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Mike Huckabee on Civil Rights

Republican AR Governor


I witnessed firsthand the shameful evil of racism

I grew up at a time and in a place where the civil rights movement was fought. And I witnessed firsthand the shameful evil of racism. I saw how ignorance and prejudice caused people to do the unthinkable to people of color, and it wasn’t so many years ago. I want to say with the utmost of sincerity, not as a Republican, but as an American, that I have great respect for Senator Obama’s historic achievement to become his party’s nominee, not because of his color, but with indifference to it.
Source: Speech at 2008 Republican National Convention Sep 3, 2008

It’s arrogant for GOP to ignore Hispanics or any group

Q: Do you think that you’re taking a risk to come here [to an Hispanic forum]?

A: Well, I think the great risk is not so much that we would come. The far greater risk is if we didn’t. And it’s not just that we would offend or perhaps insult the Hispanic audience of this country. I think it would insult our own party. It would insult every voter in this country. To act like that somehow we’ve become so arrogant that there’s any segment of our population that we’re either afraid to speak to, hear their questions, or somehow that we don’t think that they’re as important as another group. And it’s why I think whether it’s an African American audience, a Hispanic audience, a union audience, as Republicans, we ought to be more than willing to sit down, even with people with whom we might know there are disagreements. And I think, frankly, it’s important for us to be here. It’s important that you gave us this opportunity. And I want to say thanks for letting us have this audience on Univision.

Source: 2007 Republican primary debate on Univision Dec 9, 2007

Racial profiling based on speaking with accent is unAmerican

Q: Four out of five Hispanics are either legal residents or American citizens. Many of them feel affected by the negative tone of the immigration debate. What would you do to curb this anti-Hispanic sentiment?

A: Well, I was governor of the state that is the second fastest growing state for Hispanics in the country, and we faced that. Quite frankly, when we fix the situation and make the border secure and people are here legally, a lot of the sentiment goes away. But it’s a terrible thing when a person who is here legally, but who may speak with an accent, is racially profiled by members of the public, and people assume that they may be illegal. It is in everybody’s best interest--and most of all in the best interest of the legal immigrants--that we fix this problem, so nobody questions the legitimacy of their being here, which often happens, unfairly, unnecessarily and, frankly, in a completely un-American manner.

Source: 2007 Republican primary debate on Univision Dec 9, 2007

Got 48% of black vote in AR; embarrassed at national GOP

Q: Please tell me and this audience why you chose to be here tonight and what you say to those who chose not to be here tonight.

A: Well, I want to be president of the United States, not just president of the Republican Party. Frankly, I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed for our party and I’m embarrassed for those who did not come, because there’s long been a divide in this country, and it doesn’t get better when we don’t show up. Quite frankly, for a lot of people, there’s a perception that Black Americans don’t vote for Republicans. I proved that wrong in Arkansas, with 48% of African Americans voting for me. But I want to make sure that the people of this country recognize that we’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go. And we don’t get there if we don’t sit down and work through issues that are still very deep in this country, when it comes to racial divide. I’m honored to be here. I wish all of the candidates had come.

Source: 2007 GOP Presidential Forum at Morgan State University Sep 27, 2007

Address gay behavior if problematic, not gay attitudes

Q: Most of our closest allies, including Great Britain and Israel, allow gays and lesbians to openly serve in the military. Is it time to end “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the US military?

PAUL: I think the current policy is a decent policy. If there is homosexual behavior in the military that is disruptive, it should be dealt with. But if there’s heterosexual sexual behavior that is disruptive, it should be dealt with. So it isn’t the issue of homosexuality.

HUCKABEE: It’s already covered by the Uniform Code of Military Conduct. I think that’s what Congressman Paul was saying. It’s about conduct, it’s not about attitude. You don’t punish people for their attitudes. You punish them if their behavior creates a problem.

Q: So you wouldn’t change existing policy.?

HUCKABEE: I don’t think that I would. I think it’s already covered by the existing policy that we do have, in fact.

Source: 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007

Gay tolerance reflects lack of fixed societal standards

Public debate today is filled with arguments that, not long ago, would have been dismissed as ridiculous and insupportable. Consider homosexuality, for instance. There have been homosexuals in every human culture. But until recently, who would have dared to suggest that the practice should be accepted on equal footing with heterosexuality, to be thought of as a personal decision and nothing more?

Everything you do and believe is directed by your answer to the ultimate question: Is there a God? It all comes down to that single issue. If there is a God, then everything moves one way. If there isn’t, it moves another.

By refusing to define character using fixed standards, we lose our reference point., we lose our ability to navigate, and, therefore, we drift. Who is right and who is wrong? Who knows?

Source: Character Makes a Difference, by Mike Huckabee, p.113-116 Jun 1, 2007

Respect gay couples but no gay adoptions

Q: Should gay couples be allowed to adopt children?

