Arkansas Blog: Huckabees registered for gifts

Gov. Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet, ~~apparently~~ are registered for home furnishing gifts at Target and Dillard’s department stores as they prepare to leave the Governor’s Mansion and move into a house (below) they recently purchased in North Little Rock.

Gifts requested at Dillard’s for Janet and Mike Huckabee include a 24-place set of Lenox “holiday” china (pictured) and stemware (from $14 to $40 a piece), Biddeford bed linens (king and queen bed skirts from $89 to $99), an oval pot rack ($60), an asparagus pot ($30), a Kitchen Aid mixer ($300) and a Jack LaLanne power juicer ($100).

The Jack LaLanne juicer is also on the Target list, along with a Kitchen Essentials 12-piece cookware set ($250) and cookie sheet ($20), Fieldcrest bed linens (from $30 to $144), rugs (from $25 to $150), and table linens, potholders and kitchen towels (from $2 to $13) and more.

Target's registry also notes: "Message from the couple: Target GiftCards are welcome." They can be purchased in amounts from $10 to $1,000.

The registries don't identify the Huckabees as governor and first lady, but they are listed as being from Little Rock and there are no other Mike and Janet Huckabees listed in the Little Rock phone directory. UPDATE: Following our story, Stephens Media reports that these registries are for the Huckabees, reportedly set up by "friends" of the first lady to help her make the "transition" to private life.

Arkansas law prohibits public officials from receiving gifts worth more than $100, unless the office-holder can prove that the gift came via a relationship “independent of his or her official status.” To ascertain the nature of the relationship, the Arkansas Ethics Commission may examine “such factors as when the relationship began (i.e., before or after the public servant obtained his or her office or position), the prior history of gift giving between the individuals, whether the gift was given in connection with a holiday or other special occasion, and whether the same gift was given to other public servants.”

Arkansas public officials also are required to report the “source, date, description, and a reasonable estimate of the fair market value of each gift of more than $100 received by the public servant or his or her spouse” in their annual Statement of Financial Interest, which is filed in January.

One of the 17 exceptions to the gift ban is “wedding presents and engagement gifts.”

The Huckabees’ gifts are listed at both stores under a wedding registry, although Dillard’s shows an event date of Nov. 14, and Target has Nov. 16. The Huckabees already have married each other twice, most recently on Valentine’s Day in 2005, when they upgraded their union to a covenant marriage.

Gov. Huckabee’s public calendar shows on Nov. 14 he is scheduled to speak at a trade seminar at the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and present a Community of Excellence award in Mayflower. On Nov. 16, he is to attend a business luncheon at The Church at Pinnacle Hills and then sign copies of his book, “Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork,” at the Lifeway Christian Store.

The governor’s office refuses to communicate with the Arkansas Times, but we sent an e-mail to Janet Huckabee asking about the Huckabees on the gift lists. She has not responded yet, but we will update this item when she does.

In late 2000, just before leaving the White House, President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, came under heavy criticism for registering for gifts to furnish new homes in Washington, D.C. and Chappaqua, N.Y. The Republican-led U.S. House Government Reform Committee in 2001 opened an investigation and found that while the Clintons received more than $75,000 in furniture, china and cutlery, they did not violate federal laws. Hillary Clinton was under additional scrutiny for her method of soliciting the gifts via a department store’s “wish list” registry, because she was a candidate for the U.S. Senate, but since she wasn’t yet a senator, she was allowed to accept them.

Gov. Huckabee has said he is considering a presidential run, but he has not established a formal campaign organization.

The Huckabees have been in the news over past gifts. The governor reported tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts during his first years in office. He was forced, after first saying the furniture was a personal gift, to disavow ownership of some $70,000 in furnishings provided for private quarters at the Governor's Mansion by cotton planter Boe Adams. Questions were raised about the legality of the governor accepting such a gift.. The Ethics Commission investigated him for other gifts he's received as governor, including a canoe provided by a soft drink bottler. He also has used his inaugural funds to pay for personal articles for the family, including clothing for his wife. Additionally, in his first year in office, records show he used Mansion expense funds for personal expenses, a prohibited practice.

