Rep. Charles "Chip" Pickering is hopping mad about some unflattering comments Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton made in Iowa about folks in Mississippi, calling them closed and lacking in community values -- or at least that's what she told the Des Moines Register.
And that got the retiring congressman hopping mad. It's also sort of strange for a presidential candidate to put down one state to try and boost their cachet in another, considering you have to campaign everywhere. Or maybe Mrs. Clinton just doesn't care about Mississippi, or expanding the Democrats political map.
Ah, politics. Here is what Chip had to say.
PICKERING CHALLENGES CLINTON'S REMARKS
Rejects Presidential candidates slurs against Mississippi
(WASHINGTON DC) – Tuesday, October 23, Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton, in explaining why she was not doing well in Iowa polls, was quoted in the Des Moines Register saying, "How can Iowa be ranked with Mississippi? That's not what I see. That's not the quality. That's not the communitarianism, that's not the openness I see in Iowa."
Today Congressman Pickering responded, "Senator Clinton clearly doesn't know the people of Mississippi, the people I represent. Her comments were inappropriate, inaccurate, and unnecessary. A candidate for President of the United States should not use stereotypes to define a region of the country. It is sad that a leader like Clinton doesn't understand a state and neighbor, or she simply believes the south is close-minded and lacking in community and quality. Those who seek to lead the entire country should be strong and confident in themselves and in our people."
"Mississippi has a diversity of culture, politics, life, and business- we have leaders across a vast spectrum of backgrounds. Currently Dr. Martha Saunders serves as President of the University of Southern Mississippi and we have elected outstanding female mayors, supervisors, and supreme court justices as well as two Lieutenant Governors, Amy Tuck and Evelyn Gandy. We lead the nation in the number of African American elected officials."
"This is a state whose generosity, according to the IRS, is consistently higher, per capita, than any other state in the nation with charitable contributions. A state who had the first ever heart transplant, lung transplant, and kidney autotransplant. A state who has produced more awarded and honored writers than any other. Mississippi is the birthplace of the blues, of famous athletes, and entertainers."
"After Katrina, we proved the strength and quality of our communities as a unified, strong, and resilient people. You would think that old stereotypes and myths should be put aside after such an event. This shows the difficulty Democrats will have in Mississippi when a leader like Clinton shows no understanding and no respect for the region."
"To overcome this misunderstanding and prejudice, we invite Senator Clinton to visit anytime. We are the hospitality state. I'm sure she'll be impressed with our spirit, resilience, generosity, and strong communities. We weathered Katrina with those character traits. We will forgive her old thinking and give her generous grace. We only ask for her to give us an open mind in return."
Congressman Chip Pickering is Chairman of McCain for President in Mississippi and
Co-Chair for the Southern Region.
-- Brian DeBose, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (21)
The Hildabeast was referring to "communatarianism", i.e., COMMUNISM.
It takes a village to mind your business, run rough-shod over you, etc. etc. etc. Shades of Mao and Stalin spring to mind, and that's not a stretch. Shades of Craig Livingston and Vince Foster, of damage-control for Bill and his womanizing (raping/seducing ways), and shades of a bullet hole in the back of Ron Brown's skull, in addition to a "plane crash".
So yes, she's right--We Mississippians have no interest in her ultra-socialist, social-engineering, would-be totalitarian dominatrix pin-headed ideas of government.
Hopefully the rest of the nation will wake up and follow suit.
Posted by W.M. Mott | October 26, 2007 4:25 PM
Amen to the previous poster! Always remember: "Real men never settle with words what can be accomplished with a flamethrower".
Posted by Tom Metcalfe | October 26, 2007 10:01 PM
It just goes to show you that Hillary Clinton has a prejudice against the South. For a public figure to make a statement like this tells you she is definitely a "yes ms"
Posted by Victor Cuvo | October 26, 2007 10:11 PM
Check out this blog from the Rangel comment last November: http://lylemorgan.blogspot.com/2006/11/who-hell-wants-to-live-in-mississippi.html
Posted by L. R. | October 26, 2007 11:39 PM
OH but I like what W. M. Mott (above) said
on 10/26/07!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Helen Laverdure | October 28, 2007 9:00 PM
Hillary is a "gold plated phony", to quote a phrase attributed to A-Rod. When America figures this out is the big question...she is compeltely programmed, and not the shoe in as president that the pundits think she is. I don't know anyone who will vote for her...oh damn, all my friends are productive members of society, not the handout dregs that will vote for her.
Posted by Cleveland Steamer | October 30, 2007 6:36 AM
In this article I would have to say that Hillary might have pointed out those flaws of Mississippi in order to have them fixed when the election is over. But, yet again if the people of Mississippi are offended by what Hillary said, how many votes will she receive in the end? The situation is in a neutral point right now and it's too early to conclude what will happen in polls because of this. You may have to wait for more on the debate.
Posted by Laura | November 2, 2007 12:27 AM
What hillary says and does, will not matter to the brain-dear clintonistas. Their greed takes precedence over any morals they profess to have.
Get used to it, OR get off your rear-ends, and starting campaigning against hillary. You don't have to lie like she does, just tell the truth.
Posted by Bill Anderson | November 6, 2007 7:32 AM
Communitarianism?? That's a $4 word from a 12 cent mind.....a member of a collective....you remember collectives, don't you? Russia in the old days had collectives.....under Lenin.....I guess the 12 cent mind looks at American life a little differently than you or me. Did we not see this coming with government health care for all (including illegals)? Did we not see what she is when she supported drivers licenses in NY for illegals? Those that support this woman, want a very different America than the one I currently live in.
Posted by Jeff | November 8, 2007 10:45 AM
I agree that is was extremely rude of Hilary to say a comment of that nature but she was doing it for a purpose. If she gains the support of Iowa through saying that, she will not regret it. Mississippi would most likely not vote in her favor anyway while Iowa may. Responding to the comment on illegals, I think that we need to control our borders and not worry about the people that have already crossed the border. Its like if mice keep coming out of the hole in a wall and you keep letting the cat eat them, why not just stop up the hole?
Posted by BigB | November 8, 2007 6:55 PM
Who cares? Miss is a lost cause for the Dems, it's far too conservative anyways.
Posted by Brian K | November 9, 2007 12:15 PM
To say the least hillary already thinks she is the democratic nominee and Old Miss is not needed to get her where she thinks she is going. I just want to live to hear her tears hit the ground when she is denied the White House presidential candidacy
Posted by William Ellison | November 14, 2007 1:48 PM
This nothing more than another example of Hillary Arrogance. It pervades everything she says and does. This didn't surprise anyone did it? She would throw anyone under the bus if she thought it get her 1 inch closer to the Presidents seat of "POWER"!
Posted by Mick | November 14, 2007 2:55 PM
She is the Devil's little agent....
Posted by A.P. | November 15, 2007 9:21 AM
What do we know about Hillary?
0. She can't answer tough questions.
1. She can't take sides on an issue.
2. She wants power.
3. She knows how to run damage control.
4. She failed utterly at national health care.
5. She loses law firm records.
6. She isn't above threatening people.
7. She was involved in whitewater.
8. She had an affair with Vince Foster.
9. She enabled Bill's womanizing.
10. She says what she thinks people want to hear.
Posted by Gary | November 18, 2007 9:21 PM
Mr. Mott is correct.
She cannot win without the South and I believe TX will join with Old Miss.
God Bless the real USA
Posted by American | November 22, 2007 8:39 PM
The Democrats gave up on the South a long time back. I remember when Bill Clinton was asked about the Democrat's poor showings in the South and he blamed it on racism. He stated, "How do you think the Republicans won the South anyway?", claiming they play to the racism of the Southern whites.
Bill and Hillary have the exact same views of the South. What's ironic is that when either, Bill or Hillary Clinton are not doing well, they think it has something to do with someone else's closed-mindedness, lack of community values, or racism.
It is never that their policies just may not be what the people want. Instead, it is always someone else's flaw that keeps them from winning. This is the epitome of arrogance.
But, don't think for one minute that the view that Hillary expressed toward Mississippi stops at the borders of Mississippi, or for that matter, stops with Hillary's personal views. These anti-Southern views are Party-wide with the Democrats.
The entire Democratic Party feels that only states lying north of the Illinois / Kentucky border are fit to call themselves Democratic.
Posted by JD | November 23, 2007 10:34 PM
Gary, who posted above said almost was right-on with his points, though he missed a few:
11. Plants audience questions as she hates to be caught with her 'pants down')=can't answer tough questions.
(Anyway,being caught with your pants down is Bills' area of expertise)
12.Employs a 'goon squad' to take care of anyone and anything that gets in her way (see threatening people, damage control, enables Bill's womanizing)
Posted by brentski | November 24, 2007 1:09 PM
I agree with Gary above, except number 0 and 1 need to be modified.
1. Change "can't" to "won't" in both.
2. Change "tough" to "simple" in number 0. (driver's license episode).
Posted by Charlie | November 25, 2007 8:48 AM
Hopefully this will be thrown back in her face when Ole Miss hosts the first presidential debate.
Posted by Jeff | November 26, 2007 8:11 AM
A new Zogby poll shows Clinton losing head to head against Guliani, Romney, McCain and Huckabee. The best thing that can happen for the Republicans is a Clinton primary win!
Posted by bob | November 28, 2007 3:33 AM