Profile in Bigotry

In recent days, we've noted the upsurge in celebrations of the anniversary of the treasonous secession of Southern states in the lead up to the Civil War. Combined with talk among far right wingnuts since President Obama's inauguration about "secession" and "nullification," it smacks of a resurgence of racism.

Particularly revealing of prevailing right-wing Rethug prejudices was a quote in today's New York Times editorial referring to a National Review profile of Mississippi Gov. Haley "Boss Hog" Barbour:

In the magazine’s profile of the second-term governor, Mr. Barbour suggests that the 1960s — when people lost life and limb battling for equal rights for black citizens — were not a terribly big deal in Yazoo City. "I just don’t remember it as being that bad,” he said. He heard Dr. King speak at the county fairgrounds in 1962 but can’t remember the speech. “We just sat on our cars, watching the girls, talking, doing what boys do,” he said. “We paid more attention to the girls than to King.”

Watching what girls? We only recall old black and white news photos in those days of young white men jeering on the periphery at civil rights rallies, waving Confederate flags, and generally trying to intimidate (at the least) black citizens exercising their rights. They certainly weren't events to "watch girls" at.

We look forward to more revelations of the Rethug Governor's attitudes towards his fellow citizens who happen to be African American.