Political leaders split on Sen. Tommy Tuberville's white nationalist comment apology

In an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Monday night, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville seemed to double down on his argument of the definition of a white nationalist.According to Dictionary.com, white nationalism is "the belief, theory, or doctrine that white people are inherently superior to people from all other racial and ethnic groups."Democrats and Republicans denounced Tuberville’s statements, and even though the senator apologized, it seems the damage has already been done.“I was just absolutely floored,” State Rep. Juandalynn Givan said. “I actually watched it and I said to myself, ‘What kind of foolery is this?’”Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13Comments made by Tuberville about white nationalists in May have political leaders in Central Alabama talking. Tuberville said he believed anyone should be allowed to serve in the military whether they’re a white nationalist or not and called white nationalists Americans. Tuberville clarified his stance during a CNN interview Monday night.“My opinion of a white nationalist—if someone wants to call them white nationalist—to me is an American,” Tuberville said. “Now, if that white nationalist is a racist, I’m totally against anything that they do.”“I think what he was saying is we need to define what that term is and be open and be honest about that conversation, condemn those who are racist but not bring it up, paint that brush too broadly and condemn innocent people,” Alabama Republican Party chairman John Wahl said.But not everyone agrees.Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube“Just because you do not see them walking around with sheets and holes in the front of their faces does not mean that they do not still exist,” Givan said remembering members of the Klu Klux Klan. “It doesn’t mean that racism is dead now.”And conservatives feel comments like these from liberals paint them with a broad brush, and they’re tired of it.“I don’t want to make light of racism,” Wahl said. “I don’t want to make light of anyone out there who supports that idea because the Republican Party—we support the idea of individual liberty and civil rights.”Stay updated on the latest sports updates with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here.