Gov. Nikki Haley will hold a news conference in Columbia at 4 p.m. today at which, sources said, she will call for the Confederate flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds.
The move comes as lawmakers are exploring if the removal can be done legislatively in the coming days, tying their heightened attention to the recent shooting deaths of nine members of the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
Haley’s office would not confirm what the discussion would be.
Lawmakers have an unfinished budget, but are considering using the current extended session to address wording that would remove the flag from the Confederate monument as part of the 2015-16 state spending plan.
Well as of right now it is not written in stone that the flag will be removed, and there will surely be a huge fight and political backlash, but I think that this news is somewhat encouraging.
Ultimately I believe that the flag will be removed.
Personally I like John Oliver's take on the Confederate flag controversy.
Update: Nikki Haley has now officially called for the removal of the Confederate flag:
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state Capitol Monday, less than a week after a 21-year-old white man gunned down nine people at a historic African American church.
Support for the flag to come down from leaders around the state and around the country has been steadily growing in the wake of the devastating attack.
"Today, we are here in a moment of unity in our state, without ill will, to say it is time to move the flag from the Capitol grounds," Haley said during a news conference attended by Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, along with other state leaders.
The announcement was met by applause and cheers from those in attendance.
"The announcement was met by applause and cheers from those in attendance." Okay, well that's a start.
I read on DKos this morning that a dem state senator put forward a bill this morning about removing the flag - and - that it seemed to have some bipartisan support. About a half hour or so after reading that news came the announcement of the news conferance at 4 pm. I have to wonder if dear old Nikki would have had that conference if there wasn't a bill in front of the state reps? Seems to me that she is trying to either hitch a ride on that bill or, even more probable, will she try to co opt the whole thing and take credit for the removal of the flag.
ReplyDeleteI watched her presser, Kerry, and I thought it was no act on her part. More like enough is enough. Take it down.
DeleteMaybe, but enough is enough of what. It wasn't that long ago the she said (paraphrasing here) that the CEO's weren't complaining. In the last few days there have been reports of CEO's doing just that. Most notably Tim Cook of Apple. Her enough is enough could just be that she has her marching orders from the various CEO's in South Carolina. Boycotts can be messy. South Carolina’s largest employers include BMW Manufacturing, Piggly Wiggly, Adidas, Kraft, Michelin and Nestlé
DeleteI think she really believes it should be removed, but would never have started the ball rolling herself and she would never have promoted the idea unless it had bipartisan support. She's a coward who doesn't want to alienate the base, just like the rest of her party.
DeleteSaying the Confederate Flag represents heritage while calling for it to be removed is still giving cover to racism. #NikkiHaley
Deletehttps://twitter.com/brucepknight/status/613077542476619776
It was a REPUBLICAN senator who considered the state senator Clementa Pinckney to be one of his closest friends and one of the finest men he's ever known who put forward the bill.
DeleteShe's your next president, if you're not careful. Been telling you that for a year already don't know why I should expect you to listen to me now.
DeleteGOP - Jeb!/Nikki 2016?
Deletedowl
ya are kidding right? there wont be a republican in the wh until that clown club dissolves, flushes and disappears for a long long time. THEY STINK AND SUCK
DeleteHaley will not be President. Too many skeletons. Too many name changes. She's certainly not white enough for the GOP, and now, she's taken a stand against their hate symbol?
Delete
ReplyDeleteI don't usually agree with what Ben Carson says. Today i am surprised with what he has to say about the Charlestown hate crime.
"Ben Carson: Call it racism
You can't lead if you can't face the facts.
Not everything is about race in this country. But when it is about race, then it just is. So when a guy who has been depicted wearing a jacket featuring an apartheid-era Rhodesian flag allegedly walks into a historic black church and guns down nine African-American worshipers at a Bible study meeting, common sense leads one to believe his motivations are based in racism. When a survivor of the ordeal reports that the killer shouted before opening fire, "You rape our women and you're taking over our country. And you have to go" — well, that sounds to me a lot like racial hatred.
Let's call this sickness what it is, so we can get on with the healing. If this were a medical disease, and all the doctors recognized the symptoms but refused to make the diagnosis for fear of offending the patient, we could call it madness. But there are people who are claiming that they can lead this country who dare not call this tragedy an act of racism, a hate crime, for fear of offending a particular segment of the electorate.
