Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Jesus Christ is the point of Christmas during a sermon in reference to his Christmas ad, which has come under fire for its frank religious tone.
“Sometimes in the middle of Christmas, Jesus is the one person who’s tough to find. You can find Santa at every mall. You can find discount in every store,” Huckabee said at the 25,000-stong Cornerstone Church in San Antonio on Sunday, according to Fox News. “But if you mention the name of Jesus, as I found out recently, it upsets the whole world. Forgive me, but I thought that was the point of the whole day.”
The former Arkansas governor began running a new ad last week in several of the primary states in which he wishes American voters of all faiths a “Merry Christmas”. In the ad, he references the birth of Christ as the Christmas carol “Silent Night” plays in the background and a cross-like image glows behind him, which he explains is just bookshelves.
“I got in a little trouble this last week because I actually had the audacity to say ‘Merry Christmas’. Isn’t that an odd thing to say at this time of year,” Huckabee said during his 30-minute sermon to a nearly full 5,500-seat auditorium.
The former Arkansas governor was said to receive a 30 second standing ovation and copious applause for his refusal to apologise for referencing Jesus Christ in his Christmas ad, according to Fox News.
Huckabee has surged in state polls in Iowa and South Carolina riding on the support of evangelicals. He has made several stops at churches to deliver sermons while on the campaign trail, but Huckabee clarified that his speaking at Cornerstone was not about politics.
“I have to remind people there’s a time for political things and this is not one of them,” said the ordained Baptist preacher. “Trouble is when you’ve been a Baptist pastor and then you run for office, you become a political person. People get real nervous when you show up for church.”
