Here comes Hucky boo-boo
by digby
Mike Huckabee, proving that he's the one true social conservative, came out in support of Josh Duggar, the eldest son of the "19 Kids and Counting" clan who has admitted to molesting young girls (presumably his sisters among them) and who reports indicate was never treated or even really punished for his behavior:
"Janet and I want to affirm our support for the Duggar family," Huckabee wrote in a Facebook post. "Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, 'inexcusable,' but that doesn’t mean 'unforgivable.'"
Earlier this month, the Duggars announced that they had endorsed Huckabee for president, as they did in 2008. “America needs Governor Huckabee for president! Governor Huckabee has the communication skills of Ronald Reagan, and a common sense business approach to government.”
On Thursday, Duggar resigned his position as executive director of the DC-based FRC Action, a legislative organization that calls for the "renewal of ethical monotheism and traditional Judeo-Christian standards of morality." The star of 19 Kids and Counting, which recounts Duggar and his siblings' life as members of a large Christian family in Arkansas, told In Touch Weekly, which broke the story, that he "acted inexcusably" and was "extremely sorry" and that he and his victims had received counseling.
His place as a cultural and political star had meant that he had contacts with multiple politicians, including candidates for the 2016 Republican nomination for president, sometimes of the picture-for-Twitter variety, and sometimes appearing with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Huckabee at FRC events.
"Today, Janet and I want to show up and stand up for our friends," Huckabee ended his posting, referring to the Duggar family. "Let others run from them. We will run to them with our support."
That's nice. And I'll bet the hardcore religious right will do so as well. What he did was distasteful to them sure, but it's not as distasteful as admitting that all their "traditions" are actually just a cover for primitive immoral behavior among the top echelon males in the patriarchal organizations of both the family and the church. Josh Duggar is an eldest son. He was a sexually repressed, immature young man just exercising the privilege he felt he had from the time he was born.
It's always so interesting to see these religious super-stars fall from grace. The Jim Bakkers and Jimmy Swaggarts and Ted Haggards. Is it just that religious conservatives who seek fame and fortune are they types of people who do this sort of thing? Or is it that this type of thing is common among religious conservatives?
In any case, the Duggar connection runs deep in Republican politics. Josh was a player at the Family Research Council: his job for the past two years has been the executive director of FRC Action in Washington, the non-profit and tax-exempt legislative action arm. He's not just another guy getting his picture taken with a politician:
TLC fired Honey boo-boo when her mother got back together with someone her eldest daughter had accused of molestation. But then they were anything but squeaky clean religious icons were they? It's going to be interesting to see if the Duck Dynasty wingnut defenders come to the Duggars' rescue this time. S0o far, Mike Huckabee's the only one to step up. My guess is that it will help him.
Update:
h/t to @GottaLaff and Diane Sweet
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