Clark says all Democrats should condemn Confederate banner

The State ^ | 11/2/03 | Associated Press

[shuckmaster]

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Presidential candidate Wesley Clark thinks all of his fellow Democrats should take a stand against the Confederate flag.

"The Confederate flag undermines the values that Americans care deeply about - equality, diversity and inclusion," Matt Bennett, the retired general's campaign spokesman, said Sunday. "The general strongly believes that every Democratic candidate needs to condemn the divisiveness represented by the Confederate flag."

The statement came after comments by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, also a Democratic presidential hopeful, that he wanted "to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks."

In a telephone interview quoted in Saturday's Des Moines Register, Dean said, "We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats."

Dean said Saturday that he was intending to encourage the return of Southern voters who have abandoned the Democrats for decades but are disaffected with Republicans.

The Confederate flag is a hot issue in South Carolina, where it flies on Statehouse grounds. In 2000, under pressure from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other groups, the state Legislature removed the flag from the Capitol dome and House and Senate chambers.

The compromise that put the banner at the Confederate Soldier Monument satisfied some protesters, but the NAACP continues its boycott of the state because of the flag's prominent display.

[shuckmaster]

Aw, Shucks!

[shuckmaster]

ping!

[Leroy S. Mort]

Gee , wasn't he leading in SC?

[UB355]

These clowns just tripping over each other. I'm waiting for them to blame Gearge Bush for the confederate flag.

[neverdem]

Nice catch. I hope Clark personally and in pubic tells that to Senator Hollings. BTW, what has Hollings said in regards to re-election?

[pierrem15]

Those immortal words of Thomas Jefferson--

We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are "equality, diversity and inclusion."

Clark is Clinton without the malevolent intelligence, the first time it's a tragedy, the second time a farce.

[Age of Reason]

"The Confederate flag undermines the values that Americans care deeply about - equality, diversity . . . .

When did diversity suddenly become a traditional American value?

Did the founding fathers write something like "pursuit of diversity" into any documents?

[ChadGore]

DNC to south: Drop Dead

[OpusatFR]

Well that's just going to make the many who have bumper stickers that are half battle flag and half statement that says, "We don't care how you did it up North!" vote democrat fer sure. ( ;

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

All democrats condemn ALL THINGS WHITE!! I condemn ALL DEMOCRATS as they are totally UNAMERICAN!

[Hugin]

Hollings is retiring.

[demkicker]

DNC to south: Drop Dead

Yep, and Zell Miller 2nd's that notion!

[Prime Choice]

Maybe all we need to do to resolve this whole problem is to refer to the Confederate Flag as a "Banner of Peace."

Why not? We're always being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace" and that the f---wits running around doing awful things under the banner of Islam are a "very small minority." So why can't that be said for the Confederate flag?

Been a long time since I've seen Confederates kill anyone, so it's fair to say. And they sure seem a lot more peaceful than the Muslims these days...

[RJS1950]

Funny statement! It is one of the flags and part of the (dismal) heritage of his party. I truly believe that he is too self-centered, prone to lies and ignorant of history to grasp that concept.

[Squantos]

All this from the man who said he'd be a republican if Karl Rove had just answered his calls..........:o)

Boy did the GOP dodge a bullet there.

Wasn't Weasal Clark the one who said..... "If I knew then what I know now I'd have picked my own damn cotton".......?

thats my lie and I'm sticking too it

Stay Safe !

[thinktwice]

the values that Americans care deeply about - equality, diversity and inclusionM

The term "value" has significance at the individual level. Values might be shared, but cultures and societies are non-breathing entities without the ability to value. There is no such thing as a collective value .

At West Point, for instance, the best of American values are taught using the individualized words ... "Duty, Honor, Country."

[rs79bm]

This is a worthless attempt from the Dem candidates to gain southern support. It will never work. It just isn't that big of an issue in the South. The Dems and Black leaders would like to think it is, but it isn't.

[neverdem]

Thank you

[Clemenza]

The Confederate Flag is the flag of SEDITION!!!

[RGVTx]

Of course they'll condemn a flag, but never condemn evil people like Saddam or Bin Laden.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

To hell with these SOB's, if the dims are against it, I am for it. I don't have a Stars and Bars colors, but soon will and bumper sticker all three vehicles with same just for good measure.

[4CJ]

This is a worthless attempt from the Dem candidates to gain southern support.

It will have the opposite effect. The patry that preaches "tolerance" is the most intolerant. Southern white, Christian, conservative males need not apply.

In regards to the Southern Cross - I will fly it till the day I die.

[billbears]

The Confederate Flag is the flag of SEDITION Freedom from the tyranny of Washington!!!

Better

[Reactionary]

"The Confederate Flag is the flag of SEDITION!"

Nah. The liberal flag is the flag of treason.

[4CJ]

The party that preaches "tolerance" is the most intolerant. Spellcheck on aisle 15.

[freedumb2003]

The Confederate Flag is the flag of SEDITION!!!

INCOMING!!!

[4CJ]

The Confederate Flag is the flag of Freedom from the tyranny of Washington!!!

Bump!

[billbears]

Doesn't matter. As I said on another thread, I have an emblem of the Battle Flag on my car and an emblem of the First National Flag on my truck. Let ol' Wes or any other politician (Republican or Democrat) come down and try to outlaw them. Don't have an emblem of the union flag on either car.

