Huckabee, Homosexuality, Necrophilia, and Barry Goldwater

Well, we knew it had to come sometime. Mike Huckabee's scientific and historical stupidity isn't restricted to evolution. He also expands into the arenas of marriage and homosexuality:

"Huckabee is against gay marriage, arguing that “civilization” may not survive if “what marriage and family means” is “rewritten.” As Governor of Arkansas, he “avidly” supported the state amendment banning gay marriage. That wasn’t the only anti-gay public policy Huckabee pushed in Arkansas:

– In 1997, Huckabee requested an amendment to a state Senate bill stating “that it is Arkansas public policy to prohibit sodomy to protect the traditional family structure.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/23/1997]

– In 1998, Huckabee supported banning gay men and women from acting as foster parents because “it is not in the best interest of children.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 7/29/1998]

– In 2003, Huckabee said “If you ask for survivor benefits to be paid to a same-sex survivor, I think we have a right to say no to that.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 7/3/2003]

Additionally, in the past, Huckabee has spoken of homosexuality using some of the most divisive and hyperbolic rhetoric possible:

– In a 1992 questionnaire for the Associated Press, Huckabee claimed that “homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk.”

– In his 1998 book, Kids Who Kill, Huckabee compared homosexuality to necrophilia, decrying “publicly endorsed and institutionally supported aberrations–from homosexuality and pedophilia to sadomasochism and necrophilia.”

Well, I certainly give the Huckster bonus points for coming up with a shade of ignorance I hadn't seen before in the comparison to necrophilia. Comparing homosexuality to pedophilia is old hat, as is the idiocy of the claim that homosexuality represents a public health risk. Unsafe sex represents a health risk, and a minor one, since those of us who refrain from such practices can easily avoid the problem.

And of course what would a speech with a Republican presidential candidate be without some sort of apocalyptic wail against something, this time gay marriage. Huckabee's claim than redefining marriage would destroy civilization is on an idiotic par with Mitt Romney's claim that freedom requires religion. All one need to do to refute it is read a history book, or travel around the world, and note that the definition of marriage has changed tremendously over time, and exists in many forms right friggin now!. Polygamy was the dominant form for centuries before the monogamous system came along, and still dominates some parts of the world. Some countries already allow gay marriage, and there seem to be no societal collapses on the horizon.

How in the world do politicians get away with saying such demonstrably wrong things and get away with it? Why does no one ask Huckabee to explain the flourishing societies in the world that HAVE ALREADY redefined marriage relative to his view? Just how absurd must these statements get before intelligent conservative Americans wake up and realize that the Republican party has been taken over by, as Barry Goldwater put it, "a bunch of kooks"? For more of Goldwater's views of this subject, consider this comment in 1981:

"However, on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.'"

Amen Barry. Amen.