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Wednesday, Jun 12, 2013 4:00 PM UTC

Mike Huckabee: “We’re now even seeing television commercials portraying same-sex couples”

The former governor (who's been called a "model" for Republicans on LGBT rights) doesn't like what he sees on TV VIDEO

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Topics: Video, Mike Huckabee, LGBT, Homophobia, TV, ,

Mike Huckabee: Mike Huckabee (Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed)

Former Arkansas governor, nutritionist and Capitol Offense frontman Mike Huckabee is speaking out against the attacks against homophobic people. He’s tired of homophobes being told that their views are, well, homophobic. And he’s tired of the homosexualist attack against heterosexuals.

Huckabee spoke with Concerned Women for America head Penny Nance about his concerns on the radio on Monday, saying,

The very thing that many people and I know CWA was a part of this, saying, this is why the legalization of same-sex marriage is going to be a much bigger issue than just saying we let people love whoever they want to love, that’s not the issue. Will it force businesses — of course everyone will say, oh no people still have their rights, but they don’t. And every fear that people had has in fact come true, that this is being forced in textbooks on how marriage is depicted, we’re now even seeing television commercials portraying same-sex couples, that’s something I guess I didn’t expect to see anytime soon.

Huckabee is understandably distraught that he’d live to see the day when some people started to see LGBT people as equals. It is troubling. More and more people are losing their god-given right to discriminate. I’m not sure which commercials he’s talking about, since I haven’t seen too many featuring the gays. But “Will and Grace” was bad enough. Nor am I sure about the textbooks. But I sure hate the homophilic message in “And Tango Makes Three,” the dangerous tale of gay penguin lust and child rearing.

Huckabee’s homophobic bona fides are stellar. He’s downplayed violence against gay people, arguing that, “There is a difference between the civil rights movement of African-Americans who were essentially hosed down in the streets by Bull Connor in Birmingham and beaten with their skulls crashed in on the bridges of Selma for being black, not for their behavior, not for anything other than their race.” Interestingly enough, congressman John Lewis, who did get his skull bashed in in Selma for being black, sees a strong connection between the civil rights movement and the LGBT rights movement, saying, “What happened in Selma 48 years ago was just one step on the ladder, what happened at Stonewall was just another … As Dr. King used to say when he was asked about interracial marriage, ‘Races don’t fall in love and get married; individuals fall in love and get married’ … If two men want to fall in love and get married, it’s their business and no government — state or federal — should be able to deny people their love.” But, moving on. When asked if LGBT people should be allowed to marry, Huckabee shared his nuanced view that “that would be like saying, well there are a lot of people who like to use drugs so let’s go ahead and accommodate those who want to use drugs. There are some people who believe in incest, so we should accommodate them. There are people who believe in polygamy, should we accommodate them?”

The good news is that the Republican Party is set to follow Huckabee’s enlightened path. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in March that, when it comes to LGBT issues, Huckabee is “a model for a lot of people in our party … I always tell people, listen to Governor Mike Huckabee … I don’t know anyone that talks about [LGBT rights] any better.”

Concerned Women for America is also calling out the challenges faced by homophobes. When asked (by herself, it seems), “Has it become more difficult to oppose gay marriage over the years?” CWA’s Nance responds: “It has. The other side has been masterful at comparing its movement to the racial prejudices of the past — a sin so egregious that nobody wants to be associated with it. But make no mistake about it, we will continue to stand. In trying to eradicate Christian beliefs, they only confirm what we are told in the Bible, that we are going to suffer in a world that will become increasingly hostile to Christ and His teachings. This persecution is what Christians experience all over the world.”

CWA also focuses on young homophobes, the most vulnerable and, of course, our future. They lay out their agenda in a series of talking points:

  • We reject the idea that GLBT students deserve more protection than others. The pain an obese student who is bullied suffers, for example, should be treated with  as much care as all others.
  • Any serious anti-bullying legislation should aim at protecting all children and not to granting special rights to a certain sub group.
  • Schools have no need to either approve or promote the acceptance of GLBT behavior in order to promote student safety.
  • Mere criticism of homosexual, bisexual, or transgender behavior should never be considered or treated as harassment or bullying.

They’ve also launched Willing 2 Stand. In addition to rocking a killer youthful title, this campaign aims to embolden homophobic young people who feel persecuted. According to the website,

“Willing” is our pledge to GOD, as testimony to the world, that we will never deny Him or His Word, whatever the cost.  Jesus Christ told us that “If they persecuted [Him], they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)  Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised when the world rejects us.  We need to remain faithful to Him in every area and endure whatever momentary afflictions we may endure, for our trust is in Him alone.

In the accompanying video a young man half-speaks, half-raps in a dark room (which looks like it’s usually used for stand-up comedy) to what appears to be a group of kidnapped and drugged teenagers. He asks, “What about when they call you a hater or a liar or a bigot or a prude?  Whatever they call you. My question for you is what you going to sacrifice for Jesus.” (That is, when someone calls you a bigot, you should respond by saying, “Jesus.”) He goes on, “I know you don’t want to fight this fight. I know you would rather feed the poor and help the sick. But these things are not mutually exclusive.” (That is, you can volunteer in a soup kitchen or hospital and condemn homosexuality at the same time. A great way to do that is by finding a shelter that caters to LGBT youth and refrain from giving them food, while informing them they are going to hell.)  Back to the video: “In fact, it makes perfect sense for the enemy to attack you when you are the most weak. Yet in your weakness, Christ is able to show up. The fact is, we don’t serve a wimpy God. We serve a mighty powerful creator.” (That is, our god is hella butch.) He then asks the teenagers, “Are you willing to be the generation that will not submit to anyone but god. Aaaare youuuuu willing?” The piano music that has been playing in the background dramatically stops. One seated teenager after another stands up in an “I’m totally willing” gesture. Fade to black. Even if you disagree with the message, you’ll be impressed by the stagecraft and artistry.

In addition to standing up from your chair, you can “stand boldly, proclaiming that you are ‘willing’ to follow God’s teachings, whatever the culture may say,” by purchasing and donning the Willing wristband.

Katie Halper

More Katie Halper.

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