By Kevin McCauley
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has accepted the resignation of press secretary Dan Turner after the aide joked about the Japanese tsunami.
In his March 11 press round-up, Turner noted that on the day in 1968: “Otis Redding posthumously received a gold record for his single, "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay". (Not a big hit in Japan right now.).”
He also wrote: “In 1993: Janet Reno was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the first female attorney general. (It took longer to confirm her gender than to confirm her law license.).”
Barbour’s office issued a two-sentence statement March 14 to say that Turner’s resignation was accepted and that Laura Hipp is his replacement.
Turner was communications director and district representative for now-retired Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.) before joining Barbour in 2008. He was also a reporter for the the Shreveport (La.) Times for 11 years.
Reuters reports that the Turner flap is the “latest embarrassment for Barbour,” who was criticized earlier this year for downplaying white racism in Mississippi during the civil rights era. It also questions whether Team Barbour is ready for the national spotlight.
Former lobbyist Barbour next month will announce whether he plans to run for Republican presidential nomination.
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