For Assassination Joke, Huckabee Should Be Off TV

Having joked less than a year ago about killing Mitt Romney (and his supporters), former Republican candidate for president, Mike Huckabee, has now made light of assassinating Sen. Barack Obama.

According to CNN, during his recent speech at the NRA convention in Louisville Kentucky, the former presidential candidate offered the following joke in response to a loud noise off stage:

"That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak...Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor." (from CNN PoliticalTicker.com)

As Huckabee transitions from presidential candidate to media pundit, his habit of joking about political assassination leads many Americans to question the place of violent rhetoric in the speech of high-profile political pundits, as well as the consequences that should result from it.

Legal vs. Civic Questions
Many would argue that joking about assassinating a Presidential candidate falls well within the realm of free speech and should not merit any particular consequences--legal, moral or otherwise. Indeed, past court rulings on the question of jokes about assassinating a sitting president suggest that it is very difficult to establish any kind of legal culpability in these instances. The question, it seems, falls down to two factors: (1) the often 'vituperative, abusive, and inexact,' nature of political rhetoric and (2) the legal difficulty of establishing intent to bring about actual harm in these instances (see Eugene Volokh, 'Jokes About Killing the President' Apr 27, 2005).

Legal questions, of course, are only one aspect of this issue. In addition to what is permissible by law, Americans are also deeply concerned with whether or not certain kinds of speech tend to undermine the necessary pragmatic nature of our civic process -- our ability to turn to the media and to each other to learn what we need to learn in order to achieve our common goals. When we turn away from legal questions and begin to examine the kinds of rhetoric that may undermine our deliberative democracy, we start to see that Americans are by-and-large opposed to violent jokes and speech tossed out by political pundits.

And yet despite this opposition on the basis of maintaining a healthy, civic process, violent-rhetoric from high-profile pundits continues largely unchecked.

In 2006, for example, Ann Coulter joked about the need for someone to assassinate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens:

We need somebody to put rat poisoning in Justice Stevens' creme brulee," Coulter said. "That's just a joke, for you in the media. (Coulter Jokes About Poisoning Supreme Court Justice, FOX News)

A trained Constitutional attorney, Coulter understood the legal precedents regarding jokes about political assassination -- meaning that she knew how to craft a joke about political assassination such that it would not land her in any kind of jeopardy. Nonetheless, it is clear that Coulter also knows that joking about assassinating a Supreme Court Justice would earn her a great deal of media coverage and have an impact on national debate on abortion.

In a political context where anti-abortion activists have assassinated medical practitioners on the excuse that they were stopping the doctors from performing further procedures, many interpreted Coulter's joke as having contributed to an atmosphere of violence and threat in American politics.

Citizen Outrage Ignored By Media Companies
Citizens' concerns over Coulter, however, were not in any way heeded by corporate media--both broadcast and publishing -- nor by political parties. Following her remarks, Coulter continued to earn huge book deals and continued to enjoy virtual open access to high-profile broadcast media.

What Coulter and Huckabee share in common is that they both used rhetoric that was legal, but nonetheless toxic to healthy political debate.

When a political pundit uses a high-profile political forum to joke about assassinating his or her political opposition, the result is that deliberative debate shuts down. Indeed, the response that violent rhetoric elicits in the minds of Americans is not the desire to censor speech in any way, but a call for violent-speech to be channeled towards entertainment where citizens are provided with the resources to make more informed choices about what they will and will not watch or hear.

In the meantime, Mike Huckabee's joke about an assassination attempt on Sen. Obama will lead to the same outcome as Coulter's joke about assassinating John Paul Stevens: disruption of deliberative debate followed by greater broadcast presence awarded to him by the media.

The outcome should be the opposite: media marginalization instead of aggrandizement.

For joking about the assassination of Sen. Obama, Mike Huckabee should be removed from the rosters of all the various cable and network stations on which he regularly appears.

Follow Jeffrey Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyFeldman

Comments

[Skepticat]

In less than 170 years or so the USA has had more assassinations and attempts on heads of state than Great Britain in over 1000 years, and I can't off hand think of any other country with a worse track record over a similar time span. Huckabee wrote "Kids who Kill" after the Jonesboro massacre and certainly should have known better than to say something so dangerously stupid.

