Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley addressed previous controversy surrounding her comments on the Civil War during a “CNN Town Hall” on Thursday. Responding to a follow-up question from host Erin Burnett about remarks made by fellow candidate Chris Christie, Haley emphasized that she does not shy away from offending people but acknowledged her lapse in not mentioning slavery in her initial response.
Christie had suggested that Haley was “unwilling to offend anyone” in her response about the cause of the Civil War. In her defense, Haley clarified that she does call out wrongdoing and that she should have promptly mentioned slavery when asked about the Civil War’s root cause. She added that her South Carolina upbringing, with its significant history related to slavery, influenced her perspective.
Haley admitted that while growing up in South Carolina, she had “Black friends” and emphasized the state’s thorough education on slavery from an early age. She acknowledged the importance of directly addressing slavery in her initial response and expressed regret for not doing so.
The controversy arose when a voter in New Hampshire questioned Haley about the cause of the Civil War during a campaign stop. Video footage captured her initial response attributing the conflict to “how the government was run” without mentioning slavery. The former South Carolina governor faced criticism and later backtracked, admitting the omission and conceding that she should have explicitly referenced slavery.
During the CNN Town Hall, Haley not only acknowledged her mistake but also mentioned her focus on moving past slavery and highlighting lessons for the future. However, she maintained that her intention was not to downplay the significance of slavery but to address the broader context.
Haley’s comments on the Civil War have been a subject of scrutiny, with the candidate facing backlash and subsequently seeking to clarify her position while also questioning the motives of the voter who posed the initial question.