I understand the sensitivities. To some, calling the events in Charleston, S.C., a hate crime reinforces a stigma, which they have fought hard to put behind them. But refusing to call it what it is — racism — is a far more dangerous proposition. It reminds me of the early response to Ebola. American health officials were alerted to an epidemic in West Africa, and yet when a patient who had recently left one of the most affected regions showed up at a hospital displaying all the symptoms, the doctors failed to diagnose his condition. This not only led to the eventual death of the patient due to inadequate care but also exposed dozens of others to the deadly virus. When you wait too long to identify the problem, you miss your best chance to stop it.
"
More at
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/06/22/ben-carson-south-carolina-shooting-column/29074387/?utm_content=16566042&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
Well said and an excellent analogy was made.
DeleteBen Carson is such a numbskull (outside of his narrow expertise) that we are actually impressed when he states the obvious.
DeleteLike Haley, this sounds fishy to me. The GOP never does anything without payback. Somehow the Kochs are involved in this.
DeleteGryphen, Graham's grandson...
ReplyDeleteSarah you still up?
DeleteIs that where Todd's new wings came from?
DeleteYeah, blames his WIFE having an affair for his own affair. The GOP men are such brave guys...reminds me of Sanford blaming his wife for his extracurricular activity. And so many more...bunch of cowards who can't keep their pants zipped.
DeleteThey are trying to remove the flag quickly the proposal the senator is making wouldn't come up until later this summer I believe.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, whether you wish to believe that flag is or is not a symbol of racism - from this point on I believe there is no doubt.
Nikki Haley reassured South Carolinians that they will still be free to fly the Confederate Battle Flag on their own property.
ReplyDeleteAt least that'll bring out the bigotry even more into the open, where the glare will shrivel it.
At least any normal person in SC will know who the racists are.
DeleteDylann Storm Roof may get his race war yet.
DeleteMany of the white politicians (state and federal) representing South Carolina do not want the Confederate flag to come down. They are on record for having said so.
ReplyDeleteI anticipate this being a huge fight! I think it should come down and be placed in a museum as President Obama suggested a few days ago.
Love, love, love how things are coming to light in the recent days. People are actually talking about race issues and it's damned time! We are a proven, continued racist nation and things have to change. We are all equal on this earth - no matter our color, religion or non religion.
I sense Republicans learning their lesson the hard way! They are trying so hard right now not to appear racists (even though there is proof they are!). Cracks me up their thinking they are fooling us!
Elections will be held in 2016 where I suspect we'll see many Republicans lose their existing seats. It'll occur on federal, state and local levels! I'm going to be smiling all the way to the ballot box!
They probably want the flag gone before Sen. Clementa Pinckney lies in state at the Statehouse.
ReplyDeleteStreetview of the Confederate soldier memorial and the Confederate flag in front of the Statehouse.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/South+Carolina+State+House/@34.001205,-81.033519,3a,75y,161h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sb7v-e05GUDvzuCMZ5Yp9wg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26output%3Dthumbnail%26thumb%3D2%26panoid%3Db7v-e05GUDvzuCMZ5Yp9wg%26w%3D223%26h%3D75%26yaw%3D161%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D120%26ll%3D34.001205,-81.033519!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x88f8bb2a43c2b48f:0x4178fc150736a6ca!6m1!1e1
and then there's tiny url
Deletehttp://tinyurl.com/ng96gh7
Wasilla Republican’s aide still getting taxpayer-funded salary after trying to shoot her son’s fiancee
ReplyDeleteA senior aide to a Republican legislator in Alaska, who attempted to shoot her son’s fiancee, is still on state payrolls months after admitting to the crime. She is one of the state’s highest paid employees.
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/wasilla-republicans-aide-still-getting-taxpayer-funded-salary-after-trying-to-shoot-her-sons-fiancee/
Boy, they sure know how to square things up in Sarah's Wasilla!
DeleteSo I guess it's safe to say that Dakota Meyer dodged more than one bullet.
That story was in the Frontiersman on June 11, 2015.
DeleteWas the Frontiersman actually first on that?
Lol...
DeleteToo bad it it had to take the obviously race-based killing of nine Black people in a church to bring down a flag that has no business flying over any building, let alone a state building.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they have the 2/3 votes necessary to remove it. My Dad lives in SC. Racist as fuck. -sjp
ReplyDelete2:11 PM, they don't need 2/3 of the state legislature voting to remove the flag. They'd need it only if it was an amendment to the state constitution, but it's not. It's just a state law, passed before the mid-1960s Civil Rights Act. It requires only a majority vote to change or repeal the law.
ReplyDeleteI live just over the border in GA. Racist as fuck here, too. But if CEOs start exerting pressure -- and snowbirds, spring breakers, and golf tournament organizers decide to spend their hard-earned dollars in a state that *doesn't* have a national black eye for its promotion of racism -- I think those lawmakers will shut up and fall in line.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I was surprised to learn that this flag would be flying on statehouse grounds in ANY state today. I figured they would have given up doing that for good around the beginning of the 20th century. Guess not.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I'm not surprised.
DeleteThe South keeps thinking they "will rise again" but what they fail to realize is they were never on top to begin with. Let's just let "them, the South" go their own way and forget about them forever. Nothing lost, and in fact we'd be getting rid of ALL the welfare states so our budget would be balanced again within two years. Buh-Bye South, I for one will be happy that my Federal Tax Dollars aren't going to your welfare/medicaid/foodstamp programs. If you were "so great" to begin with, well hey, how's about growing some food to feed your new country?
DeleteMaybe you should put down your broad brush, 3:07, and try not to throw shade all over people you don't know anything about.
DeleteAnd as for the south being able to grow food to feed their new country, that would be the least of the south's worries.
Maybe you would like to try feeding your family without all the meat, fruits, and vegetables brought to your table by southern farmers.
The problems faced by our country will only be solved by working together, not by just "getting rid" of people we don't like.
Tell that to the South...what do you think old Dylan was trying to accomplish? He was 'getting rid' of people he hated. That;s what the Southern hate radio folks told him to do..eliminate people he hates...blacks. The South was never interested in 'working together.' Look at Texas and their gold depository...they are not 'working together.' The South and frankly, the GOP, want to go their own way.
DeleteSo...because "old Dylan" acted that way, we should act that way as well? And because "old Dylan" was a southern racist, all southerners are racist, and want to secede from the United States?
DeleteI think you have just proven my point.
There are many Southerners who have no intention of behaving the way "old Dylan" behaved. And, there are very many Southerners, of all races, who are truly horrified by "old Dylan's" actions.
Do you think all the hate radio folks are southern? There's plenty of racism in northern states. Do we exile Northern racists to Southern states? What about racists in Alaska, who discriminate against Native Americans? And what do we do with people like you...someone who wants to "get rid of" several million citizens, merely because they reside in a certain part of this country?
And, just to let you know, Texas is not the South.
Twitter conservatives furious at ‘RINO’ Nikki Haley for supporting Confederate flag’s removal
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/twitter-conservatives-furious-at-rino-s-c-gov-nikki-haley-for-supporting-confederate-flags-removal/
Nikki Haley’s Announcement Triggers More GOP Confederate Flag Opposition
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mediaite.com/online/nikki-haleys-announcement-triggers-more-gop-confederate-flag-opposition/
Republicans Tread Carefully in Criticism of Confederate Flag
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/22/us/politics/republicans-tread-carefully-in-criticism-of-confederate-flag.html?rref=us
Shout out to the people outraged that the president said "nigger" once but don't care about the countless times he's been called it since 08
https://twitter.com/marclamonthill/status/613006561628151808
Republicans Decide Time Has Come To Take Sorta Brave Stand Against Confederate Flag
ReplyDeletehttp://wonkette.com/589159/republicans-decide-time-has-come-to-take-sorta-brave-stand-against-confederate-flag
http://wonkette.com/589035/gop-candidates-on-confederate-flag-ranked-from-yellow-to-romney
In a desperate attempt to hide their role in pushing the GOP’s racist rhetoric, Fox News is claiming that the Confederate flag is the flag of the Democratic Party.
ReplyDeleteVideo:
Fox News host Andrea Tantaros said, “You know what baffles the mind? This isn’t a Republican flag. Historically this was the flag of southern Democrats, remember that, fact? I find this flag offensive. This flag represents the fight in slavery, and it was a flag that the southern Democrats — Democrats — used to fly against Northern Republicans so I’m not sure why Republicans are getting peppered over this.”
Tantaros brought up an old time favorite misleading statement by the right. Southerners did support the Democratic Party, but what Fox News likes to leave out is that racist ideological strain left the Democratic Party and moved over to the Republicans during the Civil Rights movement.
It is ridiculous for anyone to claim that the Confederate flag is the flag of the party that is led by the nation’s first African-American president. It is even more absurd for Fox News to ignore the fact that it was Republicans who supported flying the Confederate flag over the state capitol.
Republicans are getting hammered for this because they are the party that pushed for the Confederate flag as a symbol of “Southern heritage.” The Confederate flag is not a Republican flag or a Democratic flag. It is a symbol of slavery, racism and hate.
