I have been readin these comments on this and i have to say that this just shows that the people of this country are in need of serious education of the southern cause and not the doctrination of the Union oppressors …what the union did was to take this country and turn it back into what our founding fathers broke away from …a monarchy…and we became a little england once again…now were on the brink of collapse because of our world polotics and the beauracrats..go figure…and i will be supprised to see this posted because i support the sout and the confederate cause…we'll see…lol

Men of both regions killed millions of Native Americans with a Bible in one hand and a rifle in the other.I'm not sure where Terry gets this wierd idea. The Cherokee and Oklahoma tribes were Confederates. Stand Waite, the Cherokee General, was the last Confederate General to surrender his command. The "Indian Wars" were fought by Yankees like Sheridan, Kilpatrick, Custer, under the administration of Grant. The Yankees used the same genocidal strategy against the Western Plains Indians that they used against South Carolina. Southrons do not bear that guilt.

Why did the people of the great state of Mississippi overwhelmingly vote to retain their beautiful state flag which the Confederate emblem is prominent? Many black citizens voted in support of the state flag. The answer is because the flag represents southern history and heritage.
Every poll I've ever seen and there have been many supports the Confederate flag. Google it!
I personally do not give a rat's petunia what some self-rightous yankee or southern scalawag thinks about the Confederate flag.
KEEP IT FLYING!

I am sick and tired of you ignorant fools saying that the North won and the South lost.

How could a nation fighting against it's own fathers and brothers on it's own soil, killing Americans on American soil, EVER be a victory for any side?

NO ONE WON. Those that say one side won and the other side lost are despicable, ignorant and inhumane. Good grief….GROW UP!

Put the flag in a museum where it belongs. The MOST that it should remind us of is what we as a nation were willing to do to make a point to each other. It was a senseless and ignorant war.

We are all AMERICANS NOW!

Why does anyone care how any candidate feels about a flag other than the American Flag "Ole Glory". I don not understand how someone can make their decision on a candidate based on how he feels about any other flag. It is just like the religious right,they only support someone who will spit out their conservative message…look what happened last time GW….

A guy who has no chance of winning the nomination, being protested by EIGHT PEOPLE, about something that only matters to idiots. This is not news, please try again.

"Clad in jackets bearing the Confederate flag and holding signs reading "South Carolina hates Fred Thompson" and "Fred Thompson go home," the protesters said Thompson was not a "true southerner.""
Oh, the No True Scotsman fallacy. Even funnier in person!

Oh, and even though Fred is a horrible candidate, I've got to give Fred some credit for this. I don't mind if people fly the Confederate flag on their car or in their home, but please keep it out of state capitals.

Whether you believe the flag is racists or not. One thing is clear. The confederate flag is the flag of traitors. The south lost bottom line. And anyone that fly’s the flag of traitors should be ashamed.

South Carolina Hates Fred Thompson?

Newsflash for you: SO DO THE OTHER 49 STATES.

When is this guy going to get a clue and drop out?

Since noone checks their history, The Stars and Bars, or the Confederate Flag also called the Battle Banner, isn't the "true" Confederate Flag. That is the Bonnie Blue. That flag is a solid blue filed with a single white star in the center. I'm suprised more 'southners' don't know that. By the way, for Mr. Romney, the only reason the Battle Banner is so loathed by people not from the south, is because unfortunetly, it became a symbol for the KKK and other hate groups. Like I said, people need to read up on their history.

This article has been edited. I read this same article elsewhere and it said that this same group is now supporting Ron Paul. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

If memory serves me correctly, Black americans were still fighting for total rights and freedoms up into the 1960's,,,History repeats,repeats, repeats,repeats,repeats,, the civil war long over and a flags meaning long forgotten and perverted , did not change the fact that a mind set is a hard thing to change, many americans dems/reps are guilty to this very day of the same mind set.

The Confedorate flag is a symbol of hate, and racsism. PERIOD. How those idiototic, inbred, blindly-loyal old guys can proudly where it while protesting is simpley beyond my capability of understanding.

The flag is flying over a battlefield. Look at the side of the building and you will see the evidence. Oh wait, how many of you speaking here have ever set foot in SC? Honestly, I see it as none of your business. It is something for the citizens of South Carolina to deal with. So everyone from Alaska to Flordia and Maine to California, stick to your own business and we here in South Carolina will stick to ours.

The Confederate flag is wrong, but it's not a symbol of racism. It's a symbol of treason, pure and simple. I've never understood how some Southerners can consider themselves patriotic and display this flag.

to display the flag in any capacity other than an historical reference is a call to racism.

John in Memphis writes:

Jim in Orlando, you must be under the age of 30 and reading the standard revisionist history taught in public schools. The Confederacy did not fight to save the institution of slavery nor did the Union fight to abolish slavery. Check your history. Lincoln did not issue the Emancipation Proclamation until 1863 or two years after the fighting started. The Cofederacy was ready to free slaves in order to garner support for their war effort from European allies. This war was fought for the same reasons that the American Revolution was fought which was in the fewest words can be explained as taxation without representation. The industrialized North was in favor of limiting imports of manufactured goods from Europe through tariffs and the South sufferred from the tariffs placed on exported agriculture goods (cotton). Protectionist policies of the North hurt southern business. Jim in Orlando, you are either ignorant or not a conservative.

