A sure sign it's election day in South Carolina

One of the best things about the South Carolina Republican primary election today is that the rest of us won't have to hear any more about the Confederate flag.

Many Americans, who do not reside in South Carolina or Arkansas or Tennessee or Alabama or Georgia, may have thought that issue was settled in 1865. But that flag symbol retained special emotional power in South Carolina where, despite Appomattox Courthouse, it flew over the state Capitol until 2000.

For some it was -- and is -- a proud yahoo symbol of being Southern, suitable for the bumpers and rear windows of pickup trucks of males typically with two first names. For others, the flag of the losing side in what some still call....

the War Between the States was an offensive symbol of racism and slavery.

A 2000 compromise removed the flag from the statehouse in Columbia and placed it elsewhere, which is swell. But for generations, seeking the opinions of out-of-state candidates on the Confederate flag was an evergreen question for every lazy local print and TV reporter who couldn't think of anything else to be provocative. Even puzzled spouses of candidates from distant states were asked their opinion and were too polite to reply, "Who cares?"

Still today a few South Carolina reporters dust off the quadrennial question, and some Republicans can't resist the temptation. Years ago Sen. John McCain took a political consultant's advice and said the flag was a state's rights issue. Then, he felt guilty and started straight-talking what he really thought, that the Confederate flag was "a racist symbol." That may have helped seal his political doom in South Carolina's 2000 primary, but he's standing by it.

Mitt Romney criticized public display of the old flag in one debate, and a spokesman said the other day that as far as the former Yankee governor is concerned, the issue was settled in 2000.

A group calling itself Americans for the Preservation of American Culture, which supports the flag's public display, has been running ads on South Carolina talk radio stations criticizing McCain and Romney and praising Mike Huckabee.

The former Arkansas governor says the Confederate flag should be a matter of state's rights. Here's how the candidate, a former Baptist preacher, put it this week:

"You don’t like people from outside the state coming in and telling you what to do with your flag. In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we’d tell them what to do with the pole."

Only a few more hours to go.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[JoeMorgan]

Remember, when the politically correct use the term racist, they simply mean white Gentiles who discriminate.

For example, it is widely known that black juror's in inner cities, especially in NY, are refusing to confict black defendents when the victim is white.

Remember OJ Simson?

Any racial bias there?

[Chris Anders]

I love how West Coasters love to think the South is somehow similar to a Saturday night live skit or or a Witherspoon movie. Believe it or not, we have an educated, innovative, and prosperous population that is one of the fastest growing states in the country and many employers are moving here for the lifestyle and benefits of the state.

I have to agree that Huckabee's comments are ridiculous and that the candidates should be focusing on bigger issues affecting our country and the the region. Maybe Huckabee actually uses two first names among his peers....

(Good question, Chris. You'll notice the item was written not about all Southerners or South Carolina residents but only those who persist in brigning up this tiresome issue time and again. Thanks for reading taking the time to leave such an intelligent comment. Hope to see you back here.)

[Bobby Joe]

The Stars and Bars South Carolina state flag is one of heritge and pride in history. I fly mine everyday here in South Carolina. I'm proud to be a redneck, that term came from white young men working in the fields picking cotton and their necks would get sunburned.......aka redneck.
Don't you yankee's worry about our state flag.

[bgates]

>> I fly mine everyday here in South Carolina...
>> I'm proud to be a redneck...
>> Posted by: Bobby Joe...

Bobby Joe - you are part of the problem - not part of the solution. Look up "empathy" in the dictionary. That is, if you have one.

[Greg]

I have lived in South Carolina for almost 5 years, and have never once had a single conversation about the confederate flag in Columbia. Most of the South Carolinians I know would be just as content to let the issue die as would most other living beings.

[Wallace]

Redneck, whiteneck, blueneck. Why can't we all just get along and realize that we are all Americans and that despite our differences we have set ourselves apart from other countries because we share the strongest trait: Tolerance. Come on, America. Put the "United" back into the phrase "the United States of America."

Except for you, Vermont. You can go to hell.

[Winghunter]

PERHAPS, we should concentrate on who these candidates are since it appears we've lost our short-term memory AND our ability to find the records readily available in real time.

The issues, the records and past actions to compare to who they laughably suggest they are today is what we're supposed to be doing for our own governance.

We can bet the democrats won't fail to hold it in front of our noses so, why should it be a surprise??

Find out BEFORE they tell you all about it;

Candidate Research - Know Who You're Voting For ( The Easy Way ) http://tinyurl.com/2sowta

[Rhonda]

Dear Mr. Malcolm,

It is quieter here than in the section where you wrote about Ron Paul and his Nevada win. This is not really for the public, but if so, then so be it.

In your other section, you are giving people back some polite responses and at the same time you are suggesting (asking) for them to come back and spread the word about you. Being that I have probably replied to more people in my career than most people, I understand why you are saying that. So before you get burned out, maybe I can send 10 people or so your way, but I will never get this answer unless you send me it directly, which you can do since we have to put our e-mail address in the form to get this out. So this is my question.....Is this where you keep on telling people to come back to and to also spread the word about you to others?........

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/

I do not see your "Top of the Ticket" name in that URL, so is it just a co-incidence that it is here today and it will be changed to some other area in a day or so, or will that URL always be able to find your articles and therefore be able to post a blog/comment to you? You must realize that even though I might be one of the 3 who love you and want a relationship with you (as you put it in the other section--hehe), this is not to get any closer to you, just being courteous since you have been courteous ot your "fans" as such. It is also because since I am a busy woman (chasing away all my suitors) all day long, the odds are slim that I will make it back and be able to find any reply you might publically wish to respond to me by. Thank you.

Rhonda

PS: Is that 6' 220 lb heterosexual male still after you, by the way (hehe)?

(That is a good url for this blog. Also simpler: www.latimes.com/topoftheticket. It's co-written by two of us, one on each coast. So I expect to be here writing my share of items and my partner his share. And how could I forget Rhonda?)