By Katie LaPotin
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee lambasted Americans Saturday for being more outraged at Indiana’s new religious freedom law than President Obama’s Iran deal.
He called the uproar over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act a distraction from Thursday’s announcement of a tentative nuclear proliferation deal with the Middle Eastern nation.
Huckabee made the remark on CNN’s “Smerconish”:
“Somebody who is a blogger made an observation this week that – I thought it was interesting – that there’s been more pressure this week to put sanctions on Indiana than on Iran. I thought that was a pretty wise observation, and it’s been a real almost distraction from something that is a whole lot more significant in terms of our national security than anything that’s been occupying the front pages here.”
Huckabee, who’s considering another run at the White House in 2016, also attributed the drama over the religious freedom laws in Indiana and his home state to the growing pressure from the gay community nationwide:
“The reason that those corporations put the pressure on Indiana and Arkansas was because the militant gay community put the pressure on them,” he said, singling out Apple’s business with Saudi Arabia and Wal-Mart’s business in China.
“I think these corporations really ought to either be consistent — quit making money from these countries that are really oppressing human rights, and quit bowing to the pressure, and just sell their stuff, that’s what they’re in business for – sell stuff.”
Both company’s CEOs came out strongly against the Indiana and Arkansas laws, respectively:
“Statement on HB 1228: Every day, in our stores, we see firsthand the benefits diversity and inclusion have on our associates, customers and communities we serve. It all starts with our core basic belief of respect for the individual. Today’s passage of HB1228 threatens to undermine the spirit of inclusion present throughout the state of Arkansas and does not reflect the values we proudly uphold. For those reasons, we are asking Governor Hutchinson to veto this legislation. – Doug McMillian, Wal-Mart CEO”
Huckabee’s comments on Saturday echoed those he made to Tony Perkins, the host of the Family Research Council’s “Washington Watch,” on his radio show Wednesday:
According to Mediaite, the former governor said of the gay rights activists fighting RFRA legislation in Indiana and Arkansas:
“It won’t stop until there are no more churches, until there are no more people who are spreading the Gospel, and I’m talking now about the unabridged, unapologetic Gospel that is really God’s truth.”
Huckabee, whose supporters recently launched a super PAC for his potential 2016 bid, told Smerconish that he will announce his intentions later this Spring.
