Huckabee: Obama may want people ‘to memorize Koran verses’

[GennGreymane]

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...d=sm_fb_maddow

When it comes to right-wing rejection of Syrian refugees, Mike Huckabee was ahead of the curve. Back in September, when most policymakers were debating how many – not if – the United States would welcome fleeing families, Huckabee asked, “Are they really escaping tyranny, are they escaping poverty, or are they really just coming because we’ve got cable TV?”

After the terrorist violence in Paris, the former Arkansas governor’s posture took an even uglier turn. After Huckabee used the attacks as a rationale for scrapping the Iran nuclear deal – he didn’t seem to realize ISIS and Iran are bitter enemies – he went on to say refugees should “end up in the neighborhood where the limousine liberal lives” or perhaps the “dorm rooms” at the University of Missouri.

This week, however, Huckabee is shifting his focus, directing his ire away from the refugees and towards the president trying to show leadership on the issue. Politico reported:
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee charged Monday that President Barack Obama’s “new domestic terrorism plan probably requires Americans to memorize Koran verses.”

That line – which has no basis in fact – came in a new op-ed the 2016 Republican presidential candidate penned for FoxNews.com.
“Why does the Obama administration express more outrage at conservatives than at radical Islamic terrorists? President Obama seems more interested in protecting the reputation of Islam than protecting the American people,” Huckabee wrote.

The Republican added that the refugees would be “unchecked” and “unscreened,” which is a brazen lie.

Note, the fact that this was written is no small detail. It’s easy to say stupid things on the fly, without giving the comments forethought, but when a national candidate writes ridiculous arguments in a published piece, it reinforces the deliberate nature of the absurdity.

In other words, Huckabee didn’t just blurt out nonsense in an interview, failing to think his argument through; he went to the trouble of thinking about it, writing it down, and making ridiculous claims on purpose.

We talked briefly about this yesterday, but I think the larger point isn’t that Huckabee has the capacity to be an offensive buffoon. We already knew that. The broader concern is that much of the political establishment likes to think of Huckabee as a charming, avuncular guy who’s easily to admire.

It’s past time for pundits to reassess those assumptions. Huckabee isn’t just some conservative political personality – he’s an anti-gay attack dog, someone who embraces racially charged conspiracy theories, and a snake-oil salesman with a record of over-the-top vitriol.

His Fox News op-ed is a reminder that the Beltway pundits who tell the public that Huckabee is a great guy apparently don’t know what they’re talking about.

[Bakis]

Russian or American voters, who is worse off in getting propaganda spooned to them?
The answer is not clear.

Better to read what was written a bit further down. This post was too simplified.

[Merkava]

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...d=sm_fb_maddow

Big deal. Some Republicans still think Huckabee's a decent guy, and some Democrats still think Howard Dean's a decent guy. Who cares. Maddow has a habit of going after the lowest hanging fruit.

[Adam Jensen]

That line – which has no basis in fact – came in a new op-ed the 2016 Republican presidential candidate penned for FoxNews.com.
“Why does the Obama administration express more outrage at conservatives than at radical Islamic terrorists? President Obama seems more interested in protecting the reputation of Islam than protecting the American people,” Huckabee wrote.

Gee, I dunno Hucky, maybe because people like you can't seem to understand that there's a major difference between radical islamic terror and the mainstream muslims?

[Moralgy]

Huckabee makes yahoo news commenters look like nice people.

[s_bushido]

I learned more about the bible than I ever knew when I was a Christian. Which is why it's so much easier to dismiss its stories as little more than ancient myths. So why not have people learn about the Koran as well? Of course, Huckabee's the type of person who only objects to theocracy when it's not a Christian theocracy, so he no doubt thinks that exposing people to non-Christian religions would probably just give them the wrong ideas!

[GennGreymane]

Huckabee makes yahoo news commenters look like nice people.

but how does he make youtube commenters look?

[Moralgy]

but how does he make youtube commenters look?

He makes them look like Korean girl groups.

[Deleted]

I heard Michelle Obama wants to ban bacon from school lunches is that true?

[Merkava]

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...d=sm_fb_maddow

And here's the problem with this thread, Genn. Your title refers to a piece written by Huckabee, but your thread consists entirely of one huge quote from Rachel Maddow's reaction to Huckabee's piece. Here's Huckabee's piece. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/...tion-plan.html

The relevant topic based on your original post should instead be, why is Maddow so offended by one sentence of political hyperbole?

[Luxxor]

Russian or American voters, who is worse off in getting propaganda spooned to them?
The answer is not clear.

Just going to start reporting you for nation bashing. Find something else to do. We get you don't like America. Maybe start worrying about Sweden, you guys certainly have enough to deal with...oh that's right its America's fault too!

[Bakis]

Just going to start reporting you for nation bashing. Find something else to do. We get you don't like America. Maybe start worrying about Sweden, you guys certainly have enough to deal with...oh that's right its America's fault too!

Good luck trying to take that as nation bashing when it is a known fact how US FOX/MSNBC impact voters with stupid often untrue shit.

[Tijuana]

Breaking News: Huckabee is a moron, update at 11.

