



One day after questioning President Barack Obama’s “Christian convictions” on Fox News, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has delivered another quote that this time appeared to rile up both the left and the right. During his speech at Saturday’s New Hampshire Freedom Summit, Huckabee reporting said, “I’m beginning to think theres more freedom in North Korea sometimes than there is in the United States.”

MSNBC political reporter Benjy Sarlin, who was present at the event, was the first to tweet the quote, which was apparently in reference to airport pat downs by the TSA:

Huckabee: "I'm beginning to think theres more freedom in North korea sometimes than there is in the United States." Cites TSA patdowns. — Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) April 12, 2014

It was also singled out by Concord Monitor reporter Kathleen Ronayne:

Huckabee: "My gosh I'm beginning to think that there's more freedom in North Korea sometimes than there is in the United States." — Kathleen Ronayne (@kronayne) April 12, 2014

The quote was immediately deemed a bit hyperbolic by both the left…

Smart take, Mikey MT @kronayne: Huckabee: “My gosh I’m beginning to think there’s more freedom in North Korea sometimes than in the US” — Elias Isquith (@eliasisquith) April 12, 2014

The guy leading many 2016 primary polls — Mike Huckabee — just compared airport security to North Korea. #nhpolitics #fitn — Ian Sams (@IanSams) April 12, 2014

*facepalm* @BenjySarlin: Huckabee: "I'm beginning to think theres more freedom in North korea sometimes than there is in the United States." — John Avlon (@JohnAvlon) April 12, 2014

…and more than a few on the right:

Moron. MT @kronayne: Huckabee: "My gosh I'm beginning to think that there's more freedom in North Korea sometimes than there is in the US." — AG (@AG_Conservative) April 12, 2014

Dear Mike Huckabee: no, there's not more freedom in North Korea than America https://t.co/bNLGAcZ0jT — Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) April 12, 2014

Mike Huckabee should visit North Korea. He apparently has no clue how horribly bad it is compared to this country. — Ken Gardner (@kesgardner) April 12, 2014

That's because you're an asshole. MT @BenjySarlin: Huckabee: I'm beginning to think theres more freedom in North Korea than there is in US. — Ben Howe (@BenHowe) April 12, 2014

TheBlaze’s T. Becket Adams sent out an extended set of tweets that paired Huckabee’s quote with the worst of North Korean atrocities. For example:

Huckabee: "I'm beginning to think theres more freedom in North korea sometimes than there is in the United States." pic.twitter.com/WqR0FJdq4t — T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) April 12, 2014

UPDATE (5:50pm ET): And here’s the video of Huckabee’s North Korea comment as it aired earlier on C-SPAN. If he intended the line as a joke, his audience evidently did not think it was funny:

[photo via screengrab]

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