Hyde-Smith's 'public hanging' joke shakes up Mississippi runoff

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A backlash against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith’s (R) “public hanging” joke is shaking up the Senate runoff race in Mississippi, prompting Republican concerns about their chances of retaining the deep-red seat.

A video shared by a blogger on Sunday showed Hyde-Smith, who’s running in the special election for former Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R) seat, joking that she’d be “on the front row” should a supporter she was campaigning with invite her to a “public hanging.”

The joke drew sharp criticism in a state with a history of lynchings and a significant African-American population.

It also came amidst a recently-concluded national campaign season that has featured controversial remarks about race.

Hyde-Smith faces Democrat Mike Espy. He’s vying to become the state's first black senator since Reconstruction in the Nov. 27 runoff after neither of the two won more than 50 percent of the vote in a four-way special election last week.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/416761-hyde-smiths-public-hanging-joke-shakes-up-mississippi-runoff?userid=229233

[oasis]

1. Hyde-Smith was bombarded with questions about this at a press conference.

She gave the same non answer at least a dozen times. Looked stupid as hell doing it.

[Eric J in MN]

2. She refuses to apologize.

US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith’s (R-MS) isn’t apologizing.

Instead, she issued this written statement:

“In a comment on Nov. 2, I referred to accepting an invitation to a speaking engagement. In referencing the one who invited me, I used an exaggerated expression of regard, and any attempt to turn this into a negative connotation is ridiculous.”

When asked about her remark at a press conference, she just told the press to read that statement, again and again.

[dameatball]

3. Her remark was a blatant appeal to racism. It will be interesting to see if it worked.......or not.

I grew up in a small southern town. I remember separate water fountains and Klansmen handing out literature on the street corner now and then when I was 5-7 years old. The overt stuff was gone by the 60's, but apparently it is back in the Trump years.

[Gothmog]

4. The Lynch Lady needs to be defeated

[MagickMuffin]

5. I do declare "I used an exaggerated expression of regard"

I grew up saying this all the time. Why is everyone upset over my use of everyday language at my household? I am not a racist, I just say racist things. Now vote for me!

I hope Mike Espy crumbles your crackers.

[gratuitous]

6. An odd way of expressing her regard

Why not just say you'd eat the peanuts out of his shit, Cindy?

[MagickMuffin]

7. Welllllll, since it was exaggerated

I guess all is forgiven,

NOT