Mike Huckabee Defends ‘Merry Christmas’ Ad, Says Cross Imagery is Incidental
Dec. 18: The TV ad features former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in a red sweater in front of what appears to be a white cross and Christmas tree. (Huckabee for President, Inc.)
In a new television ad debuting Tuesday in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee does the unthinkable - he wishes early voters “Merry Christmas.”
Wearing a red sweater and standing before a glowing Christmas tree as “Silent Night” plays in the background, the former Arkansas governor asks viewers if they’re “about worn out of all the television commercials you’ve been seeing, mostly about politics.”
Behind Huckabee appears to be a white cross, which may be intersecting shelf lines or a window pane and slowly moves to the right on the screen until it’s behind his head.
But the ordained Baptist minister, who has been riding a wave of evangelical support with his open religious appeals, said Tuesday that it’s just a bookshelf and defended the ad.
“If we are so politically correct in this country that a person can’t say ‘enough of the nonsense with the political attack ads could we pause for a few days and say Merry Christmas to each other,’ then we’re really, really in trouble as a country,” Huckabee said, speaking in Houston, Texas.
Click here to watch the ad titled, “What Really Matters”
In the ad, Huckabee says, “At this time of year, sometimes it’s nice to pull aside from all of that and remember that what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ.”
“I hope you and your family have a magnificent Christmas season. God bless you and Merry Christmas.”
Will Mike Huckabee’s new TV ad where he mentions Christ by name and displays imagery of the cross help him or hurt him?
Have no effect (16%)
Hurt him (8%)
Loading …Catholic League president Bill Donahue said Huckabee went beyond wishing people a joyous holiday. Donahue said he was especially disturbed by the cross-like image created in the background of the ad, saying he believed it was a subliminal message.
“What he’s trying to say to the evangelicals in western Iowa (is): I’m the real thing,” Donahue said Tuesday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends. “You know what, sell yourself on your issues, not on what your religion is.”
Huckabee said the bookshelf is “nothing more than a bookshelf” and shrugged off the controversy: “I will confess this: If you play the spot backwards it says, ‘Paul is dead. Paul is dead.”‘
He was joking about the Beatles’ recording of “The White Album” and the urban legend that if a portion of the album is played backwards, the words “Paul is dead” is heard, a reference to the very much alive Paul McCartney.
Meanwhile, rival Mitt Romney launched a new TV ad yesterday slamming Huckabee, the ex-Arkansas governor, for commuting the sentences of 1,033 criminals - including 12 convicted murderers. “Huckabee granted more clemencies than the previous three governors combined,” says the 30-second Romney attack ad.
“The difference between us is that I did something he never had to do. I carried out the death penalty 16 times, more than any other governor in my state’s history,” Huckabee told reporters in Los Angeles before attending a Beverly Hills fundraiser. “That’s hardly soft on crime when you make that tough decision and actually carry it out.”
Romney’s state of Massachusetts does not have capital punishment.
The Romney-Huckabee spat continued throughout the day Tuesday.
“Interestingly, Mr. Romney has commended President Bush for the pardon of Scooter Libby, yet he brags that he never gave one as governor,” Huckabee said in Houston.
Returning fire in Columbia, S.C., Romney reiterated that Huckabee is “liberal” on crime and immigration.
Asked about the Christmas ad, Romney said, “We recognize the diversity of faith and we unite over our commitment to religious liberty, and I hope Governor Huckabee, like all of us, is supportive to the diversity of faith and the liberty to worship God as they choose, and I trust that he and the other candidates will do just that.”
Not surprisingly, Huckabee sounded Monday as if he wanted to declare a holiday truce among the Republican presidential contenders.
“I think the country could use a little good will and peace on earth a little more than they can some tit for tat in the political arena,” Huckabee said.
FOX News’ Carl Cameron, Serafin Gomez and Shushannah Walshe, and The New York Post and Associated Press contributed to this report.
I am glad Mike Huckabee wishes us a Merry Christmas. 80% of Americans say they are Christians. This is what the people want. America is a Christian nation; it was founded as a Christian nation - just look at the writing of George Washington, Thomas Payne, John Jay and the others… Doesn’t Mike Huckabee help us bring back good memories when we hear: Merry Christmas? I think so. I agree with Mike Huckabee: Merry Christmas!
God bless Mike Huckabee….oorah!
