A month ago, I unveiled a list of Mississippi legislators who are members of ALEC. Well, what about a list of Mississippi politicians (most legislators) who've hung out with an even more insidious group? A group that the Republican National Committee has condemned and advised Republicans not to fraternize with? A group that the Conservative Political Action Committee deems racist? A group described thusly by the Southern Poverty Law Center:
Since (the RNC asked Republicans not to go in 1999), the group has become even more extremist, writing that blacks are "a retrograde species of humanity," attacking "Jewish power brokers," publishing anti-Semites like Edgar J. Steele, and comparing pop singer Michael Jackson to an ape. But none of this has stopped politicians in four Southern states, especially Republicans in the CCC (Council of Conservative Citizens) power base of Mississippi, from attending and speaking at local CCC functions.You'd want to know who was palling around with these racists, right?
Well, here you go. You'll notice that some folks on this list have moved on (Gadd, Ellington, White, Cobb, Barbour), and some have moved up (Sen. Joey Fillingane is now chairman of Finance in the Senate, Rep. John Moore is chairman of the House Education Committee, Rep. Herb Frierson is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jim Beckett is chair of Public Utilities in the House, Rep. Bill Denny is chair of Elections in the House, and Rep. Gary Chism is chairman of the House Insurance Committee). But most of the folks are still around. From the Southern Poverty Law Center's Fall 2004 Intelligence Report:
What follows is a list of office-holding politicians who have appeared at CCC events since 2000 and their responses to requests for comment. Not included are dozens of mayors, county sheriffs and other lower-level officials. Also not included are politicians who no longer hold office or failed to win election.
The list was derived from reports in the CCC's tabloid Citizens Informer, and most of the politicians who responded to requests for comment confirmed those reports. Thirteen of the 26 officials on this list refused to comment despite messages that were left, in each case, at home, work, political office and via E-mail.
MISSISSIPPI
Roger Wicker Congressman, U.S. House District 1 (Tupelo)
Haley Barbour Governor
Kay Cobb Presiding justice, Mississippi Supreme Court
Robert "Bunky" Huggins Senator, State Senate District 14 (Greenwood)
Gary Jackson Senator, State Senate District 15 (French Camp)
Dean Kirby Senator, State Senate District 30 (Pearl)
Richard White Senator, State Senate District 29 (Terry)
Jim Beckett Representative, State House District 23 (Bruce)
Gary Alan Chism Representative, State House District 40 (Columbus)
Bill Denny Jr. Representative, State House District 64 (Jackson)
James Ellington Representative, State House District 73 (Raymond)
Joey Fillingane Representative, State House District 101 (Sumrall)
Mark Formby Representative, State House District 108 (Picayune)
Herb Frierson Representative, State House District 106 (Poplarville)
Jack Gadd Representative, State House District 13 (Hickory Flat)
Bobby B. Howell Representative, State House District 46 (Kilmichael)
Wanda Jennings Representative, State House District 7 (Southaven)
John Moore Representative, State House District 60 (Brandon)
Dannie Reed Representative, State House District 35 (Ackerman)
Ray Rogers Representative, State House District 61 (Pearl)
Eric Robinson Representative, State House District 84 (Quitman)
Clayton Smith Representative, State House District 59 (Brandon)
Tommy Woods Representative, State House District 52 (Byhalia)
For more information regarding their individual involvement with the CCC, click here. By the way, Rep. Bill Denny (R - Jackson), is the author of HB 921, which is seen by many as an effort to disenfranchise minorities.
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