Huckabee's Christmas Ad, Ron Paul Fires Back

Mike Huckabee is bringing his Christmas cheer, and his Baptist minister roots, to Iowans this election season. His recent ad, "What Really Matters," features the former governor offering citizens a Merry Christmas.

This isn't your ordinary Happy Holidays event. Huckabee lets loose the Christian spirit, saying "what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ." The ad also features a bookshelf in the background that appears to some like a "floating cross." The ad is a not-too-subtle play to Iowa value voters, who cringe at what they view as an increasingly secularized holiday.

Asked about the ad today, Ron Paul decried Huckabee's religious iconography with his own veiled reference on Fox and Friends:

"It reminds me of what Sinclair Lewis once said. He says, 'when fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross.' Now I don't know whether that's a fair assessment or not, but you wonder about using a cross, like he is the only Christian or implying that subtly. So, I don't think I would ever use anything like that."

Mike Huckabee's campaign today denied that the bookshelf/cross was an intentional reference. Iowa Director Eric Woolson responded:

It's the window frame in the background... Once you've got it in your head that it's a cross, it's a cross.

See the original ad and Ron Paul's response below.

Comments

[Talcott]

Ron Paul is the Fookin MAN!

Everyone remember to register and vote for

DR. Ron Paul
.
.

[justmeinAz]

I haven't seen a faux news clip in quite a while. I'm not used to that level of absurdity anymore. Tell me about immigration in one word? WTF? Can he buy a vowel? If the word "news" were a protected and licensed term like "doctor" or "therapist," that channel would have been sued into oblivion long ago.

[godlessclif]

instead of focusing on Ron Paul's non attack on Huck, since the Sinclair Lewis quote was about Bush; Why not concentrate on Mittens Romney's real attack on Huck for being too liberal.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/18/romney-continues-huckabee-attacks/#more-3860

[jungpatawan]

I like Ron Paul in a "enemy of my enemy is my quirky little friend who I'm not gonna vote for anyway" kind of way.

Ron, dogma is still dogma. Governance takes flexibility and compromise. But rock on, dude.

JP

[BurgersandFries]

The media sure hates Ron Paul.

[Tellmethetruth]

I think Ron Paul is the Republican version of Ralph Nader but less cranky. The problem for me, is he is the one candidate who is making sense. It makes me wonder if I'm hearing him correctly when he is such an extremist is making sense to me. What does that say about myself? (smile)

He seems to talk about freedom - how we lost it mostly with Bush, the war, etc... makes one sad to realize again how much freedom we have lost....

[DBlake]

Do you agree with Ron Paul's characterization of Mike Huckabee, 'when fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1330
.

[mikeeforthetruth]

Go Ron ,, I am a Dem , but I truly like what you said ,, how true how very true.

MWiz @ truthseekerforum.com

[satyriasis]

I admire Ron Paul a lot. Even more so when he speaks so candidly. That's apart of his appeal.

[Waitaminute]

The networks have realized they can't avoid him. So they will try everything they can to set him up. Bet you my golly wow..Paul's the one you're been waiting for.... oh yeaaaaahhh.

[iswearington]

huckabees lame attempt at using the "grand conjunction symbol" ( the three planets that formed the star of bethleham) beside the cross in the photo meen nothing. he is a card carrying member of the party of scribes...pharesees and hypocrites...(the GOP)..the very segment of the worlds population that were in jesus s times an anathema to christ...and who where his ememies and crucifiers.i remember growing up years ago when those who now support huckabee...the born again...right wing...christian evangelicals went by another name...(the klu klux klan".

[Waitaminute]

Did anyone else notice the, (I want to trip you up) way the reporters acted toward Ron Paul? Noticed how the female reporter ran off the questions in quick succession. I thought it was very disrespectful, the way they interviewed him. It was as though, he was on the stand and somehow, they'd get him to trip up.

Boy, i hate fucx news and all the arrogant and airheaded reporter. Fucx news reporter have no skills. Never worth watching.

[gochiefs]

Ron Paul has a valid point. Hitler used anti-Jewish propaganda to excite the crowds to get elected in Germany. Sound like anyone we know who claims to follow the teachings of Jesus? See www.hypocabee.com for the excerpt on Hitler.

[fortyfour]

hey, i'm just sitting here drinking eye of the hawk, but i want to know who is the blonde twit
from fox news asking the questions, think she might want to meet a wellreadneck gun owning liberal, cause i sure would like to give her the ole yahoo

[Rog49Thomas]

A perhaps more relevant issue is social justice and economic health of our country.

The myth of the "self regulating" free market has been well and truly discredited by events throughout the capitalist period. The subprime market crisis, the dotcom boom, the S&L crisis, Enron should provide convincing recent examples.

There is a role for government to play in tempering market excesses.

So, it's not only fascism we have to fear.