Mike Huckabee Quickly Resigns From Country Music Association Foundation Amid Instant Backlash
Yesterday, the Country Music Association announced the newest member of the board of its charitable foundation, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
You’d think Huckabee would be a natural fit for this sort of thing, with his love of the bass guitar being widely known. It wasn’t long, however, before country music luminaries, including other board members, began protesting the move, leading to Huckabee’s swift resignation.
So what happened? His politics were simply too far right for many country music stars and some CMA members, particularly his views on LGBT individuals.
Renowned country music manager Jason Owen issued the harshest condemnation, writing that Huckabee’s appointment was “grossly offensive” and “a detrimentally poor choice by CMA and its leaders.”
Owen, whose management company Sandbox represents Faith Hill, among others, issued a lengthy statement decrying Huckabee and the CMA, pulling all of his artists from involvement with the organization.
The manager, who is gay, offered up some harsh criticism of Huckabee’s political views on both LGBT rights and his hardline stance on the NRA.
“I have a child and two on the way. This man has made it clear that my family is not welcome in his America. And the CMA has opened their arms to him, making him feel welcome and relevant. Huckabee speaks of the sort of things that would suggest my family is morally beneath his and uses language that has a profoundly negative impact upon young people all across this country,” he wrote.
“Not to mention how harmful and damaging his deep involvement with the NRA is. What a shameful choice. I will not participate in any organization that elevates people like this to positions that amplify their sick voices.”
Artist Brad Paisley and many Nashville music sites added to the chorus and, not even 24 hours after he was welcomed to the board, Huckabee resigned.
“The CMA Foundation has accepted former Governor Mike Huckabee’s resignation from its Board of Directors, effective immediately,” a CMA spokeswoman said.
Well, he’ll always that one time he jammed some bass with Ted Nugent.
[image via screenshot]
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