Reply #15: this is from a black supporter on the Dean blog

[slinkerwink]

RE: Confederate Flag issue

As a black voter and Dean supporter, I would once again like to commend Dr. Dean for bringing this issue to the fore, and urge him: DON'T BACK DOWN!!

DON'T APOLOGIZE!

This issue will not go away, but Dr. Dean needs to stay strong and not waver. It took balls of steel for him to come as far as he has with it, and to not knuckle under to Sharpton and Edwards.

I would prefer that he not even repeat the line about "I think the Confederate flag is a loathsome symbol..." because that is an insult to the very folks he is trying to reach out to.

He might say: "I understand why many African-Americans and descendants of Union Army soldiers would be offended by the flag, BUT we need to put the Civil War behind us and unite around our common interests...." etc., etc.

The primary theme of interracial solidarity on the issues of economic and social justice is key. Getting this right --- in the South --- is ESSENTIAL for a decisive Democratic victory in 2004 and beyond.

Compared to that, the Rebel flag controversy is trifling.

GO DEAN!!