Posted By John,Memphis, TN : December 6, 2007 2:52 pm

In your dreams John. I'm 52 BTW. The north fought because Lincoln chose to preserve the Union. The South seceded after years of friction, grossly apparent with the Compromise of 1850, the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas Nebraska act, John Brown's raid, and many other examples. While there were other issues, as noted by another poster, the issue of slavery's existence and expansion, and the ability of the Federal Government to impede it, was debate #1. While Lincoln's decision to make the Emancipation Proclamation did not occur until 1863, it was not because the issue had not been the leading factor for the South's departure. Rather, there were two prevailing factors by 1863 1) He heeded to pick a time when the North was more receptive to the concept of a free black man as a cause to fight, and more importantly 2) he did not have the Constutional authority to just proclaim the slaves as "free". Rather, as commander in Chief, since the south was using slaves to build defenses, he used his power as Commander in Chief to declare the Confederate State slaves (not northern) as free, and not a tool of the Confederate defense. To disagree is one thing Johnny, but to call me "ignorant" is to show your familiarity with that state of being. Next.

I think the only people who find the flag divisive and or racist are the people who were never educated enough to understand it and or who want a hand out. The flag is a symbol of STATES RIGHTS not slavary. It's part of our history.

I understand that some find it offensive, but frankly I find it offenseive when any minority says they can't succeed at something because the "man" is keeping them down. I find it offensive that no one has a problem with blanket statements about all white people being racist but if I wear an article of clothing bearing a Confederate Battle Flag or put one on my truck I may as well be up on charges for hate crimes.

There sure is a lot of historic ignorance in these United States. The flag, whether it be revered or abhored by the individual, is what the individual believes. To each his own.

First of all, these "protesters" have
NO idea what the Confederate really is.
The flag in the picture is the battle
flag of Northern Virginia. The real
Confederate flag is the "Stars and Bars." One flag in another picture of the "protesters," was a square battle flag whick was the Naval Battle Flag of
the Confederates. In my state of Florida the background was white with
the "stars,(States)" were within the Cross of St. Andrews. I laugh when I see the battle flag of "Northern Virginia" being used as the Confederate
Flag.
Chappy

Last time I checked slavery started in the North in Mass. not in the South. The first African Americans to the US landed in Virginia and were FREE.

Also, last time I checked the American Flag also flew on the slave ships bound for America from the African Slave Coast.

For all of the northerners who like to complain about the south and the southern states being backwards. The last time I checked Southern Reconstruction failed. U.S. Grant was a drunkard with a worthless cabinet.

On the otherhand, the south (Virginia) produced more Presidents than any other region, and these Presidents are the ones we all revere and admire and wish more people were like.

So I don't think the South sucks so bad. We all were in this slavery thing together so don't shove it just on us down here.

Wow,,

How so many people insist that the ONLY thing that the Confederate flag represents is bigotry and slavery stuns me.
Don't look now, but the war between the States was about MONEY,,,just like every war! The south had an agricultural economy while the north had an industrial economy. The cessation of slavery was only one tool used by the north to preserve the Union's status quo.
The south merely wanted self determination. (As I do in this century,,,,poor me, how likely is that?)

NANDO,PALM COAST,FL is an idiot who does not know his history. The states have the right to succeed under the U.S constitution as long as the people of the state vote for it. There was a vote and those individual states succeeded. Lincoln violated the constitution by going to war. And don't forget the southerners who were raped and had their property burned to the ground by federal troops.

Posted By Tom, Orlando, Fl : December 6, 2007 3:07 pm

the problem with southerns is that they are ignorant…

Show us where in the Constitution there is a clause for succession??

It never ceases to amaze me how many stupid people are out there. you all need to go back and read the history of the civil war, and the reason it was fought. read and learn.

Yikes! The Confederate flag bearers are scary

Joe, I think it's important to realize that even though the South indeed had control of those individual branches of the government, the general perception of the time was the opposite. Lincoln, a largely sectional president, had been elected with clear goals that had serious negative impacts for the South.

Obviously the higher tariff that he ran on would've damaged the Southern sale of cotton, which was the true cornerstone of the confederacy. From the perspective of a Southerner, it seemed as if the political balance had shifted to the North, and that it would only be a matter of time before things were changed.

Plus, they thought Lincoln and the Republican Party wouldn't risk employing force to prevent the South from seceding. Technically, they were right, as the North probably wouldn't have acted successfully if the South hadn't mobilized first and struck Fort Sumter. That first aggressive action prompted the border states to shift North, and give a larger populational edge that spurred them to victory.

Just my historical perspective, take it as you will…

Think about this for a minute - when the South seceded, they had a pro-Southern Congress and Supreme Court. What was the threat to southern liberty from entities they controlled? -Joe

I could care less about the confederate flag.

This is a flag of a defeated country and by virtue of that should only be flown at a statue or memorial site honoging that part that was good.

The flag itself is more about slavery and the subjection of blacks to whites.

Personally I wouldnt allow it to be flown in my own neighborwood period!.

hey, In search of truth…

Considering Richmond was the capitol of the Confederacy, I would say it's part of the south.

You did have some good thoughts until I read that.

If you think the Confederacy was not about racism, read this quote from the memoirs of Gen. Jubal Early, who led the cause of memoralizing the Southern legacy:

The Creator of the Universe had stamped them, indelibly, with a different color and an inferior physical and mental organization. He had not done this from mere caprice or whim, but for wise purposes. An amalgamation of the races was in contravention of His designs or He would not have made them so different. This immense number of people could not have been transported back to the wilds from which their ancestors were taken, or, if they could have been, it would have resulted in their relapse into barbarism. Reason, common sense, true humanity to the black, as well as the safety of the white race, required that the inferior race should be kept in a state of subordination. The conditions of domestic slavery, as it existed in the South, had not only resulted in a great improvement in the moral and physical condition of the negro race, but had furnished a class of laborers as happy and contented as any in the world.[1]

In all seriousness, I live in Virginia and rarely see that flag flown anymore, thank goodness.

I'd be willing to bet all of those posting comments about the South and the stars and bars standing for slavery and racism, have no problem buying goods from countries like China, and India that use slave labor and sweatshops, so you can save a dollar!! Oh yeah ladies those diamond earrings your wearing, I'd like you to explain to the eleven year old Sierra Leone mine workers that harvest your booty, why you appreciate his hard work, hurry up he'll only live till he's thirteen! Don't be such altruistic fools. WE have become so civilized that our slavery is outsourced to the third world. Great!

Mr. Thompson, in my opinion, answered the question about the confederate flag perfectly.I am very proud of my southern heritage and have lived in Tennessee my entire life.The flag stands for a way of life we enjoy in the South, and thousands of men died defending that.The real problem is the people that insist it is a symbol of hate.I say "respect of one's heritage is a two way street". S. Winton

I was born a Texan and I will die a Texan, but for the majority of the people that live in the South we don't like the Confederate Flag. Sure you have a few people that think "oh it's who I am cause I'm from the South". No I'm from Texas that is in the Southern part of the United States. I know many Hispanic people that hate the Mexican Flag being flown also if you love Mexico that much then please go back Hispanics don't like being called Mexican because Mexican is a Nationality, and if you love the Confederate Flag I don't know what to tell you because that "place" no longer exists. And they can say the Civil War was because the "Yankees" wanted all the money but that is a loser trying to make it sound like the white slave owners were the victims. And who would want to call themselves Sons of Confederate Veterans besides KKK members and racists?

I'm a Southerner with ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. Folks, the Civil War has been over now for 142 years. Its flag and its soldiers are surely worthy of pride; Want to show your support?: wear it on your t-shirts, display it from and in your home, paint it on your car, tattoo it on your body, make quilts, needlepoint, and tapestry with it…lots of ways to pay tribute. But should a state or federal government display it? Too many people are rightfully hurt therein. End of story. Let's let the issue lie and move on to more important ones.

The Conferare Flag is freedom of speech, why is ok for mexicans to display the mexico flag and for other people to display their flag, but its not ok to display the confederte flag.????? Seems a bit of being a hypocrite… I am proud to display my confederate flag, stars and bars

The Confederacy was about slavery, period. The North wasn't about anti-slavery until half-way through the way, but the Confederacy wasn't about state's rights until they lost.

Just as one example, the Vice President of the Confederacy said that slavery was the "cornerstone of the confederacy" during the war and that states rights was afterwards.

And as anyone who reads the confederate constitution knows, it didn't care about state's rights. Slavery was a state's right in the union, it was forced on states in the Confederacy. The Confederacy refused to let states secede from it. The only nod to a stronger state was that the government couldn't engage in internal improvements or some forms of taxation.

What the South was really worried about was that, if they tried to secede in 15 years, they'd have no shot at Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, which were rapidly bleeding slaves into the deep south.

Think about this for a minute - when the South seceded, they had a pro-Southern Congress and Supreme Court. What was the threat to southern liberty from entities they controlled?

I am from South Carolina, and I studied history at Clemson University, so I am very familiar with the Confederate Flag. The Confederate Flag does represent history and heritage for some people. But, for other people, it is an image of hate and oppression.
I do not think any object in and of itself equals hate. The negative connotation related to an object is formed by its historical use. People use symbols all the time to create emotion in people, and unfortunately, the confederate flag has been used by people to stir negative emotions. African-Americans did not arbitrarily decide one day that the flag should be viewed as a racist symbol. KKK members adopted it as a symbol of hate. A burning cross was not a racist symbol until it was burned in someone's yard in an attempt to harass and scare the inhabitants.

Unless you have been on the receiving end of racial intolerance, it is hard to really empathize with those who have. I don't think people should minimize those feels of anger caused by symbols that have been used as symbols of hate.

I think Fred Thompson got it about right, actually. I'd add that as I see it, any American who cannot appreciate the roles of men like Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and the many brave and honorable men who served the army of the Confederate States of America, has an impoverished view of American history. Students of military history, of all political stripes, will forever stand in awe of the enlisted men who obeyed the order to mount Pickett's Charge, to cite just one example.

The Civil War ended 142 years ago and the North won. I don't know why Southerners still support a flag that symbolizes rebellion and disdain for the Union. Thank you Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson for your comments and shame on those of you who make this Rebel flag thing such a big issue. God bless America, all of it! One flag is enough!

So much for freedom in America.

Instead of political correctness, where we all center our lives, dialog, and ctivities around the most overly sensitive, intolerant character with a big mouth. Why not abandon this disaster and embrace tolerance?

Given my oddball position on just about everything, I find myself in disagreement with everyone at one time or another. Rather than insist that they abandon their beliefs and mores, I simply chalk it up to the diverse and interesting nature of mankind.

The guiding factor in any equation should be : " If no blood is shed or property lost or damaged, then it's not to be infringed upon.

So, raise the flag of your heritage and to hell with whoever is offended by it. We'll look the other way when you guys inevitably do something we feel is inflammatory and keep living our lives.

Those that find the Confederate battle flag offensive must also conclude that the stars & stripes is equally offensive. Slavery was legal under the American stars and stripes before the Confederate flag ever came into existence and slavery continued to be legal under the American flag for 18 months after the end of the Civil war. Like it or not, the Confederate flag is part of United States history and if you find it offensive then you must find the American flag equally or more offensive. Thoise that hate the confederate flag w/o hating the american flag-absurd logic is it not?

