Mike Huckabee -- I Love Beyonce, But ... (VIDEO)

Mike Huckabee is walking back from his Beyonce comments, but just a little bit ... calling Bey a "mega-talent," but wishing out loud she'd be a little more conservative.

In his new book, Huckabee called out President Barack Obama for letting his kids listen to Beyonce's music, saying her lyrics are "obnoxious and toxic mental poison."

But Sunday night at LaGuardia, Huckabee proclaimed his love for all things Bey ... but says she shouldn't feel the need to be so risqué to be popular.