Huckabee: '60's civil rights fight differs, as gays not cracked in head or hosed'

An appearance on ABC's "The View" has landed FOX News commentator and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in some hot water. In a recent stop on the TV talk show to promote his new book, Huckabee rained praise down on the country for electing Barack Obama as the first African American President in U.S. history.
But when asked by co-host Joy Behar if he shared his effusive praise of the '60s civil rights movement with the ongoing equal rights movement for the LGBT ommunity, he said no.
His reason?
"It's a different set of rights. People who are homosexuals should have every right in terms of their civil rights, to be employed, to do anything they want. But that's not really the issue. I know you talked about it and I think you got into it a little bit early on. But when we're talking about a redefinition of an institution, that's different than individual civil rights. We're never going to convince each other," Huckabee told Behar.
Behar reminded Huckabee that segregation was an institution, too, in a way.
"But here is the difference, said Huckabee, " Bull Connor was hosing people down in the streets of Alabama. John Lewis got his skull cracked on the Selma bridge."
Challenged on that presumption of a lack of violence against the LGBT community, which the FBI reports is increasing, Huckabee, instead of acknowledging the violence, argued that Christians are assaulted too.
What Huckabee did not tell The View audience is religion is a protected class in both hate crimes and civil rights protection, while sexual orientation and gender identity and expression are not widely protected.
Melissa Pope, director of victim services for the Triangle Foundation was appalled by the Huckabee's comments.
"No person should have to be violently abused as a prerequisite for basic human rights. I would hope that Americans do not look back on the violence of the civil rights movement as a necessity but, rather a tragedy that should never have happened."
"Huckabee is sadly mistaken about the current quality of life for LGBT people living in the U.S. In addition to the increasing number of hate crimes being committed against LGBT individuals, they have also suffered at the hands of law enforcement," said Pope.
Pope recalled that in June of this year, Duanna Johnson, a transgender woman, was beaten by a police officer while held in custody. On Nov. 19, the U.S. Attorney General criminally charged one of the officers who beat Johnson. Tragically, Johnson was shot to death on Nov. 8. and her murder currently remains unsolved.
"Violence against LGBT people will continue until they are truly equal members of American society. I hope that it does not take more deaths, more beatings and more tragedies to accomplish what should already be the case," said Pope.
Earlier this year Triangle Foundation announced that hate crimes perpetrated against the LGBT community in Michigan had increased 133 percent.
Derek Smiertka, executive director of the Michigan Equality said, "Mike Huckabee failed as a Governor. Mike Huckabee failed as a Presidential candidate. Mike Huckabee fails spectacularly in his understanding of civil and humans rights issues. I wonder if Mike Huckabee has spoken to any of the victims of LGBT hate crimes? It's been 10 years since Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten and left to die on a lonely fence in Wyoming. On the Transgender Day of Rememberance we should be remembering those who have been lost to hate crimes, not listening to Mike Huckabee make bizarre, out of touch comments on "The View". Mike Huckabee failed America. Let's never forget those we have lost in the fight for equality."