What everybody's getting wrong about Mike Huckabee's 'libido' quip
This isn't about a GOP "War on Women" or Democratic identity politics. It's a simple matter of hypocrisy.
On Thursday, at a Republican National Committee meeting, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said some stuff about contraception and "Uncle Sugar" and how Democrats act like women "cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of government." Democrats were offended, naturally, and gleefully indignant about another male Republican saying stupid things about women and sex.
On Twitter, two female reporters — CNN's Dana Bash and NBC's Kasey Hunt — sort of jumped the gun and made it sound like Huckabee himself was saying that women can't control their libidos. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the quote "sounds offensive to me and to women." Nancy Pelosi weighed in:
Michael Tomasky at The Daily Beast turned in a good article about "why women do not love Mike Huckabee." The former GOP presidential candidate has always been "as Old Testament fire-and-brimstone as they come — a biblical literalist," Tomasky said, but "he managed not to come across that way. He cracked jokes. He liked reporters (a media-friendly conservative!). He played rock 'n' roll bass guitar." Well, Huckabee is "just a mullah now":
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Republicans jumped in and accused the Democrats of ripping the "Uncle Sugar" and "libido" lines out of context. Once you read the full quote, said Allahpundit at Hot Air, it is, "as anyone who reads at a third-grade level will tell you, a shot at Democrats for practicing an especially narrow form of identity politics, not at women." And "if you take a look at ObamaCare's 'brosurance' ad campaign in Colorado, Huckabee's description seems spot on," sids John McCormack at The Weekly Standard.
Well, Yahoo News' Chris Moody has the context:
Here's the key bit, as transcribed by Slate's David Weigel:
So which is it? Republicans arguing, in the words of Talking Point Memo's Josh Marshall, that "birth control is something for women who can't keep their legs closed"? Or Democrats following what Allahpundit calls their Pavlovian formula: "Known social conservative + something about women + something about sex and birth control = outrage"?
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
It's probably a little bit from Column A and a little bit from Column B. But neither of those touches on the truly outrageous part of Huckabee's comments.
However you read it, Huckabee is arguing that the government shouldn't be in the business of ensuring that women get birth control. In fact, he made a similar point on his Fox News show just last Sunday: "For Democrats to reduce women to beggars for cheap government-funded birth control is demeaning to the women that I know who are far more complicated than their libido and the management of their reproductive system."
Well, "funny story," said Bill Scher at the Campaign for America's Future: "In 2005, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee signed a law mandating Arkansas insurance plans provide contraception coverage, including church-affiliated organizations such as hospitals and universities." And he wasn't the only conservative "happily embracing contraception coverage mandates in the days of Bush and Clinton," either, Scher added.
The big takeaway isn't identity politics or gender warfare — it's hypocrisy. "If Mike Huckabee ever wants to meet Uncle Sugar," Scher said, "he need only look in the mirror." Ouch.
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published