Romney, Thompson criticize Confederate flag

CNN ^ | 11-28-2007 | – CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

[Eddie01]

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee criticized the Confederate flag, which happens to be hoisted on the Statehouse grounds in the early primary state of South Carolina.

[snip]

Both candidates are front-runners in South Carolina. Both may have to answer questions about those comments next time they hit the state.

[end]

[Eddie01]

With such a rapid review (pre-written?) and clear mischaracterization in the descriptive "criticize", it appears the question was *designed* to hurt Mitt and Fred in the south. CNN will be sure to followup on the issue, they created.

[Rick_Michael]

bah...what a waste of a topic. Who cares!?

The flag means many things to many people,...leave it at that.

[Rick_Michael]

By the way, I’m not insulting you, I’m just saying this isn’t a big issue...

[Hunterite]

“What does the dixie flag mean to you?”

To me it means cheap-labor, open-borders, free-traitors.

[Coldwater Creek]

It is a big issue to the people of Tennessee!!

[GregoTX]

I thought they were running for President. What a State’s flag looks like is State business, and not the Federal Gobberments concern.

[Old Sarge]

Boy this thread has ALL SORTS of potential!

It can be hijacked as a Mitt Thread.

It can be hijacked as a Fred Thread.

It can be hijacked as a Ron Paul Thread.

It can be hijacked as a South-Shall-Rise-Again Thread.

I can't WAIT to see which one comes up!

[RatsDawg]

How did Fred criticize the American Flag?

His answer was rational and spot on.

[WFTR]

A more accurate statement may be that the flag shouldn't be a big issue. You are completely correct when you say that the flag means different things to different people. Unfortunately for the candidates, many of those people will be voting. I like both Mr. Romney and Mr. Thompson. I prefer Mr. Romney as a presidential candidate, but he will sustain the greater damage from his answer. His tone was just a bit too sanctimonious when he answered the question, and that tone will be taken as an insult. If he didn't already have problems in the South because he's from the North and supports the "assault weapons" ban, he might not have hurt himself. As it is, a few people who might have been on the fence will swing towards Mr. Thompson or Mr. Huckabee or may even swing to Mr. Giuliani.

The original poster's point is good. The whole question seems to have the flavor of a setup by CNN to cause trouble for the Republican Party.

Bill

[Eddie01]

The question had no business in a presidential debate. It had a purpose.

[org.whodat]

It is a big issue to the people of Tennessee!!

Wrong

[Turret Gunner A20]

What else can you expect from CNN?

Now it's time for CNN to ask the rest of the candidates (of both parties) about the Confederte flag.

[Turret Gunner A20]

To me it means cheap-labor, open-borders, free-traitors.

Would you mind explaining that?

[org.whodat]

His answer was rational and spot on.

True, the flag was moved from the top of capitol build a while back. He was just stating a fact.

[dawn53]

Number one, they didn’t criticize the Confederate flag, they praised the American flag. The question was a CNN ploy to get a headline.

Number two, if someone does or doesn’t vote for President based on what that person said or didn’t say about the Confederate Flag...well that’s impossible for me to fathom.

Number three, the guy who asked the question was one of Paul’s supporters (somebody looked him up on youtube, the link is on the debate thread.)

And finally, people that are making a big deal of this should probably “save their Confederate dollars cause the South’s gonna rise again.”

[BillyBoy]

Lookee here, fresh meat!! Buncha DAMNyankee FOOLS and SCALAWAGS!! They're out to destroy your confederate hertiage. You gotta defend your SOUTHRON honor!

Sic 'em, boys!! Sic Fred! Sic Mitt!

(Sits back and watches the Mittwitts and Fredheads destroy each other)

[Eddie01]

Now it's time for CNN to ask the rest of the candidates (of both parties) about the Confederte flag.

Unfortunately, they can't. It would be unethical. As the DNC's marketing firm, CNN has an obligation to their client to put them in the best light possible. ...which limits their debate questions to "Diamonds or Pearls?"

[eyedigress]

It was a cheap shot from CNN. The Conferderate battle flag has it’s place in history. That is where it should be.

[eyedigress]

Conferderate = Something like that

[dawn53]

Good way to put it.