It's debatable whether the latest incarnation of Mike Huckabee represents a turn to the dark side by the genial and amusing 2008 presidential candidate that a lot of Democrats admired, or a revelation of what the man has always really been.
But ever since he became a radio and TV gabber, the Bad Huck has taken over. Aside from his early charges that Barack Obama’s agenda was aimed at creating a Union of American Socialist Republics, and his more recent arguments for a displacement of Palestinians to a homeland somewhere outside Palestine, Huck really went over the brink today, as reported by HuffPo’s Sam Stein:
The 2008 Republican presidential candidate suggested during his radio show on Friday that, under President Obama's health care plan, Kennedy would have been told to "go home to take pain pills and die" during his last year of life.
"[I]t was President Obama himself who suggested that seniors who don't have as long to live might want to just consider taking a pain pill instead of getting an expensive operation to cure them," said Huckabee. "Yet when Sen. Kennedy was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at 77, did he give up on life and go home to take pain pills and die? Of course not. He freely did what most of us would do. He choose an expensive operation and painful follow up treatments. He saw his work as vitally important and so he fought for every minute he could stay on this earth doing it. He would be a very fortunate man if his heroic last few months were what future generations remember him most for."
This despicable rant should disqualify Mike Huckabee from any further liberal sympathy, no matter how much he tries to joke or rock-n-roll his way back into mainstream acceptability.
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COMMENTS (9)
It's weird how often Huck's verbal missteps are related to gruesome violence or suicide. Consider his other famous ones:
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Suicide joke isn't first time Huckabee has used razor blades line
Associated Press
When Mike Huckabee joked that his opponents might consider slitting their wrists because their support doesn't match their fundraising, it wasn't the first time that the Republican presidential candidate has used an image of suicide to make a point.
In a television interview Tuesday, Huckabee joked that better-financed candidates could be "sitting in a warm tub of water with razor blades." Suicide-prevention counselors called the remark irresponsible.
In 2002, asked for his plan to address a ti ... view full comment
It's weird how often Huck's verbal missteps are related to gruesome violence or suicide. Consider his other famous ones:
--
Suicide joke isn't first time Huckabee has used razor blades line
Associated Press
When Mike Huckabee joked that his opponents might consider slitting their wrists because their support doesn't match their fundraising, it wasn't the first time that the Republican presidential candidate has used an image of suicide to make a point.
In a television interview Tuesday, Huckabee joked that better-financed candidates could be "sitting in a warm tub of water with razor blades." Suicide-prevention counselors called the remark irresponsible.
In 2002, asked for his plan to address a tight state budget after an economic downturn, Huckabee said, "Sitting in a warm tub of water with a lot of razor blades."
Huckabee used a similar comment after the 2005 off-year elections when asked whether President Bush's low approval ratings hurt Republicans.
"We did not win seats, but we didn't have those seats," Huckabee said. "But let me just say, as bad a day as it may have appeared to be, I don't hear any Republican who's sitting in a tub of warm water with a handful of razor blades ready to say it's all over."
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Huckabee Jokes About Obama Getting Shot At
During a speech to the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Kentucky Friday, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee joked to the audience that an offstage noise was Barack Obama avoiding gunfire.
"That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak," Huckabee said. "Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor."
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his ... view full comment
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’Then they too will answer, 1 ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’Then he will answer them, 1 ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
I wonder why this passage ain't too popular with the Republican party. Hey Mike, why don't you spend a little more time feeding the hungry, etc. and less time running your trap?
blackton, thanks for your invocation of Holy Scripture. I drive no angle in saying so except the passage is so apt in context.
However, I think you and I know how the right would react to hearing these words. They'd fly into a rage, just as the ancient Kings did when so confronted. After all, *they own the Bible*, don't they?? Still, it's delicious to imagine. :)
Tom
blackton, thanks for your invocation of Holy Scripture. I drive no angle in saying so except the passage is so apt in context.
However, I think you and I know how the right would react to hearing these words. They'd fly into a rage, just as the ancient Kings did when so confronted. After all, *they own the Bible*, don't they?? Still, it's delicious to imagine. :)
Tom
Remember when liberals were bleeding hearts who wasted money to make life too easy for people?
Remember when liberals were bleeding hearts who wasted money to make life too easy for people?
Sorry, but what's the problem with Huckabee's comments? He's not denigrating Kennedy. He's praising him for choosing to get the medical care that he is able. And, he's using Barack Obama's own musings to make a point that the concepts behind the health plans being touted would not afford this same opportunity to other seniors.
Huckabee says some crazy things, but this wasn't one of them. It certainly wasn't disrespectful. It was certainly not cheesy and inappropriate like the moveon.org videos that appeared within hours of the Senator's passing.
Sorry, but what's the problem with Huckabee's comments? He's not denigrating Kennedy. He's praising him for choosing to get the medical care that he is able. And, he's using Barack Obama's own musings to make a point that the concepts behind the health plans being touted would not afford this same opportunity to other seniors.
Huckabee says some crazy things, but this wasn't one of them. It certainly wasn't disrespectful. It was certainly not cheesy and inappropriate like the moveon.org videos that appeared within hours of the Senator's passing.
mjmmjm: you miss Kilgore's complaint. It's not a complaint about "denigrating" Kennedy; it's a complaint about Huckabee, who I never liked right from the get go, misrepresenting terribly Obama's position on health care. Huckabee iterates the canard that Obama will have it that America's Kennedy's will be bureaucratized into dying, into accepting resignedly the fatal consequences of their illnesses. There is a debate to be had about the allocation of finite medical resources as a matter of public policy. But that debate is made vulgar by Huckaby's republication of such demagogic lies.
