Rep. Rufus Straughter (D - Belzoni) speaks against the Denny map

Rep. Rufus Straughter:  I've always been a Democrat.  Comes from being taught that when making decisions, you must include all people.  As for Rep. Denny taking 8 weeks to put a map together, "I was born during the day, but it wasn't yesterday."  The influence of African-Americans has been reduced through rule changes by the new Republican leadership.  We ought to be working to make Mississippi the best it can be.  If African-Americans are weakened because you've found a way to pack us, then the state is weaker.  If my forefathers had a choice in which party to join, they probably would have been Republicans because of Lincoln.  But after Roosevelt, things changed.  I would like to see the day we can all get along.