"Hillary Clinton is of course from the left wing of the Democrat party"

Actually she is from the DLC, which is the right wing of the Democratic Party.

I'm not a supporter of Hillary but her comments are being taken out of context. What she meant to say is, "Southerners are a bunch of sexists, rascist and stupid people. That is why they won't vote for me."

In truth there is no reason to vote for Hillary, southerner or not. She is a two faced liar, just like her husband. Sure, she is a pander bear, she will tell you whatever you want to hear. But if she is elected, God forbid, all of her "promises" will be forgotten.

Anyone but Hillary (or Romney, or Giuliani.)

Good for Hillary for speaking truth to power. There are more ignorant dumbos per square inch in Mississippi than anywhere else in the US.

Posted by: nisleib | October 23, 2007 2:30 PM

That's the best part about the Republic Party's candidates for President this time around.

Hillary is more of a Republican than Rudy McRomney could ever dream of being.

If Hillary had an (R) in front of her name the Wingnuts would be tripping all over themselves to vote for her.

Hmm, she compared Iowa favorably with Mississippi, in a way that dismissed the entire state of Mississippi? And other southern states aren't going to take notice of that? And some people still believe she isn’t a polarizing figure in the Democratic Party?

That's the way to get the right person elected. That is, someone other than Hillary.

Go, Hillary, go! Go, Hillary, go!

If Hillary Clinton is elected president it will be full proof that America has gone down the tubes. God save us if she does get elected.

"There has got to be something at work here," she said.

Having lived in the south, I think Hillary has a point, though I don't think she helped matters by expressing it this way. The southern girls I knew were focused on make-up, sororities, beauty pageants and getting married BEFORE they finished college. This was at a pretty major university and it was embedded at a very early age and reinforced HEAVILY by southern churches.

That said, why doesn't Hillary take the opportunity to encourage women to break out of the mold and step up? Don't just blame it on the men.

"Communitarianism"?

Greetings... well, the only place worse to live aside from mississippi, is north dakota (where I live). I love Hillary. I am voting for Hillary. But yea, she is right...for the most part -the conservative, narrow-minded bone heads in north dakota and mississippi are not going to vote democrat anyways. :=)

Where was all of this outrage when President Bush made fun of and put down the state of Massachusettes during the 2004 election?

Hillary is not comfortable being Hillary,,Hillary does not know who she is, Would I be comfortable in my Mississippi knowing someone at her age is still trying to find out who she is? and is leading the country, cackling at all the security meeting,asking where Bill is.Let the Dems put the Demwit out there and see if the Stupid South votes for her.

Hillary uses the 50-cent word, "communitarianism." Know what it means? According to Merriam-Webster, its definition is, "of or relating to social organization in small cooperative partially collectivist communities." That's also the definition for Communism. Hillary should know. Her entire platform is one big socialist state.

I think it's the 'coffee talk' with politicians in general.

Look at the recent gaffs, foul ups, bleeps and blunders. Starbucks. People think they can control it, but they can't.

We need a Constitutional amendment against the consumption of coffee!

I guess Hills was not being politically correct, hey?

Remember the Southern Baptist Conv. have officially labeled women as 'helpers' as commanded in the Bible. No leadership roles for the ladies.

So, I guess she is not 'religiously correct'.(?)

"for the most part -the conservative, narrow-minded bone heads in north dakota and mississippi are not going to vote democrat anyways. :=)

Posted by: Michael | October 23, 2007 3:59 PM"

I agree.

What conservatives need is some tuff love instead of politically correct pandering to the right wing.

More robust Social Security, National Health Ins., and a cleaner environment would be a start. Maybe some mandatory aroma therapy would help.

As a native Mississipppian, I am infuriated by HIllary's comments. Mississippi is always an easy shot for leftist politicians and Hollywood (Hillary's buddies). While our state has challenges, there are many positive things about the state that are not reported, mostly thanks to the media. And for the record, Mississippi is not full of "narrow-minded bone heads". We just don't easily believe the crap that comes out of liberals' mouths!