Uhm…I doubt he’s trying to hide anything, since Christmas is a Christian holiday in the first place. That makes all of this “cross” talk senseless. I think whether there is or is not a cross in the background, there is clearly one in his message. I don’t think he is trying to brainwash anyone, rather, let them know what he is about, and where he is coming from. It’s like playing a rap cd backwards to look for hidden swear words. But feel free to waste your time as you like, mastering and debating the obvious.
In response to Lori’s comment, I would like to point out that God does not violate free will. So I have to disagree with her. I would also like to point out in response to Anne of comment 751, that the commercial in question was not political in nature, so why would his campaign (which is severely lacking in funds when compared to his opponents) spend the time or resources analyzing it.
You know, the cross shown behind Huckabee could be a sublimanel message from Jesus Christ our Lord…………Know matter how each one of us votes, God will put in the White House whom he deems is worthy of the call. God is still in charge people, don’t you think otherwise! Hallelujah!
When I listen to Mitt Romney, he sounds like one on-going sound byte, like every word was meticulously rehearsed or he’s reading off a teleprompter. He hits every Republican talking point, but not a single breath is convincing. He is just a man with alot of money who wants to be President really, really bad.
John McCain has ridden the congressional party fence for decades, and there is no doubt he is in bed with institutions and special interests. He is a Washington-ite through and through, and with his experience and his age, you simply cannot change a man like that. You can only dress him up as a ‘very good man’ with lots of big-name support and hope people will ignore his liberal record.
Mike Huckabee however speaks his heart and convictions in pure plain and simple English. He does not stutter. He does not hesitate. He knows what he believes and he speak it unapologetically. Not only that, but he is right-on when it comes to Republican values and American heritage. He’s not some rich guy buying his way to the oval office. He’s not dragging in celebrities to endorse him. Huckabee’s a humble man of integrity and character who wants the opportunity to make a difference in this country - in the mold of America’s greatest presidents. From the first debate I saw Mike Huckabee, I trusted him. After I listened to his ideas, I agreed with him. Now that I see the way he has managed his campaign, responded in interviews, and responded to direct political attacks, I support him. He is the only true conservative in this race and I truly hope American’s everywhere are looking past the McCain facade and the Romney charade and see the great opportunity we have in Mike Huckabee.
I am not an evangelical Christian; I’m not quite sure what I believe when it comes to God/religion. I have no problem with people living their lives the way they see fit, i.e. gays and lesbians. I am definitely more of a liberal when it comes to social issues. However, the most important issue to me is the economy and taxes. Our current system of taxing a person’s income is ridiculously unfair, unless you have the money and resources to figure out all of the loopholes. Has anyone tried to read the federal tax code? Good luck with that. Huckabee is the only politicaian out there who has had the confidence and moral integrity to promote a nation-wide sales tax, i.e. the fair tax. Why is someone taxed more simply b/c they have worked hard to make more money? Why do the lower-classes not pay taxes? Do they not benefit from our roads, military defense, etc. etc. ? All an income tax does is penalize hard work that results in wealth and provide for a larger government b/c of the need for the IRS. Also, what about all of those who don’t claim an income, i.e. drug-dealers, prostitutes, bookies, etc. etc.? Why do they get to benefit from governmental services that tax-payers like me pay if they don’t pay any taxes? With a fair tax, EVERYONE pays, no matter where your income comes from. And, everyone pays the same amount depending upon their purchases. So, just b/c you are wealthy, you’re not having to pay 40% + in taxes and if you’re at the poverty level you’re going to have to pay for what you buy just like everyone else. Although I don’t completely agree with Huckabee’s social stances, what I’m looking for is a president who will legislate conservatively, allow the people to responsible for their own lives, know the extreme importance of protecting our borders and having a strong military, and is driven to find alternative energy sources so that we are no longer dependent upon the Middle East for their oil. I won’t get a chance to vote for a month, but I sure hope Huckabee gets some delegates today!
Hi,
Just voted for Mike Huckabee. So did a lot of other people that I know. He is the only Republican candidate that is a true conservative. I have researched the other two guys. They are scary. They love abortion, gay people and have liberal democrat stuff they are trying to hide. They even voted for a woman to murder her own baby and men to marry men and women to marry women, YUCK! Let’s all vote for Mike Huckabee. Just think if Obama or Monica Lewinsky’s exboyfriends’ wife get elected at President, YUCK! Please don’t vote for democrat McCain or Romney either they are just as liberal as Obama and Monica Lewinsky’s exboyfriends’ wife. Thanks.
I think it will help him.
If Mike Huckabee were Jewish and he ran an ad saying “Happy Chanukah” there would have been no problem whatsoever. However, since he is a Christian he is discriminated against - fact be known.