Huckabee's Careless Remark
CNN and ABC News are reporting that during a speech before the National Rifle Association this afternoon in Louisville, Ky., former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman.
“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”
Horrifying. Click here for the ABC News video from the speech.
It is a joke in bad taste. It is also making light of what some consider a dangerous possibility in this historic election year.
Many people would agree that the U.S. enjoys better race relations -- perhaps not as good as some would like -- than 40 years ago. But few people speak publicly of the possibilities were an African American to win a major party presidential nomination, perhaps fearful of summoning up painful ghosts from a not so long ago past.
After all, it was only a few decades ago that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers and others were gunned down as they fought for rights that should have been theirs from day one. The memories, while receding into history, are searing nonetheless.
Regardless of Mr. Huckabee's intent -- and we will give him the benefit of doubt because people sometimes don't think before they speak -- it doesn't seem quite appropriate to joke about something that some Americans consider a possibility no matter how far we've come since 1968.
The New York Times reported Friday afternoon that Mr. Huckabee issued an apology, saying he never meant to disparage Mr. Obama .
Comments:
Posted 05/18/2008 00:06 with
“benefit of the doubt”? Why does the GOP get a pass on these? What would happen if a Democrat said this?
This was a leading Republican candidate for President. Possibly 2nd only to McCain. And this is the first thing that pops into his mind when he hears a strange noise? “Obama is getting shot”? It is what it is. And it stinks.
Posted 05/18/2008 13:30 with
Ever notice how the leaders who’ve been gunned down – JFK, MLK, Bobby Kennedy, Ghandi – or have died in a sudden plane crash – Paul Wellstone – have all been on the progressive side of the political spectrum? It makes you wonder… And, I agree with chapacabra – Please, press, do not give Huckabee the benefit of the doubt.