First, candidate for Governor Corey Stewart threw himself in front of a statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville. Later he moved on to Roanoke to defend the Confederacy and the “Stars and Bars” flag of the Civil war.
This past weekend Stewart took it a step further at the “Old South Ball” in Danville Virginia. He said the Confederate flag was not about racism or slavery but about our heritage. From this website:
I’m proud to be next to the Confederate flag,” Stewart said from beneath, beside and in front of the symbol of the Confederacy. “That flag is not about racism, folks, it’s not about hatred, it’s not about slavery.”
“It is about our heritage,” the candidate concluded to cheers. “It’s time that we stop running away from our heritage. It’s time that we embrace our heritage, we embrace our history, and we take back Virginia.”
Take Virginia back to where? 1861?
Stewart attended the “Old South Ball” in something that looked like period attire, although he later claimed he was wearing a formal jacket that he normally wears with a kilt. Judge for yourself and listen to his remarks at the ball:
This website says “Corey Stewart embraces the Confederate flag as a running mate” and they are correct. Stewart has made the Confederacy, their flag, and their heroes the centerpiece of his campaign. Dumbest campaign idea ever. How many voters does he expect to attract with this approach? Many more will be turned off by it.
Before readers accuse me of not supporting our history and heritage, let me say, my ancestors served in the Confederacy and I am very proud of them and my southern heritage but to make it the focus of any campaign is beyond absurd, it’s harmful to both the Stewart campaign and the Republican party. Democrats will use it against Republicans. They already have. BlueVirginia.us is asking questions:
So…does the Virginia GOP agree with this crap? Does it condemn it? Silence? What’s the deal?
Good questions. What is the deal with this awful campaign?
More here, here, and here. An editorial on Stewart’s “sad and embarrassing campaign” here.
