Slavery Question on YouTube
Thursday’s Star Tribune said St. Louis county commissioner Keith Nelson’s board meeting remarks landed him on YouTube and in hot water. Nelson has said many times that he’s there to represent the majority wishes of his constituents, but in February he elaborated that he’d support slavery if his constituents wanted it. When the video of that meeting hit YouTube last week prompted complaints, Nelson apologized in the manner of “if I offended anyone in any way� response. He has amended how he would now respond if it turned out his constituency favored slavery: he would resign, saying, “I could no longer represent them.� Nelson’s original remarks were said during a board debate over a proposed county smoking ban where he explained his opposition to the ban because most of his constituents wanted him to.
The Duluth News Tribune published Monday headlines a Nelson quote that his slavery comment was taken out of context and includes a link to the YouTube video. At the Feb. 27 board meeting, board chairman Bill Kron asked Nelson the slavery question to make the point that there are principles where you don’t always go by the majority. Kron’s question is not on the YouTube tape; only Nelson’s response is.