DALLAS - Sid Miller didn't take kindly to his hometown's decision to limit a Confederate group's presence in a Veterans Day parade. His response didn't play too well, either.
The Texas agriculture commissioner, who isn't afraid to stir the pot with controversial remarks, responded to a notice on Facebook that the Sons of Confederate Veterans group couldn't fly their flags at Stephenville's annual parade honoring veterans.
"Get a rope," he posted in the comments section.
The response was swift, as other commenters accused Miller of being tasteless or trivializing the act of lynching.
"Sid Miller so ... hang the people because?" one post read.
"Sid Miller a rope for what sir ?" read another.
Miller later edited his remark to clarify things but still kept his original statement intact.
"Good grief people, it's a joke, an old saying from a Pace Picante commercial. Lighten up."
Miller was referring to a salsa commercial from 1992, in which a group of Texans become outraged after one of their own brings a salsa from New York City
to their cookout.
"Get a rope," was the commercial's solution to that Yankee-made picante sauce, and it became a cultural catchphrase in the state that still lingers today.
Miller replied to a post from a Stephenville resident that was critical of the Veterans Day parade decision.
"The (parade) entry was sent in over a month ago but when the S.C.V. arrived this morning bright and early with 2 trailers, plus a cannon displaying a Vietnam Soldier with a United States Flag and also a trailer displaying Confederate flags, ladies dressed in Civil War Dress and men in Confederate uniforms, the S.C.V. was told to remove the Confederate flags or LEAVE," the post read.
It had drawn more than 700 comments as of Saturday evening.
One of the parade's organizers defended the decision.
"My understanding is that it would be inappropriate for the military to be involved in a parade with the Confederate flag flying," Burton Smith told the Texas Tribune.
Miller did not respond to the Tribune's requests for a comment, but spokesman Todd Smith said he didn't know anything about the ag commissioner's reply on Facebook.
Several who posted on the Facebook thread voiced displeasure at Stephenville's decision while not addressing Miller's remarks.
"Very sad. I have ancestors who fought on both sides of the Civil War and am proud to call them all family and veterans," one comment read. "It's a part of our history, like it or not, and should never be forgotten."
Others supported the move to limit the group's participation.
"This clearly says "decorations should have a patriotic/military theme," another comment read. "The confederate flag is about as anti-American as you can get. They literally fought to not be a part of the US."