Huckabee clarifies Portman criticism
(CNN) - Mike Huckabee is explaining comments he made earlier this week criticizing Oscar winner Natalie Portman for being pregnant and unmarried.
"In a recent media interview about my new book, A Simple Government, I discussed the first chapter, 'The Most Important Form of Government Is a Father, Mother, and Children,'" Huckabee said in a statement obtained by CNN. "I was asked about Oscar-winner Natalie Portman's out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Natalie is an extraordinary actor, very deserving of her recent Oscar trophy and I am glad she will marry her baby's father. However, contrary to what the Hollywood media reported, I did not "slam" or "attack" Natalie Portman, nor did I criticize the hardworking single mothers in our country."
The former Arkansas governor and possible Republican presidential candidate criticized the actress Monday on a conservative radio show for being pregnant and unmarried.
"One of the most troubling things is that people see a Natalie Portman or some other Hollywood starlet that boasts of, hey look, we're having children, we're not married, but we're having children and they're doing just fine," Huckabee told host Mike Medved on his radio program.
Portman, who won the best actress Oscar on Sunday for her role in "Black Swan," is engaged to choreographer Benjamin Millepied, who also worked on the film.
Huckabee, a Baptist minister who ran for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, said when wealthy actresses have children without being married, they set a bad example for the rest of America.
"There aren't really a lot of single moms out there that are making millions of dollars each year by being in a movie," Huckabee said. "I think it gives a distorted image that not everybody hires nannies and caretakers and nurses. Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and would not get healthcare."
In addition to her work in films, Portman attended Harvard University and graduated with a degree in psychology.
Portman has yet to respond to Huckabee's criticism.
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So he's saying Americans are too f-ing stupid to realize the differences between themselves and movie stars? And instead of promoting ways to make the population more intelligent and self-sufficient his solution is to infer that Natalie Portman should throw aside her Jewish heritage to conform to his Baptist leanings?
Excellent! Let's improve America one movie starlet at a time! He keeps that position up and I'll start viewing Palin as viable...at least she's funny.
Reverend, before you criticize Natalie Portman, would have the guts to criticize philanderers in your party and other (Tele) evangelists? The list is a mile long!
Mike H. is right that unwed mothers should not be glamorized. IDK if I would have chosen Natalie Portman to make the argument since there are plenty other in Hollywood and his own party he can use as examples against vice. Mike H. has turned into a bomb throwing and is obviously going after high profile individuals to help pump his book. That's pretty sad.
So Mike Huckabee has appointed himself to be Natalie Portman's "Jiminy Cricket"? What a laugh!
Hopefully Natalie won't respond. This is not even worth her time. Huckabee is a crazy right-wing nut job appealing to the lowest denominator that happens to think they're values are actually Christ-like when it's clearly the opposite. Hatefullness and being judgemental will get you nowhere Huck.
This GOPers needs to stop attacks on personality . Tell people they plan for the next four years . Gop !!! We are ready for 2012...
We need political humor. Nothing says moron humor like Huckabee. "Asked why he is still in the race, Mike Huckabee said, 'I have nothing else to do.' So it sounds like he really is running for vice president." –Jay Leno
Have any of you noticed that "right Wingers" are running for office they "Bravely" attack the morality of others, comments on nonsensical subjects like," is he one of us ?" and ,at the same time carefull stay away from commentin upon anything of substance ? These COWARDS pose aggressively against women's control of their own bodies, Unions, and Muslims while ignoring JOBS,JOBS, JOBS unless it's an attempt to castigate present office holders.
No potential solutions offerred. Much of their statemments are made up and based upon rumor or fantasy.
Huckabee is a Baptist Minister. Don't the Baptists believe in , "do not bear false witness" ???????
Doesn't he know that she's carrying Luke and Leia Skywalker?
Yep...another great example of someone who wants to lead this Nation by his standard of morailty. Listen pal....WE can decide without your help what movies we will see, WE will decide our own procreation, and WE will decide who is fit to run this country and tackle the issues of a Nation. Stay out of our bedrooms and our personal decisions. Natalie Portman is a very talented actress. Thats what she makes her money off of. Just like Rush, Hannity, and Beck make their gazilions doing nothing more then generating an incessant droning of hate...she is entitled to make her money without your condemnation.
