Mike Huckabee Defends His Book's Criticism of 'Amazing' Beyonce
The former governor says some of her lyrics are "not necessary."
— -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee today called singer Beyoncé an amazing talent, but added that some of her more explicit lyrics are unnecessary given her abilities as a performer.
When asked on ABC’s “This Week” about passages in his new book regarding the pop star that have raised some eyebrows, he said, “You know, if people read the full chapter, it's in the context of, first of all, saying, ‘Beyoncé is a wonderful talent.’ My point is, she doesn't have to do some of the things that she does in the lyrics because it's not necessary. She has nothing to make up for. She's an amazing talent.”
Huckabee recently criticized President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama for letting their daughters, Sasha and Malia, listen to Beyoncé’s music, whose lyrics he describes as “obnoxious and toxic mental poison” in his new book. The first lady has praised Beyoncé in the past for being a role model.
“Bey,” as she is sometimes referred to colloquially, sang the National Anthem at the president’s second inauguration.
“My point was, even in speaking about the Obamas -- and I said about them in the book, they're great parents," the former governor told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz today. "But it was President Obama, in an interview with Glamour, who said that some of the lyrics he won't listen to with his daughters, because it embarrasses him."
The former governor announced in early January that he would be leaving his lucrative perch at Fox News, saying he would weigh another run for the White House. He reiterated on “This Week” today that he will decide on a bid later this year.
“The fact that I left the Fox gig, which was a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for me, to leave that, I didn't do it just because I was tired of going to New York every week,” he said.
“So I think there's a -- a very strong likelihood that sometime later in the spring, which has always been my timetable, I'll make some kind of a declaration and clearly state my intentions, I'll put it that way,” Huckabee added.
When asked about a possible Mitt Romney entrance into the 2016 field, Huckabee said the race was wide open at this point.
“One of the things about politics, when you're actually there, you realize, you're on a high wire and there is no net under you,” Huckabee said. “On any given day, your campaign can implode for something that happens inadvertently or even intentionally.”
Related Stories
ABC News Live