Comments on: Huckabee: 'Lousy joke' but 'pretty benign issue'

By: EJ in MD

EJ in MD — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:25:28 +0000

It saddens me to hear DEMOCRATS say that they will vote for McCain! He does not share the same values as us democrats! I know that may HRC supporters are upset that she is losing, but don't take your anger out on Obama. He has not done anything wrong. They have both campaigned hard and he simply received more votes. He has not stolen anything from HRC nor blocked votes on FL and MI. We have got to unite and and realize who the real enemy is - THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!

By: Femi

Femi — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:20:13 +0000

I wouldn't take the joke personally and I think Obama is of the sameopinion. It's just that to throw such a joke under the current sircumstances is pretty lame. Bad tast and especially unexpected from a minister of religion. Remember, an agent of change was actually gunned down – MLK.

More judgement is needed

By: Sandra in Oh

Sandra in Oh — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:18:49 +0000

That was not a Racist comment. It was a comment about a competitor. These guys need bodyguards round the clock anyway. Why puck every comment out as Racist!.
God made different species and races. They are naturally leary of each other as an instinctive thing. Tribes have been waring since creation because someone who looked a little different from your own could be a threat. So poo on the word Racist that is just an excuse for troublemaking. God made us all and when we are face to face, prove you are good and trustworthy. Then I don't care if you are pink or turquoise.
Also, McCain too old? If 60 is the new 40 then 71 is the new 51. Maybe he will live to be 109..

By: EE

EE — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:16:19 +0000

The fact that the comment was of so little importance to you that you forgot you said it leads me to believe it's something that is a part of
you. It was a deplorable comment to make. Take responsibility
for the blunder(if it was a blunder)and do not blame bloggers. Fine choice
you make for a Repugnant VP.

By: TEXAS

TEXAS — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:09:35 +0000

The only republican that I used to respect, wow he really let his true colors show I’m so disappointed!!!
OBAMA 08

By: "i-s" is

"i-s" is — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:07:23 +0000

Mr. Huckabee didn't mean any harm with this comment, and the audience should be praised for allowing his comments to fall on death ears. Did you hear how silent the audience became? Mr. Huckabee's comments can be categorized as tasteless and thoughtless, but not necessarily racist. His comments could have been tastelessly and thougtlessly made about any candidate or person. Intellectually, this is a "benign" story; however, few things are one dimensionally. Emotionally, historically, racially, etc. it may not be benign, but in the end, I believe, it was simply a mistake. And for those whom it may matter to, I am a 44-year old Black man raised in a racist deep south Georgia city.

By: PeterK

PeterK — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:00:59 +0000

For republicans hanging a noose is a prank and suggesting shooting the first real contender black president is benign...This is a very sad joke. I actualy had some respect for the man until this episode

By: Don

Don — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:59:04 +0000

Hey Dumocraps . . . BOO ! ! !

By: truthfully

truthfully — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:56:20 +0000

This stupid mistake for a joke by Huckabee was unexcusable. For someone who calls themself a Christian, who is supposed to love EVERYONE regardless of who they are or what they do, that was completely unexcusable. He may not be a racisist, but he certainly made a very racially pointed joke that was shocking and unacceptable in this day.

By: Call it down the middle

Call it down the middle — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:56:09 +0000

Good old GOP humor! I'd rather peel off my toenails than listen to these goofs. Mike your a pastor or minister or whatever you call yourself (even though you don't act like one), stick to the sermons and leave the jokes to George Carlin ok. Your sense of humor is worse than your sense of judgement. Obama AND Hillary have courage as they are trying to enact change. At least they are standing up to oil companies, big business, and the washington lobbiest. Mac man is business as usual, he'll be the NRA's little puppet. Its sad to see such a heroic man, become some rich companies puppet. What's with the NRA anyway. I own a gun, but why do people join a club because they buy something? Is your life so bankrupt that you join a club because you bought something. I'm just trying to understand. Is there a political group for super soft toliet paper? I purchased that not too long ago, but I don't see the toliet paper people trying to get clout in Washington.

