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 have worked in the production of hundreds of political ads. Even the most minor detail was always analyzed and reviewed from every angle. I cannot believe Huckabee and his consultants think we are so ignorant! Maybe his name should be the “Huckster”.
Awesome! In times when so many groups, the media, courts, politicians, etc., seem to be so down on Christians / religion, Mike Huckabee is one of the few politicians who actually have the stomach to still say Merry Christmas! After all, what a Christian does is tout his or her faith, for all the world to see, regardless of the consequences. People like Mr. Donahue, who rather than saying they are proud to be Christian, are a disgrace to the Catholic (Christian) faith. The sheepishness of these people is one of the reasons why Christianity is taking such a bashing these days. However, Mr. Donahue seems to be much in keeping with the direction in which the Catholic church has gone in recent years. Heaven forbid a priest would get up in church and speak what the Bible says about homosexuality, or anything else the Bible considers sinful. I came from a Catholic background, and left the Catholic church because all they ever do is ask for money, and water down the Christian message . The Catholic church, like so many other people, is into political correctness. After all, telling people to live a moral life is offensive to many. THIS is truly whay people are against Christians and the Christian message. People don’t want to be reminded that there is a God who will one day judge them for the things they do now. It’s simpler just to try to squelch that kind of thinking, so they don’t need to think about it themselves. Don’t think about God, or what He commands, and you can live however you please, and answer to nobody but yourself. This country was based on Christianity, and the majority of people are still Christian. This includes Rudy Guiliani, Mitt Romney, Barach Obama, and even Hillary Clinton. There are several of these folks who proclaim to be Christian, yet clearly don’t walk the walk. How many of these folks are pro-choice? How many are for gay rights? These issues are clearly moral driven issues, yet these “Christians” ignore what the Bible tells them is correct, according to God. And these people also say as little as possible about their faith. Why? I’ll tell you why: because they are afraid to do what is madated by their very own religion: tell people you are Chrstian, and bring others to faith. This is anything but a Christian. I have to give it to Mike Huckabee. He claims his Christianity proudly and boldly, even in a time when it is not popular. You think he does not know making such statements could hurt his chances to become the Presidential nominee for the Republicans? Honestly, I think it will help him. After all, I think most Christians, such as myself, are sick and tired of watching our society telling us we can’t say Merry Christmas, have a Christmas display, put up the Ten Commandments in our schools and courthouses, say prayer in school, etc. It is obvious that the chipping away of our Christian based values has led to a clear decline of our overall societal values, and this goes all the way up the chain to our highest levels of government. I would like to see someone with real morals and ethics get elected to the office of the President. I think Mike Huckabee is the real deal, and he will be a formidable opponenent in the race for the Presidential nomination. I’m all for the guy who has his honesty and straight-forward attitude, and speaks with integrity. GO MIKE!
I was comfortable with G.W. Bush’s faith and the balance I perceived that he placed between not sacrificing his faith, and being the President of a country with religious freedom. I do not feel that same comfort with Mike Huckabee! This ad, while seemingly innocent, is obviously meant to make us Christians feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I’m not going to vote for Huckabee because he tells me Merry Christmas, or has a sly reference to the crucifix in the background. It makes me feel like I’m being pandered to and I do not enjoy it. Huckabee is beginning to step over the line between not sacrificing one’s faith, and selling himself based on his faith. I am conservative, I am Catholic Christian, and I pray that my faith deepens with each day I’m on this earth.
Not a fan of Huck’s on the issues, but I think it was an outstanding ad! The Huckabee campaign has run some very good ads lately. I love the one with Chuck Norris!
I loved Mike when he was gov. of Ark. I am so glad others are getting to know him too. He is truly refreshing. Merry Chistmas!
Huckabee is nothing but a moderate democrat in sheep’s clothing. Just forget about his religion and look at his record on crime, taxes, spending, ethics and immigration! He is as slick as Bill Clinton, but not half as smart. His Bible college education is fine if he’s running for pastor, but hardly qualifies him to run the largest business in the world, the federal government. We need someone with the skill, education and smarts to stand up to congress and bring the federal government under some semblance of control. Nobody in the race from either party can compare to Mitt Romney on the qualifications that count. AND he’s a good man too, with no hint of personal or public scandal!
Love the commercial, It is the truth, The true meaning of Christmas, ” The birth of Jesus Christ”. Finally, a politician running for President that will stand up and say that. Our country needs Mike. This country was based on value and morals by our ancestors. We need someone to uphold them!!! I am on Mike’s team!!!!!!
I was waiting for someone to drop the Hope comparison. But the comparison stops there, Mr. Clinton and Governor Huckabee couldn’t be more different. Good grief, how sad that someone wishing everyone a Merry Christmas is controversial news. It is getting rediculous that people feel that they have to run people down in stead of just disagreeing. Everyone is always looking for a spin. I happen to believe that Mike just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and it should be left at that. Merry Christmas and God Bless us everyone.
Why can’t a canididate express his or her faith in public? Why do so many misinterpret a very simple Christmas greeting? Everything we say is twisted and understood in so many ways. This is the education we receive from the modern media. This is the education of secular teachings in our schools even at the university level. People, stop digging into to words and twist there meanings. We are like a society living in fear and we are not a communist country. We are living in a real socialist fear and only a very few pushes this agenda in the nation. Please remember, we are a free people, believe what you want, but be real to yourself before we judge others.
The man said Merry Christmas and expressed its meaning to him by faith. If you would like to see Santa at the mall Sunday morning that’s fine. That is your expression of Christmas, please have fun and enjoy that freedom we all enjoy. If you have a Christmas tree as many Christians do, please enjoy it with your family. But don’t rub dirt on a man with just a simple message. It’s all about love, not hate. Merry Christmas.
I am so sick of Fox News making a mountain of something that is not even a mole hill. I cannot believe that you made news out of a bookshelf in the back ground calling it a “floating cross”- how ridiculous. I hope you realize that you are perceived as being foolish and making news. I used to love Fox and Friends, but I was sickened and saddened at how this visual Christmas card made by Huckabee was turned into the latest scandalous political story. All of the tv morning hosts turned this into a scandel that did not exist. I am glad he wished me and you a Merry Christmas-thats all it was- get over it and get back to reporting NEWS- real news.