Rand Paul Backs Confederate Flag Removal, Calls It Symbol of Racism and Murder

Reason ^ | 06/24/2015 | Robby Soave

[SeekAndFind]

Sen. Rand Paul said he agrees with South Carolina Gov. (and fellow Republican) Nikki Haley that the Confederate flag should be removed from its previous place of honor on the grounds of the State House. In a radio interview this morning, Paul referred to the flag as “inescapably a symbol of human bondage and slavery,” as well as a reminder of Dylan Roof’s horrific murders:

“I think the flag is inescapably a symbol of human bondage and slavery, and particularly when people use it, you know, obviously for murder and to justify hated so vicious that you would kill somebody, I think that that symbolism needs to end. And I think South Carolina is doing the right thing.

I think it’s, obviously, it’s a decision for South Carolina to maker, but if I was in South Carolina that’s what I would vote to do and I would recommend to anyone who asked me my opinion. There have been people who have used it for southern pride and heritage and all of that but really to I think to every African-American in the country it’s a symbolism of slavery to them and now it’s a symbol of murder for this young man and so I think it’s time to put it in a museum.”

Many other Republicans, including Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, have also called for the flag to be taken down.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Notice no one is asking Cruz about this. They don’t want the base to get fired up over this.

I can only surmise that the Northeast liberal left are scared as they just shot the first barrage at the south.

It’s a civil war and they want to get rid of our flag.

[skeeter]

Whatever, Rand.

I think most of us have you figured out by now.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Will he say the same about Nazi, ISIs, etc....which we already see here?

[Genoa]

This is the inevitable result of historical ignorance. What other conclusion can there be if we start from the premise that the War Between the States was fought merely about ending slavery? The Confederate battle flag can then only be a symbol of slavery, which translates to racism and hate, etc. One bad “fact” leads to several others. I blame the schools, and I mean all of them, K thru college.

[expatguy]

Stupid. I never vote for stupid people

[Logical me]

Rand Paul is a closet socialists. He is closer to the communists Democrats than to the conservative Constitutional Republicans.

[ansel12]

Rand Paul is a pathetic, limp wristed, pandering, rino/libertarian.

“Rand Paul to steer clear of Mississippi runoff”

“Rand Paul: It’s a ‘misnomer’ to say McConnell isn’t conservative”

“Rand Paul To Campaign for Romney”

March, 2013—”Rand Paul endorses Mitch McConnell in 2014 Senate race, won’t back tea party challenge”

“A week after about 150 tea party activists rallied in opposition to U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander’s re-election” “Rand Paul of Kentucky said here Monday that he hopes Alexander doesn’t get an opponent and wins re-election.”

Ted Cruz's South Carolina Leadership Team Defends Confederate Flag

[central_va]

Southern man don’t need him around anyhow.

[blueunicorn6]

Where did he go to school?

How can a doctor not understand causality?

Oh, that’s right.

He’s a politician.

I had little respect for this guy, and now I have none.

He should be cutting up groundhogs.

[Andy'smom]

They did ask Cruz. He said it’s up to South Carolina.

[mikefive]

I hear you. I already added him to the list with bush, rubio, and graham of who I won’t vote for. Why vote for just another dem just because they decide to put an “R” behind their name.

[MadIsh32]

I blame Confederate leaders for telling us they were fighting a war to maintain the institution of slavery

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/what-this-cruel-war-was-over/396482/

“...A geographical line has been drawn across the Union, and all the States north of that line have united in the election of a man to the high office of President of the United States, whose opinions and purposes are hostile to slavery. He is to be entrusted with the administration of the common Government, because he has declared that that “Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free,” and that the public mind must rest in the belief that slavery is in the course of ultimate extinction. This sectional combination for the submersion of the Constitution, has been aided in some of the States by elevating to citizenship, persons who, by the supreme law of the land, are incapable of becoming citizens; and their votes have been used to inaugurate a new policy, hostile to the South, and destructive of its beliefs and safety.”

“Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery—the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin…”

You can find more and more. It is actually pretty easy

[SeekAndFind]

Rand Paul looks at one side of history but ignores the other side.

I am a Northerner and not a Southerner, but support the South's right to fly the Confederate Flag.

Look, if we are going to use the Confederate Flag as a symbol of slavery, then let's be consistent.

The Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) never flew on a slave ship but many slave ships flew the Stars and Stripes.

Yankee slavers in RI, Mass, NY, and Conn. grew very wealthy in the slave trade.

In fact, the vast majority of KKK rallies had these racists carrying the Stars and Stripes in their marches.

SEE THIS PIC FOR INSTANCE:



So? Are they going to take down the flag of the United States too?

People like Rand Paul are giving evil fools like Dylann Roof too much power and credibility by capitulating to the hysteria of the moment.

[Fiji Hill]

It didn’t take Rand Paul long to jump the shark.

[Will we know the moment]

The most visible reminder of slavery and racism are back people. All black people should stay out of sight so as to not remind us of slavery.

[GraceG]

Gee, how very “Un-Libertarian” of him...

[right way right]

“So? Are they going to take down the flag of the United States too?”

That’s next.

[Genoa]

I said “merely.” It isn’t quite as simple as people try to make it. Slavery was one of several reasons the war was fought. It had a lot to do with regional dominance of the South by the North. Tariffs enriched northern business at the expense of southern agriculture. In a variety of cases constitutional safeguards concerning the rights of sovereign states were ignored or circumvented. Many in the South realized that slavery’s days were numbered, but they didn’t appreciate how the North was trying to use the issue of its expansion into the territories for its own selfish purposes.

[MrB]

Well, at least we know we can’t count on him to stand up to the leftist agenda.

That, or he’s too stupid to see through their surface issues.

[mountainlion]

Yep, the pResidential seal has to go also.