By: avoiceinthewind

avoiceinthewind — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:54:36 +0000

I'm an Obama supporter. Mike Huckabee is a stand up guy. This was truely just a mistake. I really hope that this era of catching people verbal gaffs and mistakes goes away. It is starting to get sickening. It doesn't allow politicians to be real people. They have to constantly parse what they say. That's not good for anyone. I think the Don Imus thing started this whole crazy foolishness. Let's just stop and get on with what we should really care about. Getting our troops whom, killing Bin Ladin, peace in the middle east, lower gas prices etc. This is foolishness.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:49:51 +0000

Anyone who has ever attempted to make a joke can sympathize here. Whether you like Huckabee or not, anyone can see that he's not a racist. No it wasn't funny, yeah Huckabee knew it. Thats what happens when you aren't reading off a script. Just let it go and focus on the things that matter. Or we can just say he's a jerk and act like we've never said something that we had to kick ourselves over afterward.

By: Asian Guy

Asian Guy — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:48:50 +0000

That was a stupid remark..similar to what Bush said the other day about rise in food prises due to growth in food consumption in India & china.

Anyone who has such a loose tongue is a big risk to be a vice president.

Democrats are entitled to make it a big issue as thats what the republicans did for Obama's bitter ppl remarks & michelle's first time pride remarks !!!..This is game of politics..

By: nwa

nwa — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:47:33 +0000

if you kill this one (obama) there wont be a corner of this country left unburned, and 10th of thousand white people will be killed.a race war
everybody knows huckabubba is a racist bigot ignorant pinkneck....

By: Frances

Frances — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:46:29 +0000

I think we put to much into what these people say. If that comment was made using bill clinton or john mccain name the media and bloggers would have let it fly. They are playing into our own biases. Trying to get a rise or a story. They make me sick.

By: Jean M Fevry Calgary Alberta

Jean M Fevry Calgary Alberta — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:45:16 +0000

If it was Obama who made this stupid joke the media would be all over him .

Also this is just to see how low some members of the Republican party are becoming.

Georges Bush is no better than McCain and HucK OR BEE after his silly speech in Israel.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:44:16 +0000

Shame on You! Typical of the GOP. Same old politics, same old lines. I want something new next time.

By: Daniel Hutchinson

Daniel Hutchinson — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:42:14 +0000

It is not enough to say that this was an incredibly stupid, idiotic thing to do. But to realize that Huckabee's mind automatically went to this image of someone pointing a gun at Obama tells volumes about what goes on in Huckabee's unconscious mind. Or as my preacher dad used to say quoting the Bible: "From the heart, the mouth speaketh." And this is just the tip of the iceberg of bigotry and fear of "others" that the Republican party has fostered for its own political gain. As far as I'm concerned, the current crop of Republicans have destroyed the party and are beyond redeeming.

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:41:55 +0000

Hucks, give me two more days, you need to be tested. fellows, Pastor Hucks need to be tested...............................he deserves one bullet.......... ensure you dont give him more than one.................. go boys

By: Over it

Over it — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:41:45 +0000

I could not believe he said that... I am disappointed in him and he calls himself a man of God.

By: Bridgette

Bridgette — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:38:36 +0000

I really do believe he was just trying to crack a terrible joke. Atleast that is what I am telling myself. He just wants to be on the national stage. But for some reason I don't think he was trying to be a racisist.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:37:41 +0000

And where exactly is CNN, NBC, ABC on this? No-one ignored the issue with Rev Wright so now why is Huckabee getting off easy for this insenstive, rude and downright insulting comment!!!!! Shame on you Huckabee-I'm glad you're out of the running. Although I like McCain and may possibly vote for him-I will not, if Huckabee is his running mate.

By: Len

Len — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:35:09 +0000

Mike & Hillary are all-both-together-completely right about OBAMA.
Hillary Clinton is what's left of a great Democratic process and a responsible party of Democrats. Since all three of these candidates have frosted the cake, enlarged their pictures and claimed bragging rights the real truth lies in what words (were) are intentionally said: spoken with forethought and worth repeating. Kudos of compliments to Senator Hillary Clinton on all three. She is a great example of what a President of these United States should be.

By: Gomer Pile Scum Bag!!!

