GOVERNOR TO CALL FOR CONTROVERSIAL BANNER TO COME DOWN
|| By FITSNEWS || S.C. governor Nikki Haley will call on the S.C. General Assembly to remove the Confederate flag from the north lawn of the S.C. State House in downtown Columbia, S.C., sources familiar with her plans tell FITS.
Haley has scheduled a press conference for 4:00 p.m. EDT in the second floor lobby of the State House – between the S.C. House and State Senate chambers. Prior to that, she will meet at 1:00 p.m. EDT with S.C. Speaker of the House Jay Lucas and Senate president Hugh Leatherman to inform them of her plans.
It’s unclear whether Haley will embrace calls for the flag’s immediate removal – or argue that the it should be debated when the legislature formally reconvenes next January. Legislation has already been proposed by S.C. Reps. Doug Brannon and Todd Rutherford to move the flag – but that bill cannot be filed until December of this year (or debated until the following month).
Calls for the flag to be removed have reached a deafening volume in the aftermath of the “Holy City Massacre” – in which 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof murdered nine black parishioners at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.
Unfortunately, there has been zero appetite on the part of legislature to address the flag.
During her reelection campaign last year, Haley rebuffed efforts to remove the flag. Prior to that, she had previously gone on record supporting the flag’s presence on the State House grounds.
Of course no one is going to attack her for flip-flopping on this issue in light of what happened in Charleston …
As noted, this website has never been antagonistic toward the flag. Hell, we’ve never really had much in the way of an opinion about it.
“State leaders can leave it, move it, burn it or use it as a bath towel for all we care,” we wrote back in 2011.
In fact as recently as March of this year we were blasting the NAACP for their continued singular focus on taking it down.
But things change … seismically. Violently.
Whatever people think the Confederate flag stands for, perception is reality – and the reality is it’s being used as the calling card for a dangerous, deadly new strain of racism, one intent on depriving black Americans of the most fundamental liberty of all: The right to a beating heart.
Hoisted by the state in 1962 as a rebuke of the civil rights movement, there is simply no compelling reason to leave this banner in place – and its removal imposes no hardship upon anyone’s freedom. In fact those who support Southern heritage should remember the Confederate generals they worship surrendered these very flags at Appomattox in 1865.
Lawmakers should take the Confederate flag down. Now.
113 comments
She used the idiots who supported the flag being there for their votes, and now she is doing the old 180 to take it down as she hurtles towards hopes for higher office.
That was my first reaction as well. Although she has to be careful if she wants to be a senator or congressional rep.
For once I think we have to give her credit. She is seeing how negatively the Flag is making SC look nationally (and possibly internationally) – and in the race for direct foreign investment – it’s a loser. But beyond the commercial argument – I think she simply thinks it’s the right thing to do. Of course she waited for Jebito and Mitt to make their statements. As far as waiting until January – why not convene a special session for two days right now? I mean it’s not a long drive from anywhere in the State for a representative or state senator to drive to Columbia.
Nikki Haley is thinking one thing and one thing only – herself. Haley is concerned how this flag flap will reflect on her and her national spotlight and possibility of getting a job.
There are times when an event will actually impact everyone enough to enact change. They are called “watershed” events. This just might be one. You think the East German Stasi just let them take down The Wall from the eastern side because they were looking for higher office?
That would be my guess.
“…..as she ‘humps’ towards hopes for higher office…”
couldn’t resist
Nero fiddling while Rome Burns.
Maybe they can move the flag to a location on top of the SCDOT.
+10
She’s one generation removed from the Third World. She has no ligitimate “skin” in the flag game at all. She could use that distance to advocate for the right thing to do and put that flag in a museum where it belongs. I don’t think she has the guts to do the heavy lifting on this. I suspect she will “lecture and shame” the General Assembly. If she really means to do something meaningful, let her Repudiate Gun Culture!
Oh Nikki Haley thinks racism in SC was “fixed” when she was elected gov.- that’s how clueless she is.
She has many clues, but they are mainly about what to do to further her own ambitions. This has to figure into that, heavily. She’s probably had her mystic sister read the tea leaves on the flag issue.
Thankfully she stands with the forefathers that built this country. If the “gun culture” offends you so much maybe you should move somewhere else. I hear Chicago is nice. Guns are mostly illegal there. You should be safe and sound.
We are perfectly fine with our states policies regarding the second amendment. The action of one individual on a mission is not the norm. If he did not have a firearm he would have built a bomb. He was on a mission and there was really no way to stop him unless someone knew and tipped off the authorities.
Thankfully she stands with the forefathers that built this country. If the “gun culture” offends you so much maybe you should move somewhere else. I hear Chicago is nice. Guns are mostly illegal there. You should be safe and sound.
We are perfectly fine with our states policies regarding the second amendment. The action of one individual on a mission is not the norm. If he did not have a firearm he would have built a bomb. He was on a mission and there was really no way to stop him unless someone knew and tipped off the authorities.
Baby Girl could issue an Executive Order to remove the flag At 4 PM TODAY. But, then that would be real leadership…
Uh, no. Takes a supermajority to remove.
True.
If the Governor has no balls, blah, blah, blah. Executive Protection will in fact carry out that order.
No. Why doesn’t haley just executively order the roads to be fixed and taxes to be cut?
Actually, I would love to see Haley patching roads, physically. Do her some good, I bet.
Plenty of time for some SC legislators to reveal themselves as the to-the-bone, racists they truly are…and plan on remaining!
Actually, the Governor is a co-equal branch of government and responsible for the maintenance of the State House Grounds. If she were to order her staff to remove the flag from the statue, who would stop them. The legislature would have to vote to have it replaced and enact legislation compelling the governor to return the flag or order House or Senate Security to do it. Neither would happen.
Somebody else gets it!!
Fits you do Liberty Great Service with this e-rag!!!!
But you clearly don’t – a law protects ALL of the monuments on the state house grounds.
So said George III, again, with gusto.
I bet you love President Obama.
I am Highly Educated. So, yes.
So “Highly Educated” is a pronoun now?
I think she’s trolling.
Ya think?
There’s literally a state law saying she can’t do that. I’m not sure why we’ve gone from “take down the flag” to having some sort of showdown over separation of powers. It’s idiotic.
So said George III
Because the executive order thing is floating around. She can issue the order and since Bureau of Protective Services is a and agency under DPS; a cabinet agency; they would likely follow her order. She’d likely call up to their HQ in Blythewood and make sure it came down the correct chain of command.
The legislature would then have two choices file a suit to get an injunction against the governor or impeach her. Both of those would require recorded votes and I don’t think anyone in the legislature has the intestinal fortitude to do that right now.
The national “Republican” party wants the flag gone as evidenced by Mitt’s and Jeb!’s statements. They don’t want the questions at primary time or during the debate. If Haley can get it down before it becomes a primary issue she’s all but assured an cabinet position or Ambassador to India if any of the Republicans get elected. If she went out on a limb looking all progressive and issued the executive order she might even be able to get that Ambassador position in a Clinton Administration.
She will choose based on which decision will help her on the national stage (in her mind, anyway)…
She will NEVER get on national stage. No principles.
I would like to believe that, but it hasn’t slowed Hillary down much.
Eh, a constitutional issue fraught with peril for the elected representatives and people of the state. Not nearly as simple as “…she can just take it down…”. There’s this small thing called “the law”.
If I were Hailey, I would order my staff to go over there right now, take the flag down, and deliver it to the Speaker of the House. That way I win the race.
By that measure, why don’t you just go down to the statehouse with a chain saw and cut the flag down. Who would stop you?
What a dumb question. The police would arrest me. They will not arrest staff acting under orders from the Governor..
Why would the police arrest you? Did the police arrest the protesters tearing down the Berlin Wall? It’s called a watershed event.
Maybe a true statement. Maybe just have 20,000 people show up and tear it down.
So go do it. Stop demanding Haley do something you can do yourself.
I have not demanded Haley do anything. The Legislature – yes. I has to come from them. One, because it’s legally the right way, and two, their action speaks for all citizens. It makes the statement more powerful, and more ligit.
I assure you the police would arrest me. I am simply providing political opinion of what I would do if I were in Haley’s place. I would take it down. Let the legislature worry about the consequences. Whether they put it back up or not, I win. They are not going to order the arrest a Republican Governor, doing what the National Republican party wants done.
Politics is a game. Especially among Republicans, who have been using racism and fear of black people to win votes in SC for decades.
Yes, clearly you, a guy too scared to cut down an unpopular flag, would disregard the law if you were the governor.
I’m thinking he is probably on a “watch list” by the city cops for something — like maybe pandering, or pick-pocketing, or is a habitual jay-walker….
Ms. Haley, tear down that flag!!!
Why didn’t Reagan take a sledge hammer to the Berlin Wall himself? Was he just a guy too scared to start pounding on an unpopular wall. Instead he called on Gorbachev to do it.
This guy isn’t Reagan. He’s some guy on the internet who would be the sledgehammer wielding protester on the Berlin wall-if he wasn’t too afraid of being arrested by the Staci.
You know you seem smart occasionally. But this line of attack is stupid. There is noting wrong with calling on a Government official to do what he or she is fully capable of doing. She can either accept or ignore the demand, if she even knows about it. If she chooses not to do it, some will brand her a hero, some will brand her a coward, some will have no opinion at all.
I am a citizen. I vote. I pay taxes. I have every right to express my opinion of what I think my elected officials should do, and what I think of them if they don’t. You seem to have low regard for people who express political opinions you disagree with.
So why don’t you go over there and defend the flag. Make sure someone doesn’t tear it down, until the legislature votes. I am sure you could find plenty of people to stand with you. Or are you too much of a coward?
You were calling on Haley to disregard the law and tear it down on her own. You seem perfectly willing to tell others to break the law but then cower away when it comes to breaking the law yourself.
And you seem perfectly wiling to tell others to stand up our state continuing to fly a symbol of racial hatred, placed on the Statehouse grounds by racists thumbing their nose at federal civil rights law but then cower away when it comes time to defend that rag yourself.
No, I think it should be removed. I’m just not advocating lawlessness to do so.
So how odious do the actions of the Legislature have to become, before good men or women refuse to follow their direction.
More than refusing to remove a flag. Refusal to remove a flag is cause for you to vote for someone else, not a cause for a rebellion and throwing the rule of law to the side. You yourself don’t even seem willing to do so. You’re perfectly content to sit back and order others to disregard the law.
Is this REALLY such a difficult decision?
It is if you have political ambitions in SC. Look what happened to Beasley. He aroused the rednecks so thoroughly they voted for a DEMOCRAT!
I think the environment changed last week.
Perhaps. Too bad it took the murder of nine innocent people.
Why is no one on the “key to the flag pole ” jokes with this deal? The flag pole in question actually does have a key! Where’s that First Year Camper when we need him to go find that key?!?
According to a tweet from Will, there’s word now that the General Assembly may beat her to the punch on this. We’ll see.
The race to fame. That works.
The interesting thing either way, is how FOX will lie about it. No big deal since FOX got a FL Court of Appeal to Affirm FOX’s right to lie and distort.
http://www.projectcensored.org/11-the-media-can-legally-lie/
Same case, but funnier.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/25/797064/-Fox-News-admits-they-lie-and-distort-the-news-so-why-so-pissy#
From Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort): “The Charleston murders have brought a festering issue back to the surface, and it simply can’t be ignored. Regardless of who’s right from a historical standpoint, it is indisputable that the Confederate battle flag now flying on the State House grounds has been misappropriated by hate groups as a symbol of their hatred, and while I respect the views of those who proudly view this flag as a symbol of their heritage, we must find another way to honor that heritage. This isn’t about re-opening an old wound; it’s about mending one that never properly healed.”
https://www.facebook.com/TomDavisSC/posts/803089433122724
We’re gonna need a bigger bandwagon. Good thing though…
So the next time something like this happens, what is the NAACP going to do? Call for the removal of every Confederate tombstone and spit on the graves of those that defended South Carolina? The compromise that was foisted on the citizens in 2000 that resulted in the Battle Flag the Democrat Fritz Hollings placed on the courthouse dome requires a supermajority to strike the colors. Governor Haley will be breaking South Carolina law if she removes it by Executive Order, but then again, when did Barack Obama ever obey the law as President?
I doubt the next time something like this happens the gunman won’t be walking into the Church carrying a tombstone. Too heavy.
Man, news to me he was carrying the flag with him. What kind of shoes was he wearing. What will removing the flag actually do to prevent this from happening again? It is sad that the media and race baiters have dug this up after they could not encite violence in our fine city. I am not really sure who wants to start a race war more… This wack job the killed these fine innocent people or those who gain financially over this.
And I am for removing the battle flag and flying the true stars and bars.
Man, news to me he was carrying the flag with him. What kind of shoes was he wearing. What will removing the flag actually do to prevent this from happening again? It is sad that the media and race baiters have dug this up after they could not encite violence in our fine city. I am not really sure who wants to start a race war more… This wack job the killed these fine innocent people or those who gain financially over this.
And I am for removing the battle flag and flying the true stars and bars.
The State Flag itself was adopted in 1861. Its represents slavery, too. Take it down and lets redesign it. And lets tear down Ft Sumter. It stands for slavery, too.
Idiot, the current flag honours the courage and valor of Colonel Moultrie’s Second South Carolina Infantry Regiment during the Revolutionary War – prior to that we didn’t really have an official flag.
Fuckwad. The state flag is racist. TAKE IT DOWN.
Uh oh, look who’s awake. Time for my nap.
LMAO!!! You got something against a black man?
#)$%*#$)(%*#$
And YOU ALL ARE IDIOTS, LMAO #)):;+; =/;’+?+
I miss him.
Welcome back.
All South Carolina Civil War Monuments and Statues Honoring Slave Owners Must Be Removed. No More Exceptions.
Fort Sumter Must Be Torn Down. It Was Built To Defend Slavery.
The Statehouse was also built by slaveowners. We should tear it down too.
Also, any place that Roof visited and took photos in front of should be bulldozed by executive order of Emperator Haley. Including that racist swamp.
This slippery slope argument, while valid, doesn’t hold water in my view when we’re talking about that rag. Last I checked it’s not on the national historic registry.
Neither is the Confederate Relic Room. BULLDOZE IT NOW.
Oh for God’s sake.
Sorry but there is no validity to that stupid argument. The flag is not a functional building. Its history is not impaired by putting in a place that is, in fact, designed for historical artifacts. Ft Sumter is neither on top of the statehouse nor a place where our government convenes for business. If this is anyone’s argument to save the flag, then the flag is more worthless than I gave it credit for.
I’m not arguing for the flag – quite the opposite.
You said their argument was valid. No need to be dishonest about things to spare anyone’s feelings. Clearly they don’t give much consideration to the feelings of the descendants of their ancestors’ slaves.
Fort Sumter was built to defend slavery! Wow I’m dumb! LMAO!!! LMAO!!!
College of Charleston president Glenn McConnell has Civil War relics and the Confederate Flag in his college campus office. THEY MUST BE REMOVED!!
South Carolina Plantations Must All Be Bulldozed. They were slave camps!!!
By your stupid logic, let’s just start another stupid ass civil war and get ourselves some slaves. I mean, where do you draw the line, right?!!
Hell no, I would rather pick my own cotton.
Just take it down. It doesn’t matter who gets credit for it.
(born last night)
Like ++++
Can we combine Nikki’s plan with more taxes? I love taxes.
She’s a politician. If the move is supported by a majority of voters, everyone will want a bit of the credit. Unfortunately, we’re talking about South Carolina, a state where people still argue that the Civil War wasn’t mostly about slavery, despite having mentioned slavery 18 times in their decoration of secession as the reason for wanting those state’s rights. So she still might have to tread lightly.
Your statement belies the truth. If it didn’t matter, you wouldn’t have made the statement.
We’ll see when she’s chosen as a VP running mate.
Exactly! Or some other office.
Interesting to note that the Roof character is one of Haley’s supporters in Lexington County.
Also, that Haley was put in office first by the Sikh Religious sect in Lexington County. And, that group, prior to 911attacks was listed as a known terrorist group.
Yep, even blew up a 747 Air Line in 1985 going from Canada to India killing over 300 people. The worse aid disaster in India’s history. They tried to do it again. But, only killed 2 unfortunate baggage handlers in Vancouver, Canada.
So, I guess from Haley’s point of view: it takes one terrorist to know another one.
Yep, Elrod gets his information from the same websites Dylann Roof visited.
Bible Thumper: you are so full of it.
Let’s not let the facts get in the way of your wishful thinking.
Those are the facts. Like or not.
If you have facts, please back them up. Roof was not even registered to vote. I thought the voters put Haley in office. I didn’t realize there were that many Sikhs in her Lexington county district or that all Sikhs are terrorists or at least they were before 9/11/ 2001.
Your facts line up to the only possible conclusion. Haley is a terrorist. You should have been a prosecutor. HaHa!
Having her do this might actually make the General Assembly LESS likely to bend to the national media on this… Here’s hoping some don’t cave…especially a few Senators who could bring any move to a screeching halt. As a fall-back, they could always put up the Bonnie Blue flag as an alternative. If libs/media crowd flinch from that, then it really isn’t about “that” particular flag, is it?
As a descendant of confederates, it’s good to see that this stupid discussion about the flag may be ended once and for all. Take down that symbol of hatred and division and let’s get on with pressing issues that face our state!
If you think that will stop this you are sadly mistaking,not one person I know that fly that flag is racist
Mine fly’s in Brownsville and I live there with black neighbors
That flag don’t stop us from talking helping each other,enough of the bull,outsiders are the problem just like the piece of shit that killed those people In chas.
Outsider sick individual ,peace and healing to the families of our follen
S.Carolinians god bless them
At the USC memorial for those fallen in Charleston. Pastides just called for the removal of the flag and offered the University’s assistance to get it done.
Will you resign in protest?
Listen up Knuckle heads
It is a part of history
Wait til you have something they want removed,
People if you destroy History you are Doomed to repeat it.
Save the Confederate Flag!
I fully support the confederate flag as a part of American history.
The General Robert E. Lee is the most respected Military person
still today in the US.UNITED States of America, we need to stand by ALL of our rights and not
let a few decide! Everything that has happened in OUR country is important,
for one reason or another and government should stay out of it!
Let voters decide on ALL of our matters! WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED States ,
YES ,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! ALL of us, not some, not a color, ALL… WE the PEOPLE!
it’s ALL our history, just like all of black history month which was never voted on.
This flag is a symbol of the South removing itself from the union a cause for
which both sides fought and died for. I am a firm believer that Southern states should
be able to fly the Confederate flag for historical purposes and Southern pride.Just
in the past 20 years they”ve changed the names of Public schools who’s names were
confederate related because it was offensive. Enough is enough.
If you want to ban the Confederate flag because of its history then may I as politely as
possible suggest you remove EVERY single flag from EVERY single flag pole on the planet
for ALL of them in some way and to many people represent a less than laughable history.
Even the much respected Stars and Stripes is seen as a symbol of oppression to many,
my point is history and any symbols of it should not be forgotten or hidden away for the
sake of some misguided political correctness. Understanding the past and remembering
ALL the mistakes and sacrifices made wether good or bad and learn from them or you are
doomed to repeat them.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/black-college-student-sparks-
debate-hanging-confederate-flag-dorm-room-kind-weird-black-article-1.985611
You Don’t Have the Right To Take Down the Confederate flag or
our Monuments. Your Political Career will be over. Impeachment is Next