If the confederate flag offends you, then you need a History lesson. It has nothing to do with race!

The Confederate flag issue in South Carolina has done nothing but place our state in the glare of the National spotlight. This is not a good thing. We have been trying for decades to rid ourselves of the impression that our lovely state is full of white trash rednecks who know full well what the flag means to African Americans. It just makes no logical sense to continue flying this flag. My entire family is from the deep south, yet none view this flag as any part of our heritage. Some of these same people would also see nothing wrong with flying the Nazi flag. I mean, other than killing 6 million Jews, the Germans weren't so bad, right? The Confederate flag represents slavery and abuse to our fellow Americans, so I say put it in a museum where it belongs and move on.

You can't display a flag with a swastika on it, why should dumb people fly the confederate flag. Both stand for the same thing…Losers!

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the UNITED States of America…

Which word don't you rednecks understand?

I love this issue of why we should or should not display the confederate flag, because it gives rise to something so much more prevalent today. The Civil War may have or may not have been more about preserving slavery in the beginning, but to think that after four years of fighting that the issue after, and during, the war was still either about states rights or slavery is absurd. Think of the Iraq War now. Who still believes we are fighting to stop terrorism on domestic soil. Not many of us living now believe that, but the Iraq War will look much less convoluted in the history books 150 years from now. People who display the flag have their reasons, as do the ones who hate seeing it in the air, and they have nothing to do with the reasons the flag was carried into battle decades ago. It should be remember as an iconic symbol to what we as a country have done wrong and right in our past. We have much more important things to attend to than to attempt to delude our history; especially since we still have learned from it.

to Phil, Indianapolis, IN:
So you think that people that have confederate flags should be put on trial…well that is ridiculous. Now flying the flag on top of the SC state house was ridiculous and yes it should have been taken down ,but saying that we should not fly it at confederate memorials through out SC is idiotic. We are honoring those who fought for our freedoms not for slavery the war was never really about slavery until Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The war was well underway when that happened. You are completely wrong that people that own a confederate flag is a traitor…what if someone has god forbid a French flag or a British flag would you think of them as traitors? No so why don’t you realize that Southern are pound of where we came from and you yankees need to get over yourselves and realize you are a great as yall think.

The confederate flag stands for Slavery, which the south wanted perpetuity.In the long run good will always triumph over evil."Segregation now, Segregation" forever. The famous words of George Wallace. "I have a dream that all Gods children will live together". The famous words of M.L.King. Which statement is more sensible. America should come together as one.The confederate flag is a sad reminder of a bad time in Anerican history. I say burn it and everything it stands for.

Fred Thompson just lost any hope he had to be elected. Shame on you Fred, you should have know better. If you don't support our flag, we don't support you.

The guy in the pic looks like a Klan member. That flag represents more bad than good, because all it does is cause uproars, hate, and divisions among people.

Of course he's masquerading as a "good ole boy" - he's AN ACTOR. He's masquerading as being awake, too.

The Confederate flag once stood for all
Americans.It stands for Heritage not hate.It once stood for those Americans
who felt they were being wrongly taxed
on their lands and goods.I display it proudly in my home,and I live in South Jersey.To me it stands for those folks
who fought for their rights in the South.

Although I don't believe that the Confederate flag necessarily represents racism, I do believe that it represents treason and a defeated coup and should not be allowed on any government property - federal, state, or local - no matter what. But what one does with any display in private is an individual liberty. That's why I support RON PAUL!!!

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. (I.E., SLAVERY)

Do any government schools teach this amendment anymore?

Romney got it right.

Obama '08!

Ah, American debate at its finest. Mind you, I'm not talking about the politicians.

It's a piece of cloth, guys.

mrs clinton lived in a state that actively flew the confederate flag.

plus bill clinton is a well known confederate supporter as is his mentor the arch racist and segregationist SENATOR william fulbright.

hillary probably attended klan meetings with them while in arkansas.
she is from racist black hating park ridge, IL.

This is not relevant news. Of all the issues that voters care about for 2008 the Confederate Flag is not a priority. It was suspicious that this topic was raised in the Youtube/CNN debate and is not looking more and more like politically motivated editors and journalists are trying to put this into the public's concious as if to say that some of the GOP's candidates are either 1) racist or 2) not 'southern' enough. Please report on topics that matter and leave politics to the politicians.

How would you like to have these people as your neighbors. Proof is emerging that homo-sapiens were tree dwellers a couple of million years ago, except these good ole' boys believe the world was created 5,000 years ago.

Incidentally, for all the Lost Cause people, consider that the constitution of the CSA did not include a right of secession for its states. If the southern states had the right to secede from the Union, how come the CSA recognizied no such right for its political entities?

What's the difference between the Confederate Flag and the Swastika?

Nothing, they are both symbols of hatred based on race.

These backwards confederate flag touting southern states such as SC should be made their own country and the rest of USA should cut ties to them.

If you consider the flag as your heritage then you believe in losing and USA is all about winning.

These southern illiterates should not be even given a chance to vote.

Thompson is in a lot of trouble. Once favored in South Carolina, he is now collapsing even there because of Huckabee's shocking surge. The latest poll out today from SC has Huckabee FIRST outside of the margin of error!!!

