Jackson Free Press

The Neshoba County Fair has been a hot spot for political unrest ever since Sen. James K. Vardaman compared blacks to "hogs." It's the only place in Mississippi where a politician can hurl insults at his political opposition with impunity. Unlike the nationally televised presidential debates, few listeners research the terse indictments hurled off the center stage in Founder's Square, so a candidate can say practically anything and have.

Accusations and name-calling were at a minimum July 27, however. That day's line-up of elected officials, aside from circuit-court candidates, offered little beef.

"I'd say the overall message coming through this year is all about working together," said Eunice Green, a second-time fairgoer who said she witnessed firsthand the rancor of the 2000 county speeches. "Folks this time around are coming together because of all the storms."

In 2003, Barbour blasted Musgrove, arguing that in the last few years the state had gone "from the best financial condition in our state's history to the worst."

Musgrove, in response, railed that Barbour the lobbyist had "put Mexico ahead of Mississippi," when his lobbying firm received $400,000 for pushing for NAFTA, an international agreement that Musgrove said cost the state many manufacturing jobs.

Musgrove got linked time and again to arguments about tort reform, that trial lawyers were abusing the system and needed reining in.

Bitterness sometimes manifested in raucous antics, such as the time Barbour was trailed around at the 2003 fair by somebody in a giant Garfield suit, hefting the sign "washingtonfatcat.com"—a Web site set up by Barbour's Republican opponent Mitch Tyner, who predicted that Barbour's lobbying ties would influence his political decisions as governor.

Locals threw dirt across the continent in 2004, as the presidential battle ensued. Barbour slung accusations at presidential candidate John Kerry, telling the crowd that if they were for "higher taxes" and "homosexual marriage," then they were for Kerry.

This year, Hurricane Katrina factored heavily in speeches. Barbour called upon Mississippians—including politicians—to unite in order to rebuild the state.

"We want our children to say we came together to re-build this fine state," Barbour said, though he himself ran a bare-knuckles campaign for governor in 2004, deploying Richard Nixon's "southern strategy" to appease and entice white supremacists. Barbour's campaign accused Musgrove of trying to take away the Mississippi state flag, with its pro-slavery confederate battle emblem, in 2001. Barbour also refused to ask that his picture be removed from the racist Council of Concerned Citizens' Web site (cofcc.org).

Barbour repeated the "no new taxes" mantra that he employed in response to the Legislature's efforts to raise the state's cigarette taxes. Mississippi's cigarette tax is only 18 cents a pack, the lowest of any state that does not profit directly from cigarette sales by growing tobacco. Former tobacco lobbyist Barbour fought diligently to kill two bills seeking to raise the tax.

Some politicians speaking the same day took issue with the governor's opposition.

Secretary of State Eric Clark, a Democrat, argued that the state needed a higher cigarette tax. A majority of Mississippians approve of higher cigarette taxes according to polls. Clark went on to argue that education needs to be a higher priority among Mississippians, explaining that the state has some of the most under-funded schools in the nation, and he pushed the argument that success in the national and global economy begins with grooming the state's children for success.

Insurance rates are rarely a source of controversy at the Neshoba County Fair, but they took center stage this year. Katrina's storm swell blasted the Coast, and high winds blew down almost anything standing over 20 feet tall in some parts of the state, causing many millions of dollars in damage. However, insurance companies have sought to classify much hurricane damage as flood damage in order to avoid paying claims, which has set off a legal battle with the attorney general's office.

Insurance Commissioner George Dale vetted his frustration at being caught between the two sides. Dale caught hell from policyholders who believe he should have forced insurance companies to acknowledge that flood damage was caused by the hurricane's winds, which created the storm surge. Meanwhile, insurance companies are pressuring Dale to let them raise the costs of their policies, in anticipation of future hurricane damage. Insurance companies argue that policy disbursements of similar magnitude in the future could put them out of business.

Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood, who also spoke, said he doubted that the insurance companies were in jeopardy. Hood pointed out that insurance companies made record profits this year, despite the ravages of Katrina.

"It's not just the oil companies that are making big money," Hood said. He has criticized insurance companies for holding out on policyholders while whining to the federal government for financial bailouts.

"Insurance made some good profits this year, too."

Some familiar faces took time to hint at their future political plans.

During his speech, State Auditor Phil Bryant called for cracking down on illegal immigration before admitting to his interest in running for lieutenant governor. "We put out a report showing that illegal immigration is costing the people of Mississippi $25 million. That's money we take out of your paycheck and spend it on people that are here illegally," Bryant said.

Current Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck is limited to two terms by state law, and announced that she would not seek political office when her current term expires in 2007.

Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, after much arm-twisting, eventually confessed that some Mississippians were coaxing him to get back into politics as well. Musgrove, speaking to the JFP, said he was taking their requests seriously but would not say what position he was considering.