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.
He does not need Chuck Norris, Huck is kicking buts with or without his endorsement lol. I think the media wants Hillary or Mccain to be president to “keep the power in the family of Washingtonites”. As far as having a cross in the imagery, intentional or not… whats the big deal? Why can’t Huckabee embrace his religion? I have hoped and prayed to see a determined candidate who is openly embracing of his beliefs. If this is an issue America is on the edge of total dis-association with God. If not total dis-association a dramatic shift in this country’s religous beliefs. The way we are going in 20 years it may be Islam that is the popular fad religion of the USA. Although be it extreme, take for granted your freedoms and you are sure to lose them.
Go Huck, and maintain to be strong. I believe you are polling even better then they say, so keep that chin up. we are behind you my friend.
Go Huck
It’s true that there hasn’t been a lot of love lost between McCain and Romney.
It’s also true that Romney gained a whole lot of national name recognition during the campaign and that he is far superior to McCain when it comes to experience with the economy and free enterprise, the inner workings of America.
It’s interesting too that the CPAC straw vote came out for Romney even after he had suspended his campaign. It seems that the conservative heart of the GOP still pulses for Mitt Romney!
I believe strongly that if McCain would very soon announce Mitt Romney as his running mate that the GOP would be united and everyone would heartily pitch in to win the November election.
http://mittromney.townhall.com
Huckabee’s a Christian!!?? No Way! If it hadn’t been for that cross back there he could have fooled us all.
Regarding the issue of the Huckabee ad regarding Christmas, I personally commend him for doing that ad inasmuch as he seems to be trying to stop some of the backbiting between the candidates. I know this is what happens in politics, but for those of us out here, we are tired of the comments and inuendos made by the candidates against other candidates.
As for the criticism regarding the “cross” in the ad, it seems we are always making too much out of everything - all he was doing was trying to send a message of promoting good will between all people. I don’t think he planned the “cross” to be the message. It just is another example of how people try to pull eveyrthing apart for their own agenda.
GO Huckabee
Love, The Smiths
Cross image Coincidental? hahahaha all about politics. Huckabee’s insistence to portray himself as Christian is over rated and will use every sophistry and sweet toungue to hide his ravenous wolf skin. By denying that the cross was unintentional part of the add is pure HYPOCRISY. This man is staying in the race to suck up to the position of VP. Well if McCain chooses him to become his VP they will all be DOOMED to fail with a Hillary/Obama tandem or vice versa.
OMG, some people are such idiots. HUGE idiots. Is it really that big of a freaking deal?
I think it’s awesome. He cares. Oh my goodness, this man has a life! WOW! He’s not all about campaigning 24/7. That’s incredible.
I live in Washington state, and at 50 I have only voted in one presidential campaign, for a libertarian, and we don’t even have that option any more. The first time I heard Mike Huckabee on TV I joked a little, but each time I heard him, another little bell went off in my head. The democrats have Obama, but seem bent on finding a way to get Clinton back, the question is which one? The republicans have nothing to offer me, a ‘young baby boomer’ entrepreneur, except one….Mike Huckabee!!!
He’s the first politician in a long time that seems willing to embrace the idea that our tax system is a self-feeding monster that is beyond repair. Every time they try to fix it, they make it more complex and expensive to administer. I don’t believe he has all the answers, but is on the right track. It’s not that everything is too expensive, it’s that we have a government that will spare no expense, AT OUR EXPENSE!
As a business owner I’d like a government that’s looking out for US with OUR $$$. But I would like all the sensation-driven reporters to take note that there are alot of ‘Huckabees’ in our country. I know that I’m not the only citizen who would like to see debates where ALL the candidates are respected and given EQUAL TIME. What’s wrong with asking the questions that are relevant to the concerns of our country? What I saw was alot of leading questions to the ‘media darling’ front runners. I think it is remarkable that Mike has done so well inspite of being attacked, turn everywhich way and ignored. I think they’re scared, as well they should be!
Am I the only person who wonders how much the well meaning(?) press affected the outcome of the race in California Tuesday by declaring projected winners on the east coast hours before the polls closed on the west coast?
I challenge everyone to ask themselves the following questions-
Do I care enough about the future of my country to participate in the process?
Am I willing to stand for and believe in my vote enough to make an educated vote vs. a fear driven ‘lesser of evils’ vote based solely on media hype?
Do I believe this country can withstand another 4 years of corporate greed, federal mandates, and very expensive wars without limit?
Isn’t managed for profit heath care a conflict of interest?
If you answered yes to any or all of these, REGISTER NOW (if you aren’t!), Participate, and VOTE, or be prepared to get the government you deserve, by default!
I’ve been so disgusted for so long, but now “I’m mad as he##” and looking for an old TV to throw out the window (before paying to recycle it)! Then tomorrow I plan to go to the Huckabee rally in Kirkland tomorrow and attempt to find out for myself why he isn’t going away like the ‘pundits’ wish he would. I’ll be back. PJC
Forget the “Cross imagery” in the backgraound, isn’t it obvious from the camera angles that his left ear is IDENTICAL to the Crescent on any Islamic flag. Beware! Mike Huckabee is secretly an Al Qaeda front.
Aren’t Liberals and their fear of Christianity funny? They would’ve wet themselves to hear speeches by almsot all of our forefathers, with the constant mention of the Almighty, Creator ,Providence etc. etc. etc.