Never understood this debate. Setting aside the MAJOR issue of slavery for a moment. The Confeds LOST. Since when does the loser of a war have the right to raise its flag in the land of the victor? An especially apt comparison would be the German Nazis demanding to raise their flags in the current German Republic. Yes the confederate flag does represent a heritage–a heritage of treachery to the Union, costly war, support for slavery and the embodiment of Southern resentment that stoked the Jim Crow era. Bravo Romney and Thompson.

So the civil war was not about slavery? Let's examine that. From the Conerstone Speech by Confederate Vice President Stephens:

"The new constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution — African slavery as it exists amongst us — the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization."

The Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union (http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/csa/scarsec.htm) which is too long to quote here, mentions slavery 18 times as the principle reason for secession.

From the Confederate Constitution: "No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed".

And as for the argument that confederate soldiers were defending their homes from invasion, that is untrue. The war began when Jefferson Davis ordered the bombardment of Fort Sumter, a Federal Military Facility. The destruction of private property only began AFTER the illegitimate government of the south illegally seized Federal property, i.e. a series of forts located in the south.

Confederate Flag is a piece of cloth that losers of Civil War use to wipe their tears with.

Get over it. It is 21st century now.

I'm a afro american male that grew up in S.Carolina, but moved to Maryland about fifteen year ago. I love S.C. and I'm very proud of my home state. That being said, I respect the fact that some whites see the confederate flag as a sign of haritage and not hate, but why fly it if it offends so many? I watched as that flag almost split my beloved home state in two and for what? In honnor of your ancestor's fight for slavery? Many will say that the civil war wasn't about slavery and to that I say B.S. They weren't fighting to free the blacks, I'm pretty sure of that. The thing I love the most about my home state now is when I go home, I hardly see a confederate flag,(maybe on a old double wide trailer or a pick up truck), but for the most part all I see is the South Carolina flag and it's on all most every car. The young people get it, but the old ones never will. A Question to all the confederate flag lovers….. What's the difference between you flying your confederate flag and Germans flying swastika's? Your location…..

I don't have a lot of problems with CNN. I think you guys do a pretty good job, except for Dobbs and those shouty people on your kids' network, but really, is this newsworthy? I love the south, and frankly I am a little aggrieved that people are coming away from coverage of the South with this impression. These protest people are lunatics who live behind gas sations and subsist on Little Debby cakes. Who gives a flip about what they think?

If you want to do a story about South Carolina, you should focus on issues relevant to voters.

The Southerners that are protesting Thompson right now are just looking for a fight since people DO think the Confederate flag is divisive. The flag basically represents that the South went rebel and considered the US the worst option. Why can't the South just shut up and say that the South rebelled because they believed in slavery? The great heritage the Southern states are shouting about is how racist they were. Not that the North wasn't but at least the North tried something. The only reason the flag is still there is to remind the South they should be bitter. Like all of us haven't thought, why the hell is that flag still up?

Your the same people that would give amnesty to illegal immigrants or allow the mexican flag to be hung above ours at at a taco stand. It was less than 100 yrs ago, that we were were chasing Poncho Villa out of southern Texas. Do we put mexicans in lower standing? Anybody that thinks the Civil War was about slavery your an idiot. The emancipation proclamation was a recruitment tool used by the north, to recruit free blacks, which by the way did nothing in the way freeing blacks in the south. The confederate states had already succeeded by the time it was signed, and way after John Brown was hung for treason. The industrial revolution was in full swing, Eli Whitney's cotton gin was demolishing the cotton industry. Not for abolishment of slavery, more like replacing slaves with machines so that only the wealthiest could afford it, and you know what, the northerners laughed, oh well. Farmers were left out in the cold, without any subsidy or relief, the entire south suffered even the slaves. These yuppies are the same people that sat on the hills at the first Battle of Bull Run and ate picnic lunches, in their finest outfits and church garments while americans died for their beliefs. The thirteen amendment wasn't ratified until a year and half after the war ended. Even then it did nothing to protect the blacks, and did more to help corporations embed there-self into our nation like a cancer. Was that in the history books? Oh by the way, some the finest academics of their time were southern sympathizers. Your finest West Point Generals walked out on you, and we took it to the North pretty good the first two years, until butchers like Gen. Sherman used terrorist tactics to burn Charleston to the ground, and killed women and children. Most of these posting comments equating me to a nazi or a klans-men for knowing and appreciating my heritage, your probably a second generation American with no clue about who you are or where you come from. I'm sorry your life is so devoid of meaning, that you lack any sort of temperament, and that you lash out at people smarter and wiser than you. Your argument would be like knocking the Roman Colosseum, because they fed Christians to the lions, and children should never have to bare witness to something so horrendous. Better yet how about the old cannons in front of most States take'em down, we killed Indians with them? Pretty weak and a real stretch to me .

I Keep hearing this crap about "The Civil War was not about SLAVERY but about states right". Well, I hate to inform you, A PIG with a dress on is still a PIG. In 1860 when the war started, states rights and slavery were one and the same. Growing up Black in the south during the fifties and sixties, you heard this BS constantly. These fools believe like Bush if you say something over and over, it will become fact. NOTTTT. The fact of the matter is the term state rights is just a softer way to say " We want to screw somebody, or some group over in this state period. In 1860 slaves just happened to be the group that the southern states wanted to keep screwing.
I moved back to the south several years ago and happened to engage a hispanic in a conversation about the Civil War and was astonished when he said that the war was not about slavery but states rights. I advised him like I advise all the idiots who keeps repeating this falsehood that if you take slavery out of the equation in 1860, would there still have been a civil war, and the answer is NO.

