Huckabee opts for Fox over convention speech

Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee

CLEVELAND -- Former Gov. Mike Huckabee won't be speaking at the Republican National Convention this week, opting instead to appear on Fox News as a political contributor.


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Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, had invited his former rival to address the delegates, but the network told Huckabee he'd have to choose between the news set and the convention stage.

He opted for the paid gig.

Fox had allowed Huckabee to deliver convention address in 2008 and 2012 despite being a news channel employee, and he had planned to deliver his remarks today.

But he changed his plan Thursday or Friday after the network informed him of its new policy, he said. He was one of about five staff members who were affected by the policy, he added.

On Tuesday, Fox suspended former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, according to news reports, at a time when he was reportedly on Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump's short list for vice presidential nominee.

"I think they're more sensitive than they have been in the past about people accusing them of being in the tank for the team," Huckabee said. "I'm not unhappy about it because I'm an employee and if that's what they want, then by gosh, that's what they get."

Instead of appearing before the delegates, Huckabee will spend his time in front of television cameras.

"I'll be on Fox and Fox Business several times a day. I've got plenty to do," he said.

He also planned to play with a praise band. Republicans, he said, had scheduled worship services at a downtown Hilton.

While disappointed about forfeiting his partisan convention role, "It wasn't like something on my bucket list that had never happened," he said. "Quite frankly, I went a year without any income and I can't afford to take a suspension now to make a five-minute speech. So for me it was pretty simple."

After eight years at the news channel, Huckabee expressed gratitude for the opportunities it has given him.

"Fox has been really, really good to me. I've got no complaints and if they think it in some way would impugn their integrity to have people on the platform then I totally respect that and accept it without any complaints," he said.

Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Doyle Webb said he learned Saturday night that Huckabee wouldn't be speaking. "We're disappointed. We were excited that former Gov. Huckabee was going to address the convention," he said, adding that he understood and respected Huckabee's decision.

He noted that there'll still be plenty of Arkansans at the microphone, adding, "We're excited about Sen. [Tom] Cotton, Gov. [Asa] Hutchinson and Attorney Gen. [Leslie] Rutledge."

Metro on 07/18/2016

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