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DEL.ICIO.USHuckabee on Obama, Wright: ‘Cut some slack to people who grew up on the back of the bus’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After a long, well-earned vacation, Mike Huckabee showed up on television this week.
He’s no longer a presidential candidate. But he remains the Republican of an unpredictable stripe. Huckabee appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday.
Below is the generous analysis that Huckabee — remember that he’s done time as a Southern Baptist pastor — gave of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s speech on race.
And while he didn’t defend the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s statements, Huckabee did try to put them in context.
But the former Arkansas governor, who carried Georgia in the February primary, also spoke as someone who grew up in the segregated South, and his observations at the very bottom of the transcript that follows are what might surprise you.
Mike Huckabee sits with the A.D. King family during the Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in January. Mikki K. Harris/AJC
Huckabee said:
”Obama has handled this about as well as anybody could. And I agree, it’s a very historic speech. I think that it was an important one, and one that he had to deliver. And he couldn’t wait. The sooner he made it, maybe the quicker that this becomes less of the issue. Otherwise, it was the only thing that was the issue in his entire campaign. And I thought he handled it very, very well.
“And he made the point, and I think it’s a valid one, that you can’t hold the candidate responsible for everything around him that people may say or do. You just can’t, whether it’s me, whether it’s Obama, or anybody else.
“But he did distance himself from the very vitriolic statements. Now, the second story — it’s interesting to me that there are some people on the left that are having to be very uncomfortable with what [Jeremiah] Wright said when they were all over a Jerry Falwell or anyone on the right who said things that they found very awkward and uncomfortable years ago.
“Many times those were statements lifted out of the context of a larger sermon. Sermons, after all, are rarely written word-for-word by pastors like Reverend Wright, who are delivering them extemporaneously and caught up in the emotion of the moment. There are things that sometimes get said that if you put them on paper and looked at them in print, you’d say, ‘Well, I probably didn’t mean to say it quite like that……’
“And one other thing I think we’ve got to remember.
“As easy as it is for those of us who are white to look back and say ‘That’s a terrible statement’ — I grew up in a very segregated South.
“And I think that you have to cut some slack — and I’m going to be probably the only conservative in America who’s going to say something like this, but I’m just telling you — we’ve got to cut some slack to people who grew up being called names, being told you have to sit in the balcony when you go to the movie, you have to go to the back door to go into the restaurant, you can’t sit out there with everyone else. There’s a separate waiting room in the doctor’s office. Here’s where you sit on the bus.
“And you know what? Sometimes people do have a chip on their shoulder and resentment, and you have to just say, ‘I probably would, too.’”
Comments
By larry
March 21, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
My goodness and actual statment from the heart.. This is refreshing in a world of polictial negative statments. Even though you try to put to much religious statments into your campaign you would have been a truly honest president
By Doug Foster
March 21, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
We shouldn’t defend Obama we should get rid of him… nothing should excuse a racist of any color. Rev Wright was his pastor and having a pastor like that shows that he is not a unifier by any means. Furthermore, Iliinois should recall Obama as their senator!
By Danny O
March 21, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
As a white southerner, I think that is a very profound observation from Huckabee. Too often, white people (even many that try to keep an open mind) approach race with a blind eye towards history, that equilibrium was reached with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But in reality the scars from the past (and the present) are still very visible and painful. A straightforward acknowledgement like this of the undeniable oppression of African-Americans is a good step towards racial harmony.
By marv albert
March 21, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
wow! Thank You Huckabee. Maybe some conservative bloggers will stop rooting for riots at the convention in Denver on this blog and embrace understanding and mutual respect for everyone’s experience to make America the best it can be regardless of our political leaders but because it is the right way to be.
By Charles
March 21, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
So, we’re now suppose to let Don Imus slide for his racial statements because he was raised during segregation times? Of course not! It’s a one sided fence when it comes to allowing devisive hate speech.
There has to be consistency on BOTH sides of racially insensitive speech if we ever want to solve the problem. Unfortunately with Liberal press people like Jeremiah Wright, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton (none who should be addressed as ‘Reverends’ other than being spiritual leaders of hate speech) are usually given a pass on their diatribes and lies.
By Sven the Blog Catalyst
March 21, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
I think this is one of those situations where both sides are correct, to a point. I think we can understand the context of these unfortunate statements AND condemn them at the same time. Yes, I understand “why” Wright may have said these things, but by the same token, they are still deserving of ridicule and condemnation. However, in this case, the statements are especially contemptible because Wright is supposedly an educated, respected leader — yet he chooses to poison impressionable minds, when he ought to know better.
Love the sinner, hate the sin.
