Mike Huckabee on homosexuality and... necrophilia?

by Turkana

We begin with David Corn, in Mother Jones, quoting from Mike Huckabee's 1998 book, Mike Huckabee: Playing Both Sides of the Pulpit:

It is now difficult to keep track of the vast array of publicly endorsed and institutionally supported aberrations—from homosexuality and pedophilia to sadomasochism and necrophilia.

Then, TPM Election Central attempts to get clarification from Joe Carter, Huckabee's director of research:

When we asked Carter if Huckabee stood by this quote, he didn't disavow the comment. But he sought to clarify its meaning, denying our suggestion that the quote equated homosexuality and necrophilia.

"He's not equating homosexuality with necrophilia," Carter told us. "He's saying there's a range of aberrant behavior. He considers homosexuality aberrant, but that's at one end of the spectrum. Necrophilia is at the other end."

In other words, they're not the same, they're just different degrees of the same: aberrant behavior.

Carter added: "No way is he saying that homosexuality is like having sex with dead people. That's not it at all."

Uh huh.

Carter again emphasized that it's all about the spectrum. Of aberrant behavior. With sado-masochism and necrophilia at the far end. Of the spectrum. Of aberrant behavior. Which homosexuality is a part of.

But doesn't that, to some degree, lump homosexuality and necrophilia together? Carter says it does not. He says they're both aberrant, but they're not in any way equated. Except that they're both aberrant, of course.

Asked to elaborate further, Carter said: "He was describing behavior. He's not casting judgment on the people themselves. His point is, the culture is becoming more accepting of aberrant behaviors."

Love the sinner, not the sin. Or something. Love the person committing the aberrant behavior, but not the aberrant behavior itself. Which homosexuality is. Like necrophilia. Although not like necrophilia.

Carter also said Huckabee stands by a 1992 description of homosexuality as an "unnatural, and sinful lifestyle." Because homosexuality is aberrant. Just not as bad as necrophilia.

Rod McCullom was baffled both by the non-comparison comparison and the idea that these "aberrations" are "institutionally supported":

The explanation is almost more confusing than the answer. Possibly, a graph (or "spectrum" analysis) may help to understand and chart these "aberrant behaviors", but, it's ridiculous to suggest pedophilia is "institutionally supported". All of the states are very aggressive about arresting and prosecuting child molesters. On the other hand, necrophilia ... hmm, didn't know it was that big of a problem.

Have I mentioned that Mike Huckabee is the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination?