Stupid, and doubtless to receive plenty of attention since it’s useful to so many groups. The left will use it as a Larger Truth about the NRA; the media will use it to find some racial subtext that isn’t actually there; and righteous conservative bloggers will use it to gently suggest that perhaps Huck isn’t VP material.

Way to help gun owners shed those stereotypes of being reckless and/or deranged, though.

During a speech before the National Rifle Association convention Friday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee — who has endorsed presumptive GOP nominee John McCain — joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman.

“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he’s getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”

Melodramatic exit question from the comments to the CNN post: “Is this a man of God?”

Update: Headlines comments imported.

Update: Well, this makes things nice and easy for Russert, at least.

Update: It comes at around the halfway point. The silence is excruciating. Click the image to watch.

Update: Huck makes amends:

“I made an off hand remark that was in no way intended to offend or disparage Sen. Obama,” the statement said. “I apologize that my comments were offensive. That was never my intention.”