Haley Barbour Uses Word "Whorehouse" in Campaign Appearance

Memphis, TN, Commercial Appeal ^ | 05-13-03 | Dowd, James

[Theodore R.]

'Whorehouse' comment surprises GOP's Barbour pledges support for The Med

By James Dowd dowd@desotoappeal.com May 13, 2003

Mississippi gubernatorial candidate Haley Barbour scored points in DeSoto County on Monday regarding support for The Med but raised eyebrows with a comment about Head Start during a tour of Sacred Heart School in Southaven.

"Head Start is a godsend for Mississippi," the Republican told Sacred Heart principal Laura Clark. "Some of those kids in it would be better off sitting up on a piano bench at a whorehouse than where they are now."

Clark said she understood the context of the remark, though she was surprised by his choice of words.

"I think he was trying to represent an extreme situation," she said. "I wasn't offended by it. I believe I know what he meant."

Later Monday, Barbour's communications director said the candidate - who's a deacon in his church and a Sunday school teacher - meant no disrespect.

"It was just a figure of speech," said Quinton Dickerson "Haley was making a point about why Head Start is so important, especially for children who are in a tough situation."

Barbour, who was in DeSoto County as part of his campaign, is challenging Democratic incumbent Ronnie Mus grove.

In Hernando, about 40 people stopped by Timbeaux's to talk to the Yazoo City native about the financial woes of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis.

"If The Med shuts down tomorrow, God forbid, there's nowhere for us to go," said Flo Larson, a founding member of Mississippi Friends of The Med.

The Med offers the closest trauma center in the region, said Paul LeBlanc, assistant director of DeSoto County emergency medical services. Without it, patients would have to travel to Jackson for treatment.

"The Med is just across the state line, they accept our patients, and we need to support them," LeBlanc said.

An increase in uninsured patients who receive treatment but often can't pay for care has created financial problems for the facility.

Nearly 300 patients from North Mississippi are taken to the trauma center every year, LeBlanc said. The Med also offers the region's only burn center and adult AIDS clinic.

Musgrove recently signed a bill designating $500,000 for The Med, LeBlanc said, but he believes the state should offer more support.

And with the hospital facing a $13 million shortfall this budget year, Barbour agrees.

The importance of The Med to North Mississippi can't be overstated, Barbour said, and he pledged to do whatever it takes to "pay our fair share."

"Mississippi shouldn't be a freeloader."

[Theodore R.]

One of the best uses of "clip art" that I have seen on this forum!!!

[Blood of Tyrants]

Thanks. The statement was so disingenuous and juvenile that I immediately thought of B&B.

[The Old Hoosier]

Oh, come on, don't take it so seriously, it's funny and newsworthy, no matter who says it.

I remain convinced that George W. would not be president if he had not called Adam Clymer an "asshole" in front of a live microphone.

[Theodore R.]

I wasn't taking the "W" word seriously myself. It is humorous. I was replying to others who saw this as an ominous Democrat plot against the Republicans. You are right, Old Hossier, too much attention to this could wind up helping Haley Barbour get elected governor.

[Theodore R.]

Dorgan -- what do people in ND see in him? Is it mostly a matter of farm subsidies?

[JohnnyZ]

In other news, Haley Barbour is running an excellent campaign, going hard after black votes and black support:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-campaign2002/910363/posts

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping!

Somehow, I don't think this would have much play if ol' Ronnie said it.

[Valin]

Question, will Haley Barbour now bwcome the latest B.R.O.W?
Bad Republican Of the Week

[Theodore R.]

"Bad Republican of the Week"

It depends on the meaning of the word "bad," explained bILLclinton.

[faithincowboys]

The people in the Dakotas need to get with it-- they have given us Daschle, Dorgan, Conrad and Johnson. I really hope
John Thune trounces Daschle in 04. That would, in my mind, redeem the people of Sout Dakota.

[bourbon]

Hey, thanks for posting that great link to your post about Barbour trying to attract black votes. That's the news I've been waiting to hear!

I'm glad he signed Darryl Neely on to his campaign. I wondered what happened to him after he lost the Jackson mayoral campaign not too long ago. I always liked that guy.

I loved this quotation from him (Neely):
You don’t need the black vote to win, but you do need black support to govern. We don’t want Barbour to be governor and 37 percent of the voters have no connection with him.

That's the truth, and it's a shame that it has taken MS GOPers this long to learn this lesson!

[Theodore R.]

Rush Limbaugh just used this "whorehouse" comment regarding Haley Barbour on his radio program on May 20. He is a week late. Limbaugh praised Barbour for "refusing to apologize" about the remark.

[PISANO]

Are we insane or what? Whorehouse? Who gives a d..n if he used that word. My goodness this is silly.

[bourbon]

Unbelievably, the Barbour "whorehouse" story made it to the Drudge Report today. This is the most ridiculous "controversy" I've heard of lately.

I swear, if aliens came down and read the articles about Barbour, they'd think we were a nation of prudes. Of course, if they just watched TV, they'd probably reach the opposite conclusion that we're a nation of sex-obsessed degenerates. :-)