[Holly_P]

"Yep, and Zell Miller 2nd's that notion!"

"Once upon a time, the most successful Democratic leader of them all, FDR, looked south and said 'I see one third of a nation ill-housed, ill clad, ill nourished.' Today our national Democratic leaders look south and say, 'I see one third of a nation and it can go to hell.'" -- retiring U.S. Senator Zell Miller, Democrat of Georgia,

[EGPWS]

Clark says all Democrats should condemn Confederate banner

Sounds good to me. Let ALL the Dem candidates "say" themselves into oblivion with their desparate rhetoric. No matter what they say or do Dubya' WILL be our next president! : )

[savedbygrace]

The article's title claims that Clark says this, but the article says that his campaign spokesman says this.

I bet Mary's the one who actually said this. Mary, help.

[billbears]

"Once upon a time, the most successful Democratic leader of them all, FDR, looked south and said 'I see one third of a nation ill-housed, ill clad, ill nourished.'

One reason mainly because my ancestors had gone through decades of unrightful punishment from the liberal party, which before the 1910s was the Republican/Whig Party

[EGPWS]

The party that preaches "tolerance" is the most intolerant.

Repeat that statement infinite times!

Perhaps in time it will sink in to the minds of the Democratic sheople!

[tet68]

"The Confederate flag undermines the values that Americans care deeply about - equality, diversity and inclusion," Matt Bennett, the retired general's campaign spokesman, said Sunday. "The general strongly believes that every Democratic candidate needs to condemn the divisiveness represented by the Confederate flag."

If he would say this, then how much longer would it be till he'd say THIS....

"The American flag undermines the values that the UN. cares deeply about - equality, diversity and inclusion," Matt Bennett, the retired general's campaign spokesman, said Sunday. "The general strongly believes that every UN. candidate needs to condemn the divisiveness represented by the American flag."

[Southack]

Gee, so what do Senators Byrd (KKK in real life, Confederate General in the movies) and Edwards have to say about Clark's plea to condemn the Confederate flag?

[Wings-n-Wind]

You need to work on your history... and your lexicon.

When the southern states seceded.... state by state.... the states had retained/exercised the constitutional right to do just that...

Sedition.... is the practice of undermining the legitimate authority of a governing entity... (or a company... association... etc.) from within. Not the disassociation or legitimate withdrawal therefrom.....(/flame-off)

Have a nice day

[Republic]

The title of this article is proof that these absolutely hysterical idiots have nothing of gravity to speak of...President Bush has shaved them from the neck down...and their girly parts are showing!

[EGPWS]

if the dims are against it, I am for it.

That is getting to be a political philosophy that I hold if for no other reason but to maintain a self respect with my common sense.

[Freebird Forever]

I don't have a Stars and Bars colors, but soon will

This store has a good selection.

[TonyRo76]

the values that Americans care deeply about ... diversity ...

The way it's been defined by the far Left in recent years, I don't “care deeply about diversity” at all.

In fact, I could go for a lot more homogeneity, myself! ;)

[TonyRo76]

Democrats don't care if they diss people who fly this flag...

...cuz their core constituents more likely fly this one...

[Senator_Blutarski]

It really doesn't get much better than this. The more the Democrats talk about the Confederate flag, the more votes they will lose.

"The general strongly believes that every Democratic candidate needs to condemn the divisiveness represented by the Confederate flag."

Even a northerner like me can understand that those are fightin' words.

The Democrats stand to lose the many conservative southern voters who "vote Democrat because my daddy voted Democrat" but who are really Republicans at heart.

There's just nothing like a self-inflicted wedge issue.

[Lazamataz]

< I don't have a Stars and Bars colors

Correction: Stars and Bars is another flag entirely. You are probably referring to the Confederate Battle Flag.

[Cicero]

Well, whether he's right or wrong, at least Wesley has finally found an issue he wrap his little mind around.

"Flag bad! Flag bad! Flag bad!"

There, I knew you could say it, Wesley.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

Like his Anti-U.S. Boss HILLARY and her No. 1 Defensive Media Linebacker WALTER CRONKITE...

I'm quite sure that General CLARK...

...who almost impulsively started World War III in Kosovo with the Russians on behalf of the CLINTONS...

would like nothing better than for our Patriotic South to secede from our Union.

The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been.

[vetvetdoug]

I despise the Democratic Party more and more everyday. The party of homosexuals, abortion, draft dodgers, pedophiles, race baiters, drug addicts and alcoholics, murderers, con artists, drug dealers, convicts, false prophets, thieves, corrupt politicians, anti-christianity rhetoric and activities, communists, Black hustlers, welfare scams, farm subsidy scams and etc,etc, etc. Now the Democrats say that revering the memory of my ancestors that fought for their constitutional beliefs is wrong and all symbols of their memory is to abolished. The party of tolerance....bull$h!t. The Demoncrats won't be happy until they have morphed this country into a NAZI one. (Nationist Socialist..far left).

[Verginius Rufus]

You left out a couple of words in quoting Jefferson:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all women and men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are equality, diversity, and inclusion..."

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[Levante]

How profound and brave of you, Clarkie (NOT).

By the way, you just couldn't wait more than a few hours to use the deaths of brave US troops in Iraq to condemn Bush and maybe win yourself some brownie points, could you?

Clark, go F**k yourself.

[Twinkie]

But - only THEIR kind (the right kind, of course) of
diversity. Conformity Diversity.