| ABC News | - |
A
Nevada rancher who has become a conservative folk hero for resisting
the federal government's attempts to round up his cattle faced sharp
criticism Thursday for racist comments published in a New York Times
article.
Cliven Bundy, Rancher At Center of Feud With Feds Condemned for Racist Remarks
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A Nevada rancher who has become a conservative folk hero for resisting
the federal government's attempts to round up his cattle faced sharp
criticism Thursday for racist comments published in a New York Times
article.
Politicians from around the country who have rallied to Cliven Bundy's
defense in recent weeks denounced the comments and distanced themselves
from the rancher.
Bundy was quoted in a Times story referring to black people as "the
Negro" and recalling a time when he drove past a public-housing project
in North Las Vegas and saw black people who "didn't have nothing to do."
"And because they were basically on government subsidy, so now what do
they do?" he asked. "They abort their young children, they put their
young men in jail, because they never learned how to pick cotton. And
I've often wondered, are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and
having a family life and doing things, or are they better off under
government subsidy? They didn't get no more freedom. They got less
freedom."
The Bundy family issued a statement on its Facebook page saying Bundy is
a "good man, he loves all people, he is not a racist man."
"He wants what is best for everyone," the statement said. "We all know
that with the media, words are taken out of context, meanings are
twisted, and they can take anything and turn it into what they want it
to be."
The comments came during a long speech at a sparsely attended news
conference Saturday that the Times attended. Bundy has been holding news
conferences daily even after the Bureau of Land Management and
contractors suspended the roundup citing safety concerns in a tense
standoff between armed protesters and federal agents.
Politicians who had defended Bundy quickly issued statements condemning the remarks.
"His remarks on race are offensive, and I wholeheartedly disagree with
him," said Sen. Rand Paul, once a vocal supporter of Bundy who is
considering a run for president.
Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller, who last week called Bundy defenders
"patriots" for their stand against the government, "completely
disagrees with Mr. Bundy's appalling and racist statements, and condemns
them in the most strenuous way," said his spokeswoman, Chandler Smith.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who last week called Bundy supporters
"domestic terrorists," also spoke out against Bundy's words.
"Today, Bundy revealed himself to be a hateful racist," Reid said. "But
by denigrating people who work hard and play by the rules while he
mooches off public land, he also revealed himself to be a hypocrite."
Bundy says he doesn't recognize federal authority over lands his cattle
have grazed for years around his Virgin River melon farm and ranch, 80
miles northeast of Las Vegas.
The BLM claims the cattle are trespassing on fragile Gold Butte habitat
set aside for the endangered desert tortoise, and that Bundy has racked
up some $1.1 million in fees and penalties since 1993.
BLM agents and contractors called off the weeklong roundup, released
about 350 animals back to Bundy, and left the area April 12.
Federal officials have said the agency would pursue unspecified
administrative and judicial remedies, but BLM officials have not
provided details.
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