Stevenson: I'm not prejudiced in any way

The Bryan Stevenson apology tour continues following his comment likening a proposed federal abortion law to the "War of Northern Aggression." That is a title given to the Civil War primarily by those who think the wrong side won.

In a telephone interview, Stevenson, R-Webb City, told the Joplin Globe repeated his previous assertion that he had not intended to offend anyone:

Reached by phone Tuesday, Stevenson said, “The terminology I used did cause offense, and I’m sorry for that.”

He also said he was “strongly opposed to slavery in any and all aspects” and “not prejudiced in any way.”

Stevenson said that if he had to do it over again, he would not have described the conflict as “the War of Northern Aggression” but still would have raised the Civil War during the debate on the abortion resolution.

The war, he said, turned on federal authority versus state authority. Although the conflict did lead to the abolition of slavery, Stevenson said it was accompanied by “the illegal expansion of federal authority.”

It is a bit late for Stevenson now, but perhaps he should be reminded of the old adage "Silence is golden."