A Mississippi senator apologizes for controversial remarks made on the campaign trail during the only debate with her opponent before next week's run off election. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.
During an hour long debate last night in Jackson, Mississippi Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith apologized for a public hanging remark she made that led to a firestorm of controversy.
"I certainly apologize. There was no ill will, no intent, whatsoever in my statements. In nearly 20 years of service of being your state senator, your commissioner of agriculture and your U.S. Senator, I have worked with all Mississippians," said Hyde-Smith
Senator Hyde-Smith says her comments were twisted for political gain. Democrat Mike Espy said her remarks have harmed the state. Hyde-Smith then criticized Espy for entering into a contract in 2011 for $750,000 with a dictator in Africa, now charged with crimes against humanity. Espy responded,
"I've worked all over the world to lift incomes of farmers in this case, lift the incomes of cocoa farmers on the Ivory Coast. I went there I took this assignment because they asked me to do it, under contract to the Cocoa Commission of the Ivory Coast. I found out later that this guy, the president was a really bad guy. I resigned the contract and I rescinded the last fee that I was due," said Espy.
Espy accused Hyde-Smith of voting against a bill in Congress to require insurance companies cover pre-existing conditions.
"I mean the Democrats had a bill there that told insurance companies that they could not deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions and she voted against that and the bill failed by one vote
Hyde-Smith denied that claim.
"I have never voted against anyone with pre-existing conditions being to be excluded from a policy," said Hyde-Smith.
Hyde-Smith says she's co-sponsoring a bill that will include pre-existing conditions be covered. The debate at the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation wasn't open to the public. Following the debate the candidates were to answer questions from reporters. Espy participated. Senator Hyde-Smith did not. The runoff election is Tuesday, November 27.