[darkwarrior42]

And here's the problem with this thread, Genn. Your title refers to a piece written by Huckabee, but your thread consists entirely of one huge quote from Rachel Maddow's reaction to Huckabee's piece. Here's Huckabee's piece. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/...tion-plan.html

The relevant topic based on your original post should instead be, why is Maddow so offended by one sentence of political hyperbole?

Ok, let's try this. Here is a direct quote from YOUR link:

Sadly, the Obama administration is moving full-steam-ahead with its idealistic and outright dangerous Syrian refugee relocation plan, which will resettle more than 10,000 unchecked, unscreened foreigners across America towns. The FBI director has explicitly stated that we cannot conduct background checks on these people, yet nothing will stop Obama’s obsession with pandering to the international community, even if it poses a direct threat to Americans. Europe's experiment with open borders collided with radical Islam, and the results are deadly. How has Obama not learned these lessons?

During WW2, we forcibly relocated American of Japanese ancestry into internment camps. We knew that it was unlikely a significant number of them could pose any threat at all, yet we did it. Why? The simple and short answer is fear. We were at war, the "dirty japs" had launched a cowardly and underhanded attack, so clearly they can't be trusted; it might not be fair, but if it keeps the rest of us safe, what's a little inconvenience for these people compared to our lives?

Do I deny the possibility of terrorists using the refugees as a screen to sneak in? No. It is, of course, a possibility. But there are a couple of significant factors the paranoid right's knee-jerk reaction leaves out:

1) Denying refugees an opportunity to flee a violent and life-threatening situation and find real homes here could not possibly be less American.
2) If the terrorists want to sneak over here and strike, they won't give up if this avenue is closed to them. They'll find other methods. This won't stop the problem that people like Huckabee are worried about, it'll simply delay and shift it a bit.

The better approach is to find a solution that allows refugees to enter, while trying to weed out potential terrorists. If the current system cannot do that, well, that doesn't surprise me; the current immigration system is terrible, all this does is emphasize the need for reform. 100% success is NOT guaranteed, but then, it has never been guaranteed when it comes to immigrants. ANY immigrant might have a reason to attack the US, that doesn't mean we turn them all away... unless, it appears, they were born in the Middle East, in which case it stops being racism and becomes National Security, at least according to Mike Huckabee.

(Note: I actually deal with this sort of stuff on a daily basis in my job. That does not, of course, make me automatically right, but it does mean I have an actual basis for my opinions.)

Edit: Of particular note, is the last sentence of the quote I posted. He either fails to realize that not all refugees are Radicals (I would wager that not even most of them are), or he simply doesn't care how many innocents get lost in the shuffle. Neither one is particularly good. Europe's "experiment" wasn't with "radical Islam", it was with being decent human beings and with trying to let people flee a war zone. That's not always safe, but that doesn't make it stupid.

[vilememory]

Soon we will fence not off the border of Mexico and Canada, but also along the state lines. Because when the terrorist immigrants slip through those borders they are able to pass through all state borders without even so much as a glance! Fences, guard towers, check points! Have your papers ready! Live in constant fear it is the only way to be safe! Trust none but the albinos for the dark skinned are all Muslim terrorist extremist! Oh you say that is just a tan? I THINK NOT TERRORIST!

Sarcasm turned off.

[Kujako]

I heard Michelle Obama wants to ban bacon from school lunches is that true?

If it is true, Congress will just get bacon classified as a vegetable like they did with frozen pizza.

[Merkava]

Good luck trying to take that as nation bashing when it is a known fact how US FOX/MSNBC impact voters with stupid often untrue shit.

No, you characterized American voters as being similar to Russians in being force fed propaganda on the because of Fox News and MSNBC. You're probably just ignorant on how few people get the majority of their news from those sources compared to talk radio, local and national network news, news magazines, newspapers, etc.

- - - Updated - - -

Ok, let's try this. Here is a direct quote from YOUR link:


.

That would be a perfectly fine topic for discussion. Too bad you didn't open the thread instead of Genn.

[Bakis]

No, you characterized American voters as being similar to Russians in being force fed propaganda on the because of Fox News and MSNBC. You're probably just ignorant on how few people get the majority of their news from those sources compared to talk radio, local and national network news, news magazines, newspapers, etc.

- - - Updated - - -



That would be a perfectly fine topic for discussion. Too bad you didn't open the thread instead of Genn.

Yet FOX has its position in the toplist and also studies of what it does to people.
I can rephrase, I think American and Russian voters are as bombarded with pure propaganda but Americans have a far better way of getting secondary sources.
The whole thread is about just that, stupid shit with the ground zero of FOX/MSNBC.
How many Americans was it that thought it was likely Obama was a muslim again?

There, rephrased and I will apology for the way too simplified comment ontop. It was not wise of me.
This post however is doing the job.

[Merkava]

Yet FOX has its position in the toplist and also studies of what it does to people.
I can rephrase, I think American and Russian voters are as bombarded with pure propaganda but Americans have a far better way of getting secondary sources.
The whole thread is about just that, stupid shit with the ground zero of FOX/MSNBC.
How many Americans was it that thought it was likely Obama was a muslim again?

There, rephrased and I will apology for the way too simplified comment ontop. It was not wise of me.
This post however is doing the job.

Well said, thanks for the clarification.

[Bakis]

Well said, thanks for the clarification.

Well I fucked up, least I can do is to correct it.