‘What Do You Want Me to Say About Slavery?’ How Nikki Haley Botched a Key USA Civil War Query

Nikki Haley Embarrasses Herself on Question About Cause of Civil War

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley found herself in an awkward situation during a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire. When asked by an audience member to identify the cause of the American Civil War, Haley conspicuously avoided mentioning the central role that slavery played.

Her fumbling response not only embarrassed herself, but highlighted her discomfort in addressing issues of race and history. It also provoked swift criticism from across the political spectrum, including from President Joe Biden. The incident served as yet another example of Haley struggling when issues of race and justice are raised, despite her status as a woman of color.

Nikki Haley Caught Off Guard

At a campaign event in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley engaged in a question and answer session with the audience. When asked “What was the cause of the United States Civil War?” by an audience member, Haley initially appeared caught off guard. She paused before responding, “Well, don’t come with an easy question.”

The recreational room where the event was being held grew quiet as the audience awaited her response. Despite the central role slavery played in the onset of the Civil War, Haley did not mention it in her answer.

Haley’s Answer

During an audience question-answer round, Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor was asked – “What was the cause of the United States Civil War?” Despite slavery being the main cause of the civil war Haley’s answer did not include any mention of the word.

She proceeded to answer that the cause of the civil war was “basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do.” Haley said “I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people.” She continued “It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn’t need to tell you how to live your life. They don’t need to tell you what you can and can’t do. They don’t need to be a part of your life.”

Audience Member’s Response

The man who had posed the question then responded that he wanted to hear Haley’s thoughts on the specific cause of the Civil War, not her general views on government.

“I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are,” Haley continued after being asked about the cause of the war. “And I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn’t need to tell you how to live your life. They don’t need to tell you what you can and can’t do. They don’t need to be a part of your life.”

The man then said, “In the year 2023, it’s astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.”

Haley quickly replied with another question: “What do you want me to say about slavery?”

The man simply responded, “You’ve answered my question, thank you.” Haley then said, “Next question.”

Haley’s Follow Up

Haley quickly replied with a question: “What do you want me to say about slavery?”

The man said, “You’ve answered my question, thank you.” Haley replied, “Next question.”

Haley appeared eager to move on from the topic, not directly addressing how her omission of slavery was a glaring oversight in answering the civil war question. While she attempted to pivot the conversation back to limited government, her questioner seemed unsatisfied with her response and desire to shift focus away from confronting the history of slavery in America.

Biden Responds on Social Media

President Joe Biden later took to social media to call attention to Haley’s exchange. “It was about slavery,” he wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform launched by former President Donald Trump.

Biden’s rebuttal on the popular platform came shortly after video circulated online showing Haley’s comments at the New Hampshire town hall event. The president echoed the sentiment of many critics who argued that slavery was the central cause of the Civil War.

Biden’s response gained significant traction, receiving over 100,000 likes within hours as many Twitter users agreed with his assessment. Some argued that ignoring the role of slavery provides a sanitized version of history. Others called out Haley for dodging the question in what they saw as a telling lack of acknowledgement of a difficult truth about America’s past.

Nikki Haley and Race

In the past, race has been a delicate issue for Haley. After a white supremacist killed nine people attending Bible study at a historically Black church in Charleston in 2015, Haley signed legislation removing the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.

In 2010, she suggested that she would not make such a move and was well-equipped to challenge an NAACP-boycott of the state over the flag because of her status as a woman of color.

Supporter Responds to Criticism

Vickie Plourde, a supporter of Nikki Haley at the event, felt the slavery question was a setup. “We have to move past that,” Plourde said in regards to slavery. “If we continue to look in the past and say ‘Look, look, look, look,’ and we’re not moving forward, we’re going to stay back there.”

Plourde seemed to imply that the focus on slavery was keeping America stuck in the past, and that the country needed to move forward from that issue. Her perspective provides an interesting counterpoint to the criticism Haley faced for not mentioning slavery in her initial answer. Plourde’s view represents one side of this complex debate around how America should confront its history of slavery and racism.

Analysis

The exchange between Nikki Haley and the audience member reveals a concerning trend in American politics. Haley’s inability to acknowledge slavery as the primary cause of the Civil War reflects a reluctance by some politicians to confront difficult truths about America’s history. Her rhetorical question, “What do you want me to say about slavery?” suggests defensiveness rather than a willingness to engage in substantive discussion.

While some argue we should “move past” slavery, failing to grapple with its legacy enables ongoing harms against marginalized groups today. America still struggles to achieve racial justice over 150 years since the Civil War ended slavery. Downplaying slavery’s foundational role in spurring the Civil War hinders our ability to fully understand systemic racism and its impacts.

This exchange highlights the need for political leaders to demonstrate moral courage in addressing hard historical truths, even when inconvenient. Doing so is vital to promote healing and social progress. Haley’s comments provoked criticism even from within her own party, indicating most Americans expect leaders to speak openly about slavery’s central role in the Civil War. Her remarks reveal an aversion to historical accuracy that does not bode well for her potential presidential candidacy.

Overall, this incident underscores that historical literacy remains essential for politicians in 2023 America. Facing harsh truths about the past reveals opportunities to build a more just future. If leaders like Haley cannot acknowledge slavery’s fundamental role in America’s bloodiest conflict, it raises real concerns about their commitment to racial progress.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nikki Haley’s response to a question on the cause of the Civil War provides important insight into her perspective on the role of slavery in America’s history. By omitting any mention of slavery in her initial answer, Haley appeared unprepared to directly address how the enslavement of millions shaped the divisions that led to war. Her follow-up question “What do you want me to say about slavery?” further underscored her reluctance to acknowledge slavery’s centrality.

President Biden and others were quick to criticize Haley’s framing of the war as primarily a conflict over states’ rights and the role of government. Her perspective stands in contrast to the consensus among historians that slavery and the debate over its expansion were the overriding factors behind southern secession and the outbreak of war. Nevertheless, Haley’s supporters felt the question was unfair, arguing that the country needs to move beyond its painful history.

The controversy reveals the ongoing debate over how to remember the Civil War and slavery’s legacy. Though Haley has distanced herself from Confederate symbols in the past, her recent comments appear to downplay slavery’s significance. The incident highlights the need for political leaders on all sides to grapple fully and honestly with America’s history of racial injustice. Historical clarity and sensitivity remain especially vital as the nation continues to confront contemporary divisions tied to that past.