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Nikki Haley Called Ethnic Slur by South Carolina Lawmaker

1 year ago
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The best you can say about the South Carolina political scene is that it's not boring. But while recent headlines have been about sex, the latest controversy returns to that old South Carolina favorite -- race.

On an Internet political talk show, GOP state Sen. Jake Knotts on Thursday called state Rep. Nikki Haley, a gubernatorial candidate, a "raghead" -- a slur used against Arabs or other ethnic groups who wear turbans -- and talked about Haley's family and her parents' religion.

"We already got one raghead in the White House," Knotts said on "Pub Politics." "We don't need another in the governor's mansion."

Haley is the daughter of Indian immigrants. She was raised as a Sikh but converted to Methodism and has said she attends services in both faiths, according to The State newspaper. In Haley's 2004 winning run against the longest-serving lawmaker in the S.C. House, anonymous fliers incorrectly claimed that she was a Hindu.

Knotts' comments about Haley and Obama were "intended in jest," Knotts said in a statement. "Bear in mind that this is a freewheeling, anything-goes Internet radio show that is broadcast from a pub. It's like local political version of 'Saturday Night Live.' Since my intended humorous context was lost in translation, I apologize. I still believe Ms. Haley is pretending to be someone she is not, much as Obama did, but I apologize to both for an unintended slur."

In an e-mail statement, state GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd said, "The South Carolina Republican Party strongly condemns any use of racial or religious slurs."

The show's host, Wesley Donehue, said in The State, "I, along with everyone else at the table, was shocked" at Knotts' remarks.
Though Knotts and Haley are both from Lexington, they stand on opposite sides of GOP state Republican politics. Knotts has backed Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, one of Haley's opponents in the June 8 GOP primary. In the past, Haley has supported outgoing Gov. Mark Sanford, a Knotts adversary.

On Thursday, Bauer challenged Haley to take a polygraph test to refute allegations of extramarital affairs. Haley has denied the claims by political blogger Will Folks and lobbyist Larry Marchant, who was a Bauer campaign consultant until he resigned this week. Bauer offered to take a test to prove he had nothing to do with pushing the story.

Haley calls the charges a distraction from the real issues facing the state, and has broadcast an ad emphasizing her political vision and featuring her husband of 13 years and their two children. On Thursday, she said that if she is elected governor and evidence of an affair surfaces, she would resign.

Sarah Palin is unwavering in her support of the woman she calls "my good friend" in a recorded call to voters.

"Nikki is a strong, pro-life, pro-business, conservative reformer. And she isn't afraid to take on the entrenched powers," the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate says in the message. "When you do that, they come after you with all kinds of made-up nonsense to try to knock you down. Believe me, I've been there."

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vaultdweller92

SOUTH CAROLINA HAS THE HIGHEST UN-EMPLOYMENT RATE, THE LOWEST SECOND LOWEST EDUCATED WORKFORCE IN THE COUNTRY (MISS)AND I THINK ANYONE WHO CAN CHANGE THE GOOD OLD BOYS THAT HAVE PROSPERED FROM THESE FACTS IS A BLESSED THING.

June 09 2010 at 12:46 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to vaultdweller92's comment
ddan8719

You.. very soon will see just how blessed you are..as south carolina now ranks 6th in immigration relocation in the united states...with roughly 300,000 and rapidly counting up-ward at a staggering rate..combine that with your 32% afro-american populatio count..And your good-ole-boys paraphase..is ancient history..has zero effect on any-thing..You have been watching too many old movies..

June 09 2010 at 3:31 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
mantis

Senators need to wake up and realize they are NOT comedians.

And another thing, if anyone knows anything about Sikhs and Sikhism is that although they do in fact wear turbins, they too are being antogonized and being driven out of the Muslim world for not following Islam.

June 08 2010 at 8:38 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
cque8

What a "knott-head".

June 08 2010 at 1:23 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
zimmer923

Republican Jake Knotts of South Carolina needs to enter the twenty first century. What a ghastly comment to make about anyone running for public office. He needs some lessons in "politically appropriate."

June 05 2010 at 2:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Dublin

If she attends both churces she has not converted. Sounds political to me.

June 05 2010 at 1:49 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply
jnwesner

I'm always fascinated when somebody mentions the lie detector -- as if such existed. The old (fifty years plus) polygraph is just that -- a measurer of several physical reactions. The assumption, never proven, is that a reaction to a question means the subject is lying. The only problem is, its level of accuracy is similar to a coin toss. Also, people can be trained to fool the polygraph. So the only real use of the device? To make the accused look guilty.

June 05 2010 at 1:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Diesel

Poor lady, she like a lightning rod over in SC.

June 05 2010 at 1:09 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
returned2ny

As an American, I am tired of all this bashing amongst the politicians. How are we trust these "leaders" to do their jobs. Please stick to what's important to us: economy, health care, war, oil spill, country's safety...Argue on where you stand on those issues and what you're going to do to make it better. And, I agree with the former Alaska governor, "When you do that, they come after you with all kinds of made-up nonsense to try to knock you down. Believe me, I've been there."--Yes, she's been there...always spewing made-up nonsense.

June 05 2010 at 1:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hughielaw

Knotts comes across as just another redneck SC politician who is sweating because his candidate is behind in the polls.

June 05 2010 at 12:51 PM Report abuse +10 rate up rate down Reply
conservgirl8

The voters of South Carolina will see Knotts for what he is. This statement, whether uttered in jest or not, shows him for what he is and if the voters elect him, they get what they pay for. The same goes for Ms. Haley, if she did have those affairs and it comes out later, she will pay the price and so will the people.

In today's world, where morals, ethics and character don't exist, we all get what we pay for, for giving up our ideals and thinking these characteristics don't matter.

June 05 2010 at 11:30 AM Report abuse +11 rate up rate down Reply

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