She'd be better than Lil' Duce' Juliani or Mitt Rommel.

President Hillary, President Hillary,

Come on! Start practicing!

President Hillary, repeat..

What do you expect from a elitist left-wing democrat who thinks that everyone is stupid except her?

Julie,

You in Mississippi may not believe in the crap that comes out of us liberals's mouths, but you sure don't seem to have any problem taking all the government money that flows to Mississippi from us blue states. If y'all want to talk so tough, how about funding your own state? I love how all the anti-gummint rhetoric comes out of the biggest takers of federal money.

So Julie, you're happy that Miss has never elected a woman and never will? I don't think I'd be proud of that, and I'm a man.

Sam, you made a comment about "takers of federal money". Since Mississippi has a large african american population, I can only assume your comment indicates that you believe the poor blacks in south do not deserve assistance. As a Mississippian, I wish you would take back your federal programs as they ruin our state the way welfare programs always do. As a graduate of the university of chicago and a mississippi resident I continue to be amazed at the hatred often directed toward southerners from so call "open minded" liberals.

We just don't easily believe the crap that comes out of liberals' mouths!

Posted by: Julie | October 23, 2007 7:16 PM

Crap like the notion that all people are created equal? Crap like the notion that women are just as capable of running a state or nation as a man?

Hillary part of the extreme left-wing? Hardly - she was a "Goldwater Girl" in her youth!

The reality is that she's a carpet-bagging, power-hungry, opportunist who will say/do whatever it takes to get elected - labels are meaningless to her.

I have several friends from the South (Atlanta, Savannah, Chattanaooga, and Raleigh, for example), and to a one they have nothing but contempt for Mississippi. I'm not sure why, but whenever any one of them mentions having to travel to Mississippi, the others all commiserate on what a sorry thing it is to have to go there. I've asked them about that, but they tell me "you just have to be from the South to understand."

BTW, as of 2004 29 states in this country have not had a female governor. So why does Mississippi have to take the heat for it? We have had TWO females in the second-highest seat in Mississippi, Lieutenant Governor. I know it makes a lot of Americans feel better about where they live to throw stones at Mississippi, but they need to look at the cultural contributions of Mississippi (music, literature), the vast improvements in race relations here, and other things that deserve positive comments. Here is another one: Mississippi, the poorest state, ranks number one in charitable giving, and has for several years. And we are nice, hospitable, gracious people, which is why you won't see many Mississippians calling people from your state ignorant, stupid, racist, even though many of you are so quick to call us those names. We just have more class than that.

Hillary's comments were off base. She should apologize. She won't because she feels that she doesn't have a snowball's chance in Mississippi and she won't need us any way!

Bush didn't carry Mass, did he? The same way Hillary won't carry Miss!

Hillary "was" a Goldwater-girl. Do you know the meaning of "was"?

I agree! She will say whatever she thinks will give her the best chance of gaining a vote. Then again, most politicians do!

The best solution I have for all you non-Southerners is to come visit and make up your mind on your own. I'd be willing to bet that the ones of you that are defending her comments the loudest have never set foot in Mississippi.

I agree with David. As I travel the country, those who have never been here react with shock that someone from Mississippi can even travel in the same circles as them. Our state has more minorities in elected positions than any other. Whoever is getting the federal money, it is not anyone I know. For my part, you can keep your government money. And Lynne, don't forget our athletes.

If you want some of the good news, the positive information about Mississippi, try this website:

http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/

For those who just assume the worst without any real knowledge about Mississippi, this website will be a real surprise.

Politically, alienating an entire state is a very bad move, even if the state is traditionally more Republican. As for as Democrats are concerned, we're STILL here. Most of us want a change in leadership. We all know a Democrat will be the next president after the fiasco we've put up with Bush. So, why make a bunch of undecided voters angry? Isn't it smarter to be the candidate people vote for instead of against?