A number of people on this blog have been arguing that tired old refrain that the Civil War was due to Northern aggression, not slavery.
If you read the South Carolina declaration of secession (the model for most of the Southern states, there is no doubt that it was about slavery:
http://www.csamerican.com/Doc.asp?doc=SCSecede#doctop

I am from the south and proud of it!! I will tell all ya'll flag hating folks one thing that is true, I have never been a big fan of using the confederate flag by a bunch bakc hill, hating BUBBAS. but I see no reason ti shouldnt be displayed at state capitols or at events that show real southern pride or that are about heritage. And another thing people who think this flag or the south in general is for bigoted backwoods hill people have another think comming. As for Fred Thompson he has disappointed me by comming in to the race too late to make any difference and he should have just stayed out. There are things I think are a lot more offensive to me and other individuals

Re: "The dumbing down of American ??? Speak for yourself you idiot.

Posted By Gary, Richmond, Va : December 6, 2007 3:26 pm"

Gary, you forgot to add a "," (comma) after the word "yourself." Lack of proper punctuation! Duhhh!?! R U a *Southerner*??

AMEN:
To Phil, Indianapolis

who flys it is supporting the overthrough of the United States government, and should be put on trial as a traitor.

You are so right. I wonder why the so called died hard America flag lovers don't say this.

There is no heritage in the Conf Flag. As one said the only reason y9ou fly the flag is simple…..HATE. the next best thing to a swastika.

Folks - yes the Civil War was not just about slavery - it was about federal government control (favored by north) vs. state control (favored by the south) and subsequently, the south wanting to secede. But slavery was a big part of that. And the idea that the south was "getting ready" to abolish slavery anyway presented in some comments above is ludicrous. Have people deluded themselves that this was true?

What's scary to me about "states rights" is the patchwork of laws that we have in the nation when it comes to so many things. It's crazy. People who come here from other countries often wonder if we are one country or 50 countries pretending to be one. Could you imagine what it'd be like here if EVERYTHING was up to the states? I bet there'd STILL be a few states with slaves, and certainly some where women couldn't vote. Thank heavens for the federal government. People need basic freedoms and if the Southerners had their way in the 1800s things would be VERY different, in a bad way, for LOTS of people in this country today.

And a little geography lesson - people, look at a map and the Mason-Dixon line. You may not agree with it, but there it is…

To Jim Kanabroski, Tempe, AZ:

Jim, this flash news just in!!!

Actually we DO have a third-world nation right next door to visit. It is called "Mexico."

I believe that flying the Confederate Flag is not only a symbol of ignorance, but also one of disrespect towards the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. That flag is one of a country that existed about 150 years ago, that rose against the freedom of the United States and trafficked in humans. Anyone who flies this banner is a traitor, and isn't a very bright cookie.

Stan from Seattle- "PS–I'm amazed at the atrocious spelling and grammar in the posts here. The *dumbing down* of American is certainly reflected in the writing here…sad, but true."

The dumbing down of American ??? Speak for yourself you idiot.

Saying its ok to fly that Flag is Like saying it would be ok to fly the Nazi Flag. Yes the Cival war was not just about Slavery but neither was the Nazi party. Its just dead wrong.

Why didn't so many of you bloggers here learn to SPELL & WRITE CORRECT ENGLISH?!?!

Sheesh!! *Dumbing-Down* of American at it's best!!

I'm a true southerner, born and raised in Arkansas and quite frankly I agree 100% with Romney, the flag is divisive and it shouldn't be displayed. Ever. Most everyone today recognizes and associates the flag with hatred, so why display something inflammatory. It represents a period of our history and nothing more. Southern pride is one thing, displaying a flag that has little more than historical significance and calling it part of being proud of your heritage is another. If you want to be proud of something, be proud you're a citizen of the greatest country in the world. If you want to display a symbol, try the American Flag. Before you make any assumptions about me, I'm a 32 year old white male living in rural Arkansas.

Long Live the Confederacy

Just wanted to throw this out there, but probably less than 5% of people in South Carolina agree with how these protesters acted. I and nearly everyone I know completely disagree with the Confederate Flag and the fact that it is flying in front of our state house.

wuz California part of the North or South??

why do they play the annual North-South game in college football?!?

Sounds like a plan.

never new 8 people could start this debate, or is this CNN just tying anything negative they can to those mean, flat earthed, bible thumping, war mongering, xeonophobic, gay bashing, republicans. How come john edwards doesnt get drilled about the confederate flag, he is from south carolina?

The people who are against the Confederate flag need to get off their high horses. It is a piece of cloth and hurts no one. If you think it hurts people's feelings than maybe they should stop being babies and ignore it. Outlawing the flag is about as unconstitutional as the "treason" people claim the flag represents. Get over yourselves.

Screw the South. They've totally messud up the nation with the hate-filled, retarded, corrupt neocons they keep electing. The best way to save America is to give Texas back to Mexico. Lincoln should have let those Southern morons secede so we'd have a third-world nation right next door to visit.

What's unfortunate is that a politician's view on this thing is a basis in some people's mind whether to vote for them or not. It's a non issue. Fly your racist flag is you must. I could care less. Let's get to the real issues facing this nation.

Great, nine redneck losers (who must not have jobs) since they have the freedom to picket all day are an embarrasment to this country. The civil war ended over 100 years ago and we aint going backwards, this is so unbelievable that people in the year 2008 are still so ignorant and just plain idiots over a flag that bears such hatred towards blacks and anyone north of the mason dixon line. How about you nine get a haircut and get a job and live in the here and now and not the racist days of yesteryear.

