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Anti-Gay Mike Huckabee Joins FOX "News" as Contributor

Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee joins Fox "News" as a political contributor and "will regularly contribute" to FNC's America's Election HQ coverage.

Huckabee, who is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and former church official, is a social conservative and fundamentalist has ridiculously compared homosexuality to "sadomasochism, pedophilia and necrophilia" Also, the stridently anti-gay social conservative once proposed a quarantine for the HIV positive.

FOX says it's a fit. "Governor Huckabee's campaign experience and knowledge of politics makes him a great addition to our ongoing election coverage," says Bill Shine, Senior Vice President of Programming.

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Huckabee Apologizes for "Offensive" "Joke" About Obama

On Friday afternoon, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee made an off-color remark at the annual convention of the National Rifle Association. After the former Arkansas governor was interrupted by a loud crash backstage, he "joked" the noise was Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama falling "off a chair" as he dodged a "gun" aimed at him.

Over the weekend, Huckabee released a statement regarding his "offensive" comments:

During my speech at the NRA a loud noise backstage, that sounded like a chair falling, distracted the crowd and interrupted my speech. I made an offhand remark that was in no way intended to offend or disparage Sen. Obama. I apologize that my comments were offensive, that was never my intention.

On Sunday, Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister and former official in the Southern Baptist Church, explained his "joke" to Tim Russert on Meet the Press. Huckabee apologized for the "dumb, off the cuff remark," and noted similar "dumb" comments from other politicians:

It won’t be the last dumb thing I’ve ever said. I’m sure I’ll make other comments. I think we all in politics do. Ronald Reagan had an open mike and said ‘I’m gonna launch a nuclear attack against Russia,’ I remember John McCain saying ‘Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran.’ I thought that was funny, but I mean a lot of people didn’t.

A Southern Baptist minister and "right to life" moralist makes jokes about aiming guns at presidential candidates—especially those who have received racist death threats? WWJD?

I thought McCain’s ‘bomb Iran’ song ‘was funny.’ [TP]
Huckabee quips about gun aimed at Obama [AP]

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Huckabee "Jokes" to NRA of Gun "Aimed at" Barack Obama

Mike Huckabee, the former Republican presidential candidate and poster boy for social conservative causes, makes a truly tasteless joke at the annual convention of the National Rifle Association. After the former Arkansas governor was interrupted by a loud crash backstage, he "joked" the noise was Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama falling "off a chair" as he dodged a "gun" aimed at him.

"That was Barack Obama," Huckabee said to audience laughter. "He just tripped off a chair. He was getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him, and he dove for the floor," Huckabee told the NRA convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in comments that aired on CNN."

Watch Huckabee's "joke":

The clip was broadcast in the "Strategy Session" of CNN's "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer. "I’m sure the Secret Service wouldn’t be happy with those jokes either," Blitzer said. Both of the strategists present—including Republican Leslie Sanchez—agreed Huckabee's comments were offensive. "Not in good taste. I don't think I would—I'm not going to defend that one," Sanchez remarked.

Democratic front-runner Obama would be the first black U.S. presidential nominee or president. Many people have been concerned about his safety, and, as Rod 2.0 reported in May 2007, after numerous threats on his life, Obama began receiving Secret Service protection. This was "18 months before the general election and the earliest a presidential candidate has received protection."

Huckabee jokes to NRA of gun aimed at Obama [Reuters]

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Anti-Gay James Dobson Finally Endorses Huckabee for President

James Dobson, influential leader of the anti-gay and proto-racist Focus on the Family, finally decides one of the GOP presidential candidates is sufficiently theocratic to receive his blessing: Mike Huckabee.

In a statement released to the Associated Press, the spiritual guru to millions on the Christian right reiterates his intense opposition to front runner John McCain and says Mitt Romney's dropping out "changed the political landscape," perhaps implying the evangelical leader was willing to endorse the former governor of Massachusetts, despite historic animosity between the Mormons and evangelicals over key doctrinal issues.

"The remaining candidate for whom I could vote is Governor Huckabee," Dobson said. "His unwavering positions on the social issues, notably the institution of marriage, the importance of faith and the sanctity of human life, resonate deeply with me and with many others ... Obviously, the governor faces an uphill struggle, given the delegates already committed to Senator McCain. Nevertheless, I believe he is our best remaining choice for president of the United States."

