Let me guess: There were NO minority Citizen Council Members.

The guy is a racists. Wasn't that bad? Yeah--if you were white.

Ha! From the Republican "I'm not a racist, I just hate everybody" crowd, now comes the new chant "You've got racists in your closet too".

Tell us, why don't you, exactly who you are talking about. Give us some names, otherwise, you're probably talking about Republicans who pose as Dems just to try to poison our reputation for being liberals.

By the way, calling a liberal a racist is an oxymoron, moron.

I guess everyone forgot who George Wallace was and that he was a Democrat. Racism and bigotry are not the sole property of any party.

Look Totto, there are a lot of idiots here in planet msnbc. We better get the hell outta dodge before we are infected.

The Left has completely lost it on this one!

Their own Senator Byrd was an actual Klan Member and one of top guys in the Klan no less.

What Barbour said was no where near as bad as what Byrd DID!

The movie "Mississippi" portrayed how scary that state was at the time - for anyone driving through, white or black. Whites from elsewhere knew they stood out like a sore thumb & were immediately suspect. I remember my uncle & aunt drove a route that would avoid Mississippi when they went to Florida for a vacation.

Steinbeck wrote "Travels With Charlie" about his experiences driving the perimeter of the country. He was shocked at the difference driving through the Southern states. A man in a gas station wouldn't serve him because he thought a black man was scrunched down in the passenger seat. In fact, the black kinky hair belonged to Steinbeck's faithful companion, Charlie, a standard black poodle. He witnessed the ugliness of white people, especially women screaming, at a small black child as U.S. Marshalls escorted her into the all-white public school. These experiences forever changed Steinbeck's view of America's South.

Harper Lee captured the prevalent white attitudes in "To Kill a Mockingbird" as a crowd of white vigilantes gathered outside the jail where a black man was held for trial.

As a white teenager in the Midwest of the 50's, we certainly were buffered & protected from knowing the truth about civil rights - at school & at home. Awareness came later from books & news coverage of the civil rights riots. White supremacist attitudes were found all over the country then - not just in the South. Northern cities had "red lined" areas limiting African-Americans to own real estate - residential or commercial.

None of us can claim complete innocence when it comes to prejudice whether it be racial, national origin, religious, gender or age. Currently it is largely aimed at all Muslims & Hispanics who are here illegally. For whatever reason, prejudice seems to be a general human failing.

nothing wrong with a rebel flag, or being a racist. after you all label dogs that bite and they are only amimals. people are supposed to have a brain cell and not hurt or steal from another but when you have been victimized by a certain race in your life and the same race is on the news for causing death, theft and other problems in society, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE RACIST, FACT, it only you sheep that dont stand your ground.

TO: Bookem' Danno who wrote:

“…Democrats forgave Robert Byrd for his past racist affiliations…”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Byrd asked for forgiveness. There’s a big difference between that and an outright denial, trying to re-write history, and turning a blind eye to the truth.

TO: Taxed Enough Already-2765179 who wrote:
"The Left has completely lost it on this one!..."

^^^^^^^^^^

When will Republicans finally grow up and quit trying to defend the indefensible?

Go ahead, hang on to defending your wrongdoings, lie and deny, and see where that get's you.

where are you people from??? the only guys in public office in the south from 1880 to 1968 were democrats - there was a republican named lincoln who saw to that. to have a discussion about who is more racist democrats or republicans is stupid. any republican today who was alive in the '60's in the south was a democrat then.

I know of lots of places that didn't have it that bad at that time. Good decent folks didn't tolerate the Klan. I'm from rural NC and had a grand total of 3 black kids in school with me when I was growing up. They were friends to EVERYONE!! The Christian community I grew up in practiced what they preached.

The context is a 1982 New York Times article on Barbour’s challenge that year to the octogenarian incumbent Democratic Senator, John Stennis. The piece’s tone is almost sneering about Barbour — ” Mr. Barbour, now 34 years old, won renown as a high school linebacker and as a dedicated attender of parties at the state university” — but this is the passage that he’ll get asked about on the campaign trail:

This being Mississippi, race is a factor in the campaign, but mainly because neither candidate has offered much to black voters. The Republicans have tried to remind them that in 1964 Mr. Stennis sponsored legislation to export Mississippi blacks to states that wanted to practice integration.