A: Unfortunately, so much of this argument has been framed about what the same-sex couple wants. But the real question needs to be child-focused, not couple-focused. And that’s true whether the couple is same-sex or whether they’re heterosexual. In our state, as in most, the criteria for adoption is always what’s in the best interest of the child.

Q: So is it in the best interest of the child to have gay parents?

A: I’m not sure that we have a positive answer to that. And until we absolutely could say it, then I’m always hesitant to change those institutions.

Q: Do you believe that you’re born gay or you choose to be gay?

A: I don’t honestly know. But the point is, people are who they want to be, and we should respect them for that. But when they want to change the institutions that’ve governed our society for all the years of recorded human history, then that’s a serious change of culture that we don’t just make readily or hurriedly.

Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Jan 28, 2007

USA has gone from Barney Fife to Barney Frank

Q: You said this to the Des Moines Register: “Let’s face it. In our lifetimes, we’ve seen our country go from ‘Leave it to Beaver’ to ‘Beavis and Butt-head,’ from Barney Fife to Barney Frank.” Why include Barney Frank, a gay congressman, in that reference?

A: It was a matter of a rhetorical device to talk about the different cultural shift that we have, and it wasn’t any particular attempt to be derisive of him. But there has been a huge cultural shift in this country.

Q: Some would suggest by including Barney Frank in that reference you are tearing a gay man down. You’re against gay marriage, you’re against gay civil unions. Do you have a problem with gay people?

A: No. I have a problem with changing institutions that have served us. Before we change the definition of marriage to mean something different, I think our real focus ought to be on trying to strengthen heterosexual marriages because half of them are ending in divorce.

Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Jan 28, 2007

Signed legislation outlawing same-sex marriage in Arkansas

Source: PAC website, HopeForAmericaPac.org, “About” Dec 1, 2006

No civil unions; only one-man-one-woman marriage

Q: Should Arkansas recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?

A: No.

Q: Should Arkansas restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?

A: Yes.

Source: 2002 AR Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2002

No affirmative action for state contracts nor colleges

Q: Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity, or gender be taken into account in state agencies’ decisions on:

Q: College and university admissions

A: No.

Q: Public employment

A: No.

Q: State contracting

A: No.

Source: 2002 AR Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2002

Until recently, no one suggested homosexuality was equal

Public debate today is filled with arguments that, not long ago, would have been dismissed as ridiculous and insupportable. Consider homosexuality, for instance. There have been homosexuals in every human culture. But until recently, who would have dared to suggest that the practice should be accepted on equal footing with heterosexuality, to be thought of as a personal decision and nothing more?

Everything you do and believe in is directed by your answer to the ultimate question: Is there a God?

Source: Character IS the Issue, by Mike Huckabee, p. 98-99 Sep 9, 1997

Treat AIDS as plague to be isolated, not civil rights issue

It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS -- it is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents.
Source: Responses to Associated Press Questionnaire for AR Senate Nov 1, 1992

More federal funding of IDEA for disabled education.

Huckabee adopted a letter to Senate leaders from 4 Governors:

As you prepare the budget resolution for the coming fiscal year, the nation’s Governors urge Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When the law, formerly known as the Education of the Handicapped Act, was passed in 1975, full funding was defined as 40 percent of the costs. Currently, the federal government’s contribution amounts to only 13 percent, and states are funding the balance to assist school districts in providing special education and related services. Although Governors strongly support providing the necessary services and support to help all students succeed, the costs associated with implementing IDEA are placing an increased burden on states.

We are currently reallocating existing state funds from other programs or committing new funds to ensure that students with disabilities are provided a “free and appropriate public education.” In some cases, we are taking funds from existing education programs to pay for the costs of educating our students with disabilities because we believe that all students deserve an equal opportunity to learn. Therefore, Governors urge Congress to honor its original commitment and fully fund 40 percent of Part B services as authorized by IDEA so the goals of the act can be achieved.

Source: National Governor's Association letter to Congress 00-NGA22 on Mar 14, 2000

Support principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment.

Huckabee adopted the National Governors Association policy:

In 1976 the National Governors Association expressed support for ratification and implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment, which would constitutionally guarantee full citizenship rights and opportunities for women. In 1982 the drive for ratification fell short, and efforts to initiate the amendatory process were taken.

The National Governors Association reaffirms its support for the principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment, i.e., that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on the basis of gender.

Source: NGA Executive Committee Policy EC-14: Equal Rights Policy 01-NGA1 on Feb 15, 2001

Other candidates on Civil Rights: Mike Huckabee on other issues:
Nominees:
GOP: Sen.John McCain
GOP V.P.: Gov.Sarah Palin
Democrat: Sen.Barack Obama
Dem.V.P.: Sen.Joe Biden

Third Parties:
Constitution: Chuck Baldwin
Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr
Constitution: Amb.Alan Keyes
Liberation: Gloria La Riva
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Ralph Nader
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Page last updated: Feb 08, 2010