Staff Reports
In a jaw-dropping display of ignorance, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley failed to acknowledge the primary cause of the Civil War during a town hall event in New Hampshire. The 51-year-old, who is eyeing a run for the White House, stumbled when she was asked about the deadliest war in American history. Rather than attributing the war to the South’s abhorrent practice of slavery, Haley floundered and spouted off about the role of government and capitalist principles.
Haley’s response shamefully skirted around the central issue of slavery, betraying a remarkable lack of historical awareness and political acumen. When confronted by the voter’s astonishment at her glaring omission of slavery from her answer, Haley dismissively retorted, “What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question.” Her flippant response only served to further expose her inability to grasp the gravity of the issue at hand.
Nikki Haley slammed for not mentioning ‘slavery’ as cause of the Civil War in ‘word salad’ answer during town hall https://t.co/R5HKUCN0fS via @nypost
— PAUL J GROSSI (@grossi_j65671) December 28, 2023
Unsurprisingly, the Democratic camp and supporters of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were quick to pounce on Haley’s ineptitude. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison lambasted Haley’s response as “not stunning if you were a Black resident in [South Carolina] when she was Governor.” Additionally, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), a presidential hopeful, bluntly stated, “Sorry, [Haley]. The Civil War was about slavery. Period.”
In a stroke of irony, even fellow Republicans expressed their dismay at Haley’s bungled attempt to address the historical significance of the Civil War. Christina Pushaw, rapid response coordinator for Gov. DeSantis, derided Haley’s befuddled answer as “word-salad regarding the Civil War,” while DeSantis’ press secretary Bryan Griffith labeled it as “a giant mess of her own making.”
Haley’s embarrassing blunder threatens to tarnish her standing among conservative voters, potentially jeopardizing her presidential ambitions. With the New Hampshire primary fast approaching, Haley finds herself trailing behind former President Donald Trump in the polls by a considerable margin.
In a nutshell, Haley’s mishandling of the Civil War question underscores her glaring lack of historical acumen and inability to articulate a coherent response on a crucial issue. Her dismissive and evasive attitude concerning slavery’s central role in the Civil War raises serious doubts about her suitability for higher office. This misstep may prove to be a significant setback to Haley’s political aspirations, leaving her scrambling to salvage her reputation in the eyes of voters and party members alike.
