Nikki Haley Expands Civil War Comments Amid Backlash

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Facts

• Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is under fire from both sides of the political aisle after she failed to mention slavery when asked about the cause of the US Civil War.¹
• At a New Hampshire town hall on Wednesday, a voter asked the former UN ambassador, “What was the cause of the Civil War?” Haley gave a long answer, saying the war “was basically how government was going to run – the freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do.” However, she didn't mention slavery in her response.²
• After Haley’s response, the questioner scolded the former South Carolina governor for not mentioning slavery. Haley hit back, asking, “What do you want me to say about slavery?” before moving onto the next question. However, she backpedaled her statement the next morning in a radio interview.³
• Haley told CNN on Thursday, “Of course the Civil War was about slavery,” adding, “We know that.” She said her answer addressed what the Civil War means today about freedom. In an interview on The Pulse of NH, she accused the voter who asked the question of being a “Democrat plant.”⁴
• Republican primary opponent and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called Haley’s answer about the Civil War an “incomprehensible word salad” while saying that she is “not a candidate that’s ready for prime time.” Meanwhile, Pres. Joe Biden, the likely Democratic nominee, called out Haley’s comments on X, writing, “It was about slavery.”⁵
• Republican voters in New Hampshire will head to the polls in just a few weeks to officially kick off the primary season. While former Pres. Donald Trump is the clear frontrunner to win the Republican nomination, Haley has vaulted to second place in various polls and is performing well in the Granite State.⁶

Sources: ¹FOX News, ²NBC, ³Associated Press, ⁴BBC News, ⁵The Hill and ⁶Daily Caller.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by Rolling Stone. Nikki Haley showed her true colors on Wednesday with her failure to even mention slavery when addressing the cause of the Civil War. The Republican politician is trying to play all sides as she tries to cement herself as the Trump alternative while trying not to alienate the far-right MAGA base. Her failed response not only shows that she isn't a skilled politician but also how the modern GOP clings to relics of the past.
• Republican narrative, as provided by Wall Street Journal. Nikki Haley has brought into question her qualification for president, as she cannot even handle the simplest off-script questions from voters. Not only did Haley fail to properly address the voter’s question about the Civil War, but she also went on to accuse the questioner of being a Democrat plant. If she can’t even handle basic questions at a town hall, how can she deal with the pressure of being president?
• Cynical narrative, as provided by National Review. While there's no doubt that Haley committed an embarrassing faux pas, it doesn't merit the hysteric response that it has received. The media —looking to incite excitement in a stagnant primary race — has fueled a feeding frenzy, with Haley as the main course. Meanwhile, both sides of the political aisle have seized upon this to bolster their own bases. It's time to move on.