Confederate flag sets off debate in GOP 2016 class

[Jazzy]

Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for president in 2012, called for the immediate removal of the Confederate battle flag from outside the South Carolina Statehouse, scrambling the 2016 GOP presidential contenders into staking a position on a contentious cultural issue.

Some still steered clear from the sensitive debate, even after the shooting deaths of nine people in a historic African-American church in Charleston further exposed the raw emotions about the flying the flag.

Many see the Confederate flag as "a symbol of racial hatred," Romney tweeted on Saturday. "Remove it now to honor #Charleston victims."

The former Massachusetts governor joins President Barack Obama and civil rights leaders in calling for the flag to come down as the nation grapples with Wednesday's murders. The man charged with the crimes, Dylann Storm Roof, held the Confederate flag in a photograph on a website and displayed the flags of defeated white-supremacist governments in Africa on his Facebook page.

Romney's statement prompted most of the Republican Party's leading presidential contenders to weigh in on flying the Confederate battle flag, although few took a definitive position one way or the other. Many instead expressed personal dislike for the flag, but suggested it was up to the people of South Carolina to decide.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday his position is clear: "In Florida we acted, moving the flag from the state grounds to a museum where it belonged," he said in a statement provided to The Associated Press, referring to his 2001 order to remove the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the historic Old Capitol building.

"Following a period of mourning there will rightly be a discussion among leaders in the state about how South Carolina should move forward, and I'm confident they will do the right thing," Bush said.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declined to offer his position. "I think they're going to have a good, healthy debate — and should have a healthy debate in South Carolina amongst officials at the state level," he told reporters after a speech Saturday night in Washington. "I think out of deference, before we have that discussion, we should allow the families of the loved ones to bury their dead."

South Carolina was the last state to fly the Confederate battle flag from its Capitol dome. A compromise in 2000 moved the flag to a 30-foot flagpole elsewhere on Statehouse grounds, where it has been flying at full staff.

The debate holds political risks for Republicans eager to win over South Carolina conservatives who support the display of the battle flag on public grounds. The state will host the nation's third presidential primary contest in February, a critical contest in the 2016 race.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of four Republican senators running for president, told CNN he's open to revisiting the decision to use the flag, but it "is a part of who we are."

Former technology executive Carly Fiorina said Saturday she agrees the flag is a "symbol of racial hatred" yet declined to call for its removal, saying her "personal opinion is not what's relevant here."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said the last thing the people of South Carolina need is "people from outside of the state coming in and dictating how they should resolve it," Cruz said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

He said he understands both sides of the debate — including those who see the flag as a symbol of "racial oppression and a history of slavery" and "those who want to remember the sacrifices of their ancestors and the traditions of their states — not the racial oppression, but the historical traditions."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said it's ultimately "up to the people of South Carolina to decide, but if I were a citizen of South Carolina I'd be for taking it down."

Spokesmen for most of the other Republican presidential contenders also either ignored such questions or formally declined to comment. They include Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, businessman Donald Trump and Sens. Rand Paul and Marco Rubio.

Democrats have been more willing to offer their opinions.

Source

Thoughts?

 

[Webster]

I didn't support Romney back in 2012...but damn if I don't agree with him on it. Put simply, its' going to have to be a "Nixon to China" moment...in other words, the Left can scream all its' want about the flag, but its' going to have to be a Republican who stands up, pulls a Reagan and says to South Carolina, "Take that treasonous symbol down!"

It may cost that Republican lots of votes across the South, but damn if it wouldn't be worth it for America on the whole.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

For petes sake this whole argument could not be dumber. These flags are not flying over the capital. And the state that flies them is not making some kind of political statement. These Confederate flag is flying on capital grounds that have graves where Confederate soldiers died. So what a idiotic statement from Romney and please go away!

 

[Jazzy]

When the citizens of Charleston didn't react as they did in Ferguson and Baltimore, they tried to use the flag as the focal point for the shooting. The citizens didn't buy into what they wanted them to say. The voters in South Carolina will decide when it's time to remove the flag, not us.

 

[Webster]

..although Gov. Haley isn't a candidate for the 2016 nomination, all I can say here is....about...damn....time!

(Washington Post) COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Monday that the Confederate flag near the state Capitol should be moved, reversing an earlier position she had held and adding a powerful voice to the growing chorus of calls for the flag’s removal.

“It’s time to move the flag from the Capitol grounds,” Haley, a Republican, said at a news conference on Monday.

She was joined at the news conference by South Carolina’s two U.S. senators and an array of other elected officials. Her announcement was greeted by a round of applause and cheers inside the statehouse.

“Some divisions are bigger than a flag,” Haley said. “We are not going to allow this symbol to divide us any longer. The fact that people are choosing to use it as a sign of hate is something we cannot stand.”

Since a gunman shot and killed nine parishioners inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston last week, more and more people have criticized the flag’s presence near the state Capitol in Columbia. Hundreds marched over the weekend to protest the flag’s placement.

Over the weekend, authorities confirmed that a racist manifesto found online belonged to Dylann Roof, the suspected gunman. The Web site was littered with references to the Confederacy and images of the Confederate flag.

Haley’s announcement comes after days of peaceful protest on statehouse grounds and appeals from black leaders and activists to resolve the divisive issue once and for all. It marks a significant shift in position from what Haley and other state Republican leaders have held before.

Last year, during her campaign for a second term as governor, Haley dismissed calls to move the flag, saying during a debate that she had not heard complaints from business leaders upset with the flag’s location.

Haley said that if lawmakers don’t deal with the flag issue in coming weeks, she will use her authority as governor to call them back to the statehouse for a special session.

While Haley said people who wanted to fly the flag on their own property could continue to do so, she said “the statehouse is different,” adding: “This is South Carolina’s statehouse. It is South Carolina’s historic moment.”

-Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ag-near-the-state-capitol/?wprss=rss_national
....thoughts?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

As one very smart black man said on T.V. this morning he did not pull out a confederate flag and kill people. He pulled out a gun and killed people.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

You wait and see at the fast pace these days the liberal left is going after peoples rights the confederate flag is just the beginning. This is a test run for the American flag and making it offensive. I mean the left is going to say the confederacy lasted four years but that evil America has been around for over 200 years bringing down the man. You wait and see it will happen.

 

[Webster]

You wait and see at the fast pace these days the liberal left is going after peoples rights the confederate flag is just the beginning. This is a test run for the American flag and making it offensive. I mean the left is going to say the confederacy lasted four years but that evil America has been around for over 200 years bringing down the man. You wait and see it will happen.

*scratches head in thought* Or maybe, Liberty, people are starting to see the Confederate flag the treasonous rag for what it was and are beginning to see it as such...along with all the other associated symbols that go with it.

 

[identityissues8]

You wait and see at the fast pace these days the liberal left is going after peoples rights the confederate flag is just the beginning. This is a test run for the American flag and making it offensive. I mean the left is going to say the confederacy lasted four years but that evil America has been around for over 200 years bringing down the man. You wait and see it will happen.

Or, you know, a symbol that caused so much hurt in the past will actually the 'part of History' you already claim it to be...
That's the more likely outcome.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Or, you know, a symbol that caused so much hurt in the past will actually the 'part of History' you already claim it to be...
That's the more likely outcome.

You can look to any symbol that might be important part of someones life or history and find it caused pain. Germany at least is not hiding from there past and purposely keeps the buildings and symbols of its past in place so people do not forget.

Even though it is not quite as simple with what is part of Americas history people just want to wipe it away. Where the flag flies above those graves were brothers fighting against brothers and believed in what they were fighting for. And slavery was just a tiny fraction of it. Many people joined the confederacy because many of the General in the north believed in slash and burn everything in sight and it became simply about protecting there land. So hiding history like the left wants to do is not a answer. But it sure makes it easy for them to rewrite it.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

*scratches head in thought* Or maybe, Liberty, people are starting to see the Confederate flag the treasonous rag for what it was and are beginning to see it as such...along with all the other associated symbols that go with it.

Well it is a minority that just want to hide our history. But this tyranny from the leftist minority have so many scared to death to speak up and out. For Gods sakes these same morons are know going after our founders and want to remove the Jefferson memorial. And just calling it treasonous is beyond simplicity from what was a very complicated war.

 

[identityissues8]

You can look to any symbol that might be important part of someones life or history and find it caused pain. Germany at least is not hiding from there past and purposely keeps the buildings and symbols of its past in place so people do not forget.

Even though it is not quite as simple with what is part of Americas history people just want to wipe it away. Where the flag flies above those graves were brothers fighting against brothers and believed in what they were fighting for. And slavery was just a tiny fraction of it. Many people joined the confederacy because many of the General in the north believed in slash and burn everything in sight and it became simply about protecting there land. So hiding history like the left wants to do is not a answer. But it sure makes it easy for them to rewrite it.

Good example - Germany, where ownership of a Swastika flag is actually illegal.
Do you have a better example?

I'm not saying wipe it away at all, I'm saying leave it in the past where it belongs - the 'History' argument is nonsensical.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Good example - Germany, where ownership of a Swastika flag is actually illegal.
Do you have a better example?

I'm not saying wipe it away at all, I'm saying leave it in the past where it belongs - the 'History' argument is nonsensical.

Well it is a socialist country they had to ban something from the people. But my example stands just fine. Why? Only the ignorant who have no idea of our history would say it is a symbol of hate or slavery. They can shove that political correctness in the deep crevices of my butt.

 

[identityissues8]

So classy.

Oh well, TL - I guess the vast majority are ignorant and you're right...About everything, as you seem to oppose what most (like, seriously 90% most!) would call logic on almost all issues.

Ps; How many times do you want to contradict your own argument about Germany?

 

[Dee]

Well it is a socialist country they had to ban something from the people. But my example stands just fine. Why? Only the ignorant who have no idea of our history would say it is a symbol of hate or slavery. They can shove that political correctness in the deep crevices of my butt.

Except it is a symbol of hate and slavery. I highly doubt the Nazi's called the Swastika a symbol of hate and genocide. They most likely had a much different description at the time for what it was about, but in the aftermath of the holocaust it became something very, very different, just like in the aftermath of the Civil War.

 

[Webster]

Well it is a minority that just want to hide our history. But this tyranny from the leftist minority have so many scared to death to speak up and out. For Gods sakes these same morons are know going after our founders and want to remove the Jefferson memorial. And just calling it treasonous is beyond simplicity from what was a very complicated war.

I'm just calling it for what it is, Liberty...nothing complicated there.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

I'm just calling it for what it is, Liberty...nothing complicated there.

No problem not even people who have the same ideology can agree on everything. But overall what is important to our everyday lives is what we do agree on for the most part. But am looking forward to my General Lee Hot Wheels car with that rebel flag on it though. (;

 

[Webster]

No problem not even people who have the same ideology can agree on everything. But overall what is important to our everyday lives is what we do agree on for the most part. But am looking forward to my General Lee Hot Wheels car with that rebel flag on it though. (;

Exactly...

 

[DrLeftover]

And now we shall deny the past in the name of Political Correctness and Sensitivity.

Washington (AFP) - The dean of Washington National Cathedral called Thursday for two stained glass windows that depict the controversial Confederate flag to be replaced.

Reverend Gary Hall said the windows -- installed in 1953 and depicting Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson -- were no longer appropriate.

http://news.yahoo.com/confederate-f...0aWFxBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwM2BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--