Mike Huckabee predicts “Sons of Ishmael” will lose battle for Middle East

The former governor and possible future presidential candidate tries to buck up his fellow Christian conservatives

Published September 15, 2014 4:47PM (EDT)

  (AP/Alex Brandon)
(AP/Alex Brandon)

Speaking at the far-right Christian group Focus on the Family's "Star Spangled Sunday" event this past weekend, former Arkansas governor and potential future presidential candidate Mike Huckabee tried to rally his fellow Christian conservatives to keep the faith and trust that God will ensure "the Sons of Isaac" defeat "the Sons of Ishmael" in the battle for control of the Middle East.

Concluding his address before an audience that, if he were to run for president, would comprise much of his base, Huckabee compared the fate of the Middle East to that of his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks, whose rebroadcasts of men's basketball games he'd watch late at night despite already knowing the outcome. According to Right Wing Watch (RWW), Huckabee said he'd watch the rebroadcasts because he reveled in knowing that his team, in the end, would prevail.

And that, Huckabee argued, is similar to the experience any Christian who's read their Bible should have when observing the chaos in the Middle East today.

"I've got good news for all the dispirited and disquieted Christians in America who somehow are afraid that the Sons of Ishmael who are challenging us now in the Middle East will overwhelm the Sons of Isaac," Huckabee said, referring to Muslims and Christians, respectively, according to RWW. "Let me assure you, I have read the end of the Book," Huckabee said. "My dear friend, we win and our flag still stands!"

Watch Huckabee's conflation of Christianity and "our flag" (American? Christian? Probably not rainbow ...) below, via Right Wing Watch:


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

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