--- title: Barack Obama Responds to Mike Huckabee Iran Holocaust Comments description: President Barack Obama called Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's analysis of a deal with Iran "ridiculous." canonical: https://time.com/3973130/barack-obama-mike-huckabee-iran-holocaust/ author: Philip Elliott article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-27T14:50:57.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T03:42:59.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Obama Calls Huckabee's Iran Comments 'Ridiculous' og:description: He heavily criticized the comparison to the Holocaust. og:url: https://time.com/3973130/barack-obama-mike-huckabee-iran-holocaust/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74bc38b5d16e2c3d/69885c913c16395a51458ff9/obama-huckabee.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: President Barrack Obama speaks during a joint news conference at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 27. 2015. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Obama Calls Huckabee's Iran Comments 'Ridiculous' twitter:description: He heavily criticized the comparison to the Holocaust. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74bc38b5d16e2c3d/69885c913c16395a51458ff9/obama-huckabee.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # President Obama Says GOP Criticism 'Ridiculous' ## Video: Know Right Now: Obama's Historic Visit to Africa [Watch (HLS stream): Know Right Now: Obama's Historic Visit to Africa](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/KybePE0a.m3u8) (1:00)  _Published 2015-07-27. President Obama took a trip to Kenya and Ethiopia for the first time during his presidency. Find out more on Know Right Now._  by [Philip Elliott](/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 3:42 AM CUTPublished: Jul 27, 2015 2:50 PM CUT  President Barrack Obama speaks during a joint news conference at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 27\. 2015. President Barrack Obama speaks during a joint news conference at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 27\. 2015.EPA  by [Philip Elliott](/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 3:42 AM CUTPublished: Jul 27, 2015 2:50 PM CUT President Barack Obama aggressively pushed back against Republican criticism of a deal his Administration helped negotiate to keep nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands, telling reporters traveling with him to Ethiopia that the GOP presidential hopefuls who hope to succeed him were using “ridiculous” and “ad hominem” attacks to avoid a serious debate rooted in substance. During a news conference in Addis Ababa, Obama was asked about remarks made a day earlier by Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas Governor who compared the deal to the Holocaust. Obama used the question to level broader criticism of the jockeying happening inside the Republican Party that is still in the early days of a search for a 2016 nominee. “I have not yet heard a factual argument on the other side that holds up to scrutiny,” Obama said of his GOP critics. “There is a reason why 99 percent of the world thinks this is a good deal. It’s because it’s a good deal.” The Republican candidates looking to follow him into the White House do not share his analysis. For instance, Huckabee said the proposed deal gives too much trust to Iran and betrays Israel, musing to the conservative Breitbart News that Obama was ready to “take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven.” The oven remark was a clear reference to the Holocaust, when Nazis murdered millions of European Jews in concentration camps. Iranian leaders often use strong anti-Israel rhetoric, promising “death to Israel,” though few analysts think the country is actually preparing to engage in a genocide. Obama, whose great uncle helped to liberate part of the Buchenwald camp in Germany, took offense to Huckabee’s rhetoric and said it matched up with other statements he has heard from Republicans. Obama said it “would be considered ridiculous if it weren’t so sad.” “We’re creating a culture that is not conducive to good policy or good politics. The American people deserve better. Certainly, presidential debates deserve better,” Obama said, speaking broadly about a crowded Republican field that has been marked by daily oneupmanship. “In 18 months, I’m turning over the keys. I want to make sure I’m turning over the keys to somebody who is serious about the serious problems that the country faces and the world faces.” Obama has long shown an impatience with the political showmanship, especially when it comes to foreign policy. The President said his would-be-replacements should take time to more carefully study the issues before jumping forward with criticism to motivate the party’s base. “We have robust debates. We look at the facts. There are going to be disagreements but we just don’t fling out ad hominem attacks like that because it doesn’t help inform the American people,” Obama chided. Speaking in Des Moines, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton joined Obama in criticizing Huckabee’s rhetoric. “Comments like these are offensive and have no place in our political dialogue,” Clinton said. “I am disappointed and I’m really offended personally.” The former Secretary of State said there is space for candidates to disagree on the details of the deal, but said Huckabee’s rhetoric “steps over the line” and deserved to be repudiated. For his part, Huckabee was not backing off. From his campaign headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., Huckabee released a statement that doubled-down on his earlier rhetoric after hearing Obama’s criticism. “What’s ridiculous and sad is that President Obama does not take the Iran threats seriously. For decades, Iranian leaders have pledged to ‘destroy,’ ‘annihilate,’ and ‘wipe Israel off the map’ with a ‘big Holocaust,’” Huckabee said. His statement to reporters included links to Iranian leaders’ comments using that rhetoric. Huckabee pledged he would never allow that to happen. “I will stand with our ally Israel to prevent the terrorists in Tehran from achieving their own stated goal of another Holocaust,” he added. In a follow-up email to supporters, Huckabee asked them to sign a petition urging Congress to skip its summer break and stay in Washington to “fulfill your constitutional duty and KILL the dangerous Obama-Kerry nuclear deal with the Iranians.” There was no real downside for Huckabee to continue his line of criticism. The former Baptist pastor is a favorite among the evangelical wing of the GOP and he is a frequent guide to the region, taking paying guests on tours of Biblical sites. Republicans—especially those voters who pick the party’s nominee—overwhelmingly support Israel and are more than willing to listen to criticism of anything Obama backs. Republicans have been almost unified in their opposition to the deal with Iran, which was negotiated by world powers China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. Under the deal, Iran will get relief from sanctions and regain access to international oil markets, which will bring it a windfall of about $100 billion. In exchange, Iran must dispose of most of its low-enriched uranium, stop efforts to produce or acquire more nuclear fuel and consent to inspections. The deal is expected to block Iran from obtaining the technology needed to build a nuclear weapon for at least a decade. _With additional reporting by Sam Frizell._ ### See Scenes From Obama's Africa Trip  President Barack Obama flanked by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (top left) and African Union Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (top right), arrives to deliver remarks at the African Union in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  President Barack Obama delivers a speech to the African Union in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2015. Evan Vucci—AP  Delegates react to remarks by President Barack Obama at the African Union in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  President Barack Obama shakes hands with farmer Gifty Jemal Hussein, after seeing her corn during a tour of Faffa Food in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2015. Evan Vucci—AP  President Barack Obama laughs at the hair nets the members of the press have to wear during a tour of Faffa Food, in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2015. Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images  President Barack Obama reviews a marching band during a welcome ceremony at the National Palace in Addis Ababa on July 27, 2015. Tiksa Negeri—Reuters  President Barack Obama receives flowers from children, with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, as he arrives at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa on July 26, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Kenyan traditional dancers sing as they wait to entertain President Barack Obama upon his arrival to board Air Force One for his departure to Ethiopia, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on July 26, 2015. Daniel Irungu—EPA  The crowd surges toward President Barack Obama as he greets the audience after his remarks at Safaricom Indoor Arena in Nairobi on July 26, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  President Barack Obama delivers a speech during at Safaricom Indoor Arena in Nairobi on July 26, 2015. Sun Ruibo—Xinhua Press/Corbis  The crowd cheers as President Barack Obama arrives to speak at Safaricom Indoor Arena in Nairobi on July 26, 2015. Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images  President Barack Obama stands in silent tribute after laying a wreath at the August 7th Memorial Park to pay tribute to the victims of the 1998 bombing at U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, on July 25, 2015. John Okoyo—Xinhua Press/Corbis  People wave U.S. flags before President Barack Obama's motorcade arrival, in Nairobi on July 25, 2015. Georgina Goodwin—AFP/Getty Images  President Barack Obama and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta leave after a joint press conference, discussing corruption, terrorism, and gay rights, at the State House in Nairobi on July 25, 2015. Simon Maina—AFP/Getty Images  President Barack Obama sits with his step-grandmother, Mama Sarah and half-sister Auma Obama, during a gathering of extended family at his hotel in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images  Eight-year-old Joan Wamaitha is hugged by President Barack Obama as he arrives at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. Evan Vucci—AP  Crowds of Kenyans gather to celebrate the visit of President Barack Obama, at Kamukunji Grounds in Kibera neighborhood, Nairobi on July 24, 2015 . 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