The most famous end-of-tenure gift to an Arkansas governor was the money contributed to pay for a mansion Orval E. Faubus built in Huntsville. According to biographer Roy Reed, Faubus invited contributions to build the expansive house designed by renowned architect E. Fay Jones, and most of the money came from people who owed him for political favors.

P.S. -- Huckabee makes fourth on the Washington Post blog's list of potential Republican presidential candidates. But not exactly with a bullet:

The past year looks like a wasted opportunity for the outgoing Arkansas governor. Sure, Huckabee made numerous trips to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. But the attention he has paid those states hasn't resulted in a core group of strategists in each state to advocate for him. Huckabee's profile -- fat to thin, Baptist minister, southern governor -- is extremely appealing and should make him a top-tier contender. The question is whether he and his campaign team are ready for prime time? We're withholding our opinion for now, but Huckabee needs to begin to show tangible results of all of his spadework sometime soon.

Comments

Tacky---but not surprising.

It may be worth my while to drive out to Target to purchase the Hucks the shower hooks they registered for....and I'll only be out $8.99.
The thought of having to watch either of them shower without a curtain.......yeah, I'll go buy the hooks

Posted by: bronx | November 10, 2006 11:44 AM

What if he's planning to sign a contract on Nov 16 to be a pastor of some church? Would gifts from his flock have to be reported?

Posted by: Ecce! Spiro et Spero. | November 10, 2006 12:03 PM

I'm sure the IRS will be checking to see that it's all reported as income and taxes appropriately paid.

If they don't actually take possession of the loot until after he leaves office, do the gifts and ethics laws still come into play?

Posted by: Spirit | November 10, 2006 12:05 PM

Quick! Someone get an inventory of furniture at the Governor's Mansion and Fellowship Hall! Remember when Huck claimed, wrongly, that some Boe Adams gifts to the mansion were personal gifts? Watch the Bekins truck and what's put in it!!

Posted by: Quapaw | November 10, 2006 12:17 PM

We all know he is a CROOK in your eyes Max, but really it is not the case. I think you should focus on someone else at this point. I bet your paper is going to need some fill in stories once Huckabee leaves, because you won't have as many allegations to throw around. Unless that is of course you do it to your good buddy Beebe. But I doubt it. If you were going to do that, I think it could have already started.

ARKBLOG: We're not "throwing around allegations." We're simply reporting facts.

We never said this is illegal. There are laws governing how public officials receive and report gifts, and we referred to those laws.

We report, you decide.

Posted by: James Boulder | November 10, 2006 12:19 PM

Ooops, sorry Warwick. I saw the registry item and immediately commented and didn't read deep into your reporting to see that you'd already mentioned the Boe gifts. Apologies.

Posted by: Quapaw | November 10, 2006 12:21 PM

Just found a link to this post on Kos, Warwick...

Posted by: rosso | November 10, 2006 12:56 PM

I find this all very distasteful. Asking for gifts for no reason.

Is that old cow going to have a lingerie shower as well?

Posted by: Julianna | November 10, 2006 01:07 PM

If he is going to be president -- either of the U.S. or O.B.U. -- seems like he'll be moving and won't need any of this stuff.

Posted by: Albert Dentay | November 10, 2006 01:25 PM

Maybe we should all send him our credit card miles. Besides, how's he going to pass through the eye of the needle with all that crap?

Posted by: TMD | November 10, 2006 02:05 PM

How charming! A double double covenant marriage for the lovie dovies.
What's this? What perfect timing! A little known fact about the Dillard's registry is If you wait 60 days after the wedding date to pick up your presents, you get 20% off of all of it. Now let me see, when is Huck's last day in office? How special, he is always making the most of his gifts.