Hillary Clintons supporters are going to be disappointed when she ends up like John Kerry, a loser. They'll claim they were cheated, threaten revolution, and then have their psychiatrists increase their dosage of medication. I'm not kidding, I've got a liberal friend that started taking Xanax after the 04 election. I work with him, so I get to laugh at him everyday.

I've asked them about that, but they tell me "you just have to be from the South to understand."

That makes absolutely no sense. I'm a lifelong southerner and have been to Mississippi many, many times. It has what appears to me to be the best highway system in the south, I've always been under the impression that the people are genuine and every time I've had to do business there it's been finished on good terms.

Question, this is not rhetorical, has Arkansas, New York or Illinois ever had a woman as their governor?

It's amazing to me how conservatives can support any of the Republican candidates who want to carry on the failed Bush policies. Hillary Clinton would be a far better President than the war-mongering, Larry Craig Republicans!

Most people who comment negatively about Mississippi have never been there or certainly never lived there.
1) Ms. Clinton probably remembers Arkansas was usually ranked BELOW Miss.in education, poverty, etc.--living in ARK probably was pure hell for her.
2) Evenlyn Gandy was elected Lt. Gov of Miss. in 1975--one of the first women in that position in the entire USA. Lenore Prather is Chief JUSTICE of the State Supreme Ct. Many women have served in many gov't positions.
3) Women in the south were raised to be sorority girls--true, but also to use their brains. 2 of my college roommates (70's) are lawyers, 1 a dentist & myself an engineering major. (We don't have to look like a man to think like one!)
4) The state is filled with puliter prize winning authors, award winning musicians & the home of top athletes (NFL especially).
5) Presidents of many famous companies have come from our state: Coca-cola; Woolworth; SaraLee Corporation, etc. etc.
6) The citizens are more generous per capita than ANY OTHER STATE in the nation.

I hail from another much-maligned state, South Carolina. I can definitely empathize with our brothers in Mississippi because we, too, catch a lot of flak for being "slack-jawed yokels and hillbillies". People from other parts of the U.S. (and even the rest of the globe) who visit us are usually quite surprised to discover that we actually wear shoes, have indoor plumbing, and have branches on our family trees. I am simply amazed at how a person can dismiss an entire group of citizens while vying for a position in which he/she is tasked with representing ALL of us.

This gaffe just proves to me that Hitlery is indeed an elitist snob, and she has just lost one more vote in November 2008.

1963) Nina Simone (RIP)

The name of this tune is mississippi goddam
And I mean every word of it

Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam

Cant you see it
Cant you feel it
Its all in the air
I cant stand the pressure much longer
Somebody say a prayer

Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam

This is a show tune
But the show hasnt been written for it, yet

Hound dogs on my trail
School children sitting in jail
Black cat cross my path
I think every day's gonna be my last

Lord have mercy on this land of mine
We all gonna get it in due time
I dont belong here
I dont belong there
Ive even stopped believing in prayer

Dont tell me
I tell you
Me and my people just about due
Ive been there so I know
They keep on saying go slow!

But thats just the trouble
Do it slow
Washing the windows
Do it slow
Picking the cotton
Do it slow
Youre just plain rotten
Do it slow
Youre too damn lazy
Do it slow
The thinkings crazy
Do it slow
Where am I going
What am I doing
I dont know
I dont know

Just try to do your very best
Stand up be counted with all the rest
For everybody knows about mississippi goddam

I made you thought I was kiddin didnt we

Picket lines
School boy cots
They try to say its a communist plot
All I want is equality
For my sister my brother my people and me

Yes you lied to me all these years
You told me to wash and clean my ears
And talk real fine just like a lady
And youd stop calling me sister sadie

Oh but this whole country is full of lies
Youre all gonna die and die like flies
I dont trust you any more
You keep on saying go slow!
Go slow!

But thats just the trouble
Do it slow
Desegregation
Do it slow
Mass participation
Do it slow
Reunification
Do it slow
Do things gradually
Do it slow
But bring more tragedy
Do it slow
Why dont you see it
Why dont you feel it
I dont know
I dont know

You dont have to live next to me
Just give me my equality
Everybody knows about mississippi
Everybody knows about alabama
Everybody knows about mississippi goddam

Thats it!

