Nothing better illustrates how intensely Democrats despise President Donald Trump than their behavior during the State of the Union address, during which liberal members of Congress sat sullen, even at the mention of their own issues, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Thursday.

The two-time presidential candidate noted on “The Laura Ingraham Show” that Democrats did not just shun Trump on controversial issues, such as immigration, but also on proposals they traditionally have advanced — for instance, paid family leave — and on unquestionably good news, such as the falling unemployment rate, especially for African-Americans and Hispanics.

Close

“Their hate of Donald Trump outweighs their love of America,” he said.

Huckabee pointed to Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), who left the chamber when Republicans started chanting “USA! USA!” The congressman later said he left because he had to get ready for an interview.

[lz_ndn video=33486130]

“Then Luis Gutiérrez gets triggered, and he had to run from the room because that frightens him, that somebody would actually love this country so much to chant ‘USA,'” said Huckabee. “I mean, these people have stepped over a line into the ‘Twilight Zone,’ the likes of which we’ve never seen before in politics.”

Huckabee said the same goes for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who said, following the speech, that its low point was when Trump declared, “Americans dream, too.”

Said Huckabee, “That’s frightening to me that a member of Congress doesn’t believe that the greatest thing we can do is instill in our citizens a hope and dream.”

The one upside, Huckabee added, is that it will make it easier for Republican challengers running against incumbents this fall.

“If I were running campaigns this year for Republican candidates, I would thank the Democrats, because they basically created my ads the other night,” he said. “And all I’ve got to do is, for the Republican candidate, is show Democrats sitting on their hands, not standing up for victims of violence. Not standing up for the national anthem. And not standing up for the lowest unemployment numbers among blacks and Hispanics, and on and on.”

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

Related: 12 Best Lines from Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address

It is understandable that Democrats will disagree with many parts of a Republican president’s speech, Huckabee said. When Trump talks about building a wall, the former governor said, he does not expect a standing ovation from the Democratic side of the aisle.

But it is strange when Democrats do not even cheer statements they agree with, Huckabee said.

“They had a great opportunity the other night to, in essence, treat the State of the Union like you would a buffet,” he said. “You pick the things that you like, put those on your plate, and the others you say, ‘No, I don’t care for those.’ That would have given them credibility … This is brainless reaction, not to what he said, but to him on a personal level.”

PoliZette senior writer Brendan Kirby can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter.

(photo credit, homepage and article images: Mike Huckabee [1], [2], cut out, CC BY-SA 2.0, by Gage Skidmore)