They were aware that there was a firestorm erupting from a video of Hyde Smith making what she later called a joke about sitting in the front row for a public hanging nine days prior. A second video was released days after the first one. It featured Hyde-Smith telling students at Mississippi State University that voting should be more difficult for liberals from other colleges. A number of major corporations, including Walmart and AT&T, asked for campaign donations back. Social media activists posted photos of Hyde Smith in Confederate military gear. Hyde-Smith and her support, including Gov. Phil Bryant tried to downplay the comment as a simple gaffe but her top strategists went into damage control mode. According to a senior Hyde Smith campaign adviser who requested anonymity because they aren’t authorized to speak to media about the matter, it took days of planning and discussion to figure out how Hyde Smith would apologize. The campaign and Hyde Smith eventually agreed to this plan: To apologize directly to voters without the possibility of what the adviser called “distortion by the media”. Melissa Scallan, Hyde-Smith’s communications director, said that she wanted to do it, basically speaking directly to the people. “She was able to do it directly on camera to everyone. She didn’t have any other reason than it was what she wanted to do. Hyde-Smith stated, “You know, I apologize for any offended by my remarks.” “There was no ill intent, no intention whatsoever in my statements,” she quickly reacted and cast herself as the victim of political sabotage. I also acknowledge that this comment was twisted and turned into a political weapon against me by my opponent. This is the kind of politics Mississippians are tired of.” Many saw the recited apology to be lukewarm, insincere. Espy was the first to be elected, an ex-Democratic congressman and former agriculture secretary. Espy stated, “No one altered your comments.” They came out of your mouth. “They came out of your mouth. It has done great harm to our state. It’s caused our state harm.” Rukia Lumumba of the People’s Advocacy Institute, and Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Jackson, said reports that Hyde Smith decided not to apologize earlier because he feared it would fuel the controversy. It is important to question leaders who allow their egos to guide their decisions instead of their moral compass. Lumumba stated that we must question the moral integrity and character of those we elect. Some people, who thought Hyde-Smith’s apology was sincere, questioned why it took nine days for the senator to make it. Austin Barbour, a Republican strategist, said that “I thought it was an excellent statement.” She didn’t. It wouldn’t have given Espy momentum… I thought that she did a great job. She did what she had to, and tried to move on. “I think she did move beyond it,” her political opponents noticed. They used the delay to question the sincerity and truthfulness of her apology. You should use this language if you are serving in any state’s U.S. Senate. If you make a mistake, there should be someone around to correct you immediately. “I hope that we reach a point where people aren’t raised in circles where this kind of language is acceptable or fun.” Espy criticized Hyde-Smith’s apology. Espy said, “That’s really sad she said that, but then she doubled down. Espy stated that although she didn’t make an apology until tonight for her thoughtless comments, she then had to read the letter so it meant that it was not sincere. The Espy campaign did not ignore the large number of notes Hyde Smith brought to the podium. Danny Blanton, Espy’s communications director, stated that the notes were not in accordance with the conditions for bringing so much information to the podium. “We are not happy with that.” “She has shown time and again that she can’t answer difficult questions without notes. “It is the same reason she sent out her surrogate to speak with her after the debate,” he said. He was referring to Wicker who answered questions on Hyde Smith’s behalf. Blanton stated that the Espy’s campaign did not allow any candidate to bring notes to debate, but had willingly accepted a compromise in which each campaign was allowed to take one hour to write notes on a legal pad provided to them by the Farm Bureau and WLBT TV. Blanton claimed that the campaign tried to modify the conditions but “we knew that we wouldn’t get another chance to debate so we didn’t pull out.” However, Scallan ignored those concerns. She said that notes were included in the terms of debate and Scallan took advantage. Scallan stated that both candidates were given the same number of notes and she did not receive any preferential treatment. Scallan said that once the candidates arrived, they were given a legal paper and could make notes to ensure they hit. That was all they could have.” LaTosha brown, co-founder and president of Black Voters Matter, visited Jackson Wednesday along with the Rev. William Barber II will encourage voter participation in the runoff. Brown stated that the manner of delivery and the form of the apology were irrelevant. Brown stated Wednesday that an apology is an acknowledgment of the fact that you have said something wrong. It does not excuse you for saying it or how it was taken out of context. “What she said was incorrect. Many black families from this state, including mine, have been traumatized through racism and violent acts such as hangings. There are relatives who left Mississippi during the (Great) Migration and won’t return because of the history of Mississippi’s violence against black people. “So for her actually to say that and not fully admit it and not to fully recognize that it was wrong, she understood why it was wrong — that’s what she would have expected to apologize for,” Anna Wolfe and R.L. Nave contributed reporting. Mississippi Today’s complete coverage of the historic runoff between Cindy Hyde Smith and Mike Espy can be found here. To support this work, make a regular donation to celebrate our Spring Member Drive. This will allow us to continue important work such as this story. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.