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Thousands Rally Against Marriage Equality in Sacramento

Up to 6,000 evangelical Christians rallied and prayed against gays, same sex marriage and abortion at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Saturday. The event was the 17th "Call to Conscience" rally organized by anti-gay evangelist Lou Engle, reports the San Jose Mercury News.

Thousands of Christian conservatives spent 12 hours Saturday praying and fasting in front of the state Capitol at a gathering organizers described as spiritual repentance "when there is no hope for a nation." The daylong religious event was led by Lou Engle as well as other pastors and speakers to protest gay marriage, pornography and abortion. Many of those attending slapped red "Life" stickers over their shirts and set up blankets and folding chairs facing a large stage with banners that read: "Only One Hope God."

People close to the front of the stage held up their hands when called to prayer. They jumped and danced to musical performances between sermons. The gathering filled the west lawn of the state Capitol and hundreds of people spilled into the next block, but the rest of Capitol Mall's five-block-long lawn went unused despite large screens and barricades set up for the occasion.

Engle, Mike Huckabee and other social conservatives blasted  Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional in a landmark ruling last month, reports the Sacramento Bee.

Among the speakers was Tony Perkins, a leader of the religious right and head of the Washington lobbying group the Family Research Council. Perkins railed against U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker for overturning Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage. He said Walker's ruling diminished the legal rights of religious people opposed to gay marriage. "If (the ruling) stands, in one generation we will have gone from banning the Bible in public schools to banning religious beliefs in society," Perkins said. The event's organizer, conservative Kansas City evangelist Lou Engle, urged the crowd to "break the altar of homosexual marriage."

The event was free of charge but people were "regularly asked to put donations in the 'offering stations.'"

Not on their prayer agenda: Hunger, poverty, homelessness, human rights, domestic abuse or HIV/AIDS. However, the Sacramento Bee adds the crowd was also asked to pray for "clergy addicted to pornography, bisexual women—even middle-aged men who play video games."

Anti-Gay Black Republican Tim Scott Poised to Win SC-01 Primary

The Republican Party is poised to nominate and elect its first black Republican congressman from South Carolina in a century. State Rep. Tim Scott is the Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee-endorsed, black, anti-gay Tea Party conservative. Scott is the only black Republican expected to win this cycle and just "one of two or three given any chance at all," reports the Washington Post.

After placing first in the primary two weeks ago, Scott faces a runoff with Paul Thurmond in today's GOP House primary runoff. Thurmond is a member of the Charleston County Council and son of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, who infamously ran for president in 1948 on the segregationist "Dixiecrat" ticket. After his death, it was discovered that at age 22 he fathered a child with his family's black maid.

The national GOP—hoping to elect its first black congressman since J.C. Watts (Okla.) left office in 2003—has thrown its support (and cash) behind Thurmond's opponent, state legislator Tim Scott. "Tim Scott deeply believes in what makes America and certainly South Carolina great -- faith, family and freedom," said former Arkansas governor and presidential contender Mike Huckabee, who on Friday became the latest national figure to throw his support behind Scott. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin jumped in the next day. And although the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is officially neutral in the race, two of its top leaders have given money to Scott's campaign.

On the candidate's website, Scott boasts: 'Tim Scott believes in the sanctity of traditional marriage between a man and a woman and opposes gay marriage." The candidate also opposes repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Tim Scott also supported the GOP-dominated state legislature's proposal to slash the state's entire HIV/AIDS budget, including funding to the critical AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Columbia, SC has the 9th highest HIV rate in the nation. New seroconversions in the Carolinas are disproportionately young black gay and bisexual men. More at our pieces for Black AIDS Weekly, "Recession Forces States to Slash ADAP" and "New Data Reveal HIV Hammering Black Gay and Bisexual Men."

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]
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Dobson on GOP Defeat [R20]
Blacks and Ex-Gays [R20]
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"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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