Jun 9, 2008 7:05am
The Huckabee Maneuver
EmailAt the North Carolina GOP convention breakfast Saturday, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee performed the Heimlich Maneuver on choking Lt. Governor candidate Robert Pittenger.
Huckabee, the keynote speaker, was sitting next to Pittenger when he noticed the North Carolinian wasn’t able to breathe. The former GOP presidential hopeful performed the Heimlich Maneuver on Pittenger, dislodging the obstructing foodstuff.
Huck tells ABC News it’s the third time he’s saved someone from choking using the Heimlich.
"I was trained as an EMT while in college and have had to use it before," he emails. "It’s a very simple procedure that everyone ought to learn, especially if they have kids."
- jpt
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Good for Mike and he’s right – everyone should know this simple way to save someone’s life.
Posted by: MIguy | June 9, 2008, 7:42 am 7:42 am
Bravo Mike Huckabee, and how wonderful to hear a positive, motivational story without political implications. Just an alert and good person. I hope many people take his words to heart and learn the Heimlich.
Posted by: 3dogmom | June 9, 2008, 7:56 am 7:56 am
OBAMA-HUCKABEE ’08!
Posted by: Kevin | June 9, 2008, 8:33 am 8:33 am
If John McCain selects Mike Huckaby as his running mate, he CANNOT lose.
If Barry Obama selects Hillary Clinton as his running mate, he CANNOT win.
Posted by: Silence Dogood | June 9, 2008, 8:53 am 8:53 am
A good way to save thousands of lives is to elect Obama and end the war in Iraq.
Posted by: Patros | June 9, 2008, 9:03 am 9:03 am
Whats this? No snide elitist liberal remarks? Maybe I’m just reading this too early.
Posted by: Guido | June 9, 2008, 9:04 am 9:04 am
Spoke too soon.
Posted by: Guido | June 9, 2008, 9:05 am 9:05 am
Like this wasn’t staged… come on!
Posted by: Dave | June 9, 2008, 9:11 am 9:11 am
This was stagged to say he is ready day one to watch over McCain.
Posted by: Greg | June 9, 2008, 9:12 am 9:12 am
This article is titled “Political Punch”. No, this isn’t a fake article, at all.
Posted by: Dave | June 9, 2008, 9:18 am 9:18 am
Surprised? Hardly..that’s just a sampling of what Huck’s all about! Those of us who know him well and support his political aspirations wouldn’t expect any less from this man who we support 100%!!! Huck, YOU ARE THE MAN!!
Posted by: Roberto | June 9, 2008, 9:18 am 9:18 am
Huck’s had to use the Heimlich three times? I’ve never seen someone choking on food. What’s he doing to make people choke?
Posted by: Andrew | June 9, 2008, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Now if only he could give the Heimlich maneuver to the whole polit-bureau inside the beltway, there might be hope for every one.
Posted by: Franky Edder | June 9, 2008, 9:28 am 9:28 am
Guido: I am a “snide elitist liberal” but no snide remarks on Huckabee! His agenda is extremely populist, he prioritizes domestic policies, and he is very child–health-environment-family friendly. Believe it or not, not all “elitist liberals” are blinded by their ideology, some can see good in the other party.
I agree, Silence Dogood: “OBAMA-HUCKABEE-2008″!!!
Posted by: Ioana | June 9, 2008, 9:47 am 9:47 am
Andrew, I’ve performed the Heimlich M. twice and seen several people choke, and someone nearby helped them. So its not as uncommon as your comment would suggest. Hopefully this will never happen, but if you or someone dear to you were choking, you’d be happy to see ol’ Mike Huckabee or anyone who could do the H.M.
Posted by: Liz Laughlin | June 9, 2008, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Huckabee should stay as a preacher and leave politics to the ive league educated.. I dont go to church and dont need a preacher to be my president…
Posted by: john | June 9, 2008, 10:10 am 10:10 am
Mike Huckabee is a good man and the obvious choice for McCain’s veep. Read some first person accounts of the event, and you will see that it was definitely NOT staged.
Of course, the negative cynics will continue to see and say whatever they can to attack someone with integrity, principles, and Christian values.
Posted by: Monte | June 9, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am
Yep,….It’s a good thing to know and it’s good that Huck was around to help when he did.
Posted by: Olddog | June 9, 2008, 10:46 am 10:46 am
I’ve saved my husband’s life twice with the HM. It’s not uncommon at all. Everyone should know it!
Posted by: louielouie | June 9, 2008, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Mike Huckabee should be the President of the United States, and the sooner the better.
Posted by: David Anderson | June 9, 2008, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Greg wrote:
“This was stagged to say he is ready day one to watch over McCain.”
Too funny, Greg!
Posted by: Shelby | June 9, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Huckabee saved Chuck Norris with the Heimlich. Chuck thanked him by roundhouse kicking him in the head once instead of twice.
Posted by: Double D | June 9, 2008, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
So, did the offending food spew out? Nope. This was indeed staged. Last month, Rollins admitted that the floating cross was designed to grab headlines, but how many times did we hear Huckabee proclaim he had no idea it was there?
Ha, ha. There are also indications that he staged the falling chair backstage so he could crack about the assassination of Obama.
Someone, please help this man. What a pathetic joke he is making himself. No shot for VP and no shot for 2012 or beyond. Poor Huck!
Posted by: Pamela | June 9, 2008, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
For the person wanting an “ivy league President”…personally I’d say that’s been one of our major problems. We keep electing these people (mostly lawyers) who don’t understand middle or middle-class America and then wonder why we’re unhappy. If we truly want a government “of the people, by the people and for the people” then we’d better start electing people who come from our demographics. I good place to start is with people like Mike Huckabee!
Posted by: txtransplant | June 10, 2008, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Comments for txtransplant:
Do you mean people who eat fried squirrel and talk about sticking the confederate flag pole in unmentionable places?
Or someone who shoots off his gun over reporters heads and who slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night as an explanation for foreign policy ignorance?
Or someone who registers for wedding gifts at Target after 25 years of marriage?
Or someone who doesn’t have the initiative to read the lastest NIE report?
I think you get my drift. These are consequential and dangerous times in which we cannot, indeed we must not elevate an individual not up to the task. Huckabee doesn’t even begin to come close to having the qualifications, temperament, character or intelligence to do justice to the office of the presidency.
Posted by: Pamela | June 10, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Well you know we “bitter people who cling to our guns and religion” do know who our enemies are. We also know that we prefer to keep as much of OUR money as possible and not allow the government to “redistribute wealth”.
Posted by: txtransplant | June 10, 2008, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm