SC GOP Debate Reveals Governor Hopefuls Support Low Taxes, Confederate Flag
Published: September 23, 2009
NEWBERRY, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial candidates are looking to prove their conservative credentials during a debate that included even a few kind words for embattled Governor Mark Sanford.
Candidates said Tuesday night they want to lower taxes, increase school choice, bring jobs to the state and keep the Confederate flag flying on Statehouse grounds. Paramount was getting South Carolina’s sputtering economy back on track.
Several candidates said for all his faults, Sanford’s stand against federal stimulus money and in favor of limited spending were laudable traits.
Still, they made it clear they want to distance themselves from the scandal-plagued governor who has been questioned since his five-day trip to visit his mistress in Argentina in June.
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The Conferate Flag is a battle flag. No one wants to use the original state flag. pwilliams you’re right it was not for slavery, but it was in a war where slavery would end if defeated, and it was. The problem with the flag is other groups use it for other means such as the KKK, white supremist and so on. Not many years ago (50 years or less) black people were hung and the people who done this carried the Confederate Flag. The Confederate was present in most every act of racial violence. For a lot of people the flag brings hurt. A musuem would be a great place for the flag because even where it is today makes South Carolina appear to be a state that can not advance and leave the past in the past. A car company that would have brought jobs to SC did not come due to the Confederate Flag. It is common sense to put it in a musuem. I don’t think a state can fully represent the people of the state or the people of the United States of America if it continues to fly a flag that has no sovereignty. Just stating the facts!
One more thing….too bad you must not have documentation of what really went on in the war. They were fighting for their RIGHTS too many do not do that now days. My great-grand father was a wonderful person and the documentations that he left show that. He did not want the natiion to split. But he did what he had to do.
It is HISTORY whether you or anyone else likes it…IT WAS REAL HISTORY and even though it might not have been the best thing, it still has caused us to be who we are today. We need to look back and gleam what we can from the past that can be used for good in the future. We learn as we go the right way and the wrong roads to take.
HISTORY should not been erased.
Excuse me….but you are so very WRONG. I am just happy your grandfather does not know how his great grand appreciates him. They did what they felt was right….GET OVER IT!!
My greatgrandfather also served the Confederate cause. It does not matter what that cause was he took up arms against the USA and commited treason by doing so. He and his fellows should have been hung. I am glad he wasn’t for obvious reasons but I am not proud of nor do I venerate his actions. Let the Civil War die for God’s sake.
My great-grandfather was THOMAS MANN from Picken, SC—he is buried at SIX MILE BAPTIST CHURCH and married a Baptist Preacher’s daughter after the war.( Millie Chapman) I am proud of him and the flag he fought under.
One other thing…my great grandfather was only 16 when he risk his life in the war and and became a prisoner of war until the war ended. The flag means he withstood and held strong. he did not marry until the war was over…Had he been killed, I would not be here. I am proud of him.
My greatgrand father fought under that flag…it did not stand for slavery. It stood for the SOUTH. We may have lost the war, but our fathers kept their pride. We should still honor that. I am very much against slavery but the flag does not stand for slavery..The South was fighting against being taxed and for their rights. I have documentation that my great-grand father left behind. He was not fopr slavery either and was not fighting for it. The south fought under that flag it has its rightful place in HISTORY. Get over it!!!
Maybe if Bob McClain asked better questions, we could’ve talked about something more useful than the Confederate flag. Take it down!
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