COLUMBIA, S.C. - The highest-ranking black congressman said Thursday that opposition to the federal stimulus package by southern GOP governors is "a slap in the face of African-Americans."

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he was insulted when the governors of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and his home state, which have large black populations, said they might not accept some of the money from the $787 billion stimulus package.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday he would accept the money, and none of the others has rejected it outright. The Republican governors of Idaho and Alaska also said they had reservations about whether the money would come with too many strings attached, but Clyburn said he was particularly taken aback by southern governors who said they might decline it.

"These four governors represent states that are in the proverbial black belt," Clyburn said.

A spokesman for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford accused Clyburn of playing the race card.

"Spending money at the federal level that we do not have represents a future tax increase on all South Carolinians, regardless of their color," Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said in an e-mail statement. "And in the process of doing so, he's ripping off everyone he claims to represent."

Speaking earlier Thursday on CBS' "The Early Show," Sanford said being against the stimulus plan doesn't preclude taking the money. He said he opposed President Barack Obama's economic plan because it's "a bad idea," but would look over it and decide whether some parts would work for South Carolina.

A message seeking comment was left with a spokesman for Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Kyle Plotkin, press secretary for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is the son of Indian immigrants, called Clyburn's comments absurd.

"Each state agency is reviewing the bill to determine what strings are attached to any funds coming to Louisiana," Plotkin said. "The governor has an obligation to look out for the interests of Louisiana's taxpayers and that is exactly what he will do."

Clyburn spokeswoman Hope Derrick later said Clyburn didn't mean he thought those governors were racially motivated in their opposition, but that rejecting stimulus money would hurt black residents.

Clyburn began his remarks to reporters Thursday by talking about the Juneteenth celebration, which marks when slaves in Texas finally learned they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation more than a year after it happened.

"Knowing my history and knowing Texas history, all of this, it was a slap in the face of African-Americans," Clyburn said.

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Associated Press Writer Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, La., contributed to this report.

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This is in direct reference to Jiggy5 comments how dare you comment on President Obama trying to fix the mess that your ex president made. All americans white and Black need a hand up right now because everyone is suffering due to the greed of Bush and Cheyney . You have families that are giving up hope and resorting to suicide because they see no way out. Oodly enough when Bush was in office evryone was content to keep riding the train to nowhere because he was a good ol boy.

by   
SSteeleJones
February 20, 2009, 11:51 pm
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FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS, 8 YEARS, WHERE WERE THESE REPUBLICANS. THEY WOULD NOT SPEAK UP AT ALL. NOW EVERYONE HAS A VOICE AND SOMETHING TO SAY. WHERE WERE THEY FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS, 8 YEARS. IF ONLY, THEY WOULD HAVE SPOKEN UP YEARS AGO, AMERICA WOULD NOT BE IN THIS BIG, BIG MESS TODAY. AFTER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE OLD "SAVINGS AND LOAN" COMPANYS, THIS MAN BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (2-TERMS, 8 YEARS) AND NOW LOOK AT US (THE U,S. A.) - A GREAT BIG MESS, EVERYTHING, A GREAT BIG MESS.

by   
Misspat15
February 20, 2009, 11:30 pm
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This economy was not created by President Obama, this was a mess created by Bush and the other republicans who mind you voted and pass it all prior to this election. Now we want to say what we will accept of it and how we will use it. But the reality of it is this, people are suffering and that where the real focus of this should be not on making a spectacle for others to see.

by   
BLESSEDSHELLE
February 20, 2009, 10:18 pm
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I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WAY "REPUBLIICANS' THINK. THEY ARE JUST SO DIFFERENT. THEY VOTED AGAINST , EDUCATION, MEDICAL CARE, ETC. AND NOW SOME OF THE GOVERNORS DO NOT WANT THE STIMULUS FOR THEIR STATE. THE PEOPLE IN THEIR STATE ARE LOSING JOBS, LOSING THEIR HOMES, YOUNG PEOPLE CAN NOT ATTEND COLLEGE, FINANCES UP-SIDE DOWN, STRESSED OUT , AND THEIR GOVERNOR SAYS SO, I DON'T WANT THAT MONEY BECAUSE IT'S FROM THE OTHER SIDE. NOW, THAT'S WHAT I CALL ------STUPID.

by   
Misspat15
February 20, 2009, 10:06 pm
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Hven't we learned anything about accepting money with strings attached? What has welfare, food stamps, and unemployment compensation done to our peeps? I'll tell you, made them lazy, beggars, and unproductive slugs in society. No thanks to that cash. Who with me?

by   
Jiggy5
February 20, 2009, 12:09 pm
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