# Huckabee hates America **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 10, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484 "2007-12-10T16:06:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/21 "2007-12-10T17:16:52Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] I’m sure this was an honest mistake, but why did you say Huckabee spoke last night and link an article nearly ten years old, **Diogenes**? [/QUOTE] The article is linked (headlined even) on Drudge today. I didn’t realize it was 10 years old. Sorry. :o I said it was “last night,” because the text of the article said “sunday night.” Last night was sunday. I assumed it was talking about last night. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/22 "2007-12-10T17:18:55Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] I live in CA, but I usually start off my morning by reading an article written in the 1990s in an Arkansas newspaper. Don’t you? 🙂 [/QUOTE] With coffee brewed from a filter found in my neighbor’s trash. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/23 "2007-12-10T17:21:41Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] No, he said he got into politics BECAUSE only Jesus could solve problems, not the government. There is no way to parse that except to conclude that he wants to replace the secular state with Jesus. If you disagree, please tell me what he DID mean. If the government has no ansers, then why does he want to be part of it and what does Jesus have to do with. How dooes it make sense to say you want to be part of a secular governement because you think your religion has the answers. [/QUOTE] The same reason libertarians run for office while at the same time believing that government doesn’t solve problems. For some people, the role of government is to provide security for your rights and property so that you can solve problems yourself. The whole notion of government as a gigantic problem solver is relatively new in America. What Huckabee DID mean in my opinion is that government can only protect people from each other, but that only Jesus can protect them from what is really eating at them — their own emptiness and lack of fulfillment. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/24 "2007-12-10T17:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The article is linked (headlined even) on Drudge today. I didn’t realize it was 10 years old. Sorry. :o I said it was “last night,” because the text of the article said “sunday night.” Last night was sunday. I assumed it was talking about last night. My bad. [/QUOTE] No problem. Like I said, I assumed as much. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/25 "2007-12-10T17:22:35Z")
I think a version of Norm’s famous advice is applicable to threads like this: Measure twice, cut once. I still think Huckabee’s campaign message is disturbing, and one need only scratch a little beneath the surface to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/26 "2007-12-10T17:24:30Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The article is linked (headlined even) on Drudge today. I didn’t realize it was 10 years old. Sorry. :o I said it was “last night,” because the text of the article said “sunday night.” Last night was sunday. I assumed it was talking about last night. My bad. [/QUOTE] You see? Government can’t help you with that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/27 "2007-12-10T17:25:09Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] What Huckabee DID mean in my opinion is that government can only protect people from each other, but that only Jesus can protect them from what is really eating at them — their own emptiness and lack of fulfillment. [/QUOTE] You mean like this: > [@](#): > > And so, I say to you today, my fellow Americans, you gave me this job, and we’re making progress on the things you hired me to do. But unless we deal with the ravages of crime and drugs and violence, and unless we recognize that it’s due to the breakdown of the family, the community, and the disappearance of jobs, and unless we say some of this cannot be done by government because we have to reach deep inside to the values, the spirit, the soul, and the truth of human nature, none of the other things we seek to do will ever take us where we need to go. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/28 "2007-12-10T17:26:55Z")
I think people play the game to win. If I were going to try to realistically become president I would jump on the back of jesus christ and ride him all the way to victory. Candidates totally cater to trends and audience. A lot of them change their stances on entire issues based on which election they are in. Jesus is totally hot right now. (don’t worry, I don’t vote) Why do we hate the mormons now? I can’t remember. Personally I think the idea of Hillary coming in and stealing my toys and forcing me to share is far more terrifying. I’ll be back whistling another tune when I get accidentally knocked up though. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/29 "2007-12-10T17:30:01Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] You mean like this: [/QUOTE] Yes. Exactly like that. Maybe a timely pitting of Clinton is in order. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/30 "2007-12-10T17:36:07Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Huckabee’s not running for the office of Pastor-in-Chief. [/QUOTE] Well, he is running for the Republican nomination, which is pretty similar… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/31 "2007-12-10T17:45:47Z")
