Barbour Spokesman Jokes About Japan, Janet Reno's Gender

An internal e-mail from Mississippi governor Haley Barbour's office shows jokes about Japan following a disastrous earthquake and tsunami as well as the gender of former U.S. attorney general Janet Reno.

The daily e-mail, sent by Barbour's press secretary, Dan Turner, features press clippings, birthdays, and historical notes, sprinkled with jokes, according to Politico. Friday's e-mail referred to that date in 1993, when Reno was named the first female federal attorney general.

"Janet Reno was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the first female attorney general. (It took longer to confirm her gender than to confirm her law license.)," the note read.

Another mentioned that on March 11, 1968, "Otis Redding posthumously received a gold record for his single, "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay." (Not a big hit in Japan right now.)"

Turner told Politico that he took sole responsibility for the e-mails.

"If you feel the need to skewer someone over that, I'm the guy with the bullseye on his back," he said. "There is one person responsible -- me."

Barbour is eyeing a possible run for the Republican presidential nomination.