Political pasts have a way of biting you in the ass. Just ask Republican candidate Mike Huckabee.
The Republican’s meteoric rise opens him up for all sorts of scrutiny – and Right Wing Watch decided to get in on the action. They’ve resurrected some of Huckabee’s previous statements on us gays. And they’re pretty gross. Take, for example, his opinion on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:
I agree with the leadership of our military, who believe it is not in the best interest of the armed forces to have homosexuals serving on active duty. I believe to try to legitimize that which is inherently illegitimate would be a disgraceful act of government. I feel homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk.
We assuming this “public health risk” refers to HIV. Speaking of, check out what the former Arkansas governor said about the disease back in 1992 – after the jump, of course.
From Mike Huckabee’s mouth:
It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population.
This deadly disease, for which there is no cure, is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents.
If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague.
What a compassionate conservative!
How about we take this to the next level?
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Lone Ranger and Tonto
I hope that they nominate the sob….my cousin lives in AR and works for Wal-mart. He is from Seattle, but had to move there during the Huckabee years. He is straight but he and his wife are cool.
The bastard was lieutenant governor, and still served as pastor of First Baptist in Texarkana, AR. Because they elect governor and lieutenant governor separately, Democrat Jim Guy Tucker, who replaced Bill Clinton, was convicted and resigned.
The man has been virulently anti-gay in word and in AR laws that deny foster parenting or adoption by gays. Hell, if a gay or lesbian lives in the home, it is illegal. He even opposed the lifting of the sodomy statute by the courts.
The Rethuglicans should nominate Huckabee and Romney – that should solidify the LGBT community to support whomever the equally but less bastard Democrats.
mozzer13
No way, Huckabee is the most dangerous candidate they have: a wackjob radical in very affable clothing. No one thought Bush was REALLY that conservative back in 2000 because he seemed nice. I’m afraid Huckabee would be a replay of that. Better that they nominate someone like Romney who has no convictions at all. He’ll be far easier to beat than someone who talks like Bill Clinton but says this kind of evil shit to the radical right.
Matt
I agree, mozzer13. Plus, who better to really motivate the radical fundies than a baptist minister? The LGBT “community” (and recent inter-familial sniping brings that whole concept into question) even united is would not stop the tidal wave of hypocritical self-righteous fundy radicalism that would sweep a Mitt (“I believe in jee-sus”) Romney/Huckabee ticket into eight years of theocracy that would impress the imams.
Bob R
The Huckster is just another conveyor belt demagogue. A professional hater like most religionists. He’s also a liar and a crook who will be betrayed by his lack of personal ethics. I’m sure he would support concentration camps for gays without batting an eye. But, being thin skinned, the Huckster will not do well in a down and dirty, no holds barred national campaign. His “Willy Horton” episode has been exposed and the motives behind Dumond’s parole are sinister and evil in contrast to the Dukakis release of Horton. If Huckabee gets the GOP nod, which I seriously doubt will happen, and is matched against Hillary, you will witness one of the most vicious and bloody campaigns in America history. As much as Clinton is reviled, once the truth about Huckabee is shown to the American electorate, he’ll be sent packing back to Arkansas where his hate for the Clinton’s will eat him alive.
mozzer13
I don’t know, Bob. Perhaps you’re right, but I’d rather take a chance on someone like Romney for whom the base of the party won’t get truly excited. The same could be said of Guiliani, of course, but he would pull enough independent voters to win a general election if he can manage to pull out the primary wins as a pro-choice candidate.
Bob R
mozzer13: Another possibility is the Repubs end up with an open convention where none of the major candidates have enough delegates to win nomination and some dark horse ends up the nominee. It seems that the Repubs are not happy with any of their candidates and all of them are very seriously flawed. My concern is who the Democrats will nominate. Hillary and Obama scare me because Hillary is hated by so many voters and I really do doubt that Obama can get elected, not only because of his race but his name sounds so Muslim. I have talked to educated people who have bought into the “facts” that he lived outside the U.S and was schooled at a Muslim mosque and his name is Hussein, etc. The American people are not very sophisticated and easily fall prey to the big lie. And, as progressive as many people may pretend to be, when in the voting booth they will not vote for a black man, a Mormon or a gay man, etc. It’s going to be a tough election. I just hope enough progressive candidates get elected to House and Senate to off set what we might end up with in the WH.