Hillary cared for the south enough to hang out in Arkansas a few years before ransacking the Governor's mansion as practice for doing the same at the Whitehouse.

Adrian Robot,

You guys are pathetic. Bush's Coalition Provisional Authority can't account for $8.8 billion dollars, and you Limpbaugh lovers hyperventilate over insignificant White House hi-jinks. What a bunch of losers.

Senator Clinton is very correct. Although we have Amy Tuck she is a number 2. I think she is saying we have never put a woman in a number 1 position. Maybe MS is behind when it comes to women leading. Maybe we need to look, learn, and listen and realize we have great women leaders here who really just need a chance.

I hope that, if she becomes president, Mrs. Clinton will be more diplomatic in her conversations with and about other countries than she has been in this recent defamation of one of her country's states.

Senator Clinton is NOT correct to point out the lack of women in power in two states, while omitting the fact that this is the situation in MOST states! Let's face it, the comments were divisive, offensive, and not very smart. What, did she think she was going to SHAME Iowans into voting for her by comparing the state to, gulp, Mississippi? That is not the wisest campaign strategy. By putting her foot in it this bad, she makes her self look less intelligent to voters, and she hurts her "presidential" image. It is like that horrible fake Southern accent her opponents like to pull out, and it just shows poor judgement on her part.

I find her statement amusing about my home state. Why? Way before she moved on to New York state and run for thier senate; she lived in the poor state of Arkansas. And her campaign cycle she hasn't viisted this state to rally her own Democrats here. To put down a state,any state, is a real dumb political move.

Well gahhh-lee. I just pulled my dirty ole overalls on and fired up that thar' intarnet and this is what I see?

Give me a break. Mississippi has a lot of problems, but lest we not forget a lot of ya'll live in glass houses as well.

I understand we make a good punch line, but too many people have limited their views to what they want to believe. Mississippi is not here to make you feel better about yourself.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the South lost. The Civil War was a bad idea all around, and the Union was best preserved. HOWEVER, perhaps we would not still be siphoning federal dollars if every bit (and mind you, there wasn't a whole lot at the time) of infrastructure was destroyed during the war. Railroads, foundries, factories, innocent persons homes... everything was burnt as 'punishment.' Now, you can say 'you can't hold us guilty for the crimes of our fathers,' but so can we.

I'd gladly invite any of you to come down to Oxford, Mississippi. We are a huge reason why Mississippi is inextricably intertwined with the civil rights movement. James Meredith's integration caused shockwaves, attracting yokels from all over the southeast and elsewhere to confront the national guard.

You'd be astounded what is happening here now.

Incidentally, I can throw down some anecdotal evidence about women. Ole Miss has a nationally recognized Moot Court competition - apparently we're good at producing orators and litigators. Still, of the sixteen who were chosen this year, the majority were women.

In the final four rounds of our scholarship competition, I was the only male.

Women are smart, motivated, and have a number of opportunities in front of them.

Amy Tuck is actually a friend of my family and is a wonderful woman. More importantly, she is a wonderful woman who has held the second most powerful position in this state for some time.

Don't trip over the facts in your rush to make yourselves feel superior.

When you become president it is for all 50 states, even the ones that don't vote for you. If you think the federal response was bad during Katrina can you imagine the support from someone who trashes your state for political brownie points?

DD, so you call yourself a native Southerner?! What a shame! You and the rest of your cohorts agreeing with Hillary are wrong.

I am a native Mississippian who has traveled all over this country. Nowhere in the United States will you find a place like Mississippi or women like those who live here. Besides, what's so wrong with churches, marriage and families?

It is not pointing out that Mississippi has never had a woman governor to which many Mississippians are taking offense to, it is this portion: "how can Iowa be ranked with Mississippi? That's not what I see. That's not the quality."

No matter whether you take it in or out of context, it still amounts to the implication by Clinton that Mississippians are lower in quality than Iowans.