Gomer Pile Scum Bag!!! — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:33:55 +0000

There was absolutely nothing funny about that joke....what the h&%* was he thinking. The point is alot of people fear for Obama's life and believe that something like this could really happen.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:33:08 +0000

The reason why this is being blown up is because we all know a lot of Americans are racist and are capable of attacking the first Black President. It's ok to joke around but when you joke about shooting someone, the real question is whats the root of this joke. Deep down inside Huckabee might be racist, I thought he was a good guy as well, but what is done in the dark will come to light, and his true feelings are coming to light. His joke reminds me of a White man joking about hanging a Blk man...its not funny, real people have suffered and died. I bet if someone joked about shooting Bush, it would be a completely different story.

Furthermore, as a Christian man, he should have known better....

By: citizen

citizen — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:32:24 +0000

Is it possible for Republicans to be civil?

Man of God, I think not.....wolf in sheeps clothing more the case.

By the way.....did the math.....the whole anti-christ thing. well he did come!... but Not Khadafi, or Saddam.....however he does have a job in the white house, he and crew are alive, well and doing there thing.

Just check out their record so far

May all those who have died, been tortured, robbed and lied to......may they not be forgotten.

By: Trenton Sims, Los Angeles

Trenton Sims, Los Angeles — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:28:09 +0000

The Only thing worse that Hukabee could have possibly said is that Obama fell off a chair trying to avoid the LYNCHING noose in the back..

A Very Sick Freudian Slip Mike..

The Longer this goes the More Typical White People Slip and expose their True Colors..

Sad ..just Pittyful...its 2008 and still all this White Hate...

By: just a moderate

just a moderate — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:28:02 +0000

Okay, look. Did he mess up? Hell yes. Nobody here is saying, "Wow, we love him MORE for saying that" Everybody is acknowledging he made a mistake, some are choosing to accept that sometimes remarks come out that really just make you want to sink into the floor, and some on here are choosing to remain angry. And you know what, thats fine....its just that, honestly, people make mistakes all the time. I know I've said something, hoping to be funny, but instead it came out quite wrong. On a final note, when people post about how "white people did this" "white people did that," THAT is a form of discrimination. No matter what, whether a person is of African, European, Asain, or Hispanic descent, we are all americans. Making generalized statements about "white people discriminating" is for the most part, untrue. Are there exceptions? Yes, and that is terrible. I agree. However, making generalized statements like that is a form of reverse discrimination. So please, view your neighbors as American, no matter what they look like! (Also, the more people blame white people for things, the "white people" just get defensive, then both sides are angry and the problem intensifies. Ending racial discrimination is something that people of every descent need to work on.)

By: Wise White Guy

Wise White Guy — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:26:01 +0000

Also would like to say that it sickens me that people think this was made a story by the Obama campaign. The media picked it up and ran with it not the Obama campaign. If you people watched Obama speak once in a while you would see that he has nothing but sympathy for someone who mispeaks or phrases things wrong. And unlike McCain who changes his mind daily, Obama has handled these things consistently from the start.

By: SusanM.

SusanM. — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:25:26 +0000

Huckabee..you're a gun toting lunatic. Your comment was disgusting. Is that what Jesus would have done? McCain might be stupid enough to chose you as his running mate. I hope he does..it would make it easier for Obama to defeat McCain aka Andy Griffith's grandpa and you a combo of Barney Fife and Barney Rubble.

Obama 2008/2012

By: mmartin arkansaw

mmartin arkansaw — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:24:23 +0000

huckabee will regret making such a stupid remark.GOD is not happy with you.americans will not let you live this down.NOT FUNNY!

By: Wise White Guy

Wise White Guy — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:23:13 +0000

I was buying it up until he said he didnt remember saying it. I watched the video and he knew almost instantly he made a huge mistake. I have heard someone say he uses a joke like this in his sermons about Jesus and a nail gun so if thats true i could see how he would make the unscripted mistake. Unfortunately we live in a world with a lot of racist ignorant crackpots. The truth is that the threat to Obama is a real one and it is very unfortunate. Really wish he had not lied about not realizing he said it. That makes me wonder about his charachter as a whole.

By: Will S.

Will S. — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:20:18 +0000

Why do people take crap like this seriously? Get over yourselves and argue about something important.

