Is Cliven Bundy's status as an anti-government hero going down?

Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher who has been praised by conservatives and other people wary of the federal government for his refusal to pay the Bureau of Land Management, has recently come under fire for racist remarks about black people having “more freedom” as slaves:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/nevada-rancher-bundy-condemned-racist-remarks-23457303

So…

Were the remarks actually racist? Or is he just being misunderstood?

For those who support Bundy, does this change your opinion of him? Certain Republican politicians are distancing themselves from him, including Rand Paul.