The horrific shooting in Charleston has prompted the Governor of South Carolina to call for removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds, Josh Dawsey reports for the WSJ.
Unfortunately, she does not have the authority to order removal unilaterally. A previous compromise moved the flag from its prominent place atop the dome but also required a two-thirds vote of the legislature to remove it altogether.
Fourteen years ago, two states further south, a governor did remove that flag from the capitol and put it in a museum. Beth Reinhard has this story, also in the WSJ, about Jeb Bush's move and the reaction to it. Among other names, the Texas transplant was called a northerner and a yankee. (I can relate to that, having been born and raised in Virginia with Western and Northeastern parents.) "To those who attacked him for his decision, Mr. Bush responded tersely but politely, at times with deadpan humor, emails released earlier this year show."
Update: Meanwhile, two states further north, the Governor wants the Attorney General to look into getting relief from a Fourth Circuit decision mandating allowing the flag on specialty plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, given that the Supreme Court has just decided the issue the other way. Now, Governor, about Jefferson Davis Highway...
Fourteen years ago, two states further south, a governor did remove that flag from the capitol and put it in a museum. Beth Reinhard has this story, also in the WSJ, about Jeb Bush's move and the reaction to it. Among other names, the Texas transplant was called a northerner and a yankee. (I can relate to that, having been born and raised in Virginia with Western and Northeastern parents.) "To those who attacked him for his decision, Mr. Bush responded tersely but politely, at times with deadpan humor, emails released earlier this year show."
Update: Meanwhile, two states further north, the Governor wants the Attorney General to look into getting relief from a Fourth Circuit decision mandating allowing the flag on specialty plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, given that the Supreme Court has just decided the issue the other way. Now, Governor, about Jefferson Davis Highway...
For those who haven't been to the capitol building in Columbia, S.C., it is worth noting that taking the flag down from atop the dome did not make the flag any less prominent. In fact, having been there both before and after the flag came down from the dome, I find that the flag is MORE prominent now, since it is on a pole on the lawn directly in front of the statehouse (where you couldn't miss it if you tried), and it is an enormous flag. Frankly, it looked pretty small on top of the dome, and now it is very large and "in your face." (FWIW, I don't think it should be there at all; my only point is that it's no better down on the lawn than up on the dome.)
Thanks for the clarification. I haven't been there, but maybe I will shortly.