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/22/fox-news-desperate-calls-confederate-flag-flag-democratic-party.html
Taking down that Confederate flag will be a significant symbolic victory for democracy, equality, and the Union. However, I don't think SC bigots will graciously take losing the public display of their white supremacist flag and worry how they might act out.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how the SC legislature handles this. Current SC law requires a 2/3 vote from both houses in order to remove the Confederate battle flag or a majority vote to change that law. The Post & Courier is keeping track of how the votes are lining up on the issue. [h/t Little Green Football]
http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/dcce?Site=CP&Date=20150622&Category=StaticPages&Module=15&Class=15&Type=StaticPages&ID=432782
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/06/22/3672428/big-lie-takes-remove-confederate-flag-south-carolina/
Meanwhile, at least one organization is calling on SC to take down the USA flag.
ReplyDelete"Michael Hill, the president of the League of the South, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has listed as a hate group, said that the Confederate battle flag should remain at the State House but that the American flag should be removed.
"The American flag, Mr. Hill wrote, “now stands for multiculturalism, tolerance and diversity — the left’s unholy trinity.” In “sharp contrast,” he wrote, the Confederate battle flag “stands for the heroic effort our people made 150 years ago to avoid the fate” of contemporary America.”"
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/20/us/outrage-vs-tradition-wrapped-in-a-confederate-flag.html?_r=0
The only reason she was so quick to act was because she rather sacrifice the flag over the guns.
ReplyDeleteShe knows that she had to give up one or the other. Her statement at the end of her speech was along the lines "there, I'm taking down the flag now leave us alone to grieve. No more talking about this matter"
Part of a comment at the Pond
ReplyDeletefamouswolf TBo • 7 minutes ago
We Johnny Rebs have long held that the South would rise again...and hand the Union/Federals their rear ends on a platter.
I say...lets get with it, Karl Rove, 0bama, all who want to rumble. Let's get it done!
In spite of it's flaws, the South had spirit and knew more about freedom than the Feds ever did. Slavery was a temporary ill already dying off...the civil war was about money and power, and it was the Union that were the aggressors, not the South. Now things have come full circle and we face a decision. Do we let the money grubbing carpetbaggers win again, let the idea of the United STATES die, or do we fight for what so many of our ancestors fought and died for?
---------------
"slavery was a temporary ill that was dying off". Sorry famous wolf, slavery was much more ugly, violent and inhuman than you might like to believe. Lynching, rape, breeding and selling families off.
How would you feel if those responsible for 911 or other terrorist acts referred to their acts in such a dismissive manner? You and your friends on the right want all-out war with them, or anyone who might even resemble them - American citizens included.
The hypocrisy astounds.
It was an "ill?"
DeleteFuck this guy.
You need to ask the question: If you were injured and a person bent down to pick you up and bring you to safety - would you send them away because they are black?
Deletei've been over at the pond...under different names all day, just fucking with them... they have no clue how to deal with anything outside of the bubble they live in
DeleteIf I recall correctly the confederate flag is incorporated into the state flag of Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteWhen I naively went to MS for veterinary school, as a northerner I did not realize they are still fighting the civil war down there. My car was even vandalized with Yankee Go Home. Never called a Yankee til I went to MS and their southern hospitality is a southern myth. As far as I am concerned they can all leave the USA and good riddance.
The south lost the war- get over it.
They can't. There is a segment of the southern society that is gunning for another chance..they are SURE they will win this time (win what, I'm not clear...do they want slavery back? DO they want their cotton fields back? Do they want the women to sit around in their gown fanning themselves all day while the men chase after leaves?
DeleteThe Big Lie About What It Takes To Remove The Confederate Flag In South Carolina
ReplyDeletehttp://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/06/22/3672428/big-lie-takes-remove-confederate-flag-south-carolina/
Now all the conservative blacks, I meant African Americans are up in arms because Pres. Obama used the N word on a radio show.
ReplyDeleteHow stupid, if they had been listening to what he was saying, instead of getting all bent out of shape,maybe they would have understood his message.
Please provide a link where African Americans are criticizing the President's language.
Delete3:42 means all the "conservative" blacks, 4:23. Not any normal people.
DeleteYou know, the ones on Fox News. If you really want to see that, you could look at Fox.
But I think you just misunderstood the comment.
LET US KEEP OUR HATE SYMBOL!
ReplyDeletehttp://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/06/22/3672442/south-carolina-legislators-refused-take-confederate-flag-90s/
ReplyDeleteRepublican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson on Monday knocked some of the 2016 contenders who have declined to say that the shooting at a historic black church in Charleston was racially motivated.