By The Oddball
March 21, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
That’s a side of Gov. Huckabee that didn’t come out in the campaign (or, perhaps, didn’t get reported.) Good for him. We need more public figures that express respect for the “other side,” and fewer that reflexively take every opportunity to get in a dig. These sort of comments help to lower the temperature and contribute to a civil debate on the merits.
By Inherit America
March 21, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Obama’s appearance during that historic speech became an instant patriotic icon like a portrait of Lincoln. Obama seared his presidency into America’s soul. He looked and sounded like a leader. He truly is our next president.
Obama 08. It’s the country, stupid.
Remember, it was seven score and four years ago that Lincoln addressed the exact same issue that Obama did. (twilight zone music in background)
By Em
March 21, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Mike Huckabee was a stand-up guy for Imus and is a stand-up guy for Barack Obama. He gets it! No one is perfect. Huckabee’s kindness,decency and ability to be positive is so refreshing and good for us all. This is why his candidacy exceeded all expectations - character, decency and honesty DO count
By John
March 21, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I am white and I grew up in a segregated Alabama in the sixties. If any of us had grown up black in that same environment, we would rightfully feel resentment and mistrust even today. The way whites treated blacks—especially in the Deep South—during that time was wrong and was inexcusable. There still are lingering effects up to and including today.
By Apostle Paul
March 21, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
The reason we vote this year is to make sure men like Huckabee never see the inside of the oval office, not even as a painter.
This is not your forefather’s country. This generation of Americans know new stakes. We have come together at a crossroads of racial divide or racial discovery. Let’s all tell our stories, like Obama did, about our confrontations with skin color.
Obamamania: Tell it.
By skewedpos
March 21, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Amen, Reverend Huckabee!
I don’t agree with everything my pastor preaches, but I agree with you.
By Blue Eyed Devil
March 21, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Here I was, reading these posts and getting all warm and fuzzy with thoughts of racial harmony … and then I see that YouTube video of the “gang fight” at Mills Creek High, and I start wondering again if there’s even a chance we’ll ever understand what makes each other tick …
By Lee
March 21, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Bullcrap.
Obama sat in Wright’s church for years, called him his “spiritual Leader,” and when the spotlights exposed the cockroaches, he threw his preacher under the campaign bus.
There is also the little problem of a link to the Black Panther Party on Obama’s webpage. Yeah, it got pulled as well when exposed.
If Obama/Hillary/McClain is the best this country has to offer, I fear for our future.
By Copyleft
March 21, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
except…Obama DIDN’T “throw Rev. Wright under the bus,” as you claim. He noted that he disagrees with Wright on some things, but still respects the man.
Something more of us need to learn about, apparently.
By It's America, Stupid
March 21, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Obama wants us to tell our racial experinces to each other. Tell it.
Obama 08: Tell it.
ISAIDTELLIT!
By The Oddball
March 21, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Good point, Copyleft. That is the type of subtle distinction that is very important, and gets overlooked in these blogs.
Folks, regardless of what you think about Sen. Obama, take a minute to read or listen to his entire speech. Don’t let anyone tell you what he said. Listen, and decide for yourselves. THEN tell us what you think!
By Sven the Blog Catalyst
March 21, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Well, Oddball, what did I think? He obviously is a very good speaker, and communicates well.
As to content? Made some good points putting the “black experience” in context, but to really have “connected” with middle-white-America, the speech desperately a “Bill Cosby: section — a portion of the speech that told black America, “Regardless of how wrong the things were that happened before, YOU are now your own worst enemies, and to the extent you do not succeed, YOU are the principal reason … not white America, not anymore.”
If I had heard THAT speech, I would have gone from “Well, it was okay, ” to “WOW!” I’ve heard that sentiment from many people I know — he flat out just wasted that opportunity.
Finally, most of us, myself included, STILL are stuck on the Wright thing. I could forgive him staying at the church, if it was just him … but to sit idly by while this man of influence fills his own childrens’ ears with this insipid nonsense … . it really makes me DOUBT where his heart is at. Sorry.
By SamT
March 21, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
Oddball,
I can assure you that Huckabee was saying these things throughout the campaign. As a matter of fact, if you google “vertical politics” you will see that he spent a good deal of his emphasis on being respectful (even though you will express profound policy differences with them) to your political opponents.
I was very involved with his campaign here in Georgia and got to spend a few days with him during the process, and I will tell you that the guy you see on television is the same guy he is riding around in the car and watching the ball game. He seems to be one of the most authentic people in politics today.
By really
March 21, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
hey we are all imperfect. Let’s forgive. I’m sorry for all my worst decisions and I forgive people as long as they are trying to get better and give their best.
