Georgia governor wants vote on confederate flags

AP | 2/12/03

[meandog]

ATLANTA (AP) — Gov. Sonny Perdue, who campaigned with a promise to let voters decide whether to bring back the old state flag dominated by a Confederate emblem, will propose putting the question on the ballot at the same time as the 2004 presidential primary, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

Supporters of the emblem say it represents Southern heritage, while blacks and others say it represents racism and slavery.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said voters will be asked two ballot questions, with the first being a yes-no question on whether the current flag should be kept.

Voters will then be asked whether they wish to revert to the previous state flag with its Confederate battle emblem, or a flag that flew until 1956 and did not bear a confederate St. Andrews Cross symbol.

State and national Republicans had worried that a flag referendum the same day as the presidential election could spark a huge turnout by blacks and moderate whites and potentially affect the fortunes of GOP candidates, including President Bush.

By choosing to schedule the referendum during the March primary instead, Perdue averts that problem, but that is expected to be fought by Democrats.

The vote would not be binding. If voters reject the current flag, the flag they favor would be submitted to the Legislature, which would have the final say.

The newspaper said it obtained details of Perdue's plan from people close to those who attended meetings with the governor Tuesday.

The current flag, featuring a tiny image of the Confederate emblem, was adopted in 2001 at the behest of Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes. He was defeated in a re-election bid in the fall, and blamed public anger over the new flag.

It replaced a banner adopted in 1956, in the midst of Southern segregationist defiance, that carried the Confederate battle emblem.

[meandog]

Hmm-m-m-m, I thought this was settled already...

[Coop]

State and national Republicans had worried that a flag referendum the same day as the presidential election could spark a huge turnout by blacks and moderate whites and potentially affect the fortunes of GOP candidates, including President Bush.

Yes. And it could also spark a huge turnout by conservatives, leading to an even greater victory for Bush and the GOP.

You know, kinda like what happened in 2002.

[taxcontrol]

Ok, I'll bite.

Why? Will voting to 'keep' the flag change the past? Will getting rid of it improve the future?

Seems like a waste of taxpayer dollars designed to inflame passions with no possibly good result.

[meandog]

Supporters of old flag march on Atlanta Tuesday

[lugsoul]

those aren't supporters of the old flag. those are supporters of the post-'56 flag. I am constantly amazed how those who endlessly cry about "heritage" dismiss the idea of actually using the traditional state flag, as opposed to one that was adopted as a defiant symbolic stance against school integration.

[Republican Red]

Many here in Georgia were upset that the former governor, Roy Barnes, changed the flag without consulting the citizens of Georgia. I live in a very conservative district in Georgia and have found most support going back to the pre 1956 flag. Some even support the current flag. I haven't heard anyone want to go back to the post 1956 confederate battle flag. We aren't the racist and biggots the democrats are painting us. Georgians should be given the chance to decide the Georgia flag.

[cdefreese]

Ditto.

I seriously doubt that they would coincide the flag vote to be Super Tuesday '04. If so, it could possibly help conservatives or even hurt...just depends on how much the 'get out the vote' works for the Dems and the NAACP.

Personally I'd rather have the pre '56 flag, but if there were to give 3 choices:
1. Pre-56 flag
2. Post-56 flag
3. Keep current flag
it would split the conservative base in two. Really, I don't care that much about it. Even if it was voted on, the measure would be non-binding, so the state legislatures could do whatever they wanted anyways, regardless of how the public voted.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Most of the natives I have discussed this with, including myself, would have no problem going back to the pre-1956 flag.

The 1956-2001 flag was instituted soley for the reason of protest against segregation, so it does not belong.

The new flag is a hideous design, propagated through back room deals made possible by king roy Barnes. Therefore, it does not belong either.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Please see #8.

[tessalu]

We can not change history, and we might like to, but we cannot. We need to learn from past mistakes, and not play the part of fools thinking that we can erase history. We must stand and be judged for it. To think that getting rid of the flag will change anything, is pure foolishness.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

What has always bugged me on the Confederate Flag issue is that.....

The same people who cry out for tolerance, diversity, multi-culturalism, etc....are the same ones who do not want to practice the same in trying to get rid of the Confederate Flag.....not taking into account that a number of people in the South do hold it as a symbol of heritage.

Maybe its time for the Diversity/Multiculturalism crowd to take a sensitivity course.

If the Confederate Flag is a symbol of racism and segregation....then they need to get rid of the multi-colored Africa flags you see around. Slavery is still quite commonplace in Africa....and the Africa flag is a symbol of present day slavery.

The South got rid of slavery some 140 years ago

[GOPcapitalist]

By choosing to schedule the referendum during the March primary instead, Perdue averts that problem, but that is expected to be fought by Democrats.

This move was a stroke of brilliance by Purdue. First, it takes a step toward undoing the leftist PC-revisionism of 'rat King Roy.

And at the same time it will make the confederate flag an issue in the Georgia Dem primary! It's already causing a stir in the SC one as the 'rat candidates try to win the state without stepping on the feet of their chief support group, the NAACP, and its stupid boycott. Now Georgia will be in the same position, and we all know what that means for the 'rat primary - good news for Revvvrund Al!

[taxcontrol]

Don't get me wrong. Any state should be able to decide for it'self what it wants to fly.

I just don't see any purpose here with a positive outcome.

[GOPcapitalist]

those are supporters of the post-'56 flag. I am constantly amazed how those who endlessly cry about "heritage" dismiss the idea of actually using the traditional state flag

Persons concerned with the heritage issue should be happy with either one. The post-'56 flag included the confederate battle flag cross. The pre-'56 flag included the "bars" from the confederate "stars and bars" national flag.

[GOPcapitalist]

The same people who cry out for tolerance, diversity, multi-culturalism, etc....are the same ones who do not want to practice the same in trying to get rid of the Confederate Flag

Exactly. Have you ever noticed that the exact same people who claim a constitutional right to burn the American flag as "symbolic speech" are the same ones who want to ban others from flying confederate flags?

[Republican Red]

Just saw a news report here in Georgia with a group of African-Americans chanting "we won't go back". One guy proclaimed that he knew the majority of Georgians wanted to go back to slavery.

Talk about biggots and racists. I believe that they are afraid that (as every poll has confirmed) the majority of Georgians will not vote back the post-1956 flag. What would they have to do all day if not crying racism?

[mirkwood]

http://www.sos.state.ga.us/museum/html/georgia_state_flag_1879_1902.htm

[FreedomPoster]

I'm with you, and have promoted reverting to the pre-'56 flag for quite some time.

When it came out, the new flag won an award from some vexillogical (study of flags) society for "worst new flag of the year". Honestly.

[JohnnyZ]

I've heard that polls show much more support for the pre-1956 flag than the post- or the King Roy Flag.