Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.) on Sunday defended Gov. Bob McDonnell’s
(R-Va.) decision to declare “Confederate History Month” without
acknowledging the role of slavery.

McDonnell’s declaration upset many who considered it inappropriate to honor the confederacy without condemning slavery.

{mosads}But
Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), said
Virginians know slavery is immoral without being reminded.

“I don’t really see what to say about slavery, but anybody that thinks you have to explain to people that slavery is
a bad thing–I think that goes without saying,” he said on CNN’s “State
of the Union.”

“It’s trying to make a big deal out of something that doesn’t
amount to diddly,” Barbour said on the controversy.

Barbour said his legislature, controlled by
Democrats, has honored Confederate veterans in a similar manner to what
McDonnell had proposed.

“Maybe they should talk to my Democratic leiglsature, which has done the same thing ,” Barbour said.

President Barack Obama said Friday it was “unacceptable” to omit references to slavery in a Confederate History Month.

A few days after issuing the proclamation, McDonnell apologized for what he called a “major omission.”

“The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and
for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or
disappointed,” McDonnell said.

The Virginia Republican said he
would add language to the proclamation describing slavery as an “evil
and inhumane practice” that “led to this war.”