By screw u really
March 21, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
grow some potatos you bed-wetting lib
By The Oddball
March 21, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
Sven: Good to hear an opinion based on personal observation. Sen. Obama didn’t say everything I would have liked, but then again, he wasn’t supposed to. You have to give the man credit for speaking his mind, and resisting the temptation (more than most politicians, anyway) to just tell the people what they want to hear.
SamT: I appreciate the first-hand comments about Gov. Huckabee. We would have better leaders if people could get to know these folks in person before we vote. I did notice that he resisted the temptation to get those digs in. I’m pretty tired of the digs. The press did an unusually poor job of reporting his substantive comments.
By Love Bird
March 21, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Love and three strikes is the key. Everyone deserve three just like criminals and women. Lying, cheating, stealing, tapping your toes for some strange, whatever 3x then your fired. Whose with me.
By A Happy Rove
March 21, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Congrats, y’all! The Republicans are getting exactly what they wanted.
“I would eat this up like cake.”
— GOP hatchetman Rick Wilson, who did the 2002 Cleland-Osama morph ads, talking about what the GOP will do with Obama-Wright connection
By The Oddball
March 21, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
A Happy Rove:
Here’s my prediction for the coming election: it won’t work this time. The digs, the scare tactics, the guilt-by-association, the flag lapel pin controveries and swiftboaters…it will only appeal to the 45% on each side that have already made up their minds. But that 10% in the middle? We aren’t buying this time. Woe to the real Karl Rove and woe to any Democrats that copy his tactics, for they may be crying in their beer come January 2009. This election may go to the candidate who demonstrates humility and respect.
At least, I hope so.
By Ohopa
March 21, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
Hopefully the dummies who were tricked into voting for gw won’t be dummies and vote repub again
By An even happier Churchill
March 21, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
I am banking on the Democrat ability to snatch defeat form the jaws of victory. It seems that the libs are on a course to complete and utter chaos. This has been fun to watch.
For the record, Huckaphony is the pro-life John Edwards. Mike Huckaphony is a liberal populist.
VIVA MCCAIN
By malcolm bubba
March 21, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
only hitler himself is conservative enough for the likes of churchill he even turns the lights out and sits down to pee dude your so full of hate i know you tuck your shirts in even on the weekends please tell us why your life obviously sucks so bad your boss must be mexican or your a closet log cabin repub. maybe you just get off on this either way lighten and embrace your sorry lot in life
By Churchill
March 21, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Malcolm bubba, you are 100 percent wrong. Unprovoked personal attacks from libs mean you are getting close to the truth. Keep it up. The peace and diversity expressed in your post is illustrative of the liberal refusal to debate, even the most basic, concepts. Tell me, will you cry racism/sexism or stolen election when you guys lose you bid for the White House in November?
And another thing, will you guys celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Chicago Democrat Riots, in the same fashion this year, in Denver, when Hillary attempts to steal the nomination from Barry Obama? Peace.
By harrypalmreader
March 21, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
churchswill the truth your momma refused to breast feed you and your daddy was a drunk and a cross-dresser who slept with rock hudson on your 12th birthday party and your still in counseling hating on yourself so you joined the people who looked like you fat ugly white high-school dropouts with a dip in the check and a circle in the levi’s peace libs we know your playbook and blah - bleh
By huckabee
March 21, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
figures I am a man of God but Repubs have a higher power hate they hate everything even me no room in the hate party to bad their daddy didn’t pull out peace
By Churchill
March 21, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
See how civil and diplomatic the libs can be.
By rhett butler
March 21, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
franklyharrypalmreader i don’t give a damn honekeys today like churchy are the last line of defense next thing ya know whiteblackbrownpeeps will be dating and gays will hold hands run for it
By Zeuss
March 21, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
Huckleberrt forego christianity you can be yourself with the greeks cause we don’t want no freaks
By ConservativeGA007
March 21, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
I saw three workers today standing in the shade what the hell am i paying taxes for im fed up and tired of the white man getting the shaft you libs we know your playbook and we will win or jesus is really just a mexican
By Churchill
March 21, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
I believe in hope and change. I have hope that the libs will lose and then change into rational, logical, linear thinkers.
By Jimmy Swaggart
March 21, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
God ain’t happy with the USA if he could vote gw term3
By GodHatesTrash
March 21, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Damn - the Huckleberry ain’t as dumb as I thought he was. He is smart enough to realize why most decent people hate redneck trash, which is rare among rednecks.
Good on ya, Huckleberry boy.
By John
March 21, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
By Churchill, You think your daily efforts to seduce Posters into your labelist diatribe is amusing. Quite the contrary, it really demonstrates immaturity and lack of depth.