"Not everything is about race in this country. But when it is about race, then it just is," Carson began in a USA Today op-ed published on Monday. "So when a guy who has been depicted wearing a jacket featuring an apartheid-era Rhodesian flag walks into a historic black church and guns down nine African-American worshipers at a Bible study meeting, common sense leads one to believe his motivations are based in racism."
"If this were a medical disease, and all the doctors recognized the symptoms but refused to make the diagnosis for fear of offending the patient, we could call it madness," he continued. "But there are people who are claiming that they can lead this country who dare not call this tragedy an act of racism, a hate crime, for fear of offending a particular segment of the electorate."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ben-carson-charleston-shooter-racist
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
DeleteWhat does Ben Carson think about hate crimes against homosexuals? Not everything is about homophobia in this country, but when it is about homophobia, it just is.
Right. I am wary of all these rabid right wingers who are suddenly doing the 'right thing.' When it looks like pandering, it probably is...
DeleteWalmart Becomes The First Store To Remove All Confederate Flag Merchandise
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/22/walmart-leads-pack-remove-confederate-flag-merchanidse.html
Mississippi House Speaker Says Confederate Symbol Should Be Removed From State Flag
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/mississippi-confederate-flag_n_7641512.html
Watch White Southerners Debate The Meaning Of The Confederate Flag
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/jose-antonio-vargas-white-people_n_7640766.html
Charleston Lawmaker Will Introduce Hate Crime Legislation In Wake Of Church Shooting
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/charleston-hate-crime_n_7637886.html
And tomorrow it'll fly on every house, car and truck. I applaud Hailey, but what about the cannons and cannonballs on the lawns? The lawn jockeys? etc etc? Are they symbols of heritage, and respect?
ReplyDeleteGryphen, for years you have been calling guns..."penis extenders." No greater example have I ever seen than this:
ReplyDeletehttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/06/22/22/29D2E2A800000578-3135155-image-a-20_1435007228929.jpg
Governor Nikki Haley was an amazing contrast to Palin.
ReplyDeleteAppropriately dressed in a lovely suit .
No low cut blouse, no bulging falsies, no hooker flag shoes.
Hair coiffed and clean.
Speaking in complete sentences .
No cheesy props . No sexual innuendos or bumping and grinding on the young men around her.
No signs with vulgar profanity.
No bizarrely sucking on a Slurpee.
Behaving like a lady.
Surrounded by Republicans and Democrats of all races.
Taking on an issue that divides and being on the right side.
Gracious demeanor.
Palin's head must be spinning.
What to do , what to do ?
Pander to the Stars and Bars
of the Ted Cruz, Ted Nugent ,Rush Limbaugh tea party or try and pretend she has always agreed with the majority of Americans that believe the Confederate flag is a racist symbol ?
"What to do" is right. Her whole screed since her '08 introduction has been racial and sexual slights at President Obama. Let Nancy. RAM, or her try to say anything and watch the well deserved backlash she'll get.
DeleteIt's funny, because last week Nikki was all "No one has complained, it's our heritage", and "The Governor's office has no power over this." WTF, Nikki? What happened to change your stance? IF this were late Autumn 2014 we'd get past it, right? But coming up on election year, you're taking one for the team so that your bigots won't have to argue this disgrace in public, amirite?
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed it!! I don't trust Haley to do the right thing unless it helps her, and she must have gotten a message from the Kochs that the heat is on, and they really are losing all respect from not just blacks, but whites. So Nikki, take one for the team and call for taking down the flag. THEN when the legislature can't pass the law required to do it, SHE looks like she is in the right. I've seen Snyder in MI pull this crap for six years. "Right to Work is not on my agenda." "I do not plan to sign an law promoting Emergency Managers." "I will not " whatever, and then he does exactly the opposite. So beware. Little Nikki is after something, no doubt the VP slot with whomever rises out of the Pile of Crap that is the GOP right now.
DeleteHey Gryphen, NPR had a pretty special interview with a conservative Republican who is brave enough to advocate for the right thing.http://www.npr.org/2015/06/22/416538096/s-c-state-legislator-i-think-well-take-down-the-flag-this-summer
ReplyDeleteBrought hope that things can change.. Would you post it?
It is time to face the music republicans. Hear Americans sing of forgiveness to those who murder. Hear them. Your NRA party of kochy mcnuts mclames mcpalins is OVER. You people cannot run a circus. You people do not deserve the vote of Americans.
ReplyDelete