To Brian in Ft. Lauderdale, FL:

1) it's "secession", NOT succession

2) it "dissent", NOT descent (descent IS, however, a "real word", look it up at dictionary.com for it's *proper* meaning & context

3) get an education!!

Not only does racism loom large (still) in the South, but anti-Southernism looms large in the North! My God, look at some of these anti-South comments? I am a northerner who has lived in the South (and believe you me, there are A LOT of racist, anti-semetic, xenophobia and homophobic people in the South - much more than the north) but these anti-Southern comments are pretty disgraceful. And no, I don't support the Confederate flag - or Thompson.

There's no one alive today who fought in the Civil War. It would be like Mexican-Americans claiming the right to fly the 19th-century Mexican flag in the Texas statehouse.

GET OVER IT. YOU LOST.

Thank you!

OBTW: I was born in the Deep South, raised there, and even returned to work there as an adult. My family has lived in the Southern U.S. since before the Revolutionary War.

With that said, I need to point out that I have NEVER met anyone who proudly displayed or wore the Confederate Flag as an item of clothing who was not:

–Caucasian

–a proud and vocal racist

–A separatist who supports the violent overthrow of the U.S. Federal Government.

I am not saying that every Confederate flag flyer is that type of person–I am saying that I never met one.

It's a useful symbol for intelligent, discriminating folks, tho'. That Confederate banner is a blazing symbol telling us that whoever displays or wears it is someone we would be better off avoiding altogether. It's also known by many as "The Bubba Banner".

The flag and the political party that it represented(DNC) should have both be banned!

I would no sooner fly a Confederate flag than I would a flag representing any other country the United States fought a war against. That flag represents a country that wanted to divide the United States; I'm glad it no longer exists.

From all the pandering the politicians, on both sides, are doing down here.., the south has truely risen again. And it ain't lead by democrats this time.

thank jebus we lost. If not, I might be living in the Confederate States of America with David Duke as prez, or at best GWBush….and he would probably be the democrat!

Yes I'm a Yankee - get over it. With that said the confederate flag should be allowed to be flown/displayed by a private citizen, for their own personal reason. THAT IS THEIR RIGHT! I don't believe it is to be flown on Local, State, Federal buildings or property with the exception of a memorial. The US Flag is to be flown and if you want to display that your really from the south fly your state flag. I have but one flag I fly and that is the US Flag on my Motorcycles and in front of my home. Freedom isn't FREE! I would think more of us Americans would be more against someone flying another nations flag in the USA then the confederate flag.

Will someone here post a "quick-list" of which states supported slavery and which states did NOT support/were AGAINST slavery.

PS–I'm amazed at the atrocious spelling and grammar in the posts here. The *dumbing down* of American is certainly reflected in the writing here…sad, but true.

The Confederacy could not survive unless it was a separate country. It would be unconstitutional to allow any sovereign form of government to share power with the rest of the Union. It would shred the country sharing the same land mass. That was the thinking according to many including Lincoln who wanted to maintain the Union.

That was the reason the south had to be defeated, and there are many rulings that have tortured judges and courts including the Supreme court with regard to this same issue since the Civil War.

That said, showing the army battle flag of any country that no longer exists shows a tendency towards treason unless it is for a historical purpose and the original stars and bars (Google it) would be a more wiser and historical choice to display in any public or private forum.

The confederate flag is a symbol of treason pure & simple. No American can & claim to love America.

Treason is treason, it doesn't matter wether you wrap it in "heritage" or not. The Confederate flag is an insult to every American who loves this country; it was the standard for a group of people who attempted to destroy the United States as it existed in 1860- 61, and was taken up by the cowards who had to wear hoods to
hide their identities while they committed murder. It has no place in this country except the history books.

Unfortunately, I was born in the south. Fortunately, I realize this is the U.S.A. and not C.S.A. Anyone who displays the Confederate flag is an idiot.

You lost the war…get over it!!

The Confederate (CSA) flag was a battle flag, not a national flag. It wasn't intended to be a national symbol then and shouldn't be now.

NANDO,PALM COAST,FL is an idiot who does not know his history. The states have the right to succeed under the U.S constitution as long as the people of the state vote for it. There was a vote and those individual states succeeded. Lincoln violated the constitution by going to war. And don't forget the southerners who were raped and had their property burned to the ground by federal troops.

It's interesting that Americans get so fired up about the Confederate flag. Viewed as a symbol of the Southern men and women who sacrificed their lives it should be honored and respected, but conversely it should also not be lauded as those core beliefs were not only treasonous but also oppressive to a racial group. Yes, we all know that our founding fathers were probably racist but social views evolve over time and the South should have evolved also.
Another interesting observation is the great attention that the African American population gives to the Stars and Bars and how offensive it to them as a people. If the converse were true, and African Americans were to publicize a symbol that was offensive to whites, would the same reaction not only be observed, but be socially allowable?
Here's an example. How many black comedians, somewhere in their repertoire, have some "white people" jokes? Probably nearly every single one. Now, how far would a white comedian go if he/she began making "black" jokes. Probably be another protest.
The fact is that no one will get along with everyone in this country, people will inadvertantly or purposeful say offensive things, but you just can't take it too seriously.

This war started at the Virginia boarder. Do you think of Virginia as being part of the South?

Since when is Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor anywhere near the Virginia "boarder"? We have some real dummies on this bord.

Aaron Smithsburg, Maryland
there is no common ground, IF YOU FLY THAT FLAG YOU ARE A RACIST….THATS IT…NOTHING ELSE TO SAY.