For a bunch of people who scream about getting government off our backs, you sure seem to have an obsession for what goes on in our bedrooms, what a woman should or should not with HER body and what we should be entertaining ourselves with.
I think Mike Huckabee degrades American values when he lies about the President's history.
I guess being engaged is irrelevant ... put the cart in front of the horse, and you DESERVE to be run over, i guess, Honorable Minister Huckabee .... Wake up and smell the stench of the self righteous! Have you never seen a couple before you that consummated their love before approaching you at the altar to solemnify their vows? Boil her in tea water, and teach us sinners a lesson! How will you respond to Third World country members' plight as President, should they not share YOUR values? How Puritannical you sound, while you ask us to follow your example ...... (backing away slowly from THIS parade)
Maybe Huckabee would rather her have an abortion instead.
This man needs to give it up, already. Enough talking about crap.
Where is the separation of Church and State, Huck? Stay political and leave your religious and personal views out of the way you do your politics. This is why Republicans suck. They can't leave their religious values at the door when trying to make political decisions. KEEP HUCKLEBERRY OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!
What a broad sweeping and totally false statement..."Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and would not get healthcare"
Degraded "values"..Mr Huckabeee is the last person I would look to, to Define Values. I wonder if a "liar" has values. NOT! It is so baffling that these "Twisted-minded" people has thought that someone DIED and left them to be "judgemental" and "pretend" they can "patrol" who has morals and who has no morals. Example: A "moralistic" mother sitting/or parading her Teenage daughter's Pregnacy to the World and has the support of the "likes" of Huckabee to hold the second highest office in "Moral America". This man has NO intentions of being anyone's President. His role in the Republican Party is that of Sarah Palin, the ones Who Has NO MORALS and would "stoop" to the Level of Promoting Ignorance Based on LIES for a "dollar". This man is supposely be of GOD? Yeap, he needs GOOD....ORDERLY.....DIRECTION AND lying is NOT part of that Direction. Rationally, Ms. Portman as an Adult has the right at age 29 to make her own decisions over her life. I used to like this man as I thought he was FUNNY, however, that HE is NOT! He's another Ignorant.
Most single moms are poor and uneducated, huh. That's funny considering how many single moms started out married. Plus, the last time I checked, she isn't single, she's engaged to her child's father. Maybe Huckabee should worry less about her personal life and more about the important things going on in the world like kids dying, people starving, the fact that this country continues to deny its citizens their rights and freedoms just because some people don't approve of their lives!
Stay out of Ms. Portman's personal life, Mr. Huckabee. Republicans love to talk about keeping government out of people's lives, but when it comes to their version of morality they suddenly believe very deeply that it's their job to police people'e lives. Sounds like the Taliban or Iran or Saudi Arabia's morality police. Hypocrite.
Yes the Republican party works over time to subsidize corporations and punish poor single women every chance they get.
Ms. Portman is a successful adult and thanks to freedom of religion can do what ever her morals dictate.
Glad to hear Mr. Huckabee understands that without the government millions of Americans wouldn't get healthcare. Now if he wasn't so holier than thou.
Mike Huckabee is such an idiot, it's mind boggling. You know those people you just wish you could squish with your foot like a bug? He's one of those people for me. I cannot wait until politicians like this die off.
That is the problem with most "Christians" like this clown. They want to judge everyone else, but the truth be told I bet he has a ton of skeletons in his closet. What is the difference between radical Muslims and him? Nothing because if Huckleberry had his way, you would be in a concentration camp if you didn't conform to his "Christian" values.
Sorry Mr Huckabee but our society is "evolving". You know, that stuff you don't believe in?
Yes and it is YOU Mike along with your other neo-cons that want to dismantle the health care system.. and make it even more burdensome on the same single mothers that are already struggling. Why not fix the system first then preach your holy BS!
Ahh but what does a rich white man know of poor struggling mothers.. Not a lot is my guess.