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Mike Huckabee's Shot in the Dark

By Robert Paul Reyes

"Republican Mike Huckabee responded to a sharp offstage sound during his speech to the National Rifle Assn. by suggesting that it was Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him.

Hearing a loud noise, Huckabee interrupted his speech to say: "That was Barack Obama. He just tripped off a chair. He's getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he -- he dove for the floor."

There were a few murmurs in the crowd.

The Obama campaign had no comment."

Quotation from the Los Angeles Times

Mike Huckabee is one of the few politicians who can ad lib quips that haven't been written, vetted and analyzed by campaign staffers. His jokes were a breathe of fresh air in the Republican presidential debates, but he really stunk up the joint with this clunker.

Perhaps Huckabee thought he could get away with a crack about gunfire at a meeting of the NRA, but even that crowd of troglodytes was appalled at his insensitivity.

Huckabee's quip must have gone over like a lead balloon in the Obama camp, the presumptive Democratic nominee has received numerous death threats.

Obama is a charismatic, eloquent and intelligent statesman who transcends race and politics, he has united people of all races, colors and creeds.

But there are always the loonies who can't stand the idea of a black president, and they don't need Huckabee planting any ideas in their heads.

Maybe if Huckabee were black, he wouldn't have made that offhand wisecrack. But Huckabee is a hillbilly and we've already had a hillbilly president. There isn't any nut who would have killed Huckabee to prevent a country bumpkin from inhabiting the White House.

"Later Friday, Huckabee issued an apology: 'During my speech at the NRA, a loud noise backstage that sounded like a chair falling distracted the crowd and interrupted my speech. I made an offhand remark that was in no way intended to offend or disparage Sen. Obama. I apologize that my comments were offensive. That was never my intention.'"

Quotation from the Los Angeles Times

Huckabee conducted himself like a gentleman during his presidential run, he never resorted to name-calling or dirty politics. I believe he is truly sorry that his witticism backfired, and I don't think he meant to offend Obama.

When Huckabee heard that chair falling he should have made this one-liner:

Fellow NRA members, relax, don't reach for your assault rifles. That was just the sound of a drunk NRA member out in the parking lot shooting himself in the foot.