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News & ArtsFriday, March 4, 2011
Politics Mike Huckabee Goes After... Natalie Portman?
Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 6:46 AM
Mike took a swing at the president and missed. And now Mike is picking on Natalie Portman:
In a radio appearance on Monday, Mike Huckabee attacked actress Natalie Portman for having a child "out of wedlock." Huckabee said that it's "troubling" to see people like "Natalie Portman or some other Hollywood starlet who boasts of, 'Hey look, you know, we're having children, we're not married, but we're having these children, and they're doing just fine.'" Huckabee added that "it's unfortunate that we glorify and glamorize the idea of out of children wedlock."
Did Mike have anything to say when Bristol Palin got pregnant and made the choice to go through with the pregnancy? (It was a choice her mother praised—the same choice her mother would like to deny to other women.) Bristol was praised for her courage, for doing the right thing, and is now paid to promote "abstinence" to teenagers. I don't recall Mike saying anything about Bristol glamorizing the idea of having children out of wedlock—nothing from Mike about all those glamorous US Magazine covers featuring Bristol and her baby or her flat-footed stint on Dancing With the Stars.
But Portman is to be faulted—a woman with a career, a woman with the means to take care of her child, a woman who, unlike Bristol, is still involved with the father of her child-to-be—for failing to get the abortion that Huckabee doesn't think it should be legal for her to get?
2
No, no, silly. He's expecting her to abstain from sex completely until she's properly wedded and therefore able to take appropriate responsibility for chill'uns. And, you know, have the security of being married to a man who can pay for her bon bons while she watches soaps and does his laundry.
3
What Clayton said...also, duh, he didn't want her to get an abortion, he wanted her to get married, quit working, and get a casserole cookbook...and to stop setting such a poor example for the Future Housewives of America.
5
Dan, Dan, Dan. Don't you know that women only have value when they're barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen? Oh, and properly married, of course.
6
No, no, no. She should do it like other respectable Hollywood couples. Get married, have the kids, fuck around, get divorced, and repeat.
7
This is the same guy that let a hardened criminal out of prison because the guy said he found Jesus? You know, Mike, the guy who went on to murder four police officers. And now we should listen to your judgement, as ridiculous as it is, because you know better than all of us. You are an ignorant turd, Huckleberry!
8
remember how liberal attempts to point out the internal inconsistencies of conservative positions on teen sex (bristol palin) and homophobia (mary cheney) and unwed motherhood (mary cheney) were twisted to assert that it was in fact the liberals exhibiting un-christian judgement and intolerance?
well, fox viewers don't. and fox knows that better than you.
well, fox viewers don't. and fox knows that better than you.
11
Morning, Canuck! Dan, I never thought I'd say this...but...I think Michael K at Dlisted did some crucial reporting on this. He pointed out last night that in 2007 Fuckabee praised Britney Spears' sister for having her baby. As MIchael puts it in his inimitable way:
So, 16-year-old having a baby = OK! But, grown ass woman with a fiance having a baby = MORAL KILLER! Okay, I will update my files.http://www.dlisted.com/node/41062
12
I agree with Huckabee. She should have had an abortion, and tried again after she got married. That would be much more moral.
13
gus! Excellent Michael K reference! One day, everyone will come to understand what we have known for a long time....there is no finer breakdown of news, no better turn of phrase, than on our beloved List of D...
14
It's surely no coincidence that he's picking on Portman. Besides being preggers out of wedlock, she's Harvard-educated, multilingual, and Jewish-- cardinal sins in Teabagistan.
15
oooh, good catch, @10!
as much of a dick thing it was to drag her into his faulty moral argument, he wasn't suggesting that she should have had an abortion.
as much of a dick thing it was to drag her into his faulty moral argument, he wasn't suggesting that she should have had an abortion.
17
Well, Bristol Palin does have a degree from Harvard in psychology, where she studied neuroscience and the evolution of the mind.
Oh wait. That's Natalie Portman.
Oh wait. That's Natalie Portman.
18
Maybe he recognizes that Palin Jr. is no role model.
Anyway, Portman is clearly on the way to pardoning a violent criminal on his way to murdering multiple on-duty police officers, so it's right to call her out now.
Anyway, Portman is clearly on the way to pardoning a violent criminal on his way to murdering multiple on-duty police officers, so it's right to call her out now.
19
@15
No, he obviously was implying that she shouldn't have gotten pregnant (or had sex) outside of marriage. And I could accept that as a valid argument, if he hadn't applied to so selectively:
Unmarried pregnant Natalie Portman = evil
Unmaried pregnant Bristol Palin = a beautiful choice!
No, he obviously was implying that she shouldn't have gotten pregnant (or had sex) outside of marriage. And I could accept that as a valid argument, if he hadn't applied to so selectively:
Unmarried pregnant Natalie Portman = evil
Unmaried pregnant Bristol Palin = a beautiful choice!
20
I mean seriously, every time Huckabee opens his mouth these days I picture him dressed as Queen Victoria. The little lace cap really brings out his eyes.
21
Are we allowed to go off-topic here?
WASHINGTON – A provision in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) revised two-year budget proposal released Tuesday would repeal a state law requiring health insurers to cover prescription birth control.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/04/wa…
WASHINGTON – A provision in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) revised two-year budget proposal released Tuesday would repeal a state law requiring health insurers to cover prescription birth control.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/04/wa…
22
he just wants her to get married. getting pregnant is fine with those types, you just gotta get married as soon as you get pregnant.
23
When it comes to anything regarding women's health and rights, the republican party is pretty much the last group I would consult for advice.
24
It's cultural class warfare, plain and simple. The Mark Ames article/screed on the subject has been linked to here before, but it's worth re-reading every time we see an infuriating example of it in action.
The bullshit Teabagging Party is burying us liberals with their propaganda onslaught. I don't know who's coordinating the rightwing media and their politicians, but you have to give them props for effectiveness.
It would be nice to be able to answer and rebut them, but there's no platform to do it from. The left has been vilified and essentially marginalized from the larger public media.
.
The bullshit Teabagging Party is burying us liberals with their propaganda onslaught. I don't know who's coordinating the rightwing media and their politicians, but you have to give them props for effectiveness.
It would be nice to be able to answer and rebut them, but there's no platform to do it from. The left has been vilified and essentially marginalized from the larger public media.
.
26
@19 oh i definitely see the hypocrisy - don't worry about that. (that's key to the faulty moral argument). but i would disagree about whether he's implying she should have abstained from sex outside of marriage. i think he was.
28
Um ... I wouldn't say that he's promoting abortion (which would be such a flip-flop) but the absolutely worst thing that Natalie did was to get pregnant while unmarried, keep working, earning millions of dollars, and being stable enough to handle motherhood as well as her version of a home life. No, that just won't do.
If she had to get pregnant while unwed, she shold have been filled with remorse, said that the baby was a mistake (::ponders:: now WHO just happened to say that after her indiscretion), and promised to never do it again (have sex, get pregnant, whatever).
Because there's something so wrong about a world where unmarried mothers don't get punished for their sluttish actions. Oh, hell, let's just get the stones out. /heavy sarcasm.
If she had to get pregnant while unwed, she shold have been filled with remorse, said that the baby was a mistake (::ponders:: now WHO just happened to say that after her indiscretion), and promised to never do it again (have sex, get pregnant, whatever).
Because there's something so wrong about a world where unmarried mothers don't get punished for their sluttish actions. Oh, hell, let's just get the stones out. /heavy sarcasm.
30
Exactly, #14. OF COURSE he's going to support the uneducated blond Southern teen but not the educated Jewish woman. It's racism and sexism and it scares me that this Huckabee asshole has any supporters at all.
31
I'm kinda loving this nonsense from him. Everytime Mike opens his pie hole he gets himself in deeper and deeper. They'll be running these clips back to back, over and over again should he foolishly decide to run.
32
@29 I think it's those straight couples Dan is always profiling who have their children apprehended by social services..."we is still marrud, but we is flat outta childrens."
(Lissa...heh.)
(Lissa...heh.)
33
What's even more ridiculous is that Nat is engaged to her baby daddy and just isn't rushing to have a baby bump wedding.
34
So Natalie Portman is the new Murphy Brown?
Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease let Mike Huckabee be the new Dan Quayle.
Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease let Mike Huckabee be the new Dan Quayle.
35
Hck is usually more savvy than this. Looks like somebodys thinking about a presidential run.... And afraid he can't win without a serious courting of the fundies.
36
@16
Right! WTF! Huckabee's so lost he's re-enacting the 1992 campaign! And Murphy Brown won that one.
Right! WTF! Huckabee's so lost he's re-enacting the 1992 campaign! And Murphy Brown won that one.
37
Huckabee is about to face the wrath of FanBoy nation. Natalie Portman isn't just some cute actress, she's Luke Skywalker's mother! The Bible ain't shit compared to the Force.
38
How true. As a general rule you shouldn't insult someone who's more popular and likable than you when trying to win a popularity contest.
