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We know which Chosen One we want to hug come February 2.
Huckabee was hawking his book on the Daily Show, and Jon Stewart got into an interesting discussion about gay marriage. Thought-provoking, but we still wish Stewart would have asked (limited time, folks) if straight people who can't/don't/won't reproduce should have their marriages annulled, because that's Huckabee's logic. (Really, that bullshit -- and that's exactly what it is -- about men and women having babies as the reason why marriage is only a straight institution is so, for lack of a better word, stupid.)
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It's true: religion is a choice. My sexuality isn't.
I keep wondering when I watch exchanges like this (and I admire Stewart greatly for having a cordial exchange like this while still prodding Huckabee relentlessly), why I don't hear more people asking about the whole Church/State issue. A guy like Huckabee is supposedly all for classic Conservatism, which in theory cares a great deal about the separation of Church and State.
Oh, and the fact that those against gay marriage are actually starting to espouse an even more fundamentalist view of marriage--that it's only for procreation. Most Christians would even balk at that conservative a stance since that view effectively bans older people and those with medical issues from getting married. I would have loved to hear Huckabee answer that question, too.
The reason the smart advocates aren't pushing the Church/State issue is that it's just NOT a winning issue. ACLU types love to blather on about it, but people don't vote based on "separation of church and state" - they vote based on "freedom of religion," which is perceived by many, many voters, certainly on the right, as something quite different.
Fundamentalists in particular perceive freedom of religion as something that is promoted by active state involvement. It's stupid but that's the perception.
IMHO the way to win this is by challenging the Huckabees of the world directly and clearly on their intentionally obfuscated discussions of "the definition of marriage." These otherwise-nice guys use this term because they want to HIDE from the fact they are promoting discrimination. By challenging them specifically on what they are doing to real people, one by one, the equality side can win converts.
Huckabee looked really uncomfortable in that video. As well he should have. Maybe he will think again about what he's doing, if he gets challenged enough.
I wish Stewart could have gotten in the "should barren couples' marriages be annulled" question. Every time some moron claims procreation as the reason for marriage, my blood boils. I am glad Stewart was able to call him on the whole 5,000 years of tradition b.s.
I watched this entire interview last night and Huckabee is a blithering idiot with a very limited understanding of either the Constitution or the rights that have been held to be guaranteed by it. The Courts have held that marriage is not a "privilege" as Huckabee tries to claim, it is a fundamental right. To think this man could have been in charge of our country is very frightening.
I consider Huckabee to be a little more complex than that. Watch his show on Fox some time. He brings on all comers and actually has reasonable conversations with them, often agreeing to disagree but without the Bill'o The Clown or Hannity blather. He had Bill Maher on basically saying that Religion is bunk, and they had a real conversation. Surreal given my initial perspective on Huckabee.
It almost makes me think it's unfortunate that he had some very bad social views shoved down his throat and they are stuck there. Abortion, gay marriage, etc... because when you get past anything based on a narrow ideological viewpoint, he seems like a pretty bright guy and is definitely well spoken and has a great demeanor. Obama would have had a much tougher time against Huckabee, IMHO.
(Don't get me wrong, the thought of him winning the Presidency was very, very scary, I was VERY happy McCain beat him).
I didn't know he had the show on Fox until I saw this interview. (Really, I can barely stand CNN and MSNBC, no way would I voluntarily subject myself to Fox.) But now that you mention it, I'll check it out, just out of curiosity.
He would have been a terrible president though.
I should have put a disclaimer in - my random FOX viewing is supposed to be a comedic diversion but I have to take small doses as quickly my blood begins to boil.