The only former Christian minister on the stage Thursday night, Mike Huckabee, was also the most dishonest in the way he pandered to his right-wing audience.
Touted on Huffington Post Politics, as one of the 5 memorable moments from the debate, was Huckabee saying that Muslim detainees at Guantanamo prison have received more religious accommodation than Kim Davis in Kentucky.
Yes, detainees were allowed to grow beards because it is important in their Muslim faith; and, yes, Kim Davis was put in jail for defying a court order that she says would make her violate her Christian faith.
But here's the difference -- and it makes ALL the difference -- that Huckabee does not even mention: It deprives no one for Muslim detainees to have beards. Kim Davis is an elected public official who abused the power of her office to prevent citizens of her county from obtaining a perfectly legal marriage license because of her religious beliefs.
Huckabee is wrong again in saying her faith is not being accommodated. She has now been released from jail on the condition that she not interfere with deputy clerks in her office issuing the licenses. She doesn't have to do it herself. That is accommodation, period. It is what she asked for originally, before she and her lawyer decided there was still publicity and fund-raising in pretending that she is not being accommodated.
What makes Huckabee's false link so disgusting and outrageous is that he never once mentions that her action was as an elected public official refusing to do her duty and refusing to abide by a direct court order.
She abused the power of her office to deny others their legal rights. That is hardly comparable to wanting not to shave your own beard.
Ralph
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment