Washington (CNN) - Republican Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Saturday he was "mortified" to hear a top Obama administration official describe Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood as a "largely secular organization."
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made the remark in testimony before a House panel on Tuesday. His office later clarified the statement through a spokeswoman, saying that the Muslim Brotherhood was participating in Egypt's secular political system and that Clapper "is well aware that the Muslim Brotherhood is not a secular organization."
In an interview with Townhall.com after his address to the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Barbour said he was traveling in Israel when Clapper made the comment. But Barbour said he was "mortified" when it came to his attention.
"That's like saying I should be an ad for Weight Watchers," the portly governor joked. "That's absurd."
Barbour is seriously considering a 2012 presidential bid and just returned from a trip to Israel designed to burnish his foreign policy credentials.
From CNN Politics
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I agree with Tish!!
The only vote that "Gov." Barbour will capture is the meth smoking, wife beating, beer swilling, Nascar watching, white male. Good luck once he crosses the Mason-Dixon line!
The United States cherishes its legacy of neither favoring nor establishing any laws regarding religion. Why should our public servant here care whether the Muslim Brotherhood is secular or not?
Weight Watchers might be a start for old Haley Barbour ! Mrs Obama is trying to help over weight Southerners such as Haley put down the fork and pic up a book ! I just want to know why the Muslin Brotherhood is planing to take over the RedNeck Rivera ?
But Obama is not a Muslim. OK.
NO BUT, MISTER OBAMA desires that they the Brotherhood of Muslims take over the government in Egypt. He also wishes the same for America. If he continues on in the next two years like he has GOD FORGIVE he be reelected he will accomplish it.
This man is the governor of the poorest most racist state in the country and he feels he should run for president? He and the state he represents are a big joke. I grew up in Mississippi during the sixties and seventies and thankfully I was able to escape this backward den of racism. He is now considering putting the name of the first ever grand wizard of the KKK on the state's license plates.
Save your money. MB spokesperson stated on tv a few weeks ago that he believes that sharia law would be the solution to all of the problems in the world. that just tells you how oppressed they have been for years. but, i don't see how siding with israel is going to help...at all.
This is the same guys who said MS was all racially mixed in the mid 60's.
That the civil rights struggle was no big thing in MS. Delusional dweeb.
The Muslim Brotherhood is not the threat that the right is harping on.
Nor is ACORN.
Nor are those 2 guys that claim to be Black Panthers.
They always need a boogieman, don't they.
Actually, he should be an ad for Weight Watchers! Muslim Haters Anonymous, too.
I'm "MORTIFIED" at almost everything this phony religious fanatic says. Peace on Earth, yall.
" Burnish his foreign policy credentials", what a joke that overstuffed bigot is here and a bad stereotype of the Ugly American abroad,,
I just love the way these guys take a trip somewhere, in this case, Israel, and then claim "foreign policy experience". If that's the case, I have more foreign policy experience than he does. In fact any globetrotter could claim "foreign policy experience" under those silly rules. Perhaps the media should do us all a favor in the future and point out that these trips mean absolutely zip-nada-null set in getting foreign policy experience. They are good at learning the best hotels and restaurants however. And how to upgrade to first class ahead of the "little people".
What a twit Barbour is.
One of the reasons our country is so screwed up because of voters like @Trish the first commenter. She dont even know the definition of secularism. She thinks it derogatory to call the TP secular.
This man just got 1 (one!) percent in the CPAC strawpoll. He could travel to the moon and back to bolster his foreign credentials, it doesn't make a difference if even his OWN people don't like him, not to mention the rest of the country. But hey, what do i care! Nominate him and see the President take him to pieces in 2012...
The right-wing media and GOP are desperately trying to make the Muslim Brotherhood relevant; the revolution in Egypt was driven by secular, western-leaning young people. The last thing they want is some dour Mullah to be telling them how to live their lives. The GOP is really conflicted, aren't they? On one hand, they want Egypt to stay aligned with U.S. for purposes of stability in the region, but on the other, they are afraid that the Obama administration's hands-off approach is going to work and Obama will be able to use the successful transition to democracy for political capital in the next election. Sorry, GOP, you can't have it both ways: if Egypt turns out okay, Obama gets to take credit; It just sucks to be you, I guess!
Mortified? thats all? Word suggestes he'd have a mouthful. not a one liner.
If you are too stupid to understand that Clapper was talking about the politicial system, and not the Muslim Brotherhood as a religion you should not be in any elected office. That blaming Obama for anything Republicans are too stupid to fully understand is getting very old and most people are sick of it and won't fall for it. Typical daily Republican comments are to trash everyone and avoid important issues at all costs.
We are spending over $40 BILLION on Middle East this year. STOP THAT! Just say NO to republicans, aipac, and others that leak money out of here hand over fist.
@Tish, right Tish, compare the tea-party to the Muslim brotherhood. You show the ignorance of the average left-leaning American.
@Anthony, that problem didn't hurt Clinton to much in getting elected, now did it?
Another "stupid" moment....
Why do some of this white folks insist on calling the ketttle black........we have had enough pots.....hipocrits !!!
I hope he does run. You only need to take one look at the poverty level of Mississippi to know that this man is bad for the country.