Landrieu Says The South is Racist and Sexist

How do we know that Democrats are facing some troubling poll numbers as early voting in many states comes to a close before Tuesday's general election?  The divisive political rhetoric is in full throat with everyone from President Obama to Senate candidates like incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu in Louisiana.  

Here is what Landrieu told NBC's Chuck Todd when she was asked why President Obama would not be particularly well received in Louisiana to campaign for her re-election:

“I’ll be very, very honest with you. The South has not always been the friendliest place for African-Americans,” the senator told Todd. “It’s been a difficult time for the president to present himself in a very positive light as a leader.”Landrieu also said that Louisiana was a tough place for women as well. “It’s not always been a good place for women to present ourselves,” she added. “It’s more of a conservative place.”

She started out with the usual race baiting and then moved into claims of sexism.  Perhaps she forgot that the last Governor before the current one was a woman.  Yeah, well, we'd all like to forget her and her utter incompetence in handling Hurricane Katrina.

When the push back on this insipidness began from the Louisiana Republicans, Landrieu doubled down as she offered her explanation:

In a statement released Friday evening, Landrieu defended herself against people trying to “twist” her comments. After clarifying that the president’s energy policies are the “main reason” for his unpopularity in Louisiana, the senator addressed the backlash over her race comment.“[T]he South has not always been the friendliest or easiest place for African-Americans to advance, and it’s been a difficult place for women to be recognized as the leaders we are,” Landrieu said, echoing her initial statement. “Everyone knows this is the truth, and I will continue to speak the truth even as some would twist my words seeking political advantage.”

Mary Landrieu has been in elected office since 1980.  She has the advantage of being a part of a political family in Louisiana.  She knows exactly what she is doing when she says such remarks to the media.  

The Democrats have nothing of note to run on for re-election and they face another shellacking this mid-term, just as the last one.  It's desperate times for them.