|| By FITSNEWS || S.C. Speaker of the House Jay Lucas was among the 110 members of his chamber to vote in favor of bringing up the Confederate flag issue for debate during an extended summer session of the S.C. General Assembly.
Beyond that, we don’t know much about his thoughts on the issue …
We know he was among the leaders targeted by the corporate push to take down the flag … as well as the vocal grassroots effort to leave it up.
According to our sources within the S.C. House, Lucas has been working behind the scenes in an effort to bring the flag down – acknowledging that there are many within the chamber who are opposed to doing so without some sort of concession.
(For more on those proposals, click here and here).
Lawmakers have been debating the aftermath of last month’s horrific, racially motivated “Holy City Massacre” – the mass murder of nine black churchgoers at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston, S.C. The Mother Emanuel victims – including S.C. Senator Clementa Pinckney, the church’s pastor – were gunned down during a Bible study by Dylann Storm Roof, a 21-year-old white supremacist who used the Confederate flag as his calling card.
We’ve written extensively in the aftermath of the shooting in support of removing the flag – and doing so expeditiously. We’ve also provided some extensive historical context related to this debate (see here and here).
So far the ball is moving … with the S.C. Senate overwhelmingly voting (twice) to take the banner down “free and clear.”
Lucas’ problem?
His leaders don’t want that solution.
For starters, S.C. House ways and means chairman Brian White – who wields tremendous influence as the chamber’s lead budget writer – is a staunch flag supporter and one of the ten lawmakers who voted against the legislature debating its removal. Another flag supporter, S.C. Rep. Greg Delleney, chairs the influential judicial committee. Then there’s Rick Quinn, whose father Richard Quinn runs the most powerful political consulting firm in the state – an entity with extensive neo-Confederate roots.
Quinn has reportedly been playing both sides of the debate with an eye on advancing the leadership aspirations of his longtime ally S.C. Rep. Kenny Bingham – whom many view as the likely successor to Lucas.
We’re also told S.C. Rep. Gary Simrill – a majority whip on whom Lucas relies for counsel and votes – isn’t on board with simply bringing the flag down.
Bottom line?
Lucas may be able to navigate the flag controversy to a successful resolution … but it’s going to cost him dearly among the lawmakers he relies upon to run the House.
42 comments
I swear I just heard Ted Pitts say his grandfather was a “subsistence cotton farmer.” Meals at that house must have been brutal affairs.
They got plenty of fiber though.
” last month’s horrific, racially motivated ”
Everyone drink!!!
I think I’m about to blackout!
I’m trying to hang til house finishes the debate. Doesn’t look promising.
Lips flapping,sounds being made and yet not a useful word being uttered…
Assuming you are talking about the House debate, I agree. I stopped listening for a while. A lot said without saying a thing.
Mike Pitts wants to talk about heritage and how all of us would pick up arms, including himself. I can’t recall exactly what he said, but something like, “I am fat and old. I’d be fodder, but willing.” Another way of saying, no one will call upon me.
I’m not sure what that has to do with the price of roads, gas, or education in SC.
Well, could have something to do with the price of gas.
At a Wednesday meeting at the Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan called to bring down the American flag, in the wake of the removal of the Confederate flag from buildings and websites around the country.
“We need to put the American flag down because we’ve caught as much hell under that as the Confederate flag,” Farrakhan said to the D.C. crowd.
Farrakahn is welcome at an AME church? Imagine that. American Flag is next.
No victory today for this country.Maybe for liberals/RINO’s like you and The Colonel. America lost today and Farrakahn is telling you what is next.
Fools.
You are just acting crazy. You know the American flag isn’t going down. But…don’t let crazy interfere with your rationale (eye roll).
Actually, most if not all of the arguments made to bring down the Confederate flag could be made to bring down Old Glory. Native Americans and others suffered under variations of our banner. A friend recently mentioned that in Klan rally photos he found online while doing some research, our National flag was present in photos at each rally he found pics for. Does that mean it is a symbol of hate, too?
I posted under another alias, my great great … fought against Indians – Google Capt. Ralph Stewart – gruesome.
Yet, my other grandfather was mostly Cherokee Indian (different sides of the family). I’m a pure bred mutt. The only flag I support is the American Flag.
“It’s possible that there are some monuments that need to be moved and even buildings and roads and schools that ought to be renamed. While it’s true that we shouldn’t try to rewrite history, it’s also true that we get to decide which parts of our history to celebrate, and we make that decision every day, by action or inaction.”
http://www.thestate.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/cindi-ross-scoppe/article26603713.html
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/cindi-ross-scoppe/article26603713.html#storylink=cpy
Getting ready to happen.
Gilda Cobb Hunter get caught in a wind storm???
I knew it! Folks started at 10 AM and couldn’t go another 2 hours without another “horrific”.
Damn it – I’ve got to go by the Class Six store again tonight!
87$/hour I looked at the draft which said $9958@mk11
c….
http://www.WebGl0balworkworldDijital/weII/pay...
Mr. Lucas, tear down that confederate flag!
Rep Pitts must love the sound of his voice. Sooner or later he is going to have to start talking about sex– he’s covered everything else.