But the racial sensitivity at Barbour headquarters was suggested by an exchange between the candidate and an aide who complained that there would be ‘’coons’’ at a campaign stop at the state fair. Embarrassed that a reporter heard this, Mr. Barbour warned that if the aide persisted in racist remarks, he would be reincarnated as a watermelon and placed at the mercy of blacks.

http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/255743/haley-barbour-take-two

He's a bitter old man because his parents gave him a girls name.

Dear Panelist;

I grew up in Jim Crow Mississippi in the 60's and 70's. My family and James Chaney's family attended the same Church and School. I remember separate restrooms, accommodations, water fountains; parks; and swimming pools. I remember the many inequalities of being Black in Mississippi and the dangers. Some of my family still lives in Mississippi; I escaped a long time ago. We grew up Republicans because the Democrats were Dixie-crats and most at the time were Klan's men or backed by the Klan. The Republicans were working to help Blacks in Mississippi; even when it was not popular or safe. Medgar Evers had eaten dinner at our house and later he was killed. Democrats of the day, Ross Barnett, George Wallace; Strom Thurmond etc...

I felt isolated in Mississippi; because our relatives from North Carolina, Conn, Mass and Cali were afraid to come to Mississippi. The legacy of Mississippi now; poverty and uneducated people; earning low wages. Mr. Barbour; I am glad that your memories of Mississippi are not so bad. Now having said that; please know what racism really is:

Racism is the ability to oppress another person or culture; systemically whether that be by economics; education; socially; by gender or through racial bias; When you can control another's destiny or life. A lot of White people are tired of hearing about racism, because they don't think they directly or indirectly has caused this plight for Black people. What they failed to realize is that they have directly benefited because of Slavery and Jim Crow rule. But, as they say life is not fair; and we must deal with the hand we are dealt. I deal everyday by working hard and trying to make a better life and I know I have been blessed just to have lived through the terrible racism of our times. I still experience racism; sexism and different mistreatment's; due to being Black and female in America. These experiences have made me stronger; but some people have not been as fortunate; and they are beaten down by those same experiences.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King said, it is not the hatred and racism by bad White people that is the most hurting to Black people. It is the silent co-operation by Good White people that help bad White people succeed in keeping this status quo. Will America every be truly equal? The answer to this question can only be answered by each us working to make America the very best nation and by all of us acknowledging the Good, the Bad and the Ugly in our past. Let us look to GOD for healing and directions. Pray for all people and our leaders as we transform our nation in this time of struggle. May GOD Bless you all and Merry Christmas!!!!

 Ever since Rachel did a number on his character last night, he can't make up his mind on the issue. Outstanding job, Maddow!

I was a teenager during the 60's and lived in Utah and even I knew how bad racism due to forced segregation was. I saw it on the news, read about it in the paper and was taught the truth in school. That in addition to the lessons I learned in church and at my family dinner table.

There is no reason that a mentally capable person beyond infancy during that time would not know what was happening , white or not. Yazoo City is in Mississippi and Mississippi has a tragic history of racial violence over many decades prior to and following the 50's and 60's.

I've seen amazingly stupid statements that it happened in the 50's and 60's so it should be forgotten or ignored. Also a comment that the racists in that time were Democrats, as if that makes it ok to be in the practice of rewriting history. Or at least trying to until upon being called out on it, then backpedaling as fast as possible with a new load of crap.

To those that are repeating the totally ridiculous comment that there are racist in both parties as if that makes it acceptable, this is about 1 man and his continuing and unapologetic racism. All racists are wrong and this is a story of one of them who just happens to have desire to lead this country. A country made up of many races and ideals that all must be taken into account and protected for this country to maintain it's standing as the best.

