic" father of Mitt Romney.
bubba | 8:22 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Huckabee is just a better liar than Romney.

Romney switches his positions to win elections but internally wants to be honest and tries to be honest the best he can while playing a game of dishonesty. It does not come off very well.

Neither Romney or Huckster offer any real change.

This nation is over-extended financially. Our foreign policy is lunacy and our domestic policy is socialism. This country needs some real leadership to bring us back to the principles that made this nation great. None of the front-runners in either party offers any change for the better.
Seriously, the only candidate that would do all he can to make the right changes is Ron Paul. Unfortunately too few people know what he really stands for and too few peole understand the real issues. Most people are not willing to do the research to understand political and economic issues. Real change will probably not happen until there is real pain to get people's attention.

Mark | 8:31 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

This is hilarious! Republicans in Utah are finally figuring out that the right wing is loaded with bigotry? What do they think Ronald Reagan meant when he used the term "State's rights" back in the 1980's? It was a nod to the old racist conservative block that kept blacks down. Now Huckabee, the "Christian candidate", speaks in similar code ("family values", "traditional American", etc.) and he keeps Mormons down. Kinda stings, doesn't it?

If Utahans don't like bigotry, then they better hang with a different crowd then they currently buddy up with.
Biblionerd | 8:36 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Dutchman has it dead right on George Romney. "Conservatives" betrayed their most fundamental values when they failed to support the civil rights movement.

Romney's only hope now is that McCain stages a resurgence and splits the vote so Romney can get the nomination in a brokered convention. He's going to lose NH, has no chance in South Carolina thanks to the Evangelicals, and Guiliani has Super Tuesday locked up.

Anyone who spends as much money as Romney did and still loses ought to be indicted.
Dan | 8:36 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Obama has the popular vote, but Hillary has the power brokers. Which side will prevail? Huckabee has little chance of winning a national vote against either.
America | 8:53 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
How does the American Heartland vote for a man (Obama) who doesn�t respect the American Flag enough to put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem? I think the first requirement for a President should be patriotism. I wonder if he�d respect the US Military enough to salute it member.
Charles | 8:55 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Make no mistake about this victory for Huckabee. The voters in Iowa were 60 percent evangelical christians. They voted for Huckabee because they distrusted Mitt Romney's religion. Their vote against Romney is a vote against Mormonism. The last true acceptable form of bigotry is against Mormonism. The Iowa vote clearly shows that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are clearly disenfranchised in the minds of many Republicans and almost universally so from the Democrats. We have no party that accepts us and our religion. Having been a Reagan republican, I am now learning to accept this and have moved toward the Independent category. The republican and democratic parties do not represent Mormons and will never do so.
Romney better as a moderate | 8:57 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
If Mitt Romney had stayed true to his moderate ideals, he'd be doing better. Most Americans are tired of the scorched-earth politics of the Rovians. Someone with a moderate approach WILL win the presidency. Of course it will tick off the Utah right-wingers, but Utah's miniscule population will never determine anything nationally. Utah will be ignored until it can make a little sense.
Park City Resident | 9:02 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
"Romney's mormonism has always been an issue" because pseudo journalists like Roche keep trying to make it an issue rather than doing hard journalism and digging for substantive issues that differentiate candidates. The Mormon and religion issue is last years "news" and the mark of a lazy journalist.

Alf | 9:02 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
It is now clear that Romney will say anything to get a vote. Sometimes that means that he is dishonest. I think we have had enough lying in the White House the last seven years.
Jerry | 9:09 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Huckabee won due to a very subtle playing of the religion card. This played well to Evangelicals who know little more of Mormons other than Mormons are out to steal their sheep from their congregations. That is unfortunate that a presidential election lowered itself to those standards. I think Romney has great character and morals, but I personally would not vote for him because I don't want a CEO running this country. A CEO looks out for corporations and profits. I want someone with a heart who will look out for those millions who have health care needs currently ignored and who need a helping hand in raising them up. The LDS Church has the right idea with the perpetual education fund. We, as a country, would have money for these kinds of things if we were not pouring billions down the drain into Iraq. I am looking to John Edwards for some hope. End the war. Increase educational help. Provide more available health care for children and the poor.
BBKing | 9:11 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
The plan is unfolding. First, Romney loses Iowa to Huckster. Then Romney will lose New Hampshire to McCain. Then Romney will lose convincingly to Hunkster, maybe even come in third behind Thompson in South Carolina, at which point Romney is just finished.

So what are we left with on the GOP ticket? Guiliani has his Super Tuesday plan and that just might work. I think the dark horse in this is Thompson. He quitely squeeks out a third in Iowa, takes third in New Hampshire but takes a solid, possibly second in South Carolina and goes into Super Tuesday as the only shot left for the conservative wing of the party.

