Apparently South Carolina politicians have yet to get the memo that it's 2010.
Last night, South Carolina state senator
Jake Knotts (pictured left) called Republican gubernatorial candidate,
Nikki Haley (pictured right), who is of Indian descent, a ''raghead,'' saying ,"We already got one raghead in the White House. We don't need a raghead in the governor's mansion," according to a number of people present during the broadcast.
"Raghead" is a slur usually referring to the turbans, scarves and other head coverings worn by Indians and men in desert cultures.The remarks were heard on an Internet political talk show, '
Pub Politics.' Co-host of the show,
Phil Bailey, stated that no audio was available because of a technical problem, but confirms the remarks were made.
Sen. Knotts later apologized for the slur, saying the remarks about President
Obama and Haley were meant as a joke.
''If it had been recorded, the public would be able to hear firsthand that my 'raghead' comments about Obama and Haley were intended in jest,'' Knotts said in his statement. ''Bear in mind that this is a freewheeling, anything-goes Internet radio show that is broadcast from a pub. It's like a local political version of '
Saturday Night Live,' which is actually where the joke came from.''
So let me get this straight, making that comment in "jest" somehow makes it less offensive?
The
Clemson University–educated Haley was born in Bamberg, S.C., to Indian immigrant parents.
This is just the latest attack on the candidate, who has been endorsed by
Sarah Palin and is a favorite of the
Tea Party (both of which warrant a major side-eye). In the past two weeks, two men have come forward to say they had trysts with her, which she denies. If elected, she will become the first female governor of South Carolina.
In an e-mail, Haley's campaign manager,
Tim Pearson, called Knotts ''an embarrassment to our state and to the Republican Party'' and added that he "represents all that is wrong with South Carolina politics."
Bailey, who also is director of the state Senate Democratic Caucus, said he ''was appalled by the comments.''
State Republican Party Chairwoman
Karen Floyd called on Knotts to apologize ''so that we can put this unfortunate incident behind us,'' adding that ''the South Carolina Republican Party strongly condemns any use of racial or religious slurs.''
Floyd then sped off in an F-150, with a Confederate flag in the window. Just kidding, I made that part up.
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Comments: (17)
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By: Judy on 6/04/2010 11:51AM
This is not even news worthy. Just anouther attempt to slam the Republican party by the extreme fringe left. And I voted for Obama too. Drank all that koolaid myself. Now the truth has come out and it is showing. Now I will only vote the issues as an Independant voter.
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By: knbmore on 6/05/2010 8:44AM
Are you kidding me. How can you blame the media for this obviously racist statement. Even his apology was stupid. Does saying it as a joke make it better? I hope the voters have sense enough not to blame the "leftist media" for an ignorant racist.
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By: Jeannette on 6/05/2010 10:58AM
Judy, you are truly a nut. It is news worthy. If the shoe was on the other foot, you would be truly outraged.Please stop using that "I voted for Obama crap", because I do not believe you. These are some racist and dangerous people. If they had their way, all non-whites would be treated just as they were during the pre-civil war days.You can not deceive us by saying "blacks are always using the race card", because we get that same old tired memo everyday.
Does it surprise you that the tea party members are always backing such racist people? The last tea party canidate said, why should a person not be able to ban black people from their establishments all the while, white tea party members are standing behind him clapping their hands at his statement. And now he is trying to dance around the subject, and will not answer the question as to why he said it, and how he actually feels abot it.
Obama promised to improve the health care system, to change that silly don't ask, don't tell nonsense, aand bring our troops home from Iraq, you know that war that your previous beloved president lied about to start. Give Obama time and he will deliver on his promises, or, is that what you are afraid of?
What you need to remember is that the United States got this way under the leadership of white men, not black men. My grandfather would always say that white men will lie, cheat, and steal any and everything that they can, and pass laws to try and make it legal. Look at the govenor of North Carolina, he lied, cheated, and stole, he ussed the tax payors money to go see his whore. That fool is Arizona used tax payor money to take care of his whore and her entire family. and the list goes on and on. Look at Barry Madoff. They are no better than the robber with a hoodie and a gun out on the streets.
Keep your nonsense to yourself, because you are a manipulator and you lie. Shame on you.
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By: charles on 6/05/2010 1:54PM
So you ready to jump ship people like you was the reason the Nat Turner revolt failed. I dont know what you was expecting from this administration.
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By: n2b4u on 6/06/2010 7:11PM
Judy,
How is this an attempt at slamming the Republican Party? If he said it, he said it. No slams there, just fact. These comments are being said without any thought and when they are called on it, the apologies come hot and heavy. All this venom that has come to the surface since President Obama took office concerns me. Do what you have to do as far as becoming an independent voter but remember what you said about "drinking the koolaid" when President Obama turns things around and then you jump back on the bandwagon.
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By: Vickiss on 6/04/2010 5:07PM
Well we forget that a lot of Indians are BLACK. So of course, they get treated as such... Smh
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By: Alan on 6/04/2010 5:44PM
South Carolina state senator Jake Knotts , YOU are a SHAME to the American people and christianity, with your racist views - how intolerant you republicans are towards different races.
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By: Carol Taylor R.N. on 9/19/2011 5:05PM
Jake is NOT funny with his 'rag head' remark; his state is the one where a Black male has just been shot in the head and dragged - connect the damn colorist dots! and all the mea culpas in the WORLD won't make his ignorance of self and others acceptable. He urgently needs to take the www.racismtest.org AND MAKE HIS SCORE PUBLIC and then take his colorist hide to Ethnotherapeutic counseling until he can THINK STRAIGHT about color and culture! EWWW! Carol Taylor R.N. - First Black USA Flight Attendant
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By: T-ROC on 6/05/2010 12:46PM
I don't know whats worst, that he made that comment or Haley's campaign manager Tim Pearson stating ''an embarrassment to our state and to the Republican Party'' and added that he "represents all that is wrong with South Carolina politics."
How about him stating all that is wrong with SOUTH CAROLINA not just the politics, but the state I mean come on. This is the state of Strom Thurmond and still wanting to fly the confederate flag over the capitol.
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By: SUSZANNE on 6/05/2010 2:34PM
I am sick of white folks saying something stupid and then offering a half-azz apology. Say it and mean it and accept everything that comes with being a racist fool. Once the words are out of your mouth there is no way to take them back. Msot jokes are meant to be funny but there is nothing funny about calling others names.
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