In an interview yesterday on CNN's "John King USA," Gov. Haley Barbour refused to criticize Republic National Chairman Michael Steele and characterized himself as a "fat redneck."

King asked whether Steele is held to a different standard or if he's given "less margin for error because of the color of his skin," to which Barbour replied:

"Look--you know--when you're a fat redneck like me and got an accent like mine, you can say, 'Well, they're going to hold me to a higher standard.'

"In fact, I don't think anybody ever held me to a higher standard than I held myself. That's the way I was raised. That's what I was brought up to do. That's the way it ought to be."

The governor also said that "our part of the country" has found its economic bottom; however, he was quick to say that he has not seen any real recovery, yet, "in the real economy or on Main Street."

Read the full transcript.

Previous Comments

ID

157113

Comment

A fat redneck. Funniest thing Barbour has ever said!

Author

golden eagle

Date

2010-04-07T09:20:27-06:00

ID

157116

Comment

Golden eagle, I don't know about "the funniest" but it is certainly the most truthful thing I have heard from him. It is easy to say that you don't see anything positive about what this Administration has done or is doing to aide in our recovery. Barbour will have to admit that the train was half way down the cliff when brakes were applied. President Obama reminds me of the cartoon character, Popeye, and his many successful ventures with a rope, pulling heavy objects up a hill, fighting with Bluto. He was always able to save Olive Oyl. Barac is trying to save America! "You, too, Swee 'Pea. I will be a voice from MS and give President Obama a positive stroke for the many accomplishments he has been able to achieve in record time and in spite of all of the negative, trashy, slimy political filth that is thrown at him daily.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-04-07T10:05:54-06:00

ID

157117

Comment

I love the way he talks about the "real" economy *and* Main Street. You know, like small, local businesses aren't part of the "real" economy. He said it twice in the interview, otherwise one could excuse it as a mere Freudian slip.

Author

Ronni_Mott

Date

2010-04-07T10:10:25-06:00

ID

157119

Comment

He not only called himself a "fat redneck", he actually used the phrase, "I may have been born at night but it wasn't last night." I watched it. He was wearing more makeup than I was. Correction Governor: You are a fat redneck wearing makeup. Thanks, Haley, for upholding that very positive image of Mississippi that everyone in the country currently has-fat rednecks that we are.

Author

Lori G

Date

2010-04-07T10:54:01-06:00

ID

157120

Comment

Lori, Hello?? We are a bunch of fat rednecks. Get out much? Embrace your chubby inner hillbilly, chew on some bark and be happy. We might have fallen off the turnip truck but we weren't hungry when we hit the ground. ;)

Author

WMartin

Date

2010-04-07T12:56:23-06:00

ID

157123

Comment

Have you noticed that Haley Barbour and Fred Flinstone are never in the same room together? Hmmm. Sorry, I shouldn't have gone there.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2010-04-07T13:16:21-06:00

ID

157126

Comment

Ha, why am I not surprised JFP ran this tongue in cheek statement as a news item.

Author

RobbieR

Date

2010-04-07T13:21:47-06:00

ID

157138

Comment

Just one more "NO" answer from a member of the party of "NO".

Author

justjess

Date

2010-04-07T15:04:31-06:00

ID

157139

Comment

lol, actually he shoulda said "NO". Like "No" to the extra helping mashed taters and "NO" to that other piece of fried chicken.

Author

WMartin

Date

2010-04-07T15:08:13-06:00

ID

157141

Comment

Well WMartin, after my 30 minutes of side-bursting laughter, I must say, "Lets call in the dogs and pi$$ on the fire, hunting here is over." There is absolutely nothing else to say.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-04-07T15:18:32-06:00