in our political dialogue. >> reporter: as well as president obama. >> you know, the particular comments of mr. huckabee are i think part of just a general pattern that we've seen that would be considered ridiculous if it weren't so sat. >> reporter: fellow republican jeb bush also urged the former arkansas governor to tone it down. >> the use of that kind of language just wrong. this is not the way we are going to win elections and that's not how we are going to solve problems. >> reporter: late today huckabee remained defiant. >> i will not apologize or recant because the word holocaust was unvolked by the iranian government. they used that very word. >> sarah joins me now. there is backlash against huckabee's comments. is anyone standing up for him? >> reporter: one of his gop rivals rick santorum said huckabee was absolutely right saying it was clear that iran wants to wipe israel out. this gives you an idea of how