Jackson Free Press

To understand his bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in state waters off the Mississippi coast, you have to understand that Holland is one of the most progressive and most eccentric members of the House. He's also one of the longest serving and most knowledgeable about the inner-workings of the Legislature. He's not exactly hid his disdain for the fact that Speaker Philip Gunn not only didn't give him a committee chairmanship but left him off the committees he's served on for two decades. In fact, Holland quipped to me yesterday that every member of the Legislature should be arrested for loitering on public property because they "aren't doing ####."

In short, Steve Holland is a jokester, not a racist. So it's been funny to see the reaction to Holland's bill -- which is now a trending topic on Twitter -- from people who have preconceived idea in their heads about Mississippi and the way Mississippians think because they watched Mississippi Burning in 6th Grade one time. An organization of Republicans who want America and the GOP to be more immigrant responded by posting an open letter to Holland on their website.

"Apparently you don't take your responsibilities seriously. Surely the State of Mississippi has more pressing matters to attend to than this. Did you stop to think of the expense of rewriting textbooks or changing maps?," wrote Bob Quasius, president of Cafe Con Leche. "For that matter, did you stop to think about what this bill would do to Mississippi's reputation? If this bill passes the legislature and is signed into law, perhaps it is time to rename the Mississippi River. After all, sharing a name with a state that wants to rewrite maps out of disdain for Mexicans would be a disgrace to the rest of the nation."

A few people do get the joke, it seems. "Does Rep. Holland secretly write for @theonion?," one person tweeted. Another: "My friend #steveholland and his Swiftian proposal are getting great national press! Huzzah!"

Previous Comments

ID

167032

Comment

This is an old Colbert joke! I wish someone would send this to Colbert. I swear, I think he'd cover it.

Author

Lori G

Date

2012-02-09T15:16:39-06:00

ID

167034

Comment

I can totally see Holland on Colbert, both pretending to be conservatives! Ha!

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-09T15:20:33-06:00

ID

167035

Comment

I thought it was genius when I saw it. Of course, I knew the Colbert joke. I think that is the problem. In this state, there just aren't enough people that know Colbert!!!

Author

Lori G

Date

2012-02-09T15:40:56-06:00

ID

167036

Comment

I'm surprised anyone took it seriously. We heard about it earlier the week, and it seemed obvious before it was Holland. But we all deal with him. I'll never forget watching him flip Barbour the bird one time in the halls of the state Capitol. Colbert *really* ought to have him on his show. Of course, I remember us all not appreciating his (and other Dems') cynical abortion bill.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-09T15:57:53-06:00

ID

167037

Comment

Oh, and I love it when Mississippi punks the nation.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-09T16:01:33-06:00

ID

167038

Comment

brief mention of it in video :) by Colbert (via Twitter trending) http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/mississippi_rep_wants_the_gulf_of_mexico_renamed_t.php

Author

Jason Meeks

Date

2012-02-09T16:15:03-06:00

ID

167039

Comment

Let's not forget when Rep. Holland tried to ban abortion back in 2006. Many of us weren't laughing about that stunt. Here's a 2010 report on him and a different abortion bill.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-09T16:35:11-06:00

ID

167042

Comment

Thanks, Maddow, for the credit and the link love for this post: on.msnbc.com/yflZ4j

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2012-02-10T14:12:32-06:00