By: The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:20:13 +0000

INSTEAD OF PUTTING HUCKABEE ON THE TICKET,.. I SAY GIVE BOTH HIM AND McCAIN A TICKET, FOR A BUS RIDE TO SHADY ACRES HOME FOR THE AGED, AND MENTAL INCOMPETENTS.

By: Marlie:

Marlie: — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:18:29 +0000

As a foreign observer to this blog, I am astounded at what Huckabee said. This from someone who is possibly trying to br VP? Come on America. This is NOT a joke. In closing, it always amazes me how ugly Hillary supporters are. You people really need to get a grip on reality.

By: Farrell, Houston, Tx

Farrell, Houston, Tx — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:15:08 +0000

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS MAN CALLS HIMSELF A PREACHER BUT AGAIN THE BIBLE WARNS US ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE HUCKABEE. HUCKABEE HAS SOLD HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL.

By: Jo Ann

Jo Ann — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:14:50 +0000

Preacher or not what is in your heart comes out your mouth. Mike just showed us what's in his heart. This is not laughing matter and for it to come out of the mouth of someone that was actually trying to be the
president is scary. For all the best policatical teams on CNN,MSNBC,
to say that he meant to harm is shameful. If it had been J WRigt they would still be reporting on it. Seems like a double standard to me. I expect that from Fox and Glenn Beck but not the other media. And to think that this nut wants to be vp and something happen to McCain he would be president. McCain please say no.

By: sweetpea

sweetpea — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:14:16 +0000

Huckabee is a preacher? He knew exactly what he was saying when he made those horrible remarks about Senator Obama. He's trying to get all of the racist good ol' boys riled up and to frighten Senator Obama's campaign. What a creep!

By: John Anthony Castro

John Anthony Castro — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:10:11 +0000

HONEST NO-SPIN REVIEW: Huckabee made a very awkward joke. Yes, some were correct to label it a Freudian slip. It demonstrates Huckabee's true feelings towards Democrats and further proves that his loyalty lies with the Republican Party and not Christianity. For if his loyalties lied with Christianity, he would never make such a borderline threatening comment toward a fellow Christian, and anyone who says Baptists are not Christians is not a true follower of Jesus Christ who loved everyone including an adulteress.

It's amazing how people sell their souls when they near victory. We saw it with Hillary and the HMOs; we saw it with McCain and the Military Industrial Complex; and now we're seeing it in Huckabee. The only person we're waiting on is Obama. He certainly backed off his idea of not accepting money from lobbyists, but that was only to remain financially competitive.

Only time will tell.

By: Candis

Candis — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:56:49 +0000

HUCKABEE IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NO WHERE IN HIM. HE IS THAT WOLF IN SHEEP CLOTHING. GUESS WHAT? HE 'S A GOMER PYLE. HE IS AN IDIOT TRYING TO BE AN INTELLECT. A "COUNTRY BUNKIN"

By: Independent New Yorker

Independent New Yorker — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:53:39 +0000

Huckabee has often been quite funny on the campaign trail. He has was just trying to make a joke as he normally would do, but it was not thought out or planned and it was really the wrong thing to say. He apologized a number of times for the comment, saying that it wasn't funny and that he was sorry. What more does everyone expect? Conversely, you have Obama making stupid comments himself and not backing down from them. The "bitter comment, for which he has not sufficiently apologized, and his close ties to his pastor, which he did not sever immediately as he should have, have really undermined his argument for for having any kind of superior "judgment". On a final note, people in this country and especially some of those who write on these blogs really need to stop crying out "racism" for events, criticisms or situations that have absolutely nothing to do with race. It undermines the true meaning of the word and does not help the credibility of situations in which people are truly subjected to the unfortunate prejudice that does exist with narrow minded individuals.

By: SZ

SZ — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:52:52 +0000

CNN, what's with the poor moderation on these message boards? Why is it okay for people to post poorly written or hateful comments–or comments that simply say (something along the lines of) "Go [my candidate]"?

How do you expect to be perceived as a serious news authority?

By: steven

steven — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:47:52 +0000

AMERICA IS A FAKE, ALWAYS WILL BE. ALL MEN HAVE NEVER BEEN TREATED AS EQUAL IN THIS COUNTRY AND A LOT OF US ARE STILL PROUD OF THAT FACT.

