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.
From CNN Politics
- Jack Daniel's says a dog toy company is ripping off its brand. What will the Supreme Court say?
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Grand jury indictments, explained
- US flying surveillance drones farther south over Black Sea after collision with Russian fighter jet, officials say
- US to send Patriot missile systems and tanks to Ukraine faster than originally planned
- Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight among group honored at the White House
She is at least marrying the guy. Should she get an abotion Mike??
Huckabee sadly projects more judgments on others, instead of the former preacher turned "birther" focusing on his lies and bearing false witnesses this week.
Oscar winner Natalie Portman happens to be engaged and happy in life. Congratulations to her & her family.
Dan Quayle and Murphy Brown all over again. Hey Mike, read the census report on married v.single.
Instead of addressing and singling out Ms. Portman, maybe Mr. Huckabee should then address a specific single mother who is 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 health care instead of addressing a wealthy, successful, educated, employed OFF-government assistance who has the capability of creating multiple jobs in the form of nanny's, caretakers, and nurses. Who just so happens to be engaged to the father of the child. Here we go with some high-and-mighty holy-wannabe putting his morality and societal beliefs upon others.
He seems so nice until he reveals his hate for gays and women.
What a great role model she presents to millions of young girls – have a couple kids out of wedlock and effectivelly sentence the "familly" to a life of financial hardship. How progressive !
This is the best the Republicans can do? If they nominate this bozo, it will GUARANTEE 4 more years of Obama.
Is this guy for real?
Men are rarely needed in a woman's daily life, we just allow them to think they are. We can manage fine without them. The gene pool for most male human species leaves much to be desired. Why in the world marry one?
What's the purpose?
"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."
WHAT? How about those who are choosing to be single after booting the lazy No Goods out the door!
What world is this man living in? Not a middle class, that's for certain!
He thinks the kids would stave to death? It takes a village to raise a child, I don't think my FAMILY would ever allow MY CHILD to starve to death. No welfare needed!!!!!
Well just what are you going to do about it,Mr.Babtist. Lets put all our young,smart,law abiding,tax paying,unmarried pregnant women in JAIL!!!!! What do you live under a "rock? I wish the starship enterprise,could beam you back to the year10B.C. Thats were you radical evangelicals belong. The stone age? Imagine this guy,president? Then maybe you could have interpreted the "Scriptures" correctly.
no one gives a da$% what huckerbee thinks.
Yeah, thanks for not mixing 'Church and State", Rev Huckabee....typical
Didn't Dan Quayle already try this with Murphy Brown?
Nice Huckabee – picking on a pregnant woman – really classy, and compassionate! Oh, and as far as, "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."
So, you admit you and your radical right-wing buddies are ANTI-LIFE and ANTI-CHILDREN when it comes to your social policies. It's big of you to point out what's obvious to everyone else.
Buckamee just keeps shooting his mouth off. He has already proved that he is a lying,redneck,radical religious hypocrite. If he was to win the President position, you would never know if he was lying or telling the truth. And all of this crap coming from a preacher!
I hate to admit it! But Huck's got himself a point . The majority of single mothers are in poverty and if it wasn't for federal goverment programs such as medi-caid and the SNAP program many chilldren would be starving and without health care.
Mike, it's a free country, remember, and the freedoms you say you and your thug friends cherish so much allow Natalie Portman and anyone else to do what they wish, including having children out of wedlock and having an abortion if they choose. It's not your role or the role of government to tell citizens what they can and cannot do to and with their own bodies. Enough of your God told me crap. The other reality for you and your friends is that you don't want to pay the bill for poor women who are forced to raise their children in poverty, with or without husbands or significant others, so you and your rich friends like Ging Rich and the Koch brothers can get bailed out by Congress to the tune of $700+ billion so you don't have to share the wealth with the poor.
They DO intend on marrying each other! This cannot be the only couple he knows that has gotten pregnant before tying the knot. And with his coming from the community which he does, I know there are shotgun weddings all the time! Portman's not making a statement about being a single mother. She is getting married. The child will have two parents, so he can mind his own business. Come on! Of all people to try and start a fight with?! Natalie Portman?!
Huckabee says "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." even as he and his party try to slash government assistance and gut the healthcare law that would help these kids.... Maybe he needs to rethink using the kids starving to death imagery.
Mike, just go stick your head back in the sand. You lost all credibility and showed your incredible ignorance when you denied evolution. Natalie Portman is a better role model than you could ever hope to be.
And what a sexist pig he is for referring to an Academy Award winning actor as a "starlet" simply because she's young and female
What a bunch of trash... does Huckabee actually believe the things he's saying? Or does he just spew anything that pops into his head? He's still living in the 1800's. Times are changing, people are changing, so the ideologies have to change as well. Glad Huckabee has a 0% chance of getting into the White House. After the whole President Obama growing up in Kenya fiasco, he's nothing but a joke.
OK, Huckabee is going off the deep end now...criticize Natalie Portman???!!!! The kosher girl of Hollywood???!!!
He is aware that Natalie is a borderline extreme genius who just a couple of notches below Stephen Hawking brain level that will chew him out and spit Huckabee out like a bad piece of popcorn cooker cooked squirrel...
is he out of his mind, his religious beliefs make him unfit to be president
Would Mike Huckabee have preferred she have an abortion?
If Mike Huckabee were a tree stump, nobody would notice.
Go away!