When I saw Huckabee strut out on TDS right after his opening comedy bit last night I was disappointed because I wondered why the heck does this guy, who has his own show now need that much air time and why is he on anyway? Well, Stewart set him up for a fall. He let Mikey ramble on in the first segment about his new book "Do the Right Thing," and how if every one treated each other like they want to be treated, then life would be simply marvelous. The Jesus principle. Fair enough, but then Stewart slammed him with those sentiments right over the head.
Stewart: You write in your book that all people are created equal and yet for gay people you believe that it is corrosive to society to allow them to have the privileges that all humans enjoy.
Oooops. When John Cusack complained that Stewart gives neocons and theocrats too much air time to make them appear normal, I agreed. But as long as Stewart takes the argument to them head on then at least he exposes the Huckabees to a debate which always ends badly for them. And one that they rarely ever have to face because network/cable news would never go toe to toe like this.
When have you ever seen Huckabee at a loss for words? He does in this segment.
Pam Spaulding writes: Jon Stewart slays the homophobic Huckabeast without breaking a sweat
This man ran for president and intends to do so again. Journalists, particularly openly progressive ones, have an obligation to bore in on pols like Huckabee because their views are often wrapped up with a wink and a smile and sold as protecting family, children, the word "marriage", etc. as if this is all a benign act that hurts no citizens in this country.
Stewart made his case easily:
STEWART: You know, you talk about the pro-life movement [abortion] being one of the great shames of our nation. I think if you want number two, I think it’s that: It’s a travesty that people have forced someone who is gay to have to make their case that they deserve the same basic rights as someone else."
..."I'll tell you this: Religion is far more of a choice than homosexuality. And the protections that we have for religion? We protect religion -- and talk about a lifestyle choice -- that is absolutely a choice. Gay people don't choose to be gay. At what age did you choose not to be gay?"
Huck didn't want to answer those remarks. Instead, it was more of the same "It's all about tradition" argument that is meaningless in the face of human rights. And when he offered up the tired biblical point of marriage, Jon shot back that polygamy was part of the bible. Pam, has the full transcript up here.
Silent Patriot made the video and adds:
As the interview went on, Huckabee was more worried about being portrayed as a homophobe than being able to offer up a good explanation as to what he so opposes gay marriage.
"Just because Mike Huckabee doesn't support the idea of changing the definition of marriage doesn't mean he's a homophobe."
