Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a presidential candidate in 2008 and a potential candidate in 2012, said the Republicans had the "most to lose" in a shutdown, particularly if they alienated rank-and-file military personnel who would be compelled to work but would go without pay until Congress approved a budget.
Huckabee told Fox News, "The amount of money that we're talking about is so minor, we're talking about pennies...The Republicans have an opportunity to declare victory here."
He added, referring to the fiscal year 2012 budget proposed by the House Republicans, "The big battle is over the real long term, that which Paul Ryan has put on the table." This is the plan to abolish Medicare and Medicaid proposed by the House Budget Committee chairman Tuesday. Huckabee enthusiastically supports this plan, and advised the House Republicans, "This is too small a fire to use up all your water over a couple of billion dollars when the real issue is trillions."
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal Friday counseled the same approach, arguing, "We're not opposed to a shutdown showdown, but the policy stakes ought to be worth the political investment. The reforms in Mr. Ryan's just-released 2012 budget are worth such a fight."
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