Romney, Thompson criticize Confederate flag

CNN ^ | 11-28-2007 | – CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

[Eddie01]

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee criticized the Confederate flag, which happens to be hoisted on the Statehouse grounds in the early primary state of South Carolina.

[snip]

Both candidates are front-runners in South Carolina. Both may have to answer questions about those comments next time they hit the state.

[end]

[Sax]

It was a cheap shot from CNN. The Conferderate battle flag has it’s place in history. That is where it should be.

Mitt was baited and did not want to hesitate, so he bit on it. He should have discounted the question as it was posed. Neither here nor there, but this candidate didn't handle it well.

[billbears]

Actually the Suit did criticize it and said something to the effect it shouldn't be shown anywhere. I suppose he wouldn't be welcome at my house as the only flag in front of my house is the Stars and Bars. Number two, I won't vote for a candidate if they come out against the flag of my ancestors (even though the gentleman did not have the Stars and Bars on his wall as Anderson stated). Indifferent is one thing. Negativity to a symbol of which I am proud another. Three, it matters who he supports? There is a deeper underlying meaning to that flag and that is a recognition of the First Republic (although I realize many Republicans don't much care for a nation of separate and sovereign states as evidenced by the socon desire to legislate morality at the national level)

[Neu Pragmatist]

LOL ! And you think Tommy Thompson should be Prez ?

Now that is funny !

[TheLion]

I am amazed that Republicans allow themselves to debate in a socialist venue that a company like CNN puts on. My god, aren’t there any other options?

[al_bore_jr]

I thought civil war was over. Why is the confederate flag an issue any more? It is old history and irrelevent to modern era.

[Neu Pragmatist]

No doubt .
The Dims are cowards for not going on Fox to debate , and the Republicans are cowards for not being able to unify and say NO to these Leftist / MSM set-up debates .

[Lady Heron]

bah...what a waste of a topic. Who cares!?

The South!!!! Go figure.

The flag means many things to many people,...leave it at that.

To bad Romney did not and had to comment, his loss. What did Thompson say or is that a media lie?? I can't imagine a guy from Tennessee being that stupid....ever!

[TheLion]

Dims are cowards for not going to Fox, yet the Republicans cower and go to CNN....someone needs to get some brain cells.

[Ingtar]

Romney: Right now, with the kinds of issues we got in this country, I’m not going to get involved with a flag like that. That’s not a flag that I recognize so that I would hold up in my room.

The people of our country have decided not to fly that flag. I think that’s the right thing.

(Applause)

My own view is that this country can go beyond that kind of stuff, and that instead we can do as a party what we need to do, which is to reach out to all Americans.

Every time I listen to someone like John Edwards get on TV and say there are two Americans, I just want to — I just want to throw something at the TV, because there are not two Americas. There’s one America.

We are a nation united. We face extraordinary challenges right now. And Democrats dividing us and tearing down this country are doing exactly the wrong thing.

We’re succeeding in Iraq. We’ve got tough challenges. We can overcome them. But we do not need to have that kind of divisive talk. And that flag, frankly, is divisive, and it shouldn’t be shown.

Cooper: Governor Thompson? Excuse me, Senator Thompson? Maybe one day.

Thompson: I know that everybody who hangs the flag up in their room like that is not racist. I also know that for a great many Americans it’s a symbol of racism.

So, therefore, as a public place — he’s free to do whatever he wants to in his home. As far as a public place is concerned, I am glad that people have made the decision not to display it as a prominent flag, symbolic of something, at a state capitol. As a part of a group of flags or something of that nature, you know, honoring various servicepeople at different times in different parts of the country, I think that’s different.

But, as a nation, we don’t need to go out of our way to be bringing up things that to certain people in our country that’s bad for them.

[eyedigress]

Much of your post I agree. I don't remember any Flag in history raising such a discussion. It is PC run-amok that wants apology for family's that believe in State's Rights. That Flag represents how a campaign of media lies changes history. I have 4 papers of the NY Times circa '62, '63 and the reporting is straight up. The history of our Country is vibrant and controversial. I was flamed tonite for defending the display of the flag.

[Shortstop7]

I agree. Fred’s answer was good.

[Schwaeky]

Did the Huckster touch on this? I’m not a single issue voter, and I still lean towards Fred, but I could swallow my pride on a number of issues I disagree with the man from hope on if he solidly defended the flag of my ancestors...

[Neu Pragmatist]

The Republicans are idiots or masochists for repeatedly going to these inane and abusive debates .

[TheLion]

You must have confused my response with someone else.

[stylin19a]

At least it can’t be hijacked as a Anna Nicole Smith thread...oh wait. darn, I did it again.

[Verginius Rufus]

The guy who asked the question had both the battle flag and the stars and bars on his wall.

I thought Fred's answer was OK, but Mitt's was insulting to anyone with Confederate ancestors.

[Neu Pragmatist]

Mitt Flopper never misses a chance to distance himself from controversial issues .

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

Let me preface this by saying that I’m a Yankee originally from Chicago. But here is my take.

Every group - Southerners included - should get to determine FOR THEMSELVES what symbols they choose to honor as part of their heritage. If some feel that confederate flag does that for them, they’re perfectly entitled to fly that flag.

Why is this even controversial? Especially among conservatives?

Hank

[jwh_Denver]

The RNC ought to be put on suicide watch. Maybe not.

[eyedigress]

You're looking like your health is with you! :^)