S.C. Gov. Haley says 'time has come' to remove Confederate flag from state buildings

Fox News ^ | 06/22/2015

[SeekAndFind]

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Monday the Confederate flag should be removed from the grounds of the state capitol, reversing her position on the divisive symbol amid growing calls for it to be removed.

The Republican's about-face comes after nine black church members were gunned down, allegedly by a young white man who embraced the flag as a symbol of white supremacy.

"150 years after the end of the Civil War, the time has come," Haley said after rousing applause, surrounded by Democrats and Republican lawmakers. "That flag, while an integral part of the past, does not represent the future of our great state"

The flag has flown in front of the state capitol for 15 years after being moved from atop the Statehouse dome.

U.S. Sens. Lindsay Graham and Tim Scott, an African-American appointed by Haley, were standing with Haley during her announcement. When she finished, she hugged Scott and South Carolina's only other black congressman, Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn.

The announcement came after state lawmakers met urgently with each other and the governor.

The head of the Republican National Committee has also called for its removal.

Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, both of whom are Republican and running for president, said that whether to remove the flag or not was an issue for South Carolinians to determine.

[Pining_4_TX]

They also get to wave that ugly black/African flag around and nobody seems to be bothered by that.

[scbison]

I wonder how many people feel like me and just ready to give up. Way things are going, don’t plan on voting in primaries or general election as we keep losing everyday. We even win elections and we still lose.. depressing.

[greene66]

It’s the Left wanting to push into the faces of white Southern males their own feces. Just like the homo-fascists did to Christian conservatives in Indiana and Arkansas. And the GOP leaders go right along with it, like pathetic, cowardly little toadies to the Left.

It just keeps empowering the PC-Nazis. They will continue upping the ante. They’ll try to obliterate every trace of America’s history and heritage with the same vigor as ISIS, and with very similar goals, to wipe the slate clean from peoples’ collective memories, and usher in their own marxist utopia.

Normally, this shouldn’t be happening in this country. But Americans have become pathetically weak and spineless, susceptible to each and every media-generated, Alinskyite agenda. It’s embarrassing beyond words, seeing the GOP leaders so easily manipulated, and cowering like scared rabbits. Absolutely disgusting.

[jeffersondem]

“I wonder how many people feel like me and just ready to give up.”

If I understand end-time prophesy, things will get worse before they get better. Don't despair, however. I have read the end of the book. We win.

[lentulusgracchus]

A drugged out kid goes on a shooting spree and it’s a flags fault.

It's like 1984, it's time for "Two Minutes Hate", and every white person gets to be Emmanuel Goldstein.

The whites on the other side have to be embarrassed about this, but they're silent (notice the silence?). That's because they know that, other than to concur with the black rabble-rousers, they have no right to speak at all on this issue. They're racially disqualified.

Notice that Obama amped up his language today? That is significant, neighbor. Ponder that a while. He does not do anything in this whitey-baiting game carelessly or without forethought and bouncing it off his kitchen cabinet.

The other side is "elevating their game". Next they'll demand that whites be purged from office in all the former Confederate States, and systematically discouraged, nay prevented, from voting.

Remember, "the issues are never the issue. The Revolution is always the issue." That's what this is, an antimajoritarian, hate-fuelled revolution.

[manc]

To think in the past men and women gave their lives to defend and fight for the country on both sides. Today we have a bunch of pansies and yes there are some on here who won’t speak up for fear of being called a name .

[KC Burke]

She did have a fine announcement calling for the removal from State property of a honored by divisive symbol.

It would have helped if she had said that a temporary honorific to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Civil War which was instituted by a former Democrat administration and Governor had failed to have included adequate sun-set provisions and it now was up to a Republican administration to repair the oversight and this was a time for honoring the dead of a terrible event with this correction.

[V K Lee]

Our own new member of the Taliban. They must remove History in order to be able to re-write it. This is no better than taking our current US flag and desecration of same. It is a part of the SOUTH (brother against brother). And need it be said that blacks carried this flag on the battle fields of history? It was not just the ‘pale skins’. Next they’ll be doing away with our cotton.

[re_nortex]

As it was then so it is now, the Ku Klux Klan is a branch of the DemonRAT party. And those 'RATs have always embraced the Confederate battle flag.

