Surprise, surprise -- Anti-government rancher is also a racist

A Nevada rancher who has become a conservative folk hero for resisting the federal government's attempts to round up his cattle faced sharp criticism Thursday for racist comments published in a New York Times article.

Politicians from around the country who have rallied to Cliven Bundy's defense in recent weeks denounced the comments and distanced themselves from the rancher.

Bundy was quoted in a Times story referring to black people as "the Negro" and recalling a time when he drove past a public-housing project in North Las Vegas and saw black people who "didn't have nothing to do."

"And because they were basically on government subsidy, so now what do they do?" he asked. "They abort their young children, they put their young men in jail, because they never learned how to pick cotton. And I've often wondered, are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and having a family life and doing things, or are they better off under government subsidy? They didn't get no more freedom. They got less freedom."

The Bundy family issued a statement on its Facebook page saying Bundy is a "good man, he loves all people, he is not a racist man."

"He wants what is best for everyone," the statement said. "We all know that with the media, words are taken out of context, meanings are twisted, and they can take anything and turn it into what they want it to be."

The comments came during a long speech at a sparsely attended news conference Saturday that the Times attended. Bundy has been holding news conferences daily even after the Bureau of Land Management and contractors suspended the roundup citing safety concerns in a tense standoff between armed protesters and federal agents.

Politicians who had defended Bundy quickly issued statements condemning the remarks.

"His remarks on race are offensive, and I wholeheartedly disagree with him," said Sen. Rand Paul, once a vocal supporter of Bundy who is considering a run for president.

Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller, who last week called Bundy defenders "patriots" for their stand against the government, "completely disagrees with Mr. Bundy's appalling and racist statements, and condemns them in the most strenuous way," said his spokeswoman, Chandler Smith.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who last week called Bundy supporters "domestic terrorists," also spoke out against Bundy's words.

"Today, Bundy revealed himself to be a hateful racist," Reid said. "But by denigrating people who work hard and play by the rules while he mooches off public land, he also revealed himself to be a hypocrite."

Original Quill wrote:Hannity is the only one who retracted his support in person.  All the rest, including your idiot governor, and fuck-face Canadian Senator, did it by proxy.  What does that tell you?

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Original Quill wrote:Hannity is the only one who retracted his support in person.  All the rest, including your idiot governor, and fuck-face Canadian Senator, did it by proxy.  What does that tell you?

Well, for one, it reaffirms that my governor is an idiot and that my Canadian-born Senator is a fuck-face. But I already knew those things

So Hannity was there? ... not sure what you mean by "in person."

smelly_bandit wrote:oh look its the democratic lefty alliance all agreeing with each other again

"quill do you think obama is god and all republicans are racists?"

"why yes ben i do what do you think ben?? do you think obama is god and all republicans are racist"

"yes quill is do, what about you sassy, do you think obama is god and all republicans/conservatives  are racist"

"oink oink shriek shriek rant rage BNP WASCIST hate GRIFFIN hate TORIES hate"

"good so then we are all in agreement that anyone who doesn't agree with us is racist"

smelly_bandit wrote:oh look its the democratic lefty alliance all agreeing with each other again

"quill do you think obama is god and all republicans are racists?"

"why yes ben i do what do you think ben?? do you think obama is god and all republicans are racist"

"yes quill is do, what about you sassy, do you think obama is god and all republicans/conservatives  are racist"

"oink oink shriek shriek rant rage BNP WASCIST hate GRIFFIN hate TORIES hate"

"good so then we are all in agreement that anyone who doesn't agree with us is racist"