NRA in Louisville: ‘There exists a true, genuine threat to our future’

The stage at the NRA's Leadership Forum: Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.) added to the heap of jabs being thrown towards presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) during his remarks this afternoon.

Like Karl Rove -- who took the stage earlier with a similar tact -- Huckabee referenced Obama's so-called "bitter comments" at the beginning of his speech.

"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or anti-pathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations," said Obama at a San Fransisco fundraiser in early April.

"I am proud to be with a bunch of bitter people who cling to guns and God, because there aren't two things I'd rather cling to than God and my gun," Huckabee said today.

Huckabee, however, was even-handed with his swipes at the Democratic presidential candidates. After he first approached the microphone, he hinted at Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) earlier assertion that she had landed in Bosnia under "sniper fire" -- an assertion later proven to be inaccurate.

"We had to make a corkscrew landing and run through sniper fire just to be here today," Huckabee said.

Huckabee also spoke extensively about gun control policy, and argued that gun rights advocacy meant more than the defense of sportsmanship.

"The second amendment is not about hunting. It is about our freedom," Huckabee said.

Huckabee also said children educated about guns were "less likely to commit a crime because they understand what is right and what is wrong."

In closing, Huckabee framed the forthcoming presidential election in a dramatic fashion, suggesting both Democratic candidates could hinder the goals of gun rights advocates.

"I'm not convinced either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama truly get it," said Huckabee. "I do believe when it gets down to it that there exists a true, genuine threat to our future and to our freedom and, ultimately, to our families."

Updated: As is being reported elsewhere, Huckabee also made another joke at Obama's expense upon hearing a loud noise in the convention center.

"That was Barack Obama...He just tripped off a chair. He's getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he, he dove for the floor," said Huckabee.

Given the context and the spontaneous reaction, Huckabee stumbled slightly through his quip, which elicited a light reaction and some laughter from the crowd.

ALSO on PolitickerKY.com:

• NRA in Louisville: Mongiardo avoids referencing Obama, while Rove swings away
• Gun rights advocates and political heavyweights meet in Louisville
• NRA in Louisville: McCain addresses grievances with conservatives, warns on Dems