HUCKABEE OPINES ON CONFEDERATE FLAG, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Speaking out on two sensitive cultural issues, Michael Huckabee yesterday urged the federal government to stay out of a debate over where to fly the Confederate flag, and he made comments that appeared to place gay marriage in the same category as bestiality. The former Arkansas waded into the flag dispute while campaigning in South Carolina, where the Confederate flag flies on the Capitol grounds. “You don’t like people from outside the state coming in and telling you what to do with your flag,” Mr. Huckabee told voters in Myrtle Beach. “In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we’d tell ’em what to do with the pole, that’s what we’d do.” While many Southerners view the flag with pride, others, including most African Americans, view it as a symbol of racism. In a separate interview with the religion Web site Beliefnet.com, Mr. Huckabee discussed his opposition to same-sex marriage, suggesting that changing the definition of marriage could lead to greater upheaval. “I don’t think that’s a radical view to say we’re going to affirm marriage,” he said. “I think the radical view is to say that we’re going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal. Again, once we change the definition, the door is open to change it again.”

CHRIS MATTHEWS BACKTRACKS OVER CLINTON COMMENTS

The host of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” Chris Matthews, is expressing regret for suggesting that the reason Senator Clinton is a leading candidate for president is because her husband “messed around.” Facing criticism and a possible protest from a liberal watchdog group, Media Matters, the fast-talking, outspoken host opened his show yesterday with a mea culpa. “Was it fair to imply that Hillary’s whole career depended on being a victim of an unfaithful husband? No,” Mr. Matthews said. He added: “If my heart has not always controlled my words, on those occasions when I have not taken the time to say things right, or have simply said the inappropriate thing, I’ll try to be clearer, smarter, more obviously in support of the right of women — of all people — to full equality of respect and ambition. So, I get it.” Media Matters had begun to organize a campaign against Mr. Matthews for a pattern of comments that the group said were demeaning to women. Its president, David Brock, had yesterday written a letter of protest to NBC.

GIULIANI ADS QUOTE ROMNEY PRAISE ON TAX RECORD

Mayor Giuliani has not released a negative ad during his campaign, but in a spot released yesterday in Florida, he took a tongue-in-cheek jab at Mitt Romney. The 30-second ad contains no narration, but over a dramatic musical score flashes a series of quotations praising Mr. Giuliani’s record of cutting taxes by influential conservatives, including George Will, Grover Norquist, and Pat Toomey. The final quote is from the former mayor’s own rival, Mr. Romney: “Mayor Giuliani has a great record of cutting taxes,” the quote reads before Mr. Romney’s name flashes on the screen. The Giuliani campaign took the quote from an appearance by the former Massachusetts governor on CNBC after a Republican debate in October.