By AngreusRepub verse 1992
March 21, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
The seed of gw has failed let us besmirch all who follow he was the light the way the woobi
By Churchill
March 21, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Says you, John. Read the hateful lib posts above. It is plausible that your party will self destruct. It has happened before, hello McGovern. It is a substantive topic. You libs just reject it out of hand. That’s fine. In fact, I hope no one, on your side, notices it. You guys should try to force one of the socialist out of the process, but I doubt you will take any advice from me.
By Follow the Rules
March 21, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
For those of you who do not know there are rules in the Senate. One is that our high school pages cannot wear jeans. Senator Bulloch’s wardrobe sent the message to these kids that people in power don’t have to obey the rules. I know it may seem silly to some people, but Senators make rules for all Georgians to follow. We shold take it seriously when a member acts like he’s above the rules, regardless of how trivial that rule is. If you don’t like a rule, you don’t break it you try to change it.
By Buckley
March 21, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
What hath the Wrong Reverend Wright Wrought?
By Joe
March 21, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
Maybe Mike Huckabee should have written this down and thought about it before he spoke “extemporaneously.” This way he might have realized that he “probably didn’t mean to say it quite like that.”
By RJ
March 22, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, it is this kind of frankness that cost Huckabee the Republican nomination. The outcome of this year’s presidential election will clearly demonstrate the electorate’s distaste for divide and conquer politics. The people are looking for solutions.
To connect Obama’s refusal to disown Rev. Wright with a flawed judgement and therefore a lack of fitness to be President not only stretches the bounds of reason but also turns logic on its head.
Instigators and agitators of the prolonged discussion of the Rev. Wright/Obama connection benefits only people like O’Rielly, Lumbaugh, Hannity, and the like. They are struggling to maintain relevance for their own economic survival. The people buying what they are selling have already made up their minds. The tracking polls they cite showing some shifts among the “undecideds” are quite skewed and therefore meaningless.
By the way, now that Huckabee is out I am supporting Hillary because she has the most substantive experience. Eight years of GW have elevated experience in my voting decision this year.
By Churchill
March 22, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this
It also benefits John McCain and Hillary Clinton, RJ.
By Barry Huck
March 22, 2008 2:05 AM | Link to this
Folks we are in trouble the attitude and anger between parties has split families and created a ugly atmosphere for all. The passion we share on both sides is to fix this country and defeat our enemies. I believe most moderates understand we are at war and we must win. The problem is forgiving the mistakes that were made. Although I am not a religious man I pray for my children that we as a country can forgive, unite and move-on for the future. I have no party but would love to see the 2 smartest men to join forces and unite America. How ‘bout Obama/Huckabee. Young and bright representing both sides of the coin. Maybe we could heal the wounds between the races and the political parties which seem to separate us with the lowest common denominator of hate. Anybody got a better idea.
By GodHatesTrash
March 22, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Very insightful, Reverend Huckleberry.
If only now you would be so honest about the prevalence of homosexuality amongst Southern Baptists… and southerners in general…
By TrashLovesTrash
March 23, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Southern Baptists have a higher percentage of homos then the catholic church has pedophiles many studies point to the South’s love of farm animals as a willingness to get down with what’s around
By Linda Rayborn
March 24, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this
More people should take the time to find out more about Mike Huckabee. He did great things for Arkansas in the 10 1/2 yrs. as governor. He is experienced, principled,not your usual politician but someone who truly cares about the people of this country and would be a president who works for “vertical politics”. Not so much emphasis on the left or right just making good changes for the country starting with Fair Tax. Please go to www.mikehuckabee.com and find out what you missed out on this year. Let’s make sure we don’t repeat the mistake next time. Mike Huckabee is the man we need to change the country…
By glenn
March 24, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Mr. Huckabee did cut some slack for Obama - Wright. Wright’s generation, unlike Obama’s, did endure severe wrong and in the South this wrong was even more pronounced. What Mr. Wright get’s wrong is that it’s (the severe wrong)over. His gospel asks him to forgive and move on. Some of his severe reactionary statements appear to reflect lingering bitterness. Justified or not, this venom will do him no good. I think Obama is trying to say this and we all need to recognize that it’s easier for Obama than Wright. Look closer at Mr. Wrights background/childhood and see why. I am a Caucasian American and I have heard Mr. Wright preach in person - An experience I cherrish and will always be thankful for. He is retiring and exercises his freedom to deserved boldness. I do pray that he and I choose to let go of bitterness and resentment on a daily basis. I pray that our behavior/words reflect the Love of God for all of us—imperfect as we are…He sure cut me some slack.