39
Say what you will about the Far Right, but they're organized when it comes to talking points. There's been a lot of talk over the last few days in the right-wing blathersphere about the perils of glorifying single motherhood. It connects to Republican attempts to cut off funding for programs that benefit the children of low-income women.
It makes sense if you look at it like this: The GOP knows that leaving poor children to starve as a way of punishing their parents is inconsistent with their pose as guardians of "life" (meaning cute pictures of little babies.) In order to make this seem like something other than the cold-hearted class warfare it is, they must present the case that helping single mothers is actually harming them in the long run, because if those women didn't know they'd be receiving support from the government and from an accepting community that no longer vilifies single motherhood, they would choose not to have sex.
Huckabee picks a target who is synonymous with "Hollywood elite" not for choosing to have a baby (he would never make that misstep) but for "glorifying" out-of-wedlock reproduction. He knows full well that wagging his finger at a rich, beautiful, Harvard-educated celebrity comes off a lot less evil than simply saying we should stop funding Headstart or Food Stamps. But that's what this is about.
It makes sense if you look at it like this: The GOP knows that leaving poor children to starve as a way of punishing their parents is inconsistent with their pose as guardians of "life" (meaning cute pictures of little babies.) In order to make this seem like something other than the cold-hearted class warfare it is, they must present the case that helping single mothers is actually harming them in the long run, because if those women didn't know they'd be receiving support from the government and from an accepting community that no longer vilifies single motherhood, they would choose not to have sex.
Huckabee picks a target who is synonymous with "Hollywood elite" not for choosing to have a baby (he would never make that misstep) but for "glorifying" out-of-wedlock reproduction. He knows full well that wagging his finger at a rich, beautiful, Harvard-educated celebrity comes off a lot less evil than simply saying we should stop funding Headstart or Food Stamps. But that's what this is about.
40
I'll be any amount of money that Natalie Portman's child - unlike the child raised in the 2 parent Huckabee household - doesn't grow up to torture and kill a dog.
42
What Mike Huckabee *wants* to say, but is forbidden to by the religious right, is the word "SEX" (yes, in all capitals like that). Natalie Portman should not be having SEX. Dan Savage should not be a homoSEXual. HomoSEXuals should not under any circumstances have any rights. SEX should not be allowed for anyone who isn't married.
Because if that filthy, disgusting word should pass through his lips, he will immediately start frothing at the mouth and bite the pundit immediately across the desk from him, destroying any chances of him becoming president.
Because if that filthy, disgusting word should pass through his lips, he will immediately start frothing at the mouth and bite the pundit immediately across the desk from him, destroying any chances of him becoming president.
43
Bristol Palin claims she is really really sorry she got knocked up out of wedlock and she goes around telling other young women not to do what she did. I don't anticipait Natalie Portman doing anything like that. I don't agree w/ Mike Huckabee about much, but I don't think he's being hypocritical about this.
44
@11 I followed that link and clicked through to an Us Magazine story that it was sourced from. Then, I made a huge mistake and read the comments to that story. Good grief. @39 is right -- it's all about tapping into and fanning resentment about single mothers or their children getting any form of public assistance. If a fluffy rag like Us is getting streams of comments like that, we're in a sad, sad state. What a huge fucking bunch of mean, bitchy, spiteful, shortsighted people there are in this country!
I can only point back to that Mark Ames article I referenced @24 again. Sheesh.
I can only point back to that Mark Ames article I referenced @24 again. Sheesh.
45
While mike huckabee may think abortion is the right choice for all single mothers, i very much disagree.
46
This guy is a total moron. And he doesn't tip his pizza guys - one of my friends delivered a dozen pizzas to one of his meetings a few years back and didn't get so much as a penny for delivery.
I always judge people by how they tip people in the service industry.
I always judge people by how they tip people in the service industry.
48
Wait - is he troubled by the fact that she's having a baby before marrying the father, or the fact that she and her fiance and the baby are "doing just fine"? Sounds to me like he's troubled only by the fact that Portman isn't suffering the torments of hell or living in poverty the way whorish unwed moms are supposed to.
49
He wants to fuck her and because he can't he's mad. And so he'll talk shit about Portman forever. Doesn't matter what it is he'll find something in her life that he disagrees with.
50
@46 on large orders I feel confident that a respectable pizza place would add gratuity to the bill. That is a tip, isn't it?
51
Gee, Dan, your question would require an awful lot of research in this technologically-challenged era. I mean, I'd have to type "Huckabee Bristol" into Google to find this (from September 5, 2008):
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpoli…
Well! That took about three minutes. I'm ready for another bourbon on the rocks, thanks.
