Mike Huckabee made a stupid joke on stage after a loud noise was heard:
“That was Barack Obama. He just tripped off a chair. He’s getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he — he dove for the floor”
Huckabee apologized and explained:
During my speech at the NRA a loud noise backstage, that sounded like a chair falling, distracted the crowd and interrupted my speech. I made an off hand remark that was in no way intended to offend or disparage Sen. Obama.I apologize that my comments were offensive, that was never my intention.
A solid explanation and one that I would buy. I’m not as good a public speaker as Huckabee, but I’ve preached and spoke quite a bit (probably done 150-200 sermons, about 75 Sunday School lessons, and a few dozen speeches on other occassion.) and if you add in my podcasts (about 600 episodes now.), I’ve spoke a ton.
Sometimes in the middle of a speech, a baby will cry, something will crash, and your concentration will be broken as will that of your audience. You won’t remember your exact spot in the speech. There are a couple ways to handle this. You stand on stage sputtering, “Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh…” or you tell a joke to get back on your game and back on track.
Perhaps Huckabee imagined because of Obama’s antipathy towards gun owner he’d be paranoid at the NRA Convention and view anyone who had a gun as aiming at him. Whatever, it was Huckabee imagined, he said something stupid on the spur of the moment. He delivered a not funny joke that didn’t even really make sense. Even though it’s been on different topics, I’ve done it before and I’m sure I’ll do it again.
Does anyone think Huckabee wants Barack Obama assassinated? That he was suggesting it would be a good thing, encouraging it? That he wants Barack Obama shot? Clearly, he stated that’s not his intent and that’s not consistent with who he is.
Some people say this is the end of his career. Yeah, right. How many times have pundits buried politicians this year? The ones who have been trying to do the funeral have been anti-Huck folks on the right and liberals in search of something to distract from the issues with the Obama campaign. This will pass and in 2 weeks, people will most likely not remember it.
Posted in Politics
