The Democratic National Committee on Sunday criticized Gov. Haley Barbour for his reaction to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s omission of the role of slavery in the Civil War when he designated April Confederate month.
“Governor Barbour defended the indefensible this morning and in doing so portrayed a Republican mind set that is not only out of touch with this century, but the last one as well,” DNC Press Secretary Hari Sevugan said.
Barbour made the remarks in question on CNN’s State of the Union, telling host Candy Crowley that he did not agree that the move by McDonnell was insensitive.
“To me, it’s a sort of feeling that it’s a nit, that it is not significant, that it’s trying to make a big deal out of something doesn’t amount to diddly.”
McDonnell has since apologized for omitting the slavery from this proclamation and has now included it, but the DNC has seized on the comments by both governors.
“This is the second Republican leader who has dismissed the horror of slavery as “insignificant” in the past one week,” Sevugan said.