Blackton: the devil can quote scripture. But you're not the devil and your invocation is telling as Tom says. ... view full comment
mjmmjm: you miss Kilgore's complaint. It's not a complaint about "denigrating" Kennedy; it's a complaint about Huckabee, who I never liked right from the get go, misrepresenting terribly Obama's position on health care. Huckabee iterates the canard that Obama will have it that America's Kennedy's will be bureaucratized into dying, into accepting resignedly the fatal consequences of their illnesses. There is a debate to be had about the allocation of finite medical resources as a matter of public policy. But that debate is made vulgar by Huckaby's republication of such demagogic lies.
Blackton: the devil can quote scripture. But you're not the devil and your invocation is telling as Tom says. It speaks for me, atheist that I am notwithstanding, to the moral foundation of the health care debate in your country that Obama is right to try and assert as he did in his speech to religious leaders not so long ago
To understand Mike Huckabee is to understand the way reality itself can be bent and twisted all out of shape and proportion in today's world of the 24/7 celebrity sweepstakes.
"Who the hell is Mike Huckabee?" is replaced by "How can we use Mike Huckabee to sell our brand?"
Then Mike begins to realize he has to weave in and out of all the conflicting narratives others want him to endorse. Plus, he has to come up with his own...one that is both lucrative and interchangable before different audiences.
But he's a politician, so how hard can it be?
Now [with all of a year's practice] he can be almost anyone he needs to be.
Oh, and a stint on Fox News will corrupt practically anyone. Once the dollars ... view full comment
To understand Mike Huckabee is to understand the way reality itself can be bent and twisted all out of shape and proportion in today's world of the 24/7 celebrity sweepstakes.
"Who the hell is Mike Huckabee?" is replaced by "How can we use Mike Huckabee to sell our brand?"
Then Mike begins to realize he has to weave in and out of all the conflicting narratives others want him to endorse. Plus, he has to come up with his own...one that is both lucrative and interchangable before different audiences.
But he's a politician, so how hard can it be?
Now [with all of a year's practice] he can be almost anyone he needs to be.
Oh, and a stint on Fox News will corrupt practically anyone. Once the dollars start to accummulate parroting the master's words it becomes easier and easier to rationalize even the most appaling opinions or behavior.
And though it appears his "despicable rant" does indeed disqualify him from all sympathies on the liberal end of the political celebrity spectrum, all it takes to mitigate that is a few choice words backing one or another liberal shibboleth.
God willing, of course.
gw
ps
For those still confused about all this "political celebrity" crap, I have it on good sources that Sarah Palin will devote an entire chapter to it in her forthcoming book. Indeed, the old saw, "she could write a book on it" has never been less ironic.
With all due respect, mjmmjm, which of Barack Obama's own musings would you be talking about? Which one of them would you characterize as saying that seniors who are too sick should "go home to take pain pills and die" ?
Being that Huckabee is a self-professed "man of God", he should honestly be telling us what in the health care reform he objects to, and what would be his idea of reform. Instead he's reduced to distortions and outright lies. His was a despicable rant indeed. Perhaps his "man of God" and "family values" theme is just a facade just like many other pious Republicans.
With all due respect, mjmmjm, which of Barack Obama's own musings would you be talking about? Which one of them would you characterize as saying that seniors who are too sick should "go home to take pain pills and die" ?
Being that Huckabee is a self-professed "man of God", he should honestly be telling us what in the health care reform he objects to, and what would be his idea of reform. Instead he's reduced to distortions and outright lies. His was a despicable rant indeed. Perhaps his "man of God" and "family values" theme is just a facade just like many other pious Republicans.
I never understood the "liberals" who had any "sympathy" for the Huckster - I mean, any sympathy other than one might feel for a deeply disturbed, sick and homeless man ranting on the street corner about the coming of the Apocalypse and the End of Days and the Damnation of Faggots and whatnot (for the record, my very liberal sympathies stop at the exhortation to damnation - inconsistent? yes, and damned proud of it). The man is a two-penny charlatan; he is as genial as a piranha in a feeding frenzy and about as intellectually honest. He jokes? So did Goebbels; and both are experts at the Big Lie.
Blackie - there's no point in invoking the Scripture. For, a conservative is, almost by defi ... view full comment
I never understood the "liberals" who had any "sympathy" for the Huckster - I mean, any sympathy other than one might feel for a deeply disturbed, sick and homeless man ranting on the street corner about the coming of the Apocalypse and the End of Days and the Damnation of Faggots and whatnot (for the record, my very liberal sympathies stop at the exhortation to damnation - inconsistent? yes, and damned proud of it). The man is a two-penny charlatan; he is as genial as a piranha in a feeding frenzy and about as intellectually honest. He jokes? So did Goebbels; and both are experts at the Big Lie.
Blackie - there's no point in invoking the Scripture. For, a conservative is, almost by definition, an illiterate who reads nothing but Leviticus and Romans and thinks the rest of the Good Book - especially the Sermon on the Mount - Socialist propaganda.
May Fuck-a-bee have a nice time with his razors and his warm bathtub.
Incidentally, I notice that there is a preview function - BUT, now, making a comment, you cannot see the other comments. This is irritating, because I liked going back and forth to other views, copying and pasting, or responding to points. Now I have to make one comment for each response ...