WE AS A PEOPLE HAVE A VERY DARK AND UGLY SIDE!

THE COMMENTS HERE, CBS, NBC, ABC, HUNT. POST, WASH.. POST AND OTHERS NEWS SITES SPEAKS VOLUMES ON WHO AND WHERE WE ARE AS A NATION. RACE STILL MATTERS, WE HIDE IT VERY WELL, BUT WHEN IT'S OUT WOW HOW SAD.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:39:15 +0000

I love Huckabee and I know he didn't mean anything by this poorly phrased humor. He attempted to make a joke and try to relate it to the guns issue at hand – off the cuff. How many of us could do that and have it come out perfectly politically correct? By the many many responses to this article you can tell that it is Obamas crew trying to make more of something than needs to be. Huckabee is one of the best speakers I have heard in a long time and I have great respect for him. I hope McCain chooses him for VP.

By: Claudette Keller

Claudette Keller — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:38:38 +0000

I am one who ministers the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I speak to “Mr. Hucklebee”, or “Pastor Hucklebee” to tell him to read his bible. It clearly defines his actions as the same as the religious devils who continued to try and find fault with Jesus but couldn’t. Therefore lies were told and truths we altered. Hucklebee should check himself to see if he’s not doing the same to Barack Obama. Lastly two scriptures the “pastor” should read are:

"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34)

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (II Cor. 11:14)

By: drltw

drltw — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:38:11 +0000

I am proud of the fact that the members of the NRA who attended that convention and heard the joke did not laugh at the punch line. Anyone familiar with the history of those who make up the NRA would attest that this within itself is progress and reveals that our attitudes towards overt racism have changed in this country.

It should be noted that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is an ordained Baptist minister and a preacher of the Word of God.

It should also be noted that it was many of these same white Baptist ministers in the deep South who preached "Jesus is Love" from the pulpit on Sunday mornings while they killed blacks, auctioned slaves, and lynched negoes from Sunday Afternoon through Saturday night.

Although no one can judge Mister Huckabee's heart, his words are a direct reflection of what is stored there. Although he would like for this to be a "benign and insignificant issue', it is far from if.

All that can be said is that history proves that Mr. Huckabee's being a White minister does not discredit him from being a racist and words that come from the mouth are often a reflection of what is stored in the heart.

Did he mean it? Maybe. Is he a racist? Maybe not.

Only God knows.

By: JC

JC — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:35:05 +0000

Is Huckabee still running?
Is he forcing himself onto us?
Not a chance!

Huckabee is looking for a job.
Perhaps he can be a good token figure for the weight loss campaign in the nation if he can convince his own son to lose 100 lbs. That can be a life saver for him.

By: VELMA H

VELMA H — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:33:26 +0000

I AM A HILLARY SUPPORTER. IF SHE IS NOT NOMINATED I WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN FOR THE FIRST TIME. MCCAIN WILL THEN BE ELECTED AND HILLARY WILL THEN HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO RUN. HOPEFULLY OBAMA WILL HAVE HER AS A RUNNING MATE. AT THIS POINT HE HAS NOT REALLY BEAT HER , ONLY IF HE BEATS HER COUNTING FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN. AFTERALL THIS WILL BE A NATIONAL ELECTION . I THINK THE SUPER DELAGATES ARE AFRAID OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE OBVIOUS, BARACK DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY STATES , BUT THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY CRYING RACISM- BECAUSE OF THIS DEMOCRATS WILL LOSE THE GENERAL ELECTION.

By: Anna, SW Missouri

Anna, SW Missouri — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:30:43 +0000

Put Huckabee on McCain's ticket and the Democrats will only have to show the video of McCain singing "Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran" and Huckabee in front of the NRA making that joke, and ask the question-Is this what America wants?

By: What the Huck??

What the Huck?? — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:30:29 +0000

Tacky, tasteless, appalling, racist (the first thing he could think of when he heard a loud sound? - rather interesting, don't you think!?), far from funny, inappropriate, sad, pathetic, shocking (but not so shocking all at once!), disappointing, typical... need i continue?

OBAMA '08 & '12