CL - Unlike Freeman's comments to The AP, his letter to outside donors was positive

The political tempest-in-a-teapot over acclaimed Mississippi actor Morgan Freeman's rather acerbic comments to The Associated Press about his home state has been entertaining in and of itself.


During an interview with the AP about a fund-raising letter Freeman signed on Luckett's behalf related to an event in Los Angeles, Freeman offered this blunt quote: "Reform in Mississippi is hard because the base stock of this state is a mule-headed bunch of farmers. Those farmers have ruled the roost for so long because this is an agricultural state."

Certainly, Morgan Freeman is entitled to his opinion. But from the standpoint of reflecting an accurate account of the state's history, it is a convoluted opinion at best. From the standpoint of helping Luckett win votes and support among Mississippians, Freeman fell substantially short of the mark.

But in fairness to Freeman and Luckett, a review of Freeman's letter to potential donors outside the state contained no references to "mules" or any other creatures and was on the whole positive in all references to the state and her people.

Clarion-Ledger
10/17/9