Nikki Haley, who is currently running for president, faced backlash after stumbling over a question about the cause of the Civil War during a town hall event in New Hampshire. Running for office can be a difficult task, especially when difficult questions are thrown your way. But how political candidates handle these questions can be crucial in shaping the public’s perception of their authenticity.
During the event, an attendee asked Haley about her thoughts on the cause of the Civil War. After an uncomfortable pause, Haley responded, “Well, don’t come with an easy question, right?” She went on to say that the Civil War was about “how government was going to run” and the issue of “freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do.”
When the questioner pressed her for her thoughts on the matter, asking her directly what she believed the cause of the Civil War was, Haley repeated her initial answer, saying that it was ultimately about the role of government and the rights of the people. Her response was a jumbled word salad, filled with buzzwords and lacking any clear explanation of her stance. This awkward response drew criticism from the questioner who pointed out that she did not mention slavery.
As someone who previously served as the governor of South Carolina, the first state to secede from the Union in 1860, Haley is well aware that slavery was a critical factor in the Civil War. However, her reluctance to mention it in her answer suggests that she was trying to avoid controversy, possibly due to the previous backlash she received from conservatives for removing the Confederate flag from the State House grounds in 2015.
But as a presidential candidate, it is crucial for Haley to be able to defend her decisions and stance on important issues. Dodging a question about American history only reinforces the perception that she is more concerned about political expediency than standing firm in her principles. Conservative commentator Laura Loomer accused Haley of being an “opportunist” who is willing to do and say anything to gain political points.
Currently, Haley is in third place in the GOP primary race, behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump. However, she faces an uphill battle for the nomination. Real Clear Polling aggregate currently places her at 11% support, far behind Trump’s 62.5%. In a political climate where authenticity and genuineness are highly valued by the public, Haley’s reluctance to openly discuss the Civil War may not bode well for her with conservative voters who want a leader who stands by their principles, no matter what.
Here is a clip of what she said to the same question previously:
.@NikkiHaley will say or do anything to score political points.
How many of you remember the Charleston Church shooting in 2015 when a white supremacist walked into a church and killed 9 black people?
Immediately after that shooting, @NikkiHaley, being the opportunist she is,… pic.twitter.com/WRHPFedfoh
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 28, 2023
Haley’s response to the question about the Civil War has drawn criticism for being an act of political expediency rather than an honest and authentic answer. As a candidate for the highest office in the country, it is essential for her to not only be well-versed in important historical events but also to have the courage to stand by her beliefs and decisions, even if they may be controversial.
By avoiding a critical and touchy subject like the Civil War, Haley only reinforces the perception that she is willing to sacrifice her principles for political gain, an image that may not sit well with potential voters.
The civil war was NOT fought over blacks or slavery it was according to history books over the north’s greed of forcing unfair taxation on southern states and the only reference to slavering was they didn’t want any more slavery states admitted to the USA which would change the vote in congress…middle ways of the civil war freeing the slaves was so they could replace soldiers with blacks …you can pull down all the statues you want but you can’t destroy the truth or history