COLUMBIA --- South Carolina should remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds if it wants to grow its economy, a Democrat running for governor said Thursday.
"The Confederate Flag debate continues to hold our state back. We are not going to compete in a 21st century economy by prolonging 19th century arguments," Charleston lawyer Mullins McLeod said in a news release. "By agreeing to move past this old argument once and for all, we will be telling the world that South Carolina is ready to lead again."
The flag at a monument to Confederate war dead at the Capitol already has been a topic in the 2010 race. Republican candidates in their first debate in September closed the door to removing the banner.
"We settled this issue years ago on a bipartisan and biracial basis, and we're moving forward to tackle the real problems facing South Carolina," said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston. He is the flag's staunchest defender in the Senate and helped shape the 2000 compromise that removed it from the Statehouse dome.
In other news
THREE FORMER UNION County officials will stand trial in February, a judge ruled Thursday. Former county supervisor Donald Betenbaugh and tax assessor Willie E. Randall Jr., are facing charges ranging from accepting $50,000 in kickbacks to allowing Mr. Randall's office to be used to store cocaine. Both have pleaded not guilty and are free on bond. Former Sheriff Howard Wells was in court on witness tampering charges.
Comments
Everyone bringing up the confederate flag, except as relates to the civil war, should be disqualified as a candidate for public office in South Carolina. This non-issue has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars over the years and was finally settled July of 2000. S-E-T-T-L-E-D.
Hey, Mullins McLeod at least told us where he stands. Now, vote for him or against him on the flag issue. My guess is that he will not be the next governor of South Carolina.
He just made it clear he doesn't want to be elected.
Yeah and all the rednecks talking against him are proving his point, South Carolina does not want to move forward, but hey, if that is what the backwoods people want so be it.
It still amazes me how people who claim to be the most patriotic want to support a flag that represents a period in American history when states were trying to split apart from the USA.
History is full of surprises, photoshop and airbrush it how you will.
justus4-you are a idiot plan and simple,the south carolina state flag and the georgia flag we have to day are confederate flags.i'm sorry that you still beleave that the war between the states was all about you,government schooled for sure.the south was right in 1861 and we are more right even today.our forefathers told us what would happen long ago about this government we have today/
Justus4...It's a good thing you can choose not to live in SC. So just stay out! No big deal.
imdstuf-i am proud of my ancestors and family,we have been in every war and conflict this country has have up to today and i am proud of them all.they fought for what they beleive in.
justus4- let me ask you a question the american flag flew over slavery for 88 years but the battle flew only over a army.can you explain this part of history to me,i know you want because you couldn't last in a true debate.
Only 5% of Southerners owned slaves. The other 95% fought for freedom from the North. They risked every thing they had for independence - their land, money, and even their lives. The Southern armies had enormous losses, but they fought as long as they possibly could for the cause. We should be ashamed for even considering removing the flag that honors their sacrifices.
The country does not care one twit about Sc and the flag. Business care about settling into a business friendly state, period. Can you see someone saying to the CEO, "But boss, we can't move there because of that darn flag." Business decision are not made on emotion.
Confed. Amer. most American cannot tell the difference between the CSA battle flag and the national one and all its iterations. Would not a sensible compromise be to fly the national flag of the Confederacy there rather than the battle flag?
I agree it should be removed from the grounds and put back where it was after several years of pushing to have it removed from the top of the capitol. Need to be worried more about what POTUS is doing NOW.
put a gun and the battle flag on a table,neither will hurt anyone until someone picks it up to hurt someone,it is not the gun are the flag that is bad its the person,i fly and carry my flag in honor of what my ancestors fought for,i carry my gun to protect myself and others,not to hurt anyone
Well this demwad idiot, just lost my vote. Agree boston!
I suspect the grievance junkies not could find the flag if it glowed in the dark; it is the IDEA there is a confederate flag SOMEWHERE on the planet that bothers them. And that is the basis of their permanently aggrieved hysteria. Wow.
I am a confederate american, how about you?
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