Just about everyone has heard what Mike Huckabee has to say about the nuclear deal between major world powers, including the United States, and Iran.
One can agree or disagree with the terms of the agreement, but Huckabee’s words do nothing but stir up sectarian fear and prejudice in a region already plagued with both. His words are almost as inflammatory as the rhetoric that Iranian leaders – including quite a few ayatollahs -- have spouted for several decades. In part because of that rhetoric the nuclear agreement was very difficult to negotiate.
Are there any lawyers or other advisers telling the candidates (particularly Trump and Huckabee) that stirring up ethnic and religious hatred has no place in a civilized election? Nothing in the election laws prohibits this rhetoric, and the First Amendment protects it. I am not sure that President Obama’s condemnation does anything other than strengthen these candidates’ appeal to voters on the far right fringe. But if Republicans don’t do something about the tone of this primary, our credibility problems will be a lot worse than any of the problems created by Secretary Clinton’s mail, former President Clinton’s speaking fees and the donations to their Foundation.