Mike Huckabee: Flying Conferedate Flag Should Be South Carolina’s Choice
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Republican Mike Huckabee said the government should stay out of disputes over the Confederate flag in South Carolina.
“You don’t like people from outside the state coming in and telling you what to do with your flag,” Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, told supporters Thursday in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we’d tell ‘em what to do with the pole, that’s what we’d do,” Huckabee said.
Arkansas’ flag includes four stars surround the word “Arkansas” — one above it and three below it. The one above stands for the Confederacy, according to the state code.
He did not say whether he considers it offensive to fly the flag, a symbol of racism to some and Southern pride to others, saying only that the matter should be up to the states. That was the position of his rival John McCain when he ran for president in 2000; after losing, McCain said he had not been honest about his feelings and that the flag should go.
Ironically, Huckabee is barnstorming South Carolina with former Gov. David Beasley, who angered conservative Republicans by calling for the flag’s removal from the statehouse dome. Today, the flag is displayed elsewhere on the state Capitol grounds.
Earlier Thursday, Huckabee assailed political insiders who blew opportunities to fix Washington, a subtle dig at rivals John McCain and Fred Thompson.
Huckabee did not name names as he campaigned Thursday at a steel plant in Huger, S.C., but it was clear he meant McCain and Thompson, a current and former senator who are competing against him in South Carolina’s primary Saturday.
“Everyday, some Washington insider is coming down to South Carolina telling you not to vote for me,” Huckabee told about 125 people at the Nucor Steel Berkeley plant. “My attitude is, if they were going to fix it, they should have already done it. Since they haven’t, the last thing we need is them going to the White House.”
To the guy who talked about Huckabee’s fair tax plan who said “what a nightmare….forms back and forth and agencies to collect taxes from businesses and check writers and of course, a fraud department…and this guy knows economics…Maybe I am missing something here…Why is there not more discussion on this in any of the debates? Why is Fox not addressing this issue? It sounds big.”
The reason the issue is not addressed is because it WILL work. It is 23% not 26%. As for the rebates….isn’t that what the Feds do now? -only it comes with 66,000 pages of loopholes for the rich who can afford a private accountant to find these loopholes. The fair tax makes everyone pay the same….percentage wise….it is when they spend that they pay more…and who spends the most…you guessed it… the rich….
By the way, your name is appropriate….Dreamer
go fred thompson. huckabee is a hucster………..lol i dont know why the media hasnt told huckabee he looks like GOMER PYLE from ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW………..hey looks almost exactly like jim nabors…. that same goofy smile and grin……………..can u imagine ole’ gomer meeting with our world leaders………..? hmmmmmmmmm………… he is a con artist and not a conservative……………….. fred is the only one………….. my 2nd choice would be romney…….open ur eyes people……..
READ WHAT HE SAID!!!! You want a President who gives that answer…like him or not he is right. The scary part is that for those of you have taken this the wrong way you actually get to vote. There should be some sort of common sense test prior to voting and having children…unfortunalty some of you wouldn’t make the cut. It’s SC’s decision…not something for the President.
The Civil War was fought because of States’ rights, unfortunately, the south chose to pick slavery as the issue by which to do this, ignoring the much bigger issue of “all men are created equal”. The flag issue should be left up to the states, but as a christian, knowing what it means to African-americans I would vote for it to be taken down even though it does not mean the same to me. In the Grand scheme of things…..what difference does it really make? Huckabee is correct and only brings this up because he was asked the question.
Fly it proud. To hell with the turncoats.
Please… Please, educate yourself on American History. The Civil War was NOT fought over ’slavery’. There were many issues that precipitated the conflict and it took years of contention to finally boil over into war.
The American government and the media continue to work together promoting the war as one fought over slavery. They do this because of the ever-present fear of another succession attempt by the south. If they can keep people (especially blacks) ignorant of the truth and promote the Confederate flag as a ‘hate symbol’, in essence they believe that this will keep the union intact.
Personally, I fly the Confederate flag with pride, but it has nothing to do with the slavery issue. I would have never supported anything like that at any point in time. The reason I fly the flag is because of my support in the concept of ’succession’. The United States cannot continue to endure with all the social problems we have and at this point a southern succession is the only answer. My hope is that is happens during my lifetime.
I agree with with leaving the flag choice to the state. This man has guts enough to stand up for his beliefs. About time someone does.
Way to Mike.
The flag should be flown in SC and not just on government grounds, but on top of the capitol building. Also, everyone should quit referring to the conflict as the “Civil War”. It wasn’t a civil war. It was the war for Southern Independence, or The Second American Revolution. A civil war is fought between two groups in one county trying to take control of the government of that country. This was an attempt by the South to leave the Union. They weren’t trying to take over the “Bluebelly” government in Washington. We need to change our terminology. We also need to realize that secession is a legitimate means for states to show their displeasure with the Federal Government when it steps on their states rights.
HURRAH FOR THE CONFEDERACY!!!
Here we go taking things out of context AGAIN!
Hello people! The man never said ANYTHING about the confederate flag!!! His point was about states rights to fly WHATEVER flag they wanted and that is should not be mandated by the Federal government. Another great american (go do the research yourself so you’ll actuall believe it) once said “I may not agree with what you say but I will defend with my life your right to say it”. It’s the same thing here. I agree with some of you that the way he expressed that may have been somewhat crude and less than presidential but ain’t nobody in this race who we can’t point to with equal or worse gaffes.
Now before any African Americans also begin to take this out of context and get the wrong impression that Huckabee is a racist, let’s consider which of the candidates actually had enough respect for black people to at least participate in the Republican Black Caucus Debates! Again, go do the research yourself so you’ll actually believe it. I can tell you that John McCain did not participate. Mitt Romney did NOT participate and Fred Thompson did NOT participate. But Mike Huckabee DID and if you look at his record and ask other conservative black folks (yes there actually ARE conservative black folks!) I would bet you will get a very favorable opinion of Mike Huckabee.
Just because he is a former pastor and is vocal about his Christian beliefs doesn’t make him perfect…but I still think he’s got the right stuff to be our next President.
On the issue of State’s right over Federal rights, it is for the States and the people living in it to decide.
Personally, I believe the Confederate flag belong in a museum and not flying over the State’s Capitol. It is an ugly reminder of slavery and all the evils attached to it. It is also a reminder of pride and a stubborn refusal to do what is right in the sight of God. It is for this reason that I’m opposed to flying it. Yet, it is up to the people living in that State to make that decision. They are the ones who must choose healing and an acknowledgment of the past or to ignore the ugly wounds inflicted on its people. Mind you, the wounds are not just on Black Americans living in S.C but also on White Americans living in that state.
Back to politics and the election. On the one hand, I’d like to see Mike Huckabee win the GOP nomination. From what I’ve seen and read, the man strikes me as a “moderate”. I don’t think he’s a total conservative and that’s a good thing. The only gripe that I really have is, I wish that he would think before rushing off with some of his statements. Then again, I’ve been guilty of the same thing too.
Would I vote for Hillary or Barrack? Not really. I’m not fond of either person’s political positions and yet it is my pleasure to pray blessings for both candidates. The same is done for the others.