Mike Huckabee Gets All BYU Honor Code on Natalie Portman

Mike Huckabee, whose down-home sensibilities helped him in his 2008 bid for the GOP presidential nomination, may be speaking a little too freely these days.

First, Huckabee incorrectly said that President Barack Obama spent part of his childhood in Kenya -- he later claimed he meant Indonesia -- and hinted that that put Obama out of touch with the average American.

Now, Huckabee is criticizing new Academy Award winner Natalie Portman for being pregnant out of wedlock.

On Monday, Huckabee went on Michael Medved's radio show and said, "People see a Natalie Portman who boasts, 'We're not married, but we're having these children, and they're doing just fine.' I think it gives a distorted image. It's unfortunate that we glorify and glamorize the idea of out-of-wedlock children."

He later said, "Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and never have health care. And that's the story that we're not seeing."

Huckabee's criticism also reminds us a bit of the ongoing discussion about the Brigham Young University honor code. Basketball star Brandon Davies was suspended from the Mormon university's team for the rest of the season for allegedly having premarital sex.

The BYU honor code forbids premarital sex, using swear words and men having beards, among other rules. ESPN's Kenny Mayne put it thusly:

first natalie portman takes criticism from mike huckabee..now she learns she is ineligible for byu basketball.less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhoneKenny Mayne
Kenny_Mayne

In the past, Huckabee has expressed some discomfort with the Mormon Church, but it seems he agrees with them on some social issues. His comments also echo former Vice President Dan Quayle, who once criticized the show "Murphy Brown" for having a story line about an out-of-wedlock pregnancy.

On Twitter, Huckabee is receiving sharp criticism.

Mike Huckabee is mad at Natalie Portman for glamorizing single mothers. I look forward to reading his statements criticizing Bristol Palinless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPadUnstable Isotope
UnstableIsotope

I'm confused: did he want her 2 have abortion? Mike Huckabee rips Natalie Portman for having a child 'out of wedlock' http://huff.to/gPs5K9less than a minute ago via The Huffington Postmarie myung-ok lee
MarieLee_writer

More from Surge Desk:
BYU Honor Code Differs Slightly From Charlie Sheen Worldview
Shoulde BYU Have Cut Brandon Davies? [POLL]

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