Barbour still represents the old guard in the deep south. These are older white folks who have mixed feelings (at best) when it comes to the civil rights movement. And they resent mightily the Yankees who came down and “wouldn’t mind their own business” during the last days of Jim Crow. Barbour’s worldview, like millions of others, was forged in this crucible. Thus it’s not surprising that they still hold some of these views.

On a related note, it’s no coincidence that Reagan announced his 1980 candidacy in Philadelphia, MS, where 3 civil rights workers were murdered. The city became a symbol of states rights to right wing and racist southerners. Sadly Reagan, as part of the overall GOP southern strategy, exploited this.