His comment wasn't that "anyone" who flies the flag or "takes pride in his Southern Heritage" is being an idiot. (indeed, he even pointed out many people celebrate southern heritage by flying the Bonnie Blue Flag) His comment was that it's idiotic to fly the flag at a national tea party event that has nothing do with "southern heritage" and "states rights". It would be like carrying a Virgin Mary statue through a rally about tax reform.
>> I'm not even a Southerner and I'm not a neo-Confederate, but if there's one thing I can't stomach, it's the GOP's own brand of political correctness (i.e. trying to outdo liberal Democrats at the game of crying "racism"). <<
I understand what you're saying, personally I'm sick of conservatives who want to play the "let's pretend JFK was a heroic leader and great President because the liberal Democrats and the media say he was", but I think you need to consider that their is an appropriate time and place for everything. Whether you like it or not, the confederate flag is a polarizing symbol and it's not just popular with everyone. That's reality, not a liberal talking point. Flying a logo with the Chicago Cubs may be harmless and welcomed on the north side of Chicago, but fly it elsewhere in America and you'll likely to be ridiculed. The fact I'm from the Chicago area won't change that reality.
I'd suggest that you read some of the OP's posts. He's not saying that flying a Confederate flag is out of place here (in the way that carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary would be). Every one of his posts asserts that the Confederacy is evil, and all those who honor it (including those whose ancestors died fighting for it) are evil. He's simply using this unfortunate incident as a stick to beat the Confederacy and the Southerners who honor its memory with, much as an NAACP activist would.
I understand what you're saying, personally I'm sick of conservatives who want to play the "let's pretend JFK was a heroic leader and great President because the liberal Democrats and the media say he was",
If Kennedy hadn't been assassinated, I doubt that his fans would have so much sway. Nothing creates (false) moral authority for the mediocre as perceived martyrdom.