Jim Huffman: already backpedaling and whining
Kari Chisholm
Over at the O, Jeff Mapes elicits a sorrowful whine from Jim Huffman over the just-the-facts presentation of his writings at Meet Jim Huffman:
He seemed a bit disheartened to find that the Democrats are already digging into his archives."I've got such a vast amount of stuff I've written, much of which, frankly, I don't remember," he told me. He said much of it was part of an "ongoing academic conversation" about issues, and he said he's sure he's contradicted himself at times. "It's easy to take something out of context," he concluded.
Which pretty much just leads to a simple question:
Professor Huffman, which of your previous strongly-held positions are you now disavowing -- and which ones are you standing by?
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2:08 a.m.
Mar 5, '10
Full disclosure: My firm built Ron Wyden's campaign website. I speak only for myself.
Mar 5, '10
Okay, I get it. We're Democrats, he's a Republican so we're going to look for all the ways in which he contradicted himself in the past and accuse him of flip-flopping, etc. That's politics. But seriously, I hope we don't grasp at little straws here. Academics engage in all kinds of discourse and wrestle with all kinds of positions. That's part of the process. So let's not go overboard in trying to make something out of nothing, okay?
I think the key is, as Kari says, which STRONGLY held positions is he now disavowing? I'll be curious to see what turns up here.
Mar 5, '10
Wow - back to back hit pieces on 'ole Huffman. He must have you worried here at BO.
Mar 5, '10
Okay, I get it. He's a Republican, and therefore his crazy-ass ideology is off-limits for consideration by the voters. Instead, the media is expected to confine its reporting to observations about how "affable" he is. Jeez, Kari, why won't you get with the program?
8:50 a.m.
Mar 5, '10
I'm not sure I see the point in going negative on this guy. Huffman is a sacrificial lamb.
8:50 a.m.
Mar 5, '10
I'm not sure I see the point in going negative on this guy. Huffman is a sacrificial lamb.
9:11 a.m.
Mar 5, '10
How can a libertarian professor be viewed as a sacrificial lamb, Sal? Aren't they the ultimate "cold equations" guys? Their flagship mag is called Reason fer cryin' out loud.
I sure ain't gonna whack anyone for changing their minds based on new information, but everything else should be pretty much fair game for a guy who is the embodiment of Freidmanesque Rigor.
He's supposed to be a Big Boy..........
9:29 a.m.
Mar 5, '10
Pat - I'm not saying Huffman's rhetoric is not fair game, but this campaign is the political equivalent of the Jets v Hofstra. I don't see the point.
Mar 5, '10
...but this campaign is the political equivalent of the Jets v Hofstra
Don't knock Hofstra. Hofstra beat Temple 900 to nuthin', in their street clothes!
11:05 a.m.
Mar 5, '10
I suspect Huffman's sore points won't so much be the cases where he's changed his mind, but those where he still believes half the crazy stuff he's been propounding over the years. It would actually be refreshing (though not necessarily credible) if he were to disavow his previous positions.
Mar 5, '10
One thing I don't understand about Huffman's response is that he seems to be saying that what he wrote dates back decades and was merely an academic's musings. Here is a chronology:
Defended Taxpayer Bonuses - 2009
Called for Social Security Privatization - 2005
Health Care Rationing - 2009
Fighting Regulation of Subprime Loans - 2007
Defending Climate Change Deniers - 2009
12:15 p.m.
Mar 5, '10
Can't speak for anyone else Sal, but the disinfectant of sunlight will be just as useful whatever Huffman's chances. These guys get away with pushing religious ideology with no examples of their religion having ever worked.
They need to stand and deliver, not on whether their theories are elegant and air tight, but on whether they've ever been shown to work in the real world.
Even if Huffman loses badly, those of us who hold Critical Thinking as being the apex of the pyramid still win by demanding that he either make sense or explain why he doesn't make sense.
I look forward to lots of sparring with Kremer, Wynn,'n 'em. Don't expect to change their minds but perhaps a few poli-sci major Romantics who find the idea of Selfishness as a valid moral position, to be attractive, just might take another look.....
Mar 5, '10
I mean doesn't the guy look like the guy that empties the grease buckets in the back of KFC who got all dressed up for Pentacostal services?
Mar 5, '10
"...what he wrote dates back decades..."
Seems to be a pretty strong clue to Demo research staff to dig further back for some really good stuff...
Needs to check with Dick Armey about what he thinks now...
Mar 5, '10
Ron Wyden will have a fight. He'll have to defend the votes for unsustainable spending together with his vote against the Military Commissions Act of 2006 which now appears KSM & other 9/11 terrorists will now be tried. Wyden will also have to defend his vote to 1) increase health insurance premiums for most Oregonians who have health insurance; and 2) his failure to put in tort reform in legislation. Huffman will articulate this to many unhappy voters. Huffman has a shot at unseating Wyden if he follows Scott Brown's path. It will be Wyden defending his votes rather some vague and unknown contradictions on positions Huffman may have taken.
Mar 5, '10
I emailed L & C about the Thoreau Society's website continuing to list Huffman as a board member and as Dean of the School of Law. That has now been changed.
Mar 5, '10
Dan, tell me, what Republicans (and pseudo-Dems, like Phil Gramm) got a fight from conservatives for their support for unsustainable deficits during the Reagan administration? In fact, how much of a fight did Reagan get for the unsustainable deficits (>15%) during his administration? No, they call him their hero.
<h2>"Conservatives" only attack spending when the other side is responsible, even when the reality is that the other side's spending is far more responsible than their own.</h2>