Mike Huckabee Wants You to Ring in the Holidays with Homophobia

Published November 24, 2009 @ 07:15PM PT

Mike Huckabee might be pitching a new book on the joys of Christmas, but he somehow found the time to sit down with Katie Couric to wax on about how gay marriage will lead to the decline of society. For Huckabee, it's a holiday season full of egg nog, playing football with family members, and telling gay people that they're immoral and undeserving of loving relationships.

Huckabee's interview with Katie Couric is yet another example of the new right-wing talking point, "It's not that I'm against gay marriage, it's just that I'm for traditional marriage." And then in a case of political shrewdness that might even have Machiavelli jealous, Huckabee goes on to say that he's the one who is persecuted by gay rights activists simply for believing that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

""In all the recorded years of human history [marriage] has only meant one thing. It has meant a man and a woman relationship, that not only created the next generation, but that trained the next generation to be their replacements," Huckabee told Couric.

With talking points like that, one has to wonder if Huckabee forces his gay relatives to eat holiday meals in a separate room.

Huckabee has long tried to spin his opposition to gay rights as polite disagreement, even though he's openly called for gay people with HIV to be forcibly isolated by the state, and has joked around with Ann Coulter that people who engage in sodomy are disgusting. Yeah, that's class. But it's par for the course in the rightest wing of the Republican Party, where Huckabee has long planted a stake.

Huckabee also tells Katie Couric that gay marriage is akin to polygamy. That shows both a stilted understanding of relationships on Huckabee's part, but also shows a disturbing sense of logic that Huckabee would compare apples to celery (oranges are even too close to use as a metaphor for Huckabee's delusions).

Marriage equality for gays and lesbians is simply about wanting to be in a relationship with one other person, committing to that person, and receiving equal benefits under the law with that person. The key word there, of course, is "one other person." That's what defines a marriage, and no law allowing gays and lesbians the right to marry will change that definition.

It's more intellectual dishonesty from Huckabee -- a cup of homegrown folksiness mixed with homophobia and a slam of gay marriage. Sure, Huckabee may be the author of a new book on the joys of the holidays, but he sure has a lot to learn about the meaning behind what is supposed to be the most peaceful time of the year. Perhaps instead of coal this year, Santa will be giving bad kids a copy of Huckabee's latest book. Now that would be punishment.

But don't get me wrong: It's not that I'm against Mike Huckabee. I'm just for politicians who understand the definition of civil rights.

(Photo courtesy of Donkey Dish)

Spread the Word

More You Can Do

Get action and news alerts about Gay Rights »
Browse top Gay Rights organizations to support »
Find out more about Gay Rights and what you can do to help »

Comments (18)

I still can't believe people want this guy to be President.
I hate he was governor of my state. I wish he would just crawl in some cave and never open his mouth again.

Posted by Courtney C............ on 11/24/2009 @ 07:56PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Courtney
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Hmm....I wonder if Mike, like Sarah, is planning on touring the nation en autobus in hopes of selling a few books. I suppose that developing a website to promote books would have been too clean of an idea--using less petrol, reducing their carbon footprints, etc.. Perhaps this is the new strategy of republicans who either did not win the race, or who simply decided to resign from their job??

About three or four weeks ago I came across an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham more or less predicted that if the Republican party aligns itself with one specific group (such as the radical Christian jihadists) then the GOP will become a permanent minority within the political mosaic of the US. I have to agree with the good Senator from North Carolina.

Please join me and many other Americans this Thanksgiving, and let’s all give thanks for all the radical Christian Crusaders like Mike and Sarah who are helping to implode and neutralize the GOP from within.

Posted by Bryan D. Freehling on 11/24/2009 @ 08:27PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
Bryan, do you think the GOP is will create the biggest explosion in history before they neutralize the party?

Posted by Peter S. T. on 11/27/2009 @ 02:28PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Bryan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Mike Huckabee is an intolerant conservative with an incorrect view of LGBT rights. He is one of the worst of the Republican party because there are prominent people in that political party who support the important right of same-sex marriage. Mike Huckabee comparing same-sex marriage to polygamy shows that his logic on LGBT rights is of nonsense. Same-sex marriage is about two people who love each other, as said in the blog, to form a union commenced by a church.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 11/24/2009 @ 08:33PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Edwin
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Mike huckabee is an idiot and just one of many that actually thinks that a "kinder" "gentler" form of prejudice would make said prejudice any less evil and wrong...

Something to think about though...

If the bible thumpers are thinking they gotta be "nicer" about proclaiming their hate then maybe thats a sure sign that more and more folks are seeing through their bullshit ?

Posted by Reverend Boony on 11/24/2009 @ 10:44PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Reverend
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
If he wasn't such a racist bigot, I did like his sentiments on foreign policy, ( but not immigration.)

Posted by L.S. hope on 11/24/2009 @ 10:53PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by L.S.
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Mr. Huckabee's a pure bigot! Gays/lesbians represent absolutely no threat to traditional marriage! If a straight marriage fails simply because gays are given the right to marry, it must have been a very weak marriage to begin with. These right wing nuts cannot understand that people cannot be recruited to live the, "The gay life style." BEING GAY IS NOT A CHOICE! If it was a choice, there would be no gays--as no one in their right mind would ever CHOOSE to live a life filled with rejection. It is a basic tenant of a democracy that the will of the majority should never be used to suppress the rights of the miniority!! Therefore, the fact that the electorate is permitted to vote on the ability of gays t marry is a total travisty! The government should not be empowered to enforce it's view of morality. If the states in the deep south were allowed to vote, blacks in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, etc. would still not have the right to marry, own propertity, seek higher education, or to ride in the front of the bus. Mr. Huckabee, you are a disgrace as both politician and as a member of the human race!!