What is for sure is that Huckster and Romney are finished, they just don't know it yet. I think over time we end up with McCain or Guiliani. Once that happens, Mayor Bloomberg makes his announcement and pulls the Ross Perot ensuring the GOP loses the White House.

On the Demo side, while Obama is a breath of fresh air the Demos have this Super Delegate thing that all but rigs the race for Hillary Clinton. She gets the Demo knod and wins it all. Heaven help us!!
Ernest T. Bass | 9:17 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
If the repubs continue to support a wingnut like the Huckster, they'll give the Whitehouse to the Dems for the next eight years.

Go Obama!!
? | 9:25 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
This article is titled Huckabee and Obama, and yet it's really about Mitt, again.
michael | 9:27 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I don't see how the Iowa vote shows that the LDS Church is universally disenfranchised by the Democrats- I don't see where religion was any kind of an issue amoung the demos. Republicans want to base politics on religion and that leads the way to bigotry and intolerance. I think Romney might have a resonable chance in a national election, but seems improbable that his religion will pass the test for the Republican nomination. I am a Democrat- I am not religious- but have based my vote on non-religious issues- and I have voted for Republican Mormons before. I base my vote on political positions as well as integrity- is there room in the Republican Party for such diversity anymore?
No liars for leaders | 9:33 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Romney, hoping to defend his civil rights and record and his church�s racist past, has repeatedly claimed that he saw his father march with Dr. King. An investigation indicated that George Romney, who was strong on civil rights, never marched with MLK, prompting Romney and his campaign to start parsing the words �saw,� �march,� and �with.�

It looked like the embarrassing flap had just about ended, until the Romney campaign directed reporters to two women who corroborated a story that Romney had already conceded wasn�t literally true.

Sorry Joe 6:52 - America will no longer tolerate liars for leaders.
Jeremy Boss | 9:36 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Well, after all the anti-Mormon gimmicks Huckster has pulled, I would never vote for the guy. I can say that if Huckaschmuck gets the nomination or the VP slot on the ticket, I would rather vote for (gasp!) Hillary or Obama than give one ounce of credibility to that kind of bigotry.
Thanks Iowa | 9:36 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Huckabigot wins! Huckabigot wins! The Religion card is played.
Huckabee | 9:44 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
If Huckabee wins, I am moving to Canada...
A new Iowan | 9:47 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I am from SLC and after a stop in Texas I have lived in Iowa for two years. Last night was my first experience with the Iowa Caucus, and I'm really glad that I went. I believe that Romney's religion had nothing to do with his loss. It has not been brought up for weeks here in Iowa. In my precinct of ~250 people only four of us are members and the vote was fairly close. I believe that Huckabee won our precinct because of an ad out recently about how he is a "regular guy" vs. a former CEO. Surprisingly Thompson did a lot better than I thought he would. I personally am still torn between Mccain and Romney. They both have qualities that I like. I did vote for Romney because I felt in Iowa he had a better chance to beat Huckleberry than Mccain. The one thing I didn't like was that for someone who was still undecided the local precinct reps for each candidate really didn't tell me anything special to help me make a las minute decision. I guess I always want to know "how" instead of just what they want to do as president.
Its time for a change | 9:48 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
I was happy Ron Paul got 10%. He is the only candidate I will vote for. I think he is definately on the rise although Fox News or CNN will never admit it. I dont think he has much of a chance but Im still behind him 100%.
Elisabeth Luntz | 9:49 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Regarding Tai H.'s comments... Mormonism has never been a problem for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. I agree, its something else about Romney that turns away voters, not his religion. I hope the LDS population don't buy into the self depricating notion that Romney is unelectable because he's LDS. That is a propagandistic tool devised to divide and incite hatred among us. I'm not sure what it is, but its possible that Democrats are philosophically inclined to be more tolerant of different religions as well as the non-religious. I think what is happening to the Republican party is that it is becomming polarized by religious groups that are intolerant of other religious groups. And that is unfortunate for the republican party and our country as a whole. Inclusion is the only option.
fr1nk | 9:53 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008
Mitt should have broken from the party of polarization a long time ago. They have decided that LDS people are not worthy to hold postitons of real power.
Its funny to hear complaints about "no religious test" when that has been going on here for as long as Utah has been a state. People in Utah wake up. Religion is a personal thing. When we as a country make it the defining reason to vote for someone, we take a huge step toward theocracy. But then come election time 60% of you will just press the "R" and leave. You get what you deserve.

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Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama thanks supporters following his solid victory in the Iowa caucuses. He captured 38 percent of the vote.

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