By glenn
March 24, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Mr. Huckabee did cut some slack for Obama - Wright. Wright’s generation, unlike Obama’s, did endure severe wrong and in the South this wrong was even more pronounced. What Mr. Wright get’s wrong is that it’s (the severe wrong)over. His gospel asks him to forgive and move on. Some of his severe reactionary statements appear to reflect lingering bitterness. Justified or not, this venom will do him no good. I think Obama is trying to say this and we all need to recognize that it’s easier for Obama than Wright. Look closer at Mr. Wrights background/childhood and see why. I am a Caucasian American and I have heard Mr. Wright preach in person - An experience I cherrish and will always be thankful for. He is retiring and exercises his freedom to deserved boldness. I do pray that he and I choose to let go of bitterness and resentment on a daily basis. I pray that our behavior/words reflect the Love of God for all of us—imperfect as we are…He sure cut me some slack.
By glenn
March 24, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Mr. Huckabee did cut some slack for Obama - Wright. Wright’s generation, unlike Obama’s, did endure severe wrong and in the South this wrong was even more pronounced. What Mr. Wright get’s wrong is that it’s (the severe wrong)over. His gospel asks him to forgive and move on. Some of his severe reactionary statements appear to reflect lingering bitterness. Justified or not, this venom will do him no good. I think Obama is trying to say this and we all need to recognize that it’s easier for Obama than Wright. Look closer at Mr. Wrights background/childhood and see why. I am a Caucasian American and I have heard Mr. Wright preach in person - An experience I cherrish and will always be thankful for. He is retiring and exercises his freedom to deserved boldness. I do pray that he and I choose to let go of bitterness and resentment on a daily basis. I pray that our behavior/words reflect the Love of God for all of us—imperfect as we are…He sure cut me some slack.
By glenn
March 24, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Mr. Huckabee did cut some slack for Obama - Wright. Wright’s generation, unlike Obama’s, did endure severe wrong and in the South this wrong was even more pronounced. What Mr. Wright get’s wrong is that it’s (the severe wrong)over. His gospel asks him to forgive and move on. Some of his severe reactionary statements appear to reflect lingering bitterness. Justified or not, this venom will do him no good. I think Obama is trying to say this and we all need to recognize that it’s easier for Obama than Wright. Look closer at Mr. Wrights background/childhood and see why. I am a Caucasian American and I have heard Mr. Wright preach in person - An experience I cherrish and will always be thankful for. He is retiring and exercises his freedom to deserved boldness. I do pray that he and I choose to let go of bitterness and resentment on a daily basis. I pray that our behavior/words reflect the Love of God for all of us—imperfect as we are…He sure cut me some slack.
By bobs
March 24, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
Obama was born in 1961, before the adoption of the Civil Rights Act. I’m not sure he is part of a generation that hasn’t faced severe wrong in our country.
By kathleen cere
March 25, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
As a Canadian observer of U.S. elections *this one is especially interesting, I found Mike Huckabee the most interesting, most honest, of the republicans.
Of the democrats, I would certainly support Obama and really admire Huckabee for pointing out that people should look at “black history” before critizing Jeremiah Wright for his offensive remarks. Offensive remarks may be one thing, but it does not even come close to what was done by white people to the black community in the past and Mr Huckabee was honest enought to point that out to people.
By Paulie
April 12, 2008 2:14 AM | Link to this
I’ve read the comments, and I believe that sometimes Christian people can be so wrong about things because 1. They do not like to judge. 2. They want to give persons every chance to be trustworthy before they decide not to trust. 3.They do not like to say what they think if it is degrading. So, we do not always tend to be the best of judges in situations. Reality sets in far to late when the damage is done. This would be my caution about Obama, I do not trust him for many reasons. Wake up America and listen closely to all the fluff and little real solutions. Hitler was full of fluff and promises and change and hate. Obama sat under the hate for 20 years and agreed with it. Or he would have left. I’m not saying Obama is a Hitler at all, but he certainly is full of fluff, change and promises which he cannot deliver and of which if you think about it we really do not want. Huckabee is too nice a gentleman to say derogatory things, but what is the reality of the situation? Too scary to even bring open to the public.
By Katherine
May 4, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Wow! Good for Huckabee. He’s one of the few Republicans I can’t help liking . It’s good to see people who can speak genuinely and leave the politicking behind - Obama and Huckabee both.
And I agree with him that Obama’s speech was historic. I’ve read the whole thing through twice and can’t find a single thing in it that I would object to.
By pat mycrotch
May 24, 2008 3:36 AM | Link to this
where’s the beef!