As shown by the asterisks most of the perpetrators were mentally unstable people.
Andrew Jackson - attempt assassination *
Lincoln - assassinated
Garfield - assassinated *
McKinley - assassinated *
Teddy Roosevelt as ex pres - attempt assassination *
FDR - as pres elect - attempt assassination - Chicago Mayor killed *
Huey Long Gov LA - assassinated *
Harry Truman - attempt assassination
JFK - assassination *?
RFK - pres candidate - assassination *
George Wallace - candidate - attempt assassination *
Gerald Ford - 2 attempts by "Manson Girls" *
Ronald Reagan - attempt assassination *

[dadw5boys]

anyone who opposes the FEDERAL RESERVE and has any power!!!!

just one you forgot.

[Gmoney1]

Nothing done by these is spontaneous - their threats are planned, the apologies are planned and they know they can sell their hate through tv and books - we patronize them -

[raw915]

That kind of statement could not have come out accidently. Either the event was staged, or Huckabee had uttered similar words to others in private. If the latter were the case, it would brand him as a racist.

[gerrylong]

I can't imagine a sincere Christian minister stooping to that level for a laugh.

But then, Huckelby is a prominent GOP figure, and therefore we can just disregard his so-called Christian ideals.

[in4success]

yes . . . just watching him on GERALDO . . . this thing's gotta trump "nappy-headed ho."

can you imagine if a democrat had said something like this about, say, mccain?

the right would be spinning so fast their skin would fly off.

[thymetwo]

I simply find it so far past poor taste that I don't believe he should be given any kind of forum for his speaking whatsoever in the future. If we don't marginalize those that spout that kind of rhetoric it runs the risk of becoming, acceptable.

[youknowwhat]

After hearing about how complicit he was in parolling that guy that went out and murdered again, what Huckabee says doesn't even surprise me. This was wrong on so many levels and coming from a preacher no less. He knew he was going to make a lame apology after doing this. This was definitetly a signal to a crazy.

[HuffingPuffing]

Remarks like this are despicable and of a bygone age, when black Americans were denied the vote, and a seat at the lunch counter. Huckabee's aw-shucks, down-home, corn-pone schtick should not fool anyone by now. He's just another racist redneck, except he wears a suit (with flag pin, natch) and loves Jaysus and while he thinks it, he can only allude to the racist hatred that flows through his veins. What would Jesus do, Pastor? Jesus would be thoroughly ashamed of you, and what you spew, Pastor.

[arabrab]

Can you just imagine had Barack or Michelle made a "joking" coment about a Republican, like what MH said. Oh my god we would have never heard the end of it.

[researcher]

good point the media is corp fascism and will defend the repubs to the end. it is in their best interest to do so. profits and less tax which means more profits.

[HuffingPuffing]

Actually, no I can't because they are educated and know better, unlike this grinning good ol' boy. But to indulge your question - OMG is right. The TVs would melt from the outrage something like that would generate, but when Pastor Huckabee says the same thing... God, I can't wait for all this neo-con Jesus crap to crawl back under its rock again - these people were on the very fringes a few years ago, now they're center stage. Enough already. We are better than this.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Off TV! What channels are you watching? Chis Matthew's had Ann Coulter on his show twice for the whole show. He never argued with her and he never challenged her. This was after her comments on the 9/11 widows. I would imagine we would see Huckabee on TV more now than before. Welcome to the new world of so called "cable news." It's like trying eat bowl of steam and wondering why you're still hungry.

[gigi09]

I am sure she was on FOX News...

[GeorgeKaplan]

nope... it was old Chris... I used to watch everyday.

[thebeerdoctor]

I have heard it said by critics of the NRA that much of their agenda is not about gun ownership but rather, having the right to kill things freely. Pastor Huckleberry's "joke" only helps to confirm that observation.

[timetorevolt]

Just analyze your own mind set when it comes to making a spontaneous joke. If you don't have some conscious opinion about the subject you can't spontaneously joke about it. This was intentional and a true indication of how Huckabee thinks. Not surprising because Hillary has used the same tactics.

He is trying to signal the KKK elements in the GOP because they are afraid of Obama. Truely sad.

[Deparis]

Sorry for the misspell, I meant Huckabee and not Huckaby.

Deparis

[Deparis]

Ok fellows, those who say it was a bad joke, that he apologized for it and blame the huffpost (the media) for making a big deal out of it, you are missing the point.