I think we knew he was going to do this. There is a Tea Party in Lauren’s as well as Spartanburg, which is Bright’s territory. Diane is one of the most diplomatic Tea Party leaders, but a strong voice for Lauren’s GOP as well. There is also some overlap in Lauren’s and Spartanburg Tea Party, maybe Greenville at this point? Spartanburg and Greenville had a falling out at one point, but who knows where they are today.
It isn’t surprising that a HOR member, who is ruled by a Tea Party, under the umbrella of GOP, will stick together. They will take turns falling on the sword in the name of Tea Party unity.
At one time, Mike Pitts seemed to be a voice of reason. When Lauren’s Tea Party had IRS issues, things shifted. Think Diane is a fabulous person, but she was wrong on the IRS issue. Other Tea Party leaders agreed she was wrong, but for the sake of unity backed her. She is, or at least was, a strong Mike Pitts advocate. He is, or at least was, a member of Lauren’s County TP FB group.
Politics as usual.
Pitts is a snake in the grass. He loves to wave that NRA Life Member prop and take those NRA-ILA endorsements and cash, but he is no friend of the Second Amendment.
The whole my gun is bigger than your gun debate, spoken from the pulpit of SC’s finest. I remember his support of second amendment. Maybe he switched sides and took up the confederate flag. He talks a good talk (cough).
Lauren’s, where the grass grows high, snakes lie and wait.
Now Rep White is talking about Mayberry, the “Promised Land” of the Tea Party.
Is that (Promised Land) something out of an Elvis Song?
If Tea Party is a promised land, I think they should all move to Mayberry. Nothing there save an old car, that was in an old movie, few today even remember.
Heritage baby!
They say that cow farts are one of the biggest contributors to climate change. I hope they never measure the hot air and noxious gas emanating from the SC Statehouse.
He does that, no doubt. Just about every session, he sticks the green weenie in the Pro-2A people while telling us how much he loves us.
They’re working through all of the amendments as quickly as the house rules will allow. Up to ammendment 30 (of a hundred or so)
Saw a few interesting sights this morning – they’ve prepared for problems by placing broken down saw horses on each corner to reroute traffic with and it looked like an even larger security force was present this morning: Here are some pics for those interested:
Senate Street News Trucks: http://s5.postimg.org/jxprddkh3/news_on_Senate.jpg
Assembly Street about 0900 (I passed at least 5 more news trucks on my ride in): http://s5.postimg.org/3p9j3wbmv/News_trucks_on_Assembly.jpg
Preparation for problems – they’ve placed broken down saw horses to close streets on all the corners around the State House and it looked like the security detail was beefed up even more: http://s5.postimg.org/vo3ourd9f/prep_for_problems.jpg?noCache=1436375270
Not sure what this conference was about – Bakari Sellers was one of the members of the cabal. Note the saw horses in front of the Supreme Court: http://s5.postimg.org/4ayi006p3/prep_for_problems_2.jpg
I hear there are broken down sawhorses around the Statehouse. Can you confirm this for me?
Now whatever gave you that idea?
I have never seen a grown man more excited about the defeat and elimination of the moral/cultural foundations, INCLUDING the freedom of speech, that made this country.
Even though I disagree with Haley and the legislators voting to remove the flag over threats of violence,boycotts and lawsuits…they at least show a decorum of pride and somberness in this moment.
Carry on RINO.
Come on now, Pvt. Dancer.
Whose freedom of speech is being eliminated?
Brian White is SC’s little prince – history will not be kind to his Machiavellian aspirations. With the house cleaning that comes after the next federal election guys like him and Bright will be marginalized and SC will pay a heavy price keeping these political dinosaurs around .
Y’all be debating the civil war in 50 years here while the US has moved on or collapsed.
Do you really believe they will be gone after 2016? If so, i have a real estate deal you will love.
Rep Mike Pitts has to be the “boob of the hour”, just now telling the joke about a battalion of women with PMS being unleashed on the battlefield.
Did he mention the men going through mid life crisis and beyond, who still think they are able bodied and the best choice to lead a charge?
Not so familiar with Brian White, but he certainly sounds interesting and accurate. Wet wool is very heavy. Dry it quick and give it to your grandchild.
When the dust from all of this clears, it would be so cool if a lot of these roaches (on both sides of the issue) lost their political asses.
Keep your fingers crossed, people.
A “Black Flag” day.
Mike Pitts may ably serve the rednecks of Laurens and Greenwood counties, but he certainly doesn’t represent those citizens who wish to bring in new industry and provide much needed economic development for these counties. SC looks foolish today.
Mike “The” Pitts just doesn’t look white southern. Though he acts it.
OMG, take the damn flag down along with the pole it rode in on. Even the dumb ass Alabama Gov took the flag down. SC has to turn a hangnail into major surgery. How hard can it be to dust the rust from their political brains and do the right thing.
If only Vegas had odds on this.
Not a bad bet to put money down on S.C. snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on this otherwise no brainer of a topic.
As Yoda would say: “Continue to be the laughingstock and shame of the US, we must”
Boy that Jenny Horne’s one emotional bitch, I thought she’d be post-menopausal.