LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Embattled Nebraska State Board of Education member Pat McPherson is again insisting he will not resign, this time following a verbal tug-of-war between his supporters and those who say he should resign over racist comments made in his now defunct blog.

The 17 people who spoke during the public comment period of Friday’s Education Board’s meeting were nearly equally divided in their support for and opposition to McPherson.

Many, including other Education Board members, have called on McPherson to step down following several blog posts referred to President Barack Obama as a “half-breed.”

McPherson, a Republican, has disavowed the posts and said he did not write them. He reiterated after Friday’s public comments that he will not resign.