We are in a national election cycle, the GOP is in the brink of losing the South historically known to be very conservative and religious, the "joke" was made during an event sponsored by the NRA infront of a gun ownership right audience in Kentucky. And this is the part which makes it so dangerous that a simple apology is not enough and which this thread left out: Karl Rove spoke, John McCain, the "presumptive" GOP nominee spoke. What did they speak about? About a candidate Obama wanting to take away their guns and "mocking" them by saying they "cling" to guns and God when they are in economic distress. So, when a "MINISTER" makes this statement that was quickly deemed a joke, do you imagine the type of ears it may fall or may have fallen into?

Yes, he later issued a statement to apologize. Nevertheless, this was just a written statement read by someone other than Mike Huckaby. It may have been done for political correctness. It would have been well received had Mike Huckaby read or made the apology himself during a press conference, or as some have suggested, seized the opportunity to make a major speech on hate speech, hatred, socio-political and cultural diversity in the great USA.

Deparis

[ornovscot]

I agree. I think that as many people as possible should write to cable news channels or to their parent companies and request that Mr. Huckabee not be invited on news talk programs.

[dotmafia]

THIS WAS NOT A "JOKE"

If you watch Huckabee as he is saying the so-called "joke", you can clearly see he is reading from prepared notes in front of him. Which means he was ready. Which implies that this entire episode, including the "unexpected offstage noise" was entirely expected and planned.

What this racist GOP fu**er and his helpers are trying to do, is impart the idea into a gun-toting crazie's head to try and shoot Mr. Obama. This is subtle, negative and evil subliminal messaging at its best, and these a**holes are guilty of it. They will stop at nothing to help carry on the Bush legacy, even if it means faking a tasteless joke and taking the heat for it.

Open up your eyes America!

[ann1]

I concur....­.

[gigi09]

...and so do I!

[MrsPeel]

Me, too.

[CeeLee]

Watching HRC and her "I'm the white candidate" performance while campaigning in Appaliachian territories of PA. WV and Kentucky, and HUCKABEE "JOKING" about Mr. Obama being ASSASINATED while mugging with the NRA, it has become "the thing to do" for political candidates to toss racist and bloody hate bombs toward their opponents .

Huckabee and Clinton and their supporters are WELL AWARE of this nations' history with ASSASINATIONS and Supremist KLAN Supporter language. They forge on with this type of dialog with unending GLEE and MSM by not CALLING this DISGUSTING and HATEFILLED BEHAVIOR for what it is, PROVES that we have not come very far in 2008.

I for one am GRATEFUL that the cloaked hate mongering character embodied in the personas of CLINTON and HUCKABEE will NO LONGER BE viable CONTENDERS for the PRESIDENCY of THIS NATION.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Actually..­. Huckabee very well could be a candidate for President again. If McCain losses he would be right up their to run again in 2012. And guess who will be number one to run again for the Democrats.­.. yep Hillary in 2012.

And this merger of Hillary and Huckabee is just another of the many smears against Hillary. In fact this obsessive Hillary hating is possibly going to cost the Democrats the election. Half of all votes cast where for her. Unity means we all vote for the Democrat and do not tear each other down... another thing can we stop with the sweeping generalizations. Are we trying to lose?

[OlongapoEd]

What Huckster said was clearly no joke, but was an inadvertent expresssion of what he wants to happen. It should be obvious that Huckster and people like him want Obama dead. It really is that simple.

[ann1]

The reason Huckabee's so-called joke is so disturbing is not just what he said......­.but who said it. I'm so tired of these ministers going about life without any restraint. Instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, they're being led by the flesh. I'm not addressing Mike Huckabee the Gov, I'm addressing Mike Huckabee the pastor, there's a big difference. Yes we are imperfect people, but a man of God, will be held to a higher accountability. Pastors are to be ensamples, in the world but not of the world.

The only people making excuses for Huckabee and calling it a "bad" joke are those who lack understanding of scripture. Huckabee is fully aware of what the Bible says about joking--Eph 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or COARSE JOKING, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

What he said may not be offensive to some and that's very understandable, but that definitely has no place in the body of Christ. He's also aware that it's not what goes in a man that defiles him, but that which cometh out defiles the man.