Mike
I think Huckabee would be an easy Republic ticket to defeat. In these times, he can’t get elected with 0 foreign policy or national defense experience. That’s why Hillary’s years on the armed services committee are so important, aside from the fact that she is legitimately the best-spoken candidate on foreign policy issues and a plan for Iraq withdrawal
anyway…
WWH
What a pig.
ProfessorVP
No, I don’t think Hillary could defeat Huckabee, or defeat anybody. Unless every poll is lying, too many people have made up their minds about her already and refuse to vote for her, nomatter what. Is Hillary better than any Republican (except Ron Paul) candidate? Well, yeah… is diabetes better than cancer?
Gregg
You’re fooling yourself if you think ANY Repug would be “easy” to beat. 2004 was supposed to be an easy victory too. Election theft issues aside, never underestimate the gullibility of the American voter.
Matt
Thank you, Gregg. The assumption of an inevitable victory will bite us on the ass.
patrick lehman
The republican money will simply not get behind a Babtist preacher who wants to instill a flat tax. He has a slick, pastoral patter which endears him to the hillbilly base and is indeed charming if viewed selectively.But he is not electable, which is a reason to root for him. As a progressive, I worry about McCain and Guliani, the only candidates who can win on Wall Street and the south. And Guliani is as pro gay as most candidates. But he is Mussolini reborn.
Mike
Drudge finally picked up on this story, linking to an AP article. It’s going to get big fast, and Huckabee’s going to give some excuse for his completely inhumane, un-Christian words. They are so outrageous that there isn’t even an evangelical in the South (well maybe a couple) who could look at his words and contend he’s actually man of compassion, or God for that matter.
Jon
Bravo Queerty! You picked up on this story a full day before most major newspapers. Can’t wait to see what he says
Franklin Turdz
I for one don’t base my vote strictly on sexuality. What about lowering taxes and reducing the size and scope of government??
MauraHennessey
It is easy when you are living in a priviledged position as a gay or Lesbian to forget just how incredibly important basic employment rights and hate crimes protections are. I am living in such a position and I am well aware of the insulation from abuse that exists for me. But most of the community is not living that life and not protected from abuse and bigotry by anything. I vote my sexuality, particularly now after the ENDA and Hate Crimes Act fiascos. And I am a die hard fiscal conservative.
Gregg
Most people don’t vote “strictly” on anything, including sexuality. But right now, since sexuality is being used by politicians as a platform and a wedge issue, it is very important as gay people to vote based on self preservation.
MauraHennessey
Of the candidates running, we have only one true supporter, and I still see no enthusiasm for voting for him amongst LGBT’s, even as a form of protest. I am going to, though. He at least believes that we deserve true equality.
David MacDonald
As a person with same sex attraction, I appreciate a man who speaks his mind. Huckabee is not hiding his opinions. That is what diversity is all about. Why do we have to call someone who doesn’t agree with us a flake? To me that is just as fundamentalistic as what we acuse in others.
my experience is here
David MacDonald
Gregg
David McDnld – if you’re so happy about Huckabee “not hiding his opinions”, why do you encourage others to hide their own opinions by avoiding calling him a “flake” (which by the way I cannot find anyone doing here. I would call him much worse)?
People here are not trying to silence him. They are simply reacting to his bigotry. Methinks you’re simply a jerk who is trying to advertise his own blog without really reading the comments here.
kel777
Mike:
Hillary is a war mongering neo liberal corporate shill, just like her sell out husband, who will do NOTHING to get us out of Iraq, and most likely will entangle the US in other misadventures as well. Obama is identical.
Kucinich is the only one with a plan. Sadly, he is always ignored. Whenever people are polled on issues rather than candidates, he comes out overwhelmingly on top.
kel777
No. 2 mozzer13 says:
Bush was “nice”? Sorry, I wasn’t fooled, I ALWAYS though he was exactly what he is: a sociopath and a fraud. This just shows how fraudulent the media is and how stupid the American voter is.