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Twitter conservatives defend Cliven Bundy's 'Negro' remarks, but also demand video proof

Travis Gettys
April 24, 2014

As conservative politicians and commentatorsrushed to distance themselves from Cliven Bundy’s plainly racist remarks, Twitter conservatives offered their defense of the scofflaw rancher.

Some supporters accused media liberals of playing the race card by reporting or criticizing his offensive comments.

Talk radio host Dana Loesch was one of the first professional pundits to defend Bundy, arguing the rancher lacked the media training necessary to clearly express himself without wondering whether black people were better off as slaves.

“He seems to be decrying what big government has done to the black family — which big government has negatively affected not just the black family, but all families regardless of ethnicity — so perhaps he included that in his remarks against big government?” Loesch said.

Loesch expressed “a healthy suspicion” of the New York Times as the source of these comments, and her doubts were echoed by many others displaying varying levels of healthy skepticism.

Some got hung up on Bundy’s use of the word, “Negro,” and were reminded of Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) – considered a villain by the rancher’s supporters – widely covered use of the word several years ago.

Some supporters said Bundy’s loathsome views on race did nothing to diminish his cause.

Others betrayed a misunderstanding of racism – and a persistent misunderstanding of the difference between “prejudice” and “prejudiced.”

Still others, of course, offered their own racist statements.

Media Matters posted video Thursday morning of Bundy making the remarks quoted by the New York Times:

Update: However, the video raised addition questions for some of Bundy's supporters.

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