Nikki Haley’s barefaced denial to slavery as cause of civil war puts her on media trial

Haley shifted the focus to the role of government, stating, “I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run.”

The exchange highlighted the challenges candidates face in New Hampshire’s direct voter interactions.

Pressed further by the questioner, who expressed astonishment at the omission of the term “slavery,” Haley responded by asking, “What do you want me to say about slavery?” and swiftly moved on to the next question.

Haley’s rising popularity in New Hampshire, known for its moderate Republicanism, has been accompanied by challenges stemming from her Southern roots. The comments on slavery, a contentious historical issue, may pose obstacles for her in the state.

Notably, Haley, as governor, oversaw the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina government grounds in 2015 following the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting. However, in a 2010 interview, she defended states’ rights to secede from the United States, as reported by CNN.

While the causes of the Civil War were complex, slavery played a central role, with the conflict primarily driven by the South’s desire to preserve slavery. The town hall exchange underscores the delicate nature of historical discussions in the context of contemporary politics.