This country is based on the belief that every person, regardless of state of origin, is equal. Yet why then are there prejudices against those who live in other states?

The negative view of Mississippi that many people have is incredibly harmful to our state and its future prospects. Much of the population of Mississippi today is poor and uneducated, yes, but why do you think this is so?

The seemingly nationwide belief is that Mississippians are somehow ranked lower or of inferior quality compared to other states. This prejudice is then even further reinforced when figures in the public eye such as Clinton make such negative comments.

These comments do nothing more than to reinforce the stereotype that southerners and Mississippians are ignorant, racist, sexist, and the economy has no room for growth.

Tell me then, if you were a company looking to open a new factory or business, would you seriously consider Mississippi? No, of course not, because Mississippians are ignorant, racist, sexist, and the economy has no room for growth. This means not only high unemployment rates, but also a shortage of jobs that pay a decent wage. And following my point about the lack of jobs, why should people even bother paying for an education if the only jobs in town are at the local Walmart or factory?

In addition, never mind that I am a white born and raised in a small Mississippi town and that my best friend since childhood is black. Never mind that my first crush was black. Every Mississippian white is racist. Never mind that I am a young woman in college who will not get married and drop out, and never mind that thousands of Mississippi youths are attending and graduating from college every year. Mississippians are uneducated, especially the women who are encouraged to get married and stay at home like a good little homemaker.

The bottom line is that, yes, in the past Mississippi was a racist, sexist, and often uneducated place. But other states act as if they did not have the same dark period in their own histories. Many of them even pretend not to have the same issues now. After all, what is the difference between a black man's difficulty getting a taxi in New York today, and that same cab having a "No Blacks" sign like our state and a great many others did decades ago? And what about the glass ceiling for women in the workplace nationwide?

Racism and sexism have changed forms, not disappeared, and it is a blatant and bald-faced lie to suggest that they are not present everywhere in the United States, not just in Mississippi.

At any rate, my point is that comments such as these are one thing when spoken by your average person, but for a person with so much political influence and such a large audience to say something to this effect...it really shows a lack of caring and awareness not only for the true issues and situations at hand, but also for the possible impact and results of their hastily spoken words and actions on the populace.

Only harm can come from reinforcing in any way the negative stereotypes through which we are viewed by other states and individuals. These prejudices have harmed, are harming, and will continue to harm the well-being of Mississippi if we allow them to continue to run rampant and without opposition.

I'm a Mississippi Democrat and I had no plans on voting for Hillary in the primary. This just reinforces my opinion of her.

I'm supporting John Edwards, with Obama a close second.

If Hillary wins the nomination, I will go the poll and vote for her with a clothes pin on my nose.

I'm from Batesville, MS, which is about 20 miles from Oxford, and I hate to screw up the stereotype yet again but somehow, in the ignorant, racist, redneck state of Mississippi I have managed to: get a degree, buy a house (no, it's not a trailer), graduate from high school, and not get pregnant before I graduated from high school. I have never: burned a cross, chewed tobacco, gone to a KKK rally, watched nascar, been on cops or springer, fired a gun, and have no intention of doing the above mentioned. I support both gay marriage and abortion.I think Hillary Clinton as well as the rest of the people on this page that lumped Mississippians into the typical racist and bigotted category need to think long and hard about the fact that they are all a bunch of hypocrites. How dare you critisize us for being narrow minded when all you can think about is the fact that we talk slow and drive trucks. Sure, Mississippi has its problems, but so does every other place in the world, and we have been trying very hard to correct our issues. Unfortunately, not all have been eliminated, but we have made progress. As far as the election is concerned, I AM a democrat, and I don't care if Hillary Clinton makes it onto the ballot or not, I'm not voting for her.