Way to Go to Thompson and Romney, the Confederate flag is the flag of the LOSING side of the Civil War. The South succeeded from the Union and fought against the North. The North represented the real goals and ideals of America, FREEDOM, while the South symbolized repression and oppression. Since that flag is a symbol of descent against America, it should be outlawed and not be flow, shown or worn.

These people are un-American. Romney and Thompson were very respectable in their answers. You can't be a supporter of the confederacy and America. The confederates wanted to secede. They lost the war. Symbols of the confederacy are therefore anti-American.

It amazes me that the flag of a backward "nation" that lasted only a handful of years would need to be preserved as part of our "heritage" yet there are state flags that flew for 100 years before being replaced that no one parades about at Klan rallies and monster truck rallies and tractor pulls.

I am just happy that the smelly reenactors left town here last week. The stench of plastic-bottled bourbon and white supremacy was really beginning to get to me this time.

LOL @ The Civil War "not being about slavery".

This flag is the flag of a traitor, fly it in your home if you'd like…but don't fly it at MY government buildings.

Wow! Look at all the labels being tossed around stereotyping Southerners as toothless, ignorant, rednecks, racists, and hillbillies. Perhaps the enlightened posters here should confront bigotry by looking in their own mirrors?

Just a quick question for the group, why doesn't the Union fly their flag, why is it the loser want to keep their flag in everyone's face? I do not give a hoot about a bunch of losers who want to complain because they lost. We live in the UNITED STATES not the confederate states, so eight red-necks with a antiquated flag only shows the public their ignorance, and if the confederate flag was not the flag of every hate group maybe those who see it as their heritage would have a better chance of defending that ideology.

With the issues of health care, war, poverty, economy, and fuel prices…it is amazing that anyone cares about this. Whether or not someone thinks a flag should wave or not is not even an issue. If you believe the flag stands for an issue like slavery or history, ask the question "do you believe in slavery" or "do you know our history". Who cares…I am more concerned about our soldiers of this century…

You would think after 150 years the confederates would be extinct. For God's Sake, what are you hanging onto? You think Great Plantations and Slavery are going to come back. Get a life.

Last time I checked, our flag is the stars and stripes.

Southerners are narrow-minded simpletons. Sons of Confederate Veterans? What have YOU done? Go join the Marines, and you'll realize how divisive that symbol of hate really is.

The Confederate Flag to me is a former flag of a declared enemy state of the USA that promoted human slavery.

You lost the war….get over it.

Guess what would happen if I flew a Swastika flag in my front yard.

reading this story…..hmmm… thats all i need to know about the people in S.C.

Who cares if these rednecks don't like Fred Thompson. I am shocked they can write and make a sign!

I find it amusing that so many instantly equate the confederate flag with slavery. Despite the fact that a good portion of individuals in the South did not own slaves, and just because you lived in the South did not mean you necessarily supported slavery. While slavery was indeed a component in the Civil War, many brave southern soldiers fought for other reasons against an invading northern army. If you look at a confederate flag, you can chose to see a symbol of bravery, or you can look at it and see a symbol of racism. As people mentioned before, the cross and other symbols have been used for persecution by a group of individuals. Does that then mean that all Christians are racist or bigots because a portion of them used the cross for persecutory reasons? Think about it.

"War for Southern Liberation" Give me a break. "South Carolina Hates Fred Thompson". I'm sure most South Carolinians are proud to get such publicity out of 8 of their most respected spokespeople on this issue.

He's not my preferred candidate, but Thompson was right here. There are meanings behind the flag besides racism, but that is a big one, and it remains offensive. That does not mean that private individuals who fly the flag are all racist, but gov't sanction is unwise.

Jim in Orlando, you must be under the age of 30 and reading the standard revisionist history taught in public schools. The Confederacy did not fight to save the institution of slavery nor did the Union fight to abolish slavery. Check your history. Lincoln did not issue the Emancipation Proclamation until 1863 or two years after the fighting started. The Cofederacy was ready to free slaves in order to garner support for their war effort from European allies. This war was fought for the same reasons that the American Revolution was fought which was in the fewest words can be explained as taxation without representation. The industrialized North was in favor of limiting imports of manufactured goods from Europe through tariffs and the South sufferred from the tariffs placed on exported agriculture goods (cotton). Protectionist policies of the North hurt southern business. Jim in Orlando, you are either ignorant or not a conservative.

Buckky is right. By all means, exercise your 1st Amendment right to display the Confederate flag if you want. But it should never be displayed officially by any organ of government in this country since it is the antithesis of the US flag.

Sounds like Thompson gave the answer he wanted to give. I'd be surprised if he'd answer it differently, given another opportunity. The only wrong committed in this whole affair was eight people presuming they had the right to speak for all of South Carolina.

Look at the sign this guy holds. We knew they are haters……. I don't think they hate only Fred.

It's comical how people think that this flag means nothing more than being proud of their heritage. This flag equates nothing but hate in the purest of form. Like the noose, swastikas and other racist artifacts; this flag is meant to be a warning to those who are not of the right color or religion. I am sick and tired of people hiding behind the constitution to hid their hate

I'll tell you, it's getting tougher and tougher to please the South. This is the same state where the story about John McCain's illegimate black baby, who was the result of a liason with a black prostitute, came about. Of course, that was before the true story about South Carolina's favorite son Strom Thurmond and his black daughter came out. Gotta love the Southern Strategy!

I find it utterly amazing how some people do not think the Confederate Flag is not a symbol of racism and is hurtful to black Americans. In the same breath, I am also amazed that many black American also hate Hispanics and Gays and do not feel they have the same rights as anyone else. That my friends is what makes