Mike Huckabee took a page from a tabloid headline writer’s book this morning when he put together his statement on the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of American forces Sunday.
“Welcome to hell, bin Laden,” Huckabee said. “Let us all hope that his demise will serve notice to Islamic radicals the world over that the United States will be relentless is tracking down and terminating those who would inflict terror, mayhem and death on any of our citizens.”
Huckabee, a former preacher, Arkansas governor and current Fox News host, stood out from the pack in the 2008 Republican presidential nomination fight thanks to his folksy style and deep connection to the social conservative backbone of the GOP. Though his 2012 plans are still up in the air, Huckabee made clear in his statement today that he still has the ability to cut to the heart of the matter and appeal appeal to the raw emotions of his audience.
“It is unusual to celebrate a death,” he said, “but today Americans and decent people the world over cheer the news that madman, murderer and terrorist Osama bin Laden is dead.”
As Huffington Post’s Jon Ward notes, “Huckabee’s response stood out from the host of comments from other Republican leaders and 2012 hopefuls.”
“Like some others,” Ward wrote, “[Huckabee] did not mention Obama except for to say the president had notified the nation of bin Laden’s death, but compensated for that with vivid, somewhat controversial rhetoric.”
Read Huckabee’s full statement:
It is unusual to celebrate a death, but today Americans and decent people the world over cheer the news that madman, murderer and terrorist Osama Bin Laden is dead. The leader of Al Qaeda—- responsible for the deaths of 3000 innocent citizens on September 11, 2001, and whose maniacal hate is responsible for the deaths of thousands of US servicemen and women was killed by U.S. military. President Obama confirmed the announcement late last night. DNA tests confirmed his death and his body is in the possession of the U. S.It has taken a long time for this monster to be brought to justice. Welcome to hell, bin Laden. Let us all hope that his demise will serve notice to Islamic radicals the world over that the United States will be relentless is tracking down and terminating those who would inflict terror, mayhem and death on any of our citizens.
Evan McMorris-Santoro
Evan McMorris-Santoro has covered politics for TPM since 2009. Before that, he was a reporter at National Journal’s Hotline covering election 2008. He started his career covering local politics at newspapers in TN and his native NC.
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