The Des Moines Register is the latest to cite Mike Huckabee for going too far with his rhetoric. This from a “roses and thistles” column in the newspaper:
A thistle to Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who apparently has decided to pursue the support of the Ted Nugent wing of the GOP. In responding to the president’s executive order on guns last week, Huckabee issued a press release stating, “Americans should go out and buy a new gun — and to improve your accuracy, you can take aim at Washington stupidity, blow holes in ridiculous government programs and shred our unfair tax code with a customized shooting target.”
On his web site, Huckabee offers for sale what he called “customized, Obama-agenda shooting targets” emblazoned with the words “Obamacare,” “Common Core” and “75,000-page tax code.” The symbolism is as undeniable as it is offensive. Regardless of whether Huckabee meant to imply that citizens should take up arms to express their dissatisfaction with the president, he should have known that’s precisely the message some individuals would take from it. We expect more from presidential candidates, particularly those who wear their piety on their sleeve.