Posted by: Pippin | November 10, 2006 02:08 PM

no matter what this is very low for mike and piglet. the amount of class they have shown just keeps getting lower and lower. actually i am surprised she is not asking for the new melmac place settings from kmart they would real purty in the trailer but then that would be disloyal to wal mart. frankly i am still frightened by that picture of her voting the other morning, one of the scariest views of her we have seen. can you imagine what mike has seen some mornings?

Posted by: zonker | November 10, 2006 02:12 PM

And another thing...is it fair to deny gay people their rights to the sanctity of multiple and repeated wedding registries???

Posted by: TMD | November 10, 2006 02:13 PM

The only thing I find distasteful is the Times gleefully nosing around the Huckabee's private life. Seriously, worrying about a registry at Target and Dillards? This is a moment where you have to ask "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" C'mon guys, you're better than that.

ARKBLOG: So why do we have laws regulating gift-giving to public officials? Clearly someone else decided that it is not considered part of an office-holder's "private life."

Posted by: G.W.Hayduke | November 10, 2006 02:19 PM

my wife just had a thought. if they are hurting that much lets start a canned food drive for them and make it very known that they are hurting and need food and stuff..

Posted by: zonker | November 10, 2006 02:19 PM

I agree with zonker and mrs. zonker...after all, Jethrene has spent some time on the streets with the homeless...even if it was only a couple of hours...

Posted by: rosso | November 10, 2006 02:32 PM

Knowing Huck and his propensity for wanting free stuff, he probably asked that portrait artist for an extra copy to take home with him!

But, if he really needs some help, I'd be happy to contribute to the canned food drive.

Posted by: Quapaw | November 10, 2006 03:01 PM

Dear Hucksters,
Congratulations on you upcoming phoney nuptuasl. I scanned your registry items, but didn't quiite see the perfect gift.
So I cruised on over to Heifer Int'l and bought to a pair of hogs.
May God bless.

Posted by: UncleEarl | November 10, 2006 03:24 PM

The Husckter and Jethrine: A classless act. Don't let the doors of the mansion hit you on the ass on your way out.

Posted by: uncommon sense | November 10, 2006 04:30 PM

"The only thing I find distasteful is the Times gleefully nosing around the Huckabee's private life"

REEEEALLLY???
Is THIS "private life" stuff?
Are they still in office? What IF some trailer hussey was inclined to blow the Huck in the Gov Mansion? Would something like THAT be "private life" stuff?

Seriously.
Has this ever been done before?

Posted by: RickBaber | November 10, 2006 04:31 PM

Just when I thought I'd seen everything, here come Jethrine and her boy-toy to prove me wrong.

I wonder if any of that stuff will be monogrammed, and if so will Jethrine fit?

Of course I will be happy to contribute to the canned food drive, but I think we need to do more.

I hereby nominate DeathByInches as chairman of the ARTimesBlog Huck & Jethrine Weddin' Gift Registry. We can all mail DBI a little cash love offering, and then he can take it down to Dillards or Target and buy some of those lovely gifts.

DBI, you can thank me later, but dont take too long, you have lots of work to do now. Youre welcome, in advance.

Posted by: tina | November 10, 2006 05:18 PM

NO SHAME!

Posted by: Diogenes | November 10, 2006 06:17 PM

Huckabee is a piece of Crap. What an embarrassment to the State of Arkansas. Please give up the idea of being President. You have too many skeletons in the closet.

Posted by: Little Rock One | November 10, 2006 08:15 PM

GOD ALMIGHTY and...damn, how 'tacky' can two people get. Wedding gifts are...never mind.

...but how typical of the Pharisees to request homage.

Posted by: zelda | November 10, 2006 08:39 PM

You guys are too good. If the world turns flat and Huckabee by the grace of Jove gets into the '08 primary this page will be seen again, and again.
Good work!

Posted by: Lwood | November 10, 2006 09:11 PM

Wow.

I wish someone would put this article next to a pic of the 20 homeless people I saw hanging around the Salvation Army last night.

Sometimes I just don't believe I'm in America. I can't believe that Fat Ass and Old Hag would accept welfare like that. Buy your own damn shit.

Posted by: seablueislandgirl | November 10, 2006 10:34 PM

Maybe the Lord's Ranch can contribute some of their leftovers.
Charity, you know.

Posted by: BlueRidge | November 11, 2006 12:22 AM

"NO SHAME!"

NO CLASS either. Just another glaring example of materialism among self-proclaimed Christians

Posted by: The Bold and The Blue | November 11, 2006 12:55 AM

The post on this blog never cease to amaze me. Attack, attack, attack for no reason at all. you are attacking the Gov. and his wife because their friends want to throw them a house wraming party. I am not sure I get it. You say "buy your own damn shit" have you ever had anyone throw you a party and tell you to "buy your own damn shit" or did they get you gifts. You say they have "No Class" but you are the one posting on a blog calling people names like Jethrine and attacking every move they make. Maybe you should learn what class is before you decide who has it and who doesn't.

Posted by: James Boulder | November 11, 2006 11:28 AM

actually mr boulder i call her piglet. anyone who comes in here insisting that they name every lake and room around after him and her deserves that. that is not how people with any class act. look at bumpers, fullbright, pryor, ect. little people who come in with no idea how to act and act like the huckabees have get treated like they have. you don't create official press. piglet might have won her election if she had acted better. they did not get elected king and queen of arkansas.

Posted by: zonker | November 11, 2006 02:30 PM

Zonker,
I don't think there was ever any insisting that things be named after the Huckabees. I think that was a decision made by people on boards and commissions. But you probably know everything about it. Probably read it here or in the AR Times print edition. The problem is that you and the times and so many others get on here and just make SH*T up and post it, hell you might even believe it but you have nothing to back it up not one thing. You will say that you have a friend that was told by... or you know someone or heard this... but the truth is that is all crap. You make it up, and you do it because you hate that Huckabee won and as a Republican and even worse he got some things done. But what make syou more sick than anything is that he is not as bad a guy as you would like him to be and if he could run he would win again. That is what really gets to you. So sad.

Posted by: James Boulder | November 11, 2006 03:09 PM

actually some of the previously named people were asked for other things to be named after them and turned them down. the class thing to do. red necks like the huck and piglet would maybe want the capitol named after them but after they had the state police buy those swords to salute them their lack of class keeps them wanting more. maybe their own line of velveeta or letterman can have piglets big but hams.

Posted by: zonker | November 11, 2006 05:25 PM

If you can aford a $700,000 house, I think you can afford to furnish it yourself.

Posted by: Don Keyhotay | November 11, 2006 06:04 PM

*sigh*

James, get your head out of the sand, man.

(your words):

"I think that was a decision made by people on boards and commissions."

How do you suppose those folks wound up on boards and commissions?

People on this blog don't NEED to make anything up about the Huckabees. It's all out in the open.

Now I'm not sure if you are just a loyal supporter, a family friend, or a relative, but surely you can see the irony of an humble preacher-man moving into this enormous house and registering for (asking for) gifts. Can't you?

I am just a citizen of Arkansas. I didn't vote for Huckabee. I acknowledge that he has done some good things for the state of Arkansas; some things have just worked out for the state and he likes to take credit for them. That's even okay with me.

My biggest problem is that he wears this badge of Christianity, and he has used it -- yes, USED it -- to gain power, influence, and wealth. There is not a humble bone in his now-skinny body.

As a regular ol' nobody citizen of Arkansas, it is a little embarrassing to me that my governor goes around hawking his book in temples, buying a mansion and asking for gifts to furnish it, and has --at least in the past -- abused the mansion account in order to save his personal funds. Maybe he didn't know he was doing it at first, but an humble person would stop the practice and own up to the impropriety. Instead he brags that he "won" a lawsuit.

It's a shame to see a person who once seemed sincere in his vocation to fall victim to such greed.

I don't know about everyone else, but that's why I'm sick of him.

Posted by: hugh mann | November 11, 2006 08:21 PM

Arkansas Blog

Huckabees registered for gifts

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