Glenn Beck struck back at Mike Huckabee on his Friday show, calling his fellow Fox News host "thin-skinned" and maintaining his charge that the former Arkansas governor was a "progressive." He also said that Huckabee should sit out the 2012 race if he couldn't take his criticism.
The feud between the two began on Tuesday, when Beck used the term to describe Huckabee due to his support of Michelle Obama's anti-obesity initiative. Huckabee responded by attacking Beck on his website and on the radio, saying that Beck is against Obama's programs "either out of ignorance or out of a deliberate attempt to distort them to create yet another 'boogey man' hiding in the closet that he and only he can see." He also said that the term "progressive" is the same as "cancer" and "Nazi" to Beck.
On Friday, Beck weighed in at length. He took offense to both of these charges.
"The only place that I've ever heard that kind of a smear is on George Soros' website, Media Matters," Beck said, adding that he only ever claimed that Nazis used tactics favored by progressives. "Interesting how you would go to Media Matters' talking points when you feel like it would benefit you, Mr. Huckabee. I've never said progressive is the same as Nazi. So, let's not try to twist this into me accusing you of killing millions of Jews."
He then claimed that he was merely pointing out the obvious: that Obama's program is "not conservative...it's not anything that a libertarian would understand." After that, he went on a long monologue about various other "progressive" things Huckabee has done during his career. Beck concluded by turning to Huckabee's chances if he runs for the presidency again.
"If, sir, you are this thin-skinned about your politics, it might be best for you to stay on the sidelines," Beck said. "The last thing we need is someone challenging Barack Obama, not as President of the United States but challenging Barack Obama for his title as the most thin-skinned President in American history."