Sorry Lent, but on this issue I side with Governor Haley. I will concede that the apparent motivation for the flag's removal was ill-timed. As a Republican, she should have had it taken down on her very first day in office. That would have been a principled stance against what the despicable 'RAT Fritz Hollings put there in the first place. In my opinion, Rush Limbaugh got it right today when he made it clear that the Confederate battle flag is 'RAT through and through...always has been, always will be.

[cmj328]

Press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msmy-KAD6S4

[Rome2000]

You side with Governor Nimrata Randhawa the adulteress slut you mean.

No, the flag is a symbol of defiance against the degenerate scumbags in DC from both parties and their running dogs marxist and plutocrat allies.

Limbaugh?

Surprised you could even hear any content at all, nothing but commercials and the minimal content in between increasingly sucks.

[sargon]

I agree with the governor's decision. There's no reason to display the confederate battle flag on state property if it's going to antagonize a large percentage of the state's population.

While I fully realize that the Civil War had political dimensions which were outside of the slavery issue, for many black citizens, it did represent, to them, at least, the state endorsing the vestiges of the slavery era.

As such, I think it is wise for the governor to put this issue in the rear view mirror.

Something tells me that the Battle Flag of the Confederacy will still enjoy plenty of expression throughout the state, wherever private citizens, businesses, societies, museums, memorials, etc. think it is appropriate.

I hope that the die-hard Southern Heritage element will not let this stick in their craws. This does not represent a diminishing of the legacy left by the brave and proud soldiers who fought for States Rights in the South.

But the logical association of that symbol with slavery is undeniable, and as such, it should probably not be displayed on public property which is intended to serve a unified South Carolina citizenry. Thus, I don't find it controversial that the Battle Flag of a vanquished foe will no longer be displayed on state grounds.

Flame suit on.

[jeffersondem]

“And those ‘RATs have always embraced the Confederate battle flag.”

Have you ever seen a photo of “RATs” with a United States flag? Or Ku Kluxers with a United States flag? If such a photo exists, that proves exactly what?

[re_nortex]

Addendum: I spent a good amount of time searching for any photo with Ronald Reagan posing with a Confederate battle flag. There were none. Without fail, the presidents (or wannabes) associated with that flag were all rats -- KKKarter, KKKlintoon, Woody Wilson, William J. Bryan and so on.

And here in Dallas, when 'RAT JFK was welcomed at Love Field in 1963, there were plenty of those flags flying in support. Likewise along the motorcade. So those are among the reasons why I associate the Confederate battle flag with that "other" party, not with the party of Reagan.

[American in Israel]

Women in leadership. Hmmmm...

[greene66]

Indeed. It’s because of days like today that I have absolutely zero faith and zero trust in either America or the American people. The sheer cowering and toadying of our leaders and our populace before PC-Nazis. We’ve become an embarrassing disgrace to all our forefathers who fought and built up this nation to the greatness it once attained, but now so willingly tosses away.

And next week likely gets even better, when the SC will probably impose the abject depravity of sodomite-marriage onto the country. A nation of cowards and faggots. There’s no way this rotted country stands much longer. And there won’t even be a reason left to mourn its ignoble demise.

[Delta 21]

PATHETIC

[jeffersondem]

“. . . I think it is wise for the governor to put this issue in the rear view mirror.”

The orchestrated caving on this issue is probably the way our nation's leadership - Rat and Rino - will cave on marriage. And on firearm ownership. And on Iran getting nuclear weapons - just time to put the issues in the rear view mirror and make peace with the liberals.

[re_nortex]

I don't find it controversial that the Battle Flag of a vanquished foe will no longer be displayed on state grounds.

Well said and it looks like we're in the minority here. I realize that Free Republic is not a GOP site, marching in lockstep with the Republican party. But is surely is an anti-liberal and thus anti-DemonRAT forum. That's why I find it odd that so many here are supporting a flag that, throughout history, is part and parcel of the political party that opposed not only Lincoln but also Ronald Reagan.

[Rome2000]

There's no reason to display the confederate battle flag on state property if it's going to antagonize a large percentage of the state's population.

The State legislature represents a populace that has elected exactly (1) current black House member.

So the likelihood of them sending lame duck Governor Nimarata Randhawa the adulteress slut a bill to remove the flag is not likely.