Huckabee Apologizes For Mormon Remark, Romney Makes Nice

All is apparently forgiven between Republican frontrunners Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.

The former Arkansas governor told CNN that he apologized to the former Massachusetts governor for his quixotically intentioned remark to the New York Times Magazine. Huckabee asked a Times reporter, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?"

After the Iowa debate today, Huckabee told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, "I went to Mitt Romney and apologized to him, because I said, I would never try, ever, to try to somehow pick out some point of your faith and make it, you know, an issue, and I wouldn't. I've stayed away from talking about Mitt Romney's faith. And I told him face to face, I said, 'I don't think your being a Mormon ought to make you more or less qualified for being a president.' That has been my position."

Now, well, it's water under the bridge. Romney took Huckabee at his word. As his spokesman, Kevin Madden, told the Huffington Post:

"The governor accepted the apology. He continues to believe that this campaign should not be about questioning a candidate's faith. While it is fair to criticize an opponent's record or policy positions, it is out of bounds for one candidate to question another's personal faith."

Earlier in the day, the tone coming from the Romney campaign was not so conciliatory. Appearing on NBC this morning, the candidate himself declared that, "attacking someone's religion is really going too far." Adding, "It's just not the American way, and I think people will reject that."

We'll see if we've heard the last of religion as a campaign issue. If Lawrence O'Donnell has his say... this would be just the beginning.

Comments

[Obama2008]

Beware of wolves in sheeps clothing.

[Norge]

So sweet.

[loki]

"They will realize they are powerless against us, if every Anglo Saxon Christian one of us stand together"

Mississippi Burning.

It almost sounds like its right off the stage of a republican convention.

[goodmam]

The Republicans are reaping what they have sowed. Having inappropriately and unconstitutionally injected religion into the public discourse for several years, it has turned on them and it is proving to be as divisive a force there as everywhere else.
Shia Republicans and Sunni Republicans.

[trex67]

Explain to me, anybody, what the difference is between believing one fairy tale or the other? And why is Kucinich ridiculed for claiming to see a UFO, as many thousands of otherwise sober and sane people have, when these guys believe some made-up crap is literally true?

Following the mythical tenets of a faith, particularly Mormonism and Christianity, requires a tremendous suspension of disbelief. I appreciate that the philosophy of Jesus, whether or not such a person actually existed, might inspire one to live a generous and virtuous life. You could say the same thing about Santa Claus. So, yes, the "leader of the free world" proclaiming blind faith in the miraculous tends to scare me a bit, and I have to question their sanity.

[TLV]

"Not until after the Civil War did Christmas begin to seriously affect American cultural and religious life. European immigration increased sharply after the war, and many of the newcomers came from countries with strong Christmas traditions. Germans, Italians, Poles, Swedes, Norwegians and others brought the holiday and many of its features, including Christmas trees and Santa Claus, to America in a big way....

It might also surprise Religious Right activists to learn that many of the Christmas traditions they defend so vociferously have, at best, a tenuous connection to Christiani­ty."

http://www.alternet.org/story/69928/

[marko77]

Huckleberry Hound apologized? Damn!! It was just getting interesting.

Well, Huck looks like a serious politician who can play this sick bullshit game competently after all.

[loki]

Human Evolution Speeding Up, Study Says

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071211-human-evolution.html

But according to our organized religion , this cant be possible!

[getoffmedz]

Both Romney and Huckabee have stepped on their own dicks and the Religious Right has a very good memory.

Heckofajob hypocrites, way to shred your own party.

lol

[maryec]

"Nearer My God to the White House"....­that's perfect!!! thanks, blueandgreen

[dickdata]

Karl Rove is the brother of Jesus ?????????????

[Xav7]

Huckabee is a pussy. He said what he said and he should stand by it.

[letsgetsmart]

You know our cross dresser can say that he is not a religious nut like the others but crazy is crazy. How is it possible for there to be only total nut cases representing one side? Its like they opened the doors to a loony bin and gave some religious leadership positions and the others political front runner positions. Do we really have enough crazy voters to elect one of these? Who has been putting what in the water? I grew up in a world where people criticized the strange followers of Reverend Moon that gave away flowers at airports. Sure there was religion but it was quiet and generally helpful to people until Billy Graham came along and now it is an industry. Sure there were some strange cults here and there but now the major religions are the crazy cults. Religion must be cancer to the brain and it spreads fast. Not long ago we were debating if there would be tax increases from the new candidates, now we are debating which one has the craziest religious beliefs. We took a major wrong turn and the traffic cop was Billy Graham. I hope the Graham family chokes on all of the money they milked from stupid americans.

[Malkintent]

This is what republicans have reduced American politics to--are Jesus and the Devil brothers!!!

[Sundialsvc4]

Do you find this "titillating?" Do you find that you want to jump to your "Reply" button to flame one way or the other?

Wonderful. Score yet another point to Karl Rove.

"Divide... and conquer."

Let "United We Stand" remain nothing more than a pithy statement on a bumper-sti­cker...

(The Emperor from Star Wars): "Yes... yess...."