This is excellent news and bragging rights for Huckabee, who long sought Dobson's blessing and believes "he is the best fit to advance Dobson's conservative, moral world view."

Throughout the election cycle, the evangelical leader has criticized the leading Republican presidential candidates. Former front runner Rudy Giuliani was derided as an "unapologetic supporter of abortion on demand" and being too soft on the gays. Character actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson was also trashed for not supporting a federal marriage amendment and having "no passion, no zeal." James Dobson has reserved his most intense vitriol for John McCain. The right-wing Christian spokesman says he will not vote for the Arizona senator under "any circumstances" and criticizes McCain "for his support of embryonic stem cell research, his opposition to a federal anti-gay marriage amendment and for his temper and use of foul language."

For what it's worth, the Christian right has attacked McCain for opposing the federal marriage amendment, but, he starred in several commercials for the proposed Arizona amendment that ultimately lost.

Evangelical Leader Endorses Huckabee [AP]

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Some Background ...
White House Must Reveal Visits by Anti-Gay, Christian Leaders [R20]
James Dobson: Just Say "No" to Giuliani [R20]
Anti-Gay FoF Will Not Support Thompson [R20]
Dungy Sits Down with Anti-Gay Dr. James Dobson [R20]
Why Is Dungy Endorsing Anti-Gay Fundamentalists? [R20]
Dobson Doesn't Have Time to "Cure" Haggard [R20]
Dobson on GOP Defeat [R20]
Blacks and Ex-Gays [R20]
"Ex-Gays" Refuse to Apologize [R20]
Ex Gays: Blacks Better Off Under Slavery [R20]
"Christians" Opposed to Obama [R20]

Huckabee: "I Don't Know" If People Are "Born Gay", But I Do Know "Behavior is a Choice"

Another day and yet another colorful detail is added to the fundamentalist, right-wing narrative that masquerades as Mike Huckabee's "compassionate" conservatism. The former Arkansas governor previously said all people are equal in the eyes of God, but, apparently, that equality falls short in matters of sexuality. The ordained Southern Baptist minister and Republican candidate for pastor-in-chief makes an interesting triangulation to Tim Russert on NBC's Meet the Press: Maybe people are born gay, maybe they aren't. But it doesn't mean they have to act upon it.

Huckabee was asked if he believed people were "born gay or choose to be gay?" Transcript and video.

"I don't know whether people are born that way. People who are gay say that they're born that way. But one thing I know, that the behavior one practices is a choice. We may have certain tendencies, but how we behave and how we carry out our behavior."

Russert also quizzed the candidate on his ridiculous comparison of homosexuality to "sadomasochism, pedophilia and necrophilia", in his words, described as "publicly endorsed and institutionally supported aberrations." Huckabee claims these are not "equivalent," but was only "pointing out these are deviations from what has been the traditional concept of sexual behavior and men and women having children."

Curiously, the governor did not share the biblical passages that convinced him to parole a convicted rapist who went on to rape and kill another woman. That definitely was a "choice" to "behave" in "publicly endorsed and institutionally supported aberrations."

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Huckabee Will Speak at Anti-Gay, "Anti-Catholic" Texas Mega-Church

Another day, another colorful detail is added to the right-wing, fundamentalist narrative that masquerades as Mike Huckabee's compassionate conservatism. On Sunday, the Republican presidential candidate and ordained Southern Baptist minister will "speak" at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, whose televangelist pastor, Rev. John Hagee, is described as "militantly anti-Catholic."

According to the Catholic News Agency, "It’s not hard to find evidence that Rev. Hagee does not think highly of Catholics or the Catholic Church. In a video discussing the biblical book of Revelation, John Hagee suggests the Pope is the anti-Christ, and that the Catholic Church is "The Beast" (17:30 and following) mentioned in the book."

Hagee, who is on good terms with the Bush Administration, is one of the leading figures on the Christian far-right and conservative publications such as Newsmax describe him as a "Christian Zionist." Hagee's primary message is around protecting Israel and opposing "Islamo-facist terrorism", but, on the domestic side, he is a vocal opponent of gay right and same-sex marriage, and, has tried to organize black pastors against the gay issue.

