Saying that what flags fly in front of a state capital is a state issue is hardly a “strong statement on state’s rights”.
And when you are asked your PERSONAL opinion about the flag, and respond with “each state has the right to fly the flags of their choice”, it’s not an answer, its a duck.
So I ask Rudy: If you were the Governor of Alabama, would you fly the confederate flag on the capital, or would you tear it down from “your” flagpole because you personally find it offensive?
Do the rudy supporters have an opinion on what his answer would be?
BTW, I don’t think there is a single republican candidate for President who is calling for a national law banning states from flying the confederate flag. So it’s hardly like Rudy alone is respecting “state’s rights” here.
The reason this is an important Rudy story is because the NYT would not waste time on a Republican candidate who they do not consider to be a real threat to a Hillary or Obama or Edwards candidacy.