Senator Clinton's remarks were certainly misplaced. As she and her campaign contend, her statement may have been meant to compare the political backgrounds of Iowa and Mississippi, but it most definitely did not come off this way to the Mississippi public. Taken in context with her next remarks, it seems that Senator Clinton thinks Mississippi lacks the "quality","communitarianism" and "openness" of Iowa. She seems to imply that Mississippi is a state almost undeserving of its inclusion in the Union. Despite these implications, I believe that Senator Clinton's primary goal was not to smear Mississippi's community or its value to the United States. Rather, her remarks show her animosity to the political culture of our state.

Her characterizations of Iowa seem to be ideals she associates with the Democratic party. Communitarianism (which should by no means be equated with communism, as previous comments have suggested) is the belief that politics should reflect the concerns of the community rather than the isolated individual. This ties closely into the Democratic concern for community, Senator Clinton's astounding commitment to the plight of the poor, and her belief that "it takes a village to raise a child." Quality and openness are less directly tied to the party, but in Senator Clinton's mind, these characteristics are certainly associated with her politics.

Since Mississippi has been a Republican stronghold for the past few decades, she no doubt believes that our state lacks the characteristics she associates with her Democratic politics. Iowa, though certainly not a Democratic bastion, is more evenly balanced and is a state to which she can easily apply her ideals. In this context, Senator Clinton's assertion seems more an attack on Republican politics than Mississippi itself.

However, her wording certainly does Mississippi no favors. If Iowa and, say, Kansas (a typically Republican state), had been the two states without historical female governors, senators, or congressmen, would Senator Clinton have made the same comparison? I highly doubt it. This leads to the question: why did she assert that an Iowa/Mississippi pairing was so ridiculous?

Well, look at our rankings. And then compare them to Iowa's. Although we do have some fantastic ratings (very little per capita race-related crime, for example), in general, our rankings do not compare well to Iowa's. Mississippi has the highest proportion of obesity in the nation. Our seat belt use, interestingly, is lowest in the nation, as is our per capita spending on education. Physical exercise, health index, per capita income, employment ratio: all incredibly low. No matter how much I love Mississippi, the people, and our culture (and I really do love my state), I cannot deny the facts. Mississippi is kind of behind.

And the nation knows this. Senator Clinton knows this. Although I believe that her statement was mainly meant to be focused on comparing the politics of the two states, Mississippi's reputation in the United States no doubt helped her to come up with this "impossible pairing." I love Mississippi, its culture, its friendliness, and its beauty. I love our food, the traditions, dressing up for football games. But I would also love for Mississippi take its place among the leaders of the United States. I would love for our children to be healthy, well educated, safe. Sure, we produce great actors, physicians, lawyers, singers, INDIVIDUALS. But do we have a great statewide COMMUNITY? Are we, as a state, a leader in this country?

No. But we can change. To gain status in the US, we, as citizens, have to become proactive. We must make a commitment to our health and to our communities. We must reduce the numbers of uninsured, lobby for quality public education spending, increase physical education in schools. We must become environmentally aware, regulate extravagant medical malpractice suits, and support our statewide community.

I am a Hillary Clinton supporter; her comment was stupid and angers me, but my anger comes from the heart, not the head. If we all stop and think, we clearly see that her comment was not entirely misplaced. Nevertheless, it was a careless thing to say, and a mistake that I'm sure will cost Senator Clinton many votes in Mississippi. If she becomes the presidential candidate, I certainly hope that she tries to make amends at the debate in Oxford on Sep. 26th.

We must do something to remedy the nation's perception of Mississippi. I believe that Hillary Clinton can drastically help our nation and state, and I urge all of you to judge her by her politics. Instead of basing your votes on preconceived notions of party affiliation and personality, look at the issues. Try to apply the ideas to our state, and judge for yourself which candidate is the best for the COMMUNITY of Mississippi. I think you'll find that it's Hillary Clinton.

It is amazing how gullible Fiona is. Ho can you possible overlook a candidates totally disdain for your state. My choice, based upon her denigration of the Great Sorveign State of Mississippi, would be anyone else but Hillary.

you would have to agree that with that much disdain for the state, she would do nothing to help Mississippi....ever!

AND I will do nothing to help Hillary perpetuatre her poor judgement into a more important arena....the WORLD!!1