Huckabee's Sunday 'speech" should be illuminating, no? Perhaps the governor can share the biblical passages that convinced him to parole a convicted rapist who went on to rape and kill another woman ...

Via Bible Belt Blogger

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Huckabee Strategist Clarifies: Homosexuality and Necrophilia are Both "Aberrant Behavior"

Sorry to keep posting about this guy, but, as we say in the industry, the "narrative" writes itself. A top strategist to Mike Huckabee attempts to explain the Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor's remarks that apparently linked homosexuality to necrophilia.

First, some background: In a 1998 book he co-wrote called Kids Who Kill, the fundamentalist Southern Baptist minister and then-Arkansas governor wrote, "It is now difficult to keep track of the vast array of publicly endorsed and institutionally supported aberrations—from homosexuality and pedophilia to sadomasochism and necrophilia."

In an interview with TPM Election Central, Joe Carter, Huckabee's director of research, attempted to "clarify" the remarks. "He's not equating homosexuality with necrophilia," Carter told TPM. "He's saying there's a range of aberrant behavior. He considers homosexuality aberrant, but that's at one end of the spectrum. Necrophilia is at the other end. No way is he saying that homosexuality is like having sex with dead people. That's not it at all."

Carter added, "He was talking about aberrant sexual behavior. Sado masochism and necrophilia are on the further end of the spectrum."

The explanation is almost more confusing than the answer. Possibly, a graph (or "spectrum" analysis) may help to understand and chart these "aberrant behaviors", but, it's ridiculous to suggest pedophilia is "institutionally supported"—all of the states are very aggressive about arresting and prosecuting child molesters. On the other hand, necrophilia ... hmm, didn't know it was that big of a problem.

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Mike Huckabee and His "Theology Degree": He Doesn't Have One

Everyone pads their resumé—including preachers.

Remember when "faith-driven" Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee—the anti-gay ordained Southern Baptist preacher and former Arkansas governor who declared homosexuality was an “aberrant, unnatural and sinful lifestyle” that posed a “dangerous public risk"—claimed he was uniquely qualified to lead the war on terror because he was the "only guy on that stage with a theology degree"?

Actually, it's a bachelor of arts in religion, plus one year of seminary.

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Huckabee Strategist Ed Rollins Boasted "Paying Off" Black Clergy to Win 1992 New Jersey Election

Ed Rollins, the campaign manager and chairman hired by the Mike Huckabee campaign, has a very interesting pedigree. Aside from his best-known accomplishment—managing Reagan's 1984 landslide re-election against Walter Mondale—the avuncular conservative has a colorful and revisionist history in the racial politics of New Jersey.

This 1993 report from The New York Times has all the details. As the campaign manager of Christine Todd Whitman's successful 1992 election as the governor of New Jersey, the former Reagan operative boasted that he "made payments to suppress the urban and mostly black vote" and told reporters "the campaign had paid black ministers and Democratic Party workers in exchange for promises not to rally votes for [former Gov. James] Florio, financing the effort with $500,000 in what he called "walking-around money" from the Republican State Committee." This certainly wouldn't be the first time black pastors were paid off by the Republican Party.

Rolins later said his claims were an "exaggeration."

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Huckabee: Wives Should "Graciously Submit" to Husbands

The campaign of right-wing theocrat and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee continues to gain traction—he now leads the pack in Iowa and South Carolina—and the former Arkansas governor hires Reagan re-election strategist Ed Rollins to chair his campaign.

Perhaps one of Rollins' first tasks will be to revise and soften Huckabee's positions on women. In June 1998, the Southern Baptist Convention issued its famous "statement on the family" that decreed, "A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ." Women are not allowed to serve as clergy or laity in the Southern Baptist Church and two months after this statement, Huckabee, who at the time was the sitting governor of Arkansas and an ordained Southern Baptist minister, "was one of 131 signatories to a full-page ad in USA Today specifically endorsing the Convention’s view on marriage."

Just wondering if Huckabee "still stands by" this position, as he did on his now-infamous AIDS quarantine proposal? Does it apply to women such as Michelle Obama, or, Hillary Clinton?

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