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpoli…
Do you think Palin’s pregnant daughter will change whether people will vote for her?
The way the media went after the daughter is the most shameful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. If anything, it just caused [evangelicals] to run to her. Everyone understands that the basis of being a Christian is that everyone has fallen short of God’s ideal. Everyone understands that. We do understand is that when there’s a problem or failures, the family sticks together. We saw a mother who gave her unconditional love to her daughter. That embodies what Christianity means. We all mess up, the issue is how we respond to it. What she showed us is exactly what we wanted to see in terms of a witness.
Well! That took about three minutes. I'm ready for another bourbon on the rocks, thanks.
52
Hey, Huckabee.
You know what's more dangerous than having a child out of wedlock?
Not understanding evolution.
You know what's more dangerous than having a child out of wedlock?
Not understanding evolution.
53
My first reaction was that it was a back door jibe at Bristol and thus, Sarah Palin, his current political rival.
54
It is hard for me to reconcile the Mike Huckabee from 2008 with the Huckabee from today. The old Huckabee was humorous and affable; the new Huckabee is taking a mean tack on one young lady (Natalie Portman) without saying one word about another (Bristol Palin) who was in the same circumstances. In the bible there is a passage about serving two masters. Mr. Huckabee will have to decide if he wants to be a man of God, or a man of the goverment. Already he is changing before our eyes into a mean-spirited person who criticizes our President, but allows his own self-righteousness to criticize others unfairly.
55
I think you all are missing the point here. I am no fan of Huckabee, but I don't think he did anything wrong or hypocritical here. He made a true statement that (fucked up, abusive households aside) kids overwhelmingly do better with two, fully committed parents. He made his comments about Bristol because she was underage and doesn't have millions of dollars or an established career (ie, one of those pathetic single moms). Regardless of his right-wing religion, it's harsh (but definitely un-Christian like) to go after one of the "fallen". I think he was rightly defending Bristol.
But Natalie is a different ball of wax. The media wasn't going after her for being a failure. But a single shock-jock/conservative radio show host made a comment about how Natalie's BF needs to put a ring on it, and Huckabee made a very rational statement speaking the truth about most single mothers. Nowhere was he "attacking" her. At his meanest, he was gossiping about another family. Natalie Portman is a public figure, and a tough gal, and I'm sure she can take care of herself. Huckabee's point was that as a public role model for girls, her actions do have an effect in public society. His language was polite, but direct. I'm not gonna fault him for this one.
But Natalie is a different ball of wax. The media wasn't going after her for being a failure. But a single shock-jock/conservative radio show host made a comment about how Natalie's BF needs to put a ring on it, and Huckabee made a very rational statement speaking the truth about most single mothers. Nowhere was he "attacking" her. At his meanest, he was gossiping about another family. Natalie Portman is a public figure, and a tough gal, and I'm sure she can take care of herself. Huckabee's point was that as a public role model for girls, her actions do have an effect in public society. His language was polite, but direct. I'm not gonna fault him for this one.
56
yeah-
Silly Dan Quayle...
the out of wedlock birthrate has only increased 50% since he sounded the alarm.
and 99.9% of those kids are not born to wealthy actresses like Porkman; they are born to uneducated 15 year olds and wind up on Dan's "Every Child Deserves..."
(relax, @28- in THIS world unmarried mothers don't get punished for their sluttish actions- their children do.....)
Silly Dan Quayle...
the out of wedlock birthrate has only increased 50% since he sounded the alarm.
and 99.9% of those kids are not born to wealthy actresses like Porkman; they are born to uneducated 15 year olds and wind up on Dan's "Every Child Deserves..."
(relax, @28- in THIS world unmarried mothers don't get punished for their sluttish actions- their children do.....)
57
Oh, and he says she's boasting. Boasting is a harsh word to use. Would Portman be 'boasting' if she was married, not engaged when talking about her future kid?
If you talk about how happy you are/will be to be a parent you're 'boasting'? Did I miss a meeting? Were only uptight christian conservative pricks invited to this meeting? Aren't republicans constantly talking up their kids, their parenthood, whether it's being the parent of a mentally retarded kid or a veteran kid, etc etc?
And what a jackass, for him to go after such a likable famous actress in this country. Pretty fucking dumb
If you talk about how happy you are/will be to be a parent you're 'boasting'? Did I miss a meeting? Were only uptight christian conservative pricks invited to this meeting? Aren't republicans constantly talking up their kids, their parenthood, whether it's being the parent of a mentally retarded kid or a veteran kid, etc etc?
And what a jackass, for him to go after such a likable famous actress in this country. Pretty fucking dumb
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