This is why I hate politics. Everyone has already taken a side, and will spin every story to fit their position. I am very conservative, but I also hate things that Republicans do. Like after the tax compromise from Obama, There was critcism about him not keeping his pledge to do away with the Bush tax cuts- from Republicans! Democratic spin? Just watch 4-5 hrs of MSNBC at night. No one cares about what is right, just about winning and being in power. Every election cycle brings out nothing but twisted lies and spin doctors. Thats because the people are only interested in voting for whomever will help them get what they think is their part of the public treasury. Are there any noble, honest people left? May God bless them and strengthen them to lead our sorry butts out of this mess we have created.

"Barbour walks back comments on civil rights era".....

(MSNBC's intended meaning)... Start hating him, America !!!... Hurry, we're planting the early seed for you to start hating him, now !!!.... Goodness, Mr Barbour could NEVER be qualified to be president because he's walking back his comment... and heaven knows ANYONE who walks back his/her comments IS DEFINITELY NOT presidential material....

THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO NEVER WALKS BACK ANYTHING !

America would like to know if MSNBC has ever made a specific comment emphatically demanding that Barack Obama 'RULE AS A DICTATOR !"

(see the Ed Shultz show on Jun 15, 2010).... Let's see if MSNBC "walks that back".....

America is sickened by your constant double-standards, deceit and viscious hatred, MSNBC !

Nice spin....what an idiot !!!

try fix oh i mean fox news!

Try Fix oh I mean Fox news!

The worst racists are those like Barbour who appear to be unaware how racist they really are. They also allow themselves to be in denial of what was happening the the 60s and 70s in this country. The Whit Citizen's Councils were just as bad as the Klan. They were merely trying to keep their businesses profitable while also maintaining segregation. I'm a white Mississippian, by the way. I wish I had had the courage to speak up more than I did at the time. There is no excuse for someone such as Barbour to sing the song he sings today.

InTheMiddle, TX

I cannot understand why adults feel that they must resort to the childish "one of yours was also a racist" arguments to justify the obvious racism of someone you support.  If you must make comparisons between Governor Barbour and Senator Byrd you might want to recall that Senator Byrd admitted that his association with the KKK was wrong and verified the sincerity of his apology by fighting for civil rights during the last 40 years of his life.

FROM FREDERICK DOUGLAS 4TH OF JULY SPEECH 1852

Behold the practical operation of this internal slave-trade, the American slave-trade, sustained by American politics and American religion. Here you will see men and women reared like swine for the market. You know what is a swine-drover? I will show you a man-drover. They inhabit all our Southern States. They perambulate the country, and crowd the highways of the nation, with droves of human stock. You will see one of these human flesh-jobbers, armed with pistol, whip and bowie-knife, driving a company of a hundred men, women, and children, from the Potomac to the slave market at New Orleans. These wretched people are to be sold singly, or in lots, to suit purchasers. They are food for the cotton-field, and the deadly sugar-mill. Mark the sad procession, as it moves wearily along, and the inhuman wretch who drives them. Hear his savage yells and his blood-chilling oaths, as he hurries on his affrighted captives! There, see the old man, with locks thinned and gray. Cast one glance, if you please, upon that young mother, whose shoulders are bare to the scorching sun, her briny tears falling on the brow of the babe in her arms. See, too, that girl of thirteen, weeping, yes! weeping, as she thinks of the mother from whom she has been torn! The drove moves tardily. Heat and sorrow have nearly consumed their strength; suddenly you hear a quick snap, like the discharge of a rifle; the fetters clank, and the chain rattles simultaneously; your ears are saluted with a scream, that seems to have torn its way to the centre of your soul! The crack you heard, was the sound of the slave-whip; the scream you heard, was from the woman you saw with the babe. Her speed had faltered under the weight of her child and her chains! that gash on her shoulder tells her to move on. Follow this drove to New Orleans. Attend the auction; see men examined like horses; see the forms of women rudely and brutally exposed to the shocking gaze of American slave-buyers. See this drove sold and separated forever; and never forget the deep, sad sobs that arose from that scattered multitude. Tell me citizens, WHERE, under the sun, you can witness a spectacle more fiendish and shocking. Yet this is but a glance at the American slave-trade, as it exists, at this moment, in the ruling part of the United States.