December 24, 2007

Jamie Lynn Spears Made 'The Right Decision,' Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee Says

By Kurt Orzeck (MTV.com)

Everyone seems to have something to say about Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy: people like you, celebrities, residents in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana. Now even a presidential candidate is voicing his opinion on the news.

Republican contender Mike Huckabee recently weighed in on the 16-year-old Zoey 101 star's pregnancy, which was revealed on Tuesday via an interview she gave to OK! magazine.

"Apparently, she's going to have the child, and I think that is the right decision, a good decision, and I respect that and appreciate it," he told CBS News.

"I hope it is not an encouragement to other 16-year-olds who think that is the best course of action. But at the same time I'm not going to condemn her," continued Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister who has been soaring in the polls lately due to increased support from Christian conservatives. "There'll be plenty of people in line to do that and I always look for the shortest lines. I just hope that she will make another right decision, and that's to give that child all the love and kindness and care that she can."

Huckabee, who is anti-abortion, also said, "It's a tragedy when a 16-year-old who is not really prepared for all the responsibilities of adult life is going to be now faced with all the responsibilities of honest-to-goodness adult life."

This isn't the first time Huckabee has shown his pop-culture savvy. The former Arkansas governor has also made headlines with a tongue-in-cheek ad featuring Chuck Norris.