At the Iowa Agricultural Summit held this past weekend, Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) got most of the attention regarding immigration. He reiterated that undocumented immigrants should be legalized and once again suggested, while dodging direct questions, that he would end the DACA and DAPA immigration executive action programs and pursue changes in immigration law.
What received less attention were the offensive comments by former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR). During the summit, Gov. Huckabee said, “The question is: What do we do to stem the tide of people who are rushing over because they’ve heard that there’s a bowl of food just across the border?”
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, “Bowl of food? Only dogs get left bowls of food. A gifted orator and a putative presidential candidate trying to attract attention, it is unimaginable that Governor Huckabee misspoke. He knew what he was doing. He blew the dog whistle to rile up hard core anti-immigrant voters in Iowa and beyond. The notorious Steve King was roundly condemned for comparingimmigrants to livestock. Mike Huckabee should be roundly condemned for comparing immigrants to dogs.”
This is what a desperate politicians looks and sounds like. Too bad he forgot his Baptist Pastor roots and his statements from the last time he ran. This is what he had to say in the fall of 2007 during a GOP primary debate: “I want to be clear: If someone is looking for a president who is going to have a mean spirit toward other human beings, I’m not their guy. I’ll fix the borders, I’ll secure them, but what I won’t do is to do it because I’m angry at them for wanting to come here for the same reason that the rest of us love America.”
Concluded Sharry, “Undocumented immigrants in America risk everything and work hard to create a better lives for their children. Our nation’s dysfunctional immigration system is so broken there’s no line for most to get into – abroad or here in America – even for children that have grown up here. Mike Huckabee’s comments suggesting that they are less than human and that they come to America looking for handouts – handouts to which they are not entitled – ignores the reality that most would love to become a formal part of the American family if not for Republican obstructionism. Huckabee should apologize for such reprehensible remarks, and GOP candidates should denounce them. We should expect more from those running for the highest office in the land.”
