Source: Chris Hondros / Getty
The massacre of nine African-Americans in a Charleston church last week has generated a lot of conversation, but it has now resurfaced another familiar question for candidates in the emerging contest for the Republican nomination: what to do with the Confederate battle flag that for many African-Americans represents a reminder of slavery?
The presidential campaign finally caught up to a country reeling from the gruesome display of racial terror. However the leading republican candidates are being careful so as not to risk offending the conservative white voters.
Jeb Bush issued a statement on Saturday saying he was confident that South Carolina “will do the right thing.” Even though in 2001 as Florida’s governor, Mr. Bush ordered the Confederate flag to be taken from its public display outside his state’s Capitol him nor any other republican candidate will state explicitly what their stand is on the flag.
One Republican legislator is already pushing to remove the flag. State Representative Norman D. Brannon, said he will file a bill in the next session of the legislature to remove the flag from the Capitol grounds.
Unless Governor Haley calls the legislature back into a special session, the state will likely deliberate on the issue in January when the next session begins which is shortly before South Carolina’s presidential primary.
Many prominent Republicans are privately hoping the state reaches a consensus well before that point to avoid a primary election dominated by race-related issues that as a result could turn off the business community and depress the state’s lucrative tourism and convention industry.
One thing that has not changed is the desire of many South Carolina residents is to have those who live outside the state to not inject themselves in South Carolina’s affairs.
State Senator Michael L. Fair, a Republican, said
“I think each of the presidential candidates should stay away from what is clearly a South Carolina circumstance, they’re just going to invite criticism.”
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