Rick Perry's "Niggerhead" Draws Split Opinions

One word has reopened American's race issues

“Typically these were in areas where African Americans were not all that common.” - Mark Monmonier, a geography professor at Syracuse University, who wrote a book on the subject of racially offensive place names.

"In all seriousness, I think this says very little about Rick Perry, and a lot more about the country he seeks to govern." - Ta-Nehisi Coates, senior editor for The Atlantic

Perry Got a Bad Rap

"There is no hint of prejudice or race-baiting in Rick Perry's long career in the public eye." -  Hugh Hewitt, Conservative pundit

"The word written by others long ago is insensitive and offensive. That is why the Perrys took quick action to cover and obscure it" - Perry's campaign spokesman Ray Sullivan said in a statement.

“He doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. He didn’t then, and he doesn’t now.” - former Democratic state Rep. Ron Wilson, who is black and served with Perry in his early years in the Legislature.

“I don’t agree with him on policy issues, but you can point to many things he has done that were sensitive to ethnic minorities.” - Dallas Democratic Sen. Royce West, who is also black

“It shows the extent to which the Democrats will go to attack Republicans.” - Erick Erickson, redstate.org