Huckabee Adviser Clarifies Remark About Homosexuality And Necrophilia: They're Both "Aberrant Behavi

Oh, man. One of Mike Huckabee's chief advisers has just attempted to clarify the Arkansas Governor's apparent equating of homosexuality and necrophilia.

In an interview with TPM Election Central, Joe Carter, Huckabee's director of research, argued that while Huckabee does think both fall in the category of "aberrant behavior," he's not arguing that they're the same and sees them as being at "opposite ends of the spectrum" of such behavior.

As first reported yesterday by David Corn at Mother Jones, Huckabee said the following in a 1998 book he co-wrote called Kids Who Kill:

When we asked Carter if Huckabee stood by this quote, he didn't disavow the comment. But he sought to clarify its meaning, denying our suggestion that the quote equated homosexuality and necrophilia.

"He's not equating homosexuality with necrophilia," Carter told us. "He's saying there's a range of aberrant behavior. He considers homosexuality aberrant, but that's at one end of the spectrum. Necrophilia is at the other end."

Carter added: "No way is he saying that homosexuality is like having sex with dead people. That's not it at all."

Asked how one measured what rated where on this spectrum of aberrant behavior, Carter said: "He was talking about aberrant sexual behavior. Sado masochism and necrophilia are on the further end of the spectrum."

Asked if this meant that Huckabee at least saw homosexuality and necrophilia as belonging to the same behavioral category, Carter said:

"That's like saying any sex is the same. Yes, he considers both aberrant, but no, he does not equate the two in any way."

Asked to elaborate further, Carter said: "He was describing behavior. He's not casting judgment on the people themselves. His point is, the culture is becoming more accepting of aberrant behaviors."

Asked about an even harsher description of homosexuality -- back in 1992 Huckabee described it as not just "aberrant," but an "unnatural, and sinful lifestyle" -- Carter said Huckabee stood by it.

"He's not going to change his stance on that," Carter said. "He considers homosexual behavior aberrant. But there are degrees of aberrant behavior. He's not saying they're equally as bad. There's a very big distinction there."