Posted on 07/01/2015 12:03:03 PM PDT by TNMOUTH
After sidestepping questions about the issue over the weekend, Gov. Scott Walker on Monday said he supports South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from the state Capitol.
"I am glad @nikkihaley is calling for the Confederate flag to come down. I support her decision - SKW," Walker tweeted from his political account shortly after Haley called for the flag to be taken down.
The push to remove the flag comes in the wake of the racially-motivated killing of nine black worshippers in a historic Charleston church last week.
Dylann Roof, a white 21-year-old man, has said he hoped the shooting would spark a race war, CNN reported.
In the days after the shooting, politicians across the political spectrum, from President Barack Obama to his former opponent Mitt Romney, called for the flag to be taken down, arguing that a symbol of segregation has no place at the statehouse.
Walker, in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, condemned the shooting as "racist" and "evil." But talking to reporters, he avoided weighing in on the debate over the flag and what it represents.
"I think they're going to have a good healthy debate and should have that debate in South Carolina amongst officials at the state level," Walker said, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I just think before I or anyone else weighs in on anything to do with policy, whether it's this or any other policy decisions, we should honor the dead and the families by allowing them to bury their loved ones. And then you could perfectly ask me that question at some point in the next week or two when that's done."
At the political event, Walker also wouldn't say whether he sees the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism.
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now criticized Walker's initial response, accusing the governor of being too focused on his likely presidential campaign to take a stand.
“There’s no denying the racism and oppression represented by the Confederate flag and there’s no defense for its display in public, on public property," said OWN executive director Scot Ross. "It is appalling that Scott Walker is so blinded by his political ambition he’s willing to abide the flying of a flag that symbolizes racism, hatred and oppression."
Walker was one of several 2016 contenders to give carefully worded answers to questions about the flag over the weekend.
Both former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio, also of Florida, alluded to "making the right choice," but neither said what that choice should be. However, Bush said in a statement that his position on how to address the flag is clear.
As governor, Bush had the flag taken down from Florida's Capitol in 2001.
"In Florida we acted, moving the flag from the state grounds to a museum where it belonged," Bush said in a statement. "This is obviously a very sensitive time in South Carolina and our prayers are with the families, the AME church community and the entire state. 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."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, also a Republican presidential candidate, joined Haley in calling for the flag's removal on Monday.
For the flag to be taken down, two-thirds of the state Legislature must vote to approve it.
Haley noted Monday the decision would not affect people who wish to fly the flag on their own property.
BTW, how are you guys doing down there in TX? I was in your area a month ago but it was for a niece’s wedding so we had no time for anything.
Would have liked to meet up.
Would love to. A little hot, of course but otherwise okay.
Scott Walker just destroyed all of his chances with some very uninformed politically correct statements about the Confederate flag.
Says Mitt Walker, the nothing burger GOP unannounced candidate of 2016. He has peaked and he hasn’t even announced yet.
Without white flag waving Republicans, we wouldn’t be in this mess...no effort by Republicans to inform the sheep about the history of the flag, just fall in line with the lefts demands...just like McConnell and Boehner. Scott is not POTUS worthy. We need to do much better than him to turn course to save the country.
We are fighting a formidible foe ... the Socialist Democrats and the Left ... who don't take prisoners and who don't provide any quarter.
I know the GOPEs see this ... it's just that, well, business and personal political power come first. Although it's true that unlike the socialist Democrats and the Left GOPEs and RINOs defend the Constitution, but they do so only when it's convenient and doesn't take time and effort from their primary objectives (pun intended).
“Not hard to predict considering his funding sources”
Yep....dead giveaway.
That would have been a wise answer on the flag issue, and on many other issues as well. Not as a dodge, but as a sign of respect for the 10th Amendment.
The comb over guy is in a class by himself. He’s high on the entertainment scale but low on the electable.
Didn’t even need the Carnac turban for that one.
1000
*****************************
That's disappointing.
The more and more I hear Walker talk and look at him more and more closely, the less and less impressed I become.
I won’ support any candidate that supports removal of the CBF. PERIOD!
” Not hard to predict considering his funding sources”
It will be a sad day if we ever miss one.....but that possibility is quite remote.
Reagan lied. I’m a huge fan, but he lied. And if you don’t believe that, then you’re the idiot. As for the rest of your examples, please... When the next coming of one of them occurs, be sure to let me know. In the meantime, we’re stuck with a bunch of “meh”. I can’t get excited over any of them. Cruz maybe. But I also suspect I’ll never get the chance to vote for him. (go ahead and write that down)
A point against you for bowing to political pressure from "the mob."
“Haley noted Monday the decision would not affect people who wish to fly the flag on their own property.”
That is real generous of her. You mean, she feels the need to verbalize that.
Marking another liberal Republican off my list. Its still Cruz or lose!!
How is it phony for northern governor who says it’s up to the state to decide to then support that states elected governor’s decision? You seem to think everyone in the country has the same attachment to the rebel flag you do, but it represents different things to different people. To a lot of southerners it represents southern pride. To a lot of blacks it represent slavery and oppression. To a lot of northerners (and not just liberals) it represents treason and slavery. Just because someone doesn’t hold your view of it doesn’t make the phony. And if South Carolinians don’t like it their issue is with Haley, not Walker.
I find the Gay flag extremely offensive. On it’s face it looks juvenile friendly, something from “My Little Pony” or Sesame Street. I do not think we need a flag, that represents sexuality hanging along with the American flag or any flag for that matter. It has nothing to do with patriotism in any manner, is not aligned with any organized State or Federal entity. in fact, it is just something else to entice our children into believing homosexuality is harmless and creates a situation where parents have to explain sexual deviancy to their children. It should be banned and I am not kidding. Why didn’t the LGBT community chose something a little more representative of their lifestyle, like maybe a d!!do.
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