S.C. Lawmaker Refers to Obama and Nikki Haley as "Raghead"

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Campaign 2010 ,; State Politics

(Credit: AP)

It has been quite a campaign for South Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley (pictured).

Haley, who has the backing of Sarah Palin, has faced two allegations of extramarital affairs in recent weeks - both of which she has vehemently denied. Now she is in the middle of a controversy involving one of her rivals, state Sen. Jake Knotts, who called her - along with President Obama - a "raghead."

"We already got one raghead in the White House," Knotts said on an Internet political talk show last night, according to The State. "We don't need another in the Governor's Mansion."

Haley's parents are Indian immigrants, and she was raised as a Sikh before converting to become Methodist. Citing those who saw Knotts' comments, The State reports that he "talked at length about Haley's parents' religion and her family" on the show.

The newspaper notes that when Haley ran for the South Carolina House six years ago, anonymous fliers surfaced erroneously calling her Hindu.

Both Knotts and Haley, a state representative, come from Lexington, but they have conflicting political loyalties in the Republican gubernatorial primary as Knotts is backing Haley rival Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

The South Carolina GOP called on Knotts to "apologize for his inappropriate comments, so that we can put this unfortunate incident behind us and focus on issues important to moving our state forward," Politico's Ben Smith reports. Knots ultimately put out a statement doing so -- kind of.

"My 'raghead' comments about Obama and Haley were intended in jest," he said. "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.'

He added: "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."

Haley spokesman Tim Pearson called Knotts "all that is wrong with South Carolina politics."

"He's an embarrassment to our state and to the Republican Party," he said. "South Carolina is so much better than this, and the people of our state will make that quite clear [in the primary] next Tuesday."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by cuban casinoh June 8, 2010 12:32 PM EDT: Wow it starts with H and ends in Y and there is orn in the middle!; Reply to this comment


by cuban casinoh June 8, 2010 12:30 PM EDT: Wow your not allowed to say ***** on the board??; Reply to this comment

by cuban casinoh June 8, 2010 12:27 PM EDT

Well this is rich. After all the bible thumping, and conservative posturing S.C.is about to elect a ***** Arab on the basis of a recommendation by a half-wit, who quite her job in Alaska. S.C. is a joke, never should have let the secessionists back in the union! Probably turn out to be queer on top of it yehaaaaw!

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by BlackJaPanther June 9, 2010 2:27 AM EDT: Wowzer.

Apparently, some really ignorant person doesn't know that Indians are not Arabs. And to say that SC is about to elect Haley totally discounts the chances of the Democratic challenger. You didn't really intend to do that, did you? God Bless You, Anyway...with Love, not Bible Thumping.

Sincerely,
MDJ.?


by helena766 June 11, 2010 7:54 PM EDT: Indians and Arabs are not the same people, you ********

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYVDrLMDGfM

Go watch the above video and educate yourself, you dumb redneck


by tantric10 June 6, 2010 4:48 PM EDT: Has America already been changed to a Racist,Non-Tolerant Country by those dumbhead Right Wingers?So,what if Haley was Hindu even?Should THAT make any Difference??The Republican Party should KNOW that they are chock FULL of Racist people and no well thinking American of ANY Color or Race should Vote for them.Ever.; Reply to this comment


by Rodeo_Joe June 6, 2010 10:28 AM EDT: Such a comment in Public Discourse is a "canary in the mine".

It's on par with Palin's "Real American" innuendo.

It's on Faux News 24/7, and in O'Reilly's "veritas".

It fueled America's Eugenics Campaigns which were adopted by Adolf.

Just another dead "canary in the mine".; Reply to this comment


by pasmalltown June 4, 2010 9:53 PM EDT: "Haley spokesman Tim Pearson called Knotts "all that is wrong with South Carolina politics."
-----------------
Given the national attention on South Carolina politics lately, it would seem Tim has a really short memory if that is "all that is wrong"................ Joe Wilson started it.; Reply to this comment

by vannuys June 4, 2010 7:43 PM EDT

Conservatism and racism go hand-in-hand like Sen. Larry Craig and Rev. Ted Haggard.

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by alanrobisch June 4, 2010 8:14 PM EDT: typical bigotted statement from a liberal democrat.


by mikelpond June 4, 2010 7:29 PM EDT: This is just about the level of class that I would expect; we are talking about S.C. - 1st in treason.; Reply to this comment


by bil96786 June 4, 2010 7:02 PM EDT: the raghead comment was in poor taste but part of our nations problem is all these thin skinned people. if i spent my time crying about the names i was called while a GOV. employee, i would always be in tears and getting no work done, all the people he offended can stand up and be counted when he comes up for re=election.
as for me i will look at what he gets done verses how he runs his mouth.
we all have opinions and at some time weall have ofended someone,
don't waste a thought about this guy, just get on with your lives.; Reply to this comment


by larrryshrine June 4, 2010 5:03 PM EDT: We have been condemning one poster here for his racist comments, and we have seen the hatred in one lawmaker from South Carolina. I would just like to say this: Please don't paint all Southerners with your own broad brush of condemnation. I was born and raised in the South, grew up in the woods in the 1950s, played with children black and white. There is much about the South that I love, but racism, I cannot accept that. I was raised in the '50s in a white household where there was no prejudice or hatred. I was taught liberal values from an early age. And now, in my late 50s, I remain a progressive liberal. I live in Durham, NC, which is very "blue." We have Duke University and the University of North Carolina. I do not see racism at work in my daily life, though I am sure it exists here. But folks, there is racism in the North as well. I would just respectfully ask that you do not condemn someone out of hand just because he is a Southerner. Thank you.; Reply to this comment