News

Huckabee stands by dog meat tweet

by Jesse Byrnes - 10/14/15 9:34 AM ET

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee sparked backlash on social media during the Democratic presidential debate Tuesday night for a tweet alluding to dog meat.

The Republican presidential candidate targeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a self-described democratic socialist and one of five candidates on the stage in Las Vegas.

“I trust @BernieSanders with my tax dollars like I trust a North Korean chef with my labrador! #DemDebate,” Huckabee said in his tweet, which was shared more than 6,000 times.

I trust @BernieSanders with my tax dollars like I trust a North Korean chef with my labrador! #DemDebate

— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 14, 2015

After a slew of responses slamming the “racist” note, Huckabee doubled down on his remark with another tweet knocking critics who “think it’s racist to deplore a brutal dictatorship.”

Poor liberals think it’s racist to deplore a brutal dictatorship. #DemDebate https://t.co/ItkrFfMYiL

— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 14, 2015

The remarks were among a series of tweets sent by Huckabee’s account during the course of the two-hour debate, which was discussed on social media by other candidates such as Donald Trump.

Another GOP rival, Sen Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), took a lighter note toward the end of the debate, tweeting, “Can’t take it any longer. Wouldn’t make Gitmo detainees watch all of this.”

Can’t take it any longer. Wouldn’t make Gitmo detainees watch all of this. Good luck @TheDemocrats, you’re going to need it. #DemDebate

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 14, 2015

Tags Bernie Sanders Mike Huckabee