[Rebeleye]

DURHAM - One of the most rapid-fire political talk shows came to North Carolina on Thursday night, with U.S. Sen. John Edwards trying to better his on-camera performance record.

MSNBC's "Hardball" featured Edwards in a live broadcast from N.C. Central University in Durham with host Chris Matthews peppering Edwards on issues from Iraq to smoking in restaurants.

Edwards, who has stumbled on a couple of national political talk shows over the past year, offered a few unpopular positions for a Democrat: refusing to call Bill Clinton a "good president"; opposing gay marriage; and -- after being asked three times -- saying George Bush was "legitimately elected."

He gave more party-line positions, though, in opposing both private school vouchers and limits on malpractice awards. He also endorsed the University of Michigan's affirmative action program, which awarded bonus points to minorities and has resulted in a U.S. Supreme Court challenge.

Matthews challenged Edwards for criticizing South Carolina's flying the Confederate flag but saying New York City's ban on smoking in restaurants is for them to decide. "Why is one a local issue and the other not?" Matthews asked.

Edwards shot back that "the Confederate flag is an offensive symbol to people all across the country."

The "Hardball" visit to N.C. Central was the 15th of 30 stops on the program's "college tour."

[Paul Atreides]

So, the DNC's Ken doll speaks out.

[Inspectorette]

Well, he can kiss the Southern vote goodbye. Dweeb.

[connectthedots]

A number of quotes that will come back to haunt him. He might as well drop out of the race now.

[TheBattman]

It's only offensive to biggots.

[montag813]

Sen. Edwards: "The Confederate flag is an offensive symbol to people all across the country."

Why? It's just a flag.

[SJSAMPLE]

I find Kalifornia's restriction of 2nd Ammendment rights "offensive."

I find Kalifornia's gay rights agenda offensive.

I can go on and on. It's amazing that a trial lawyer of some accomplishment like Edwards would use this specious logic.

[nobdysfool]

Edwards shot back that "the Confederate flag is an offensive symbol to people all across the country."

It is my understanding that the Confederate Flag was not flown at South Carolina's Statehouse until the late 50's / early 60's (1960's, that is). It's a touchy subject down there, because some know that the State began to fly it as a protest to the Civil Rights movement. I have this info from a relative who lives in South Carolina, and I just spent two months there myself.

In my view (as a Yankee-born sympathizer with the South over States' Rights), the Confederate Flag is a part of the heritage and history of the South, and those who find it offensive need to learn to be a little less sensitive to their own prejudices, and a little more sensitive to the rights of others to hold a different view than their own. All this PC crap is just prejudice taken to another level, and re-named to sugar-coat it and hide its real intent.

In the Old South, Edwards would be branded as a Yankee sympathizer or Carpetbagger, and dealt with accordingly...

[kabar]

Good-bye re-election to the Senate from North Carolina once his presidential ambitions fall flat. He has just committed political suicide. I suspect there will be a lot of backing and filling once the primaries are over from the now senior Senator from Nortth Carolina. Too funny for words.

[LO_IQ]

Edwards shot back that "the Confederate flag is an offensive symbol to people all across the country."

Does anyone remember seeing the pictures of black protestors standing next to huge Confederate flags when they were supporting Reno's raid on Elian's house in Miami, Florida?

I wonder if any Freeper can find some of those pictures and post them here.

The Confederate flag is selectively offensive.

[valkyrieanne]

Doesn't offend me one bit.

[WhiskeyPapa]

[3catsanadog]

Well, gee whiz, Mr. Edwards. I don't find it offensive at all. And I'm a dam Yankee.

[spartan68]

Sen. Edwards: "The Confederate flag is an offensive symbol to people all across the country."

Oh Really Sen. Edwards, guess we know how little you care about and what you really think about those who fought and died for that flag.

In honor of those who fought and died, the flag should forever fly over their graves, their monuments, and in those states that made up the CSA!
Anything less is to show dishonor to the soldiers/sailors of the CSA.

[Paulus Invictus]

I'm shocked and embarrassed! The Confederate flag waves here in Dixie and no one is offended except visiting liberals. We even haved a big statue of a Rebel officer helping a Rebel wounded soldier get on his horse. Should we take the statue and the flag down now that Edwards has cleared up the fact that they may be "offensive symbols to people all across the country?"

[ZULU]

"the Confederate flag is an offensive symbol to people all across the country."

Doesn't insult me one bit, and I've been alive here much longer than that hair-brained demogogue.

Can't he find some substantive issue to crow about?? Why are all Democraps such whinning demogogues?

[stainlessbanner]

Edwards mouthing off again.

[Polybius]

Hate-mongering Democrat race-baiters are offensive to people all across the country.

[wcbtinman]

Actually, the Confederate flag is offensive to a few bigoted people spread out across the country. Something less than 13% of the US population, who cause about 90% of the trouble.

[Mamzelle]

At the risk of being a spamming broken record, why can't any clever reporter drag Fritz Hollings into this discussion? When the DEM guv of SC in 1961, Hollings had the flag placed on the state capitol as a gesture of insult to integrationists. Now Hollings never has to answer for it, and Republicans do...! It's time to drag his name up, since both on them are Dem Senators.