> [@Huckabee](#): > > And so, I say to you today, my fellow Americans, you gave me this job, and we’re making progress on the things you hired me to do. But unless we deal with the ravages of crime and drugs and violence, and unless we recognize that it’s due to the breakdown of the family What is meant by "breakdown of the family? What is Huckabee gong to do about it? What is the definition of a “family?” What is the evdidence that any alleged “breakdown” of this undefined institution is responsible for drug use and violence? > [@](#): > > the community Same questions. What is meant by “community,” what is meant by a “breakdown” of the community and what is Huckabee going to do about it? (he’s not saying it takes a village, is he?) > [@](#): > > and the disappearance of jobs Now we’re getting somewhere. Yes, the exportation of jobs and the brutalization of the working class by corporations is a major stressor on families and communities and economic despair does indeed lead to drug use, crime and the disintegration of families. > [@](#): > > and unless we say some of this cannot be done by government Why can’t jobs be created by the government. Why can’t corporatocracy be put in check by the governemnt? > [@](#): > > because we have to reach deep inside to the values, the spirit, the soul, and the truth of human nature, none of the other things we seek to do will ever take us where we need to go. What does any of this gibbersih mean? What is meant by “values?” What values are going to bring back jobs from India? What is meant by 'spirit" or “soul” or “truth of human nature?” What is meant by “reaching into” them? How does Huckabee intend to implement any of it. This kind of talk is just code for “fuck you. If you have economic problems, it’s because you aren’t Christian enough. Don’t look to the state to protect your economic interests. Just pray your problems away.” This kind of rhetoric is a gutless avoidance of public responsibility and a smokescreen designed to make people think their victimization is their own fault. What a sick fuck this guy is. What a sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/32 "2007-12-10T17:49:02Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Fuck you. [/QUOTE] Is that what Jesus would say? Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/33 "2007-12-10T17:50:50Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] You mean like this: [/QUOTE] I’m still not seeing an equivalence, there. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/34 "2007-12-10T17:51:59Z")
[QUOTE=Sailboat] Is that what Jesus would say? Sailboat [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure Jesus said “Eat me”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/35 "2007-12-10T17:55:06Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] What is meant by "breakdown of the family? What is Huckabee gong to do about it? What is the definition of a “family?” What is the evdidence that any alleged “breakdown” of this undefined institution is responsible for drug use and violence? Same questions. What is meant by “community,” what is meant by a “breakdown” of the community and what is Huckabee going to do about it? (he’s not saying it takes a village, is he?) Now we’re getting somewhere. Yes, the exportation of jobs and the brutalization of the working class by corporations is a major stressor on families and communities and economic despair does indeed lead to drug use, crime and the disintegration of families. Why can’t jobs be created by the government. Why can’t corporatocracy be put in check by the governemnt? What does any of this gibbersih mean? What is meant by “values?” What values are going to bring back jobs from India? What is meant by 'spirit" or “soul” or “truth of human nature?” What is meant by “reaching into” them? How does Huckabee intend to implement any of it. This kind of talk is just code for “fuck you. If you have economic problems, it’s because you aren’t Christian enough. Don’t look to the state to protect your economic interests. Just pray your problems away.” This kind of rhetoric is a gutless avoidance of public responsibility and a smokescreen designed to make people think their victimization is their own fault. What a sick fuck this guy is. What a sociopath. [/QUOTE] Um, my last quote was from Clinton in 1993. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/36 "2007-12-10T17:55:12Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] I’m pretty sure Jesus said “Eat me”. [/QUOTE] Touché, sir. Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/37 "2007-12-10T17:56:06Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] This kind of rhetoric is a gutless avoidance of public responsibility and a smokescreen designed to make people think their victimization is their own fault. What a sick fuck this guy is. What a sociopath. [/QUOTE] I don’t know. I liked the Clinton years, I never considered him a sociopath. Nor, did I think he ever made people think things were their own fault. I do think he tried to inspire and do things on their own, as well as trust in the government for help when needed. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/38 "2007-12-10T18:01:40Z")
[QUOTE=pricciar] I don’t know. I liked the Clinton years, I never considered him a sociopath. Nor, did I think he ever made people think things were their own fault. I do think he tried to inspire and do things on their own, as well as trust in the government for help when needed. [/QUOTE] I thought he was an effective president. I voted for him twice. But he was really full of shit sometimes. I actually probably shouldn’t call him a sociopath because I know he didn’t actually believe a word of that stuff. He could pander with the best of them. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/39 "2007-12-10T18:02:52Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] Um, my last quote was from Clinton in 1993. [/QUOTE] Ok, change “Huckabee,” to “Clinton” in all of my comments. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484/40 "2007-12-10T18:07:43Z")
Funny as this is, it points to a huge double standard. **Diogenes** and his ilk will go completely nuts when Huckabeee, or indeed any Republican, makes a speech like this. Yet identical remarks by Democrats either sail completely under their radar or, if they are noticed, are explained and excused away. Barack Obama has been making quite explicit references to his faith in his campaign - and I haven’t heard a word of protest about it around here. Now, I wouldn’t say Obama should be criticized for this - these kinds of remarks are entirely in keeping with traditional American political rhetoric. But that of course means that these kinds of remarks by a Republican are equally innocuous. Now, the extent religion affects policy is a legitimate basis for debate. But religious references in speeches are so common on both sides that if we were to freak out everytime they cropped up, nothing else would get done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-hates-america/429484.md?page=3)