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Haley Barbour Won't Denounce KKK Plates

'I don't go around denouncing people'

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 16, 2011 9:56 AM CST

(Newser) – Haley Barbour doesn’t think Mississippi’s legislature will approve the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ proposed license plate honoring Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest—but he’s not going denounce the proposal. The state’s NAACP has called on Barbour to do so, the AP reports, but when asked about it, the governor replied, “I don’t go around denouncing people. That’s not going to happen.” Pressed further, he added, “I know there’s not a chance it’ll become law.”

Needless to say, the NAACP wasn’t satisfied with the response. “I find it curious that the governor won’t come out and clearly denounce” the proposal, the group’s Mississippi president said. “As the head of the state, he shouldn't tap dance around the question.” The incident comes just months after Barbour sparked controversy by saying that he didn’t remember segregated Mississippi as being “that bad.” For more on the license plate controversy, click here.

Gov. Haley Barbour says he won't denounce a proposed license plate to honor Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, at a news conference, Feb. 15, 2011. Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant looks on. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Gov. Haley Barbour says he won't denounce a proposal for a state-issued license plate to honor Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest at a news conference in Jackson, Miss., Feb. 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 70 comments

Just_Dave

Feb 17, 2011 6:33 AM CST

What a horrible and misleading headline. Shame on you Kevin Spak, shame on you Newser.

theblueflame51

Feb 16, 2011 6:53 PM CST

So when does Mississippi open its first branch of the Sons of the Taliban and give in to their demands? After all they are small potatoes compared to the terrorism and Anti-American actions of the Confederates.

Just_Dave

Feb 16, 2011 6:13 PM CST

There is so much misinformation, idiocy and bias in this thread. Obviously it was intentional by the bias from the article. It could have said Haley Barbour won't play the medias game of bias and hate. but it doesn't, it says that horrible thing about the KKK. It's not about the KKK Kevin. It's about Forrest who distanced himself from that group when it headed the wrong way. Why isn't that in the article? Why isn't the article a praise to Barbour for not getting involved in an obvious cheap shot from the left about a non issue. Why the fuck is Newser so obviously liberal and biased? Yellow journalism. Kevin Spak you should be proud of your propaganda. You have the partisan idiots thrilled.

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Haley Barbour Won't Denounce KKK Plates

'I don't go around denouncing people'

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Ku Klux Klan • Mississippi • KKK • NAACP • Haley Barbour • license plates • Sons of Confederate Veterans • Nathan Bedford Forrest

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