Posted by William Stddart on 11/24/2009 @ 11:51PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 3 people like this comment. Like
don't forget that he is a disgrace as a Reverend as well.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 11/25/2009 @ 02:17PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by William
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Mike Huckabee is,.. "It's not that I'm against gay marriage, it's just that I'm for traditional marriage. What does that mean straight do not "F" in the butt do they do something special like in the ear, the nose and blow jobs? One cooks and one does't? ne shops and one doesn't? One cleans and the other sits his fat ass on the coach? What then???????????????????????????????

Posted by Peter S. T. on 11/25/2009 @ 09:32PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Mike Huckabee only the package is different that is all, I think? Unless there something I am missing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Peter S. T. on 11/25/2009 @ 09:37PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Peter
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Seems like Huckabee comes out with a "new" book every year or so and makes the rounds promoting it by talking about the evils of same-sex marriage. This year it's a christmas book. How lovely.

Without a doubt, Fuckabee has nothing new to add to the dialogue but that will never stop him. In true Repugnican fashion he repeats his few baseless, unsupportable lies over and over again because REPEATING THEM IS WHAT MAKES THEM TRUE!

CREATING TRUTH is the secret weapon of the Repugnican Party. It has become their stock in trade ever since they figured it out as THE way to connect with the fundamentalist tradition of religion: they who lust for biblical "truth." Biblical "truth," as we know, is so pliable as to mean anything you want it to, as long as it doesn't go against everything you've always been told. How convenient for the Repugnicans!

The way Repugnicans create TRUTH is: 1.) State it; 2.) Repeat it; 3.) Repeat it again (and again, etc.); 4.) Whenever challenged, make no response. Instead, loop back to 3.) Repeat.

It doesn't matter how untrue, unsupportable, debunked, disproven, twisted, hateful, hurtful, irresponsible or ignorant it may be.

If you stick to your original thesis and repeat it - especially in appearances on TV - you will get so many people also repeating it without question that - presto! - it very soon becomes true! You can create whole worlds in 7 days! Huckabee adds a folksy charm to the formula which just allows those predisposed to his manufactured "truth" to accept it more easily. Shucks!

Last time I saw Huckabee hawking his last book on TV all he could say was that same-sex marriage cannot be. It cannot be. Same-sex marriage cannot be. It cannot be because the definition of marriage was set over two thousand years ago and can never be changed! If we wanted it to include same-sex unions then we should have done it back then, two-millennia ago. Sorry kids - you missed the boat.

Spoken with that shit-eating grin on his face, repeating it when challenged, full of confidence, full of shit. And people seem to eat his shit up. He makes it so easy for lazy and stupid shiteaters by keeping it totally simple (as in simple-minded) and sugar-coated. Yum yum, "candy-coated "truth turds."

Posted by Al Falafool on 11/26/2009 @ 09:40AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
He plays on peoples prejudices to gain constituents; your right about that. Although, all politicians do. If he would lay down his own prejudices and run solely on his foreign policy agenda, he would gain a better foothold with the Middle and Independents.

Will that happen? NO. So let him write books.

Posted by L.S. hope on 11/27/2009 @ 02:06PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Indeed mr. falafool BUT the more their lies are challenged by us with the truth the more the truth is believed...Provided we also take into account the fear factor that the bible thumpers rely on to make their lies more palatable.

We will win...We will win.

Posted by Reverend Boony on 11/27/2009 @ 06:00PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Al
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Allowing Huckabee to reproduce has caused the country's dental quality to decline.

Posted by Clifford Hritz on 11/28/2009 @ 07:58AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Clifford
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Do you know what Romans 1:24 means? We are talking about the lust of man and turning to Homosexuals who are born that way! Not homosexuality is a sin or Homosexuals are sinners! That’s not what God meant when he said it’s an abomination! Men should learn to keep it zipped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God is talking about straight men turning to homosexuals for their Sexual needs not two loving GAY parents.

I am sure that the Bible talks about these acts that are homosexual but not the people themselves are an abomination! I don’t have to read that Book to know that God refers to straight men and women and not Gay people!

Being a Homosexual is natural mutation of cells. Do you think in God’s infinite wisdom He wanted everything to remain the same when he knew and we know today, that everything constantly changes! Change is good as we know today it make life more interesting, bearable, and entertaining! So fundamentalists give up your CURSADES and let my people go and be!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Peter S. T. on 12/01/2009 @ 03:16AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Peter
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Huckabee should start a social club with Rev. Rick Warren(the guy who delivered the invocation at Pres. Obama's inauguration), who works with the Ugandan pastor who calls for death to homosexuals, yet Warren refuses to condemn him.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/30/rick-warren-refuses-to-co_n_373605.html

Posted by Clifford Hritz on 12/01/2009 @ 05:22AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Clifford
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
It's not that I wish Huckabee would get run over by a truck, it's that I wish a truck would fail to stop at the crosswalk he was in.

Posted by Phillip Mauracher on 12/06/2009 @ 10:36PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Phillip
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
re: "It's not that I'm against gay marriage, it's just that I'm for traditional marriage."

According to the Metropolitan Community Church, a valid religious denomination, and its ordained priests and ministers, same sex marriage is in accordance with their religious tradition. MCC must sue on the basis of religious discrimination when any other religious institution persuades the State that theirs is the only "traditional" definition of marriage, and demand that they be allowed to affix their signature, as agents of the State, on marriage licenses for any couple they pronounce married by virtue of swearing to uphold the provisions of that license.

Posted by Marck Fedor on 01/01/2010 @ 11:41AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Marck
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He is the former Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, as well as the former Director of Communications for Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace and justice organization. Mike is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and he is also a proud sketch comedy writer.