Rangel Apologizes for Mississippi Mangle

I've been to Mississippi before (Picayune and Poplarville), and it was literally like being in another country. The racism and homophobia was APPALLING. It's not an imaginary stereotype, it's a HARD FACT.

First, I would like to point this comment towards Adair. Who in Mississippi hurt your feelings that you have to pick on Julie? You obviously have some unresovled issues that you need to handle.

Second, I would like to point this comment towards Greenpearls. If you feel that only rednecks and poor people live in Mississippi then you should come and join us. If I didn't know any better I would say a redneck made that comment.

There is no reason for anyone here to attack Julie or the south. Rangel was wrong to say what he did. Congressmen represent their constituents - not just their votes - so when he says something stupid, we all look stupid, and there are people smarter than you reading this from MI, thinking, " my god, we're doomed by their closed-mindedness."

the deep south is only for the rednecks and poor people.

the only state worth mentioning in the south is Florida.

As a New Yorker from Mississippi, I couldn't agree more with Rangle.

Oh and did that feel good Julie, no one asked for a defense - even one as poor as yours. I hope you can justify your subpar existence on every other blog that gives you a forum to do so.

i agree with rangel. you couldn't pay me enough money to live in the deep south.

Oh help us! A politician with an opinion like a normal person.

The quicker normal people start electing normal people and not these plastic billboards, the quicker we won't have a president that starts wars and gets away with pretending it's someone else's fault.

It's supposed to be "by the people, for the people", remember?

u mean 'diss?' 'dis' is 'this.'

I am a resident from Mississippi and I have found this comment by the infamous Charles Rangel extremely disturbing. The stereo-typical portrayal of Mississippi is dumb, fat, poor, and unable to wear shoes. However, I own enough shoes to fund a underdeveloped country, and believe me I wear shoes all the time. My education is continual. I have an associates degree, I am finishing a bachelor's degree in Political Science and starting on another degree in Spanish. I am planning on a Master's and a Doctorate's degree when I finish with my Spanish. All of that is to say we have education and we believe in continuing our education. This is the South and we do have extremely fine foods and then we have soul food such as bar-bq, steak, fresh vegetables, and the highly favored grits. We are not sickly thin, but lovely and healthy with our bodies. Poor...everyone in some sense struggles with money. Luckily in Mississippi the price of our beautiful real-estate is lower than most states. I love that... I was raised on a farm and I love the fact that my family has over 300 acres of land and still wanting more. The price of living in Mississippi is cheaper than those of other states, we are not poor. Poor is when foreign countries do not make enough profit with their economy to earn more than $1. Yea, a buck...like I said I could fund a small country with just my shoes. Looks like I would be rich. I understand Senator Charles Rangel's ignorance about Mississippi because like many things people that are not from this lovely state of Magnolia's do not understand what it has to offer. When Hurricane Katrina hit we didn't panic we stood strong. There is more to this state than meets the eye. I am not ashamed to be from the Hospitality State, it is home. Maybe those who doubt this land's simplicity should visit and see for themselves.