Bob McDonnell (Racist? - VA) now realizes that maybe slavery was significant

[jefferson_dem]

Bob McDonnell now realizes that maybe slavery was significant
by BarbinMD

Bob McDonnell now realizes that maybe slavery was significant Wed Apr 07, 2010 at 04:30:04 PM PDT
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has had an epiphany ... slavery was a significant issue in the Civil War. Who knew?

McDonnell's journey of racial awareness began after his decision to bring back Confederate History Month, announced with a proclamation that began:

WHEREAS, April is the month in which the people of Virginia joined the Confederate States of America in a four year war between the states for independence ...

... but six "WHEREAS'" later, there was no mention of slavery. Of course, McDonnell had a good reason for the omission:

McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."

Shockingly, his explanation did nothing to quell the storm of criticism he was receiving, and after some serious soul-searching, McDonnell issued an apology:

The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed. The abomination of slavery divided our nation, deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and led to the Civil War. Slavery was an evil, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to property, and it has left a stain on the soul of this state and nation.

McDonnell even added a "WHEREAS" to his proclamation to note that slavery did indeed play a part in the Civil War. Never has the expression, "that's really white of him" been more appropriate.

So kudos to Governor McDonnell.

Of course his apology may not appease McDonnell's critics, who will no doubt dismiss his heartfelt apology and ask, if you think that slavery "divided our nation, deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and led to the Civil War ... was an evil, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to property, and it has left a stain on the soul of this state and nation," why in the hell are you honoring this abomination in the first place?

Come to think of it, that's a good question ...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/4/7/855133/-Bob-McDonnell-now-realizes-that-maybe-slavery-was-significant?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos%29

[Perky]

1. McDonnell is not a racist. But he is stupid

I never thought he was stupid until now because he ran a brilliant campaign. but this just shows a stone-deafness that staggers me.

[spooky3]

3. It's pretty simple, really. Just ask Judge Judy.

If you tell the truth, you don't have to have a good memory.

This guy lied throughout his campaign. He's always been a wingnut but tried to present himself as a moderate. Now his true colors are bleeding (not shining) through.

[Jennicut]

6. I think he may indeed be a racist.

He certainly has acted like it.

[angee_is_mad]

8. I disagree, He is a racist mothafreaker!

but if it makes you feel better, we can go with being an ignorant racist. That goes for that SOB AG of his too.Both of them are going to hell in a handbasket!

It's time that we start calling a spade a spade and stop giving these people a damn pass.

[political_Dem]

9. +1

A-men!

Not only that, he blatantly put his racism out there for all to see with this business concerning Confederate History Month. And he expects people to "not see" the racism aspect of it by going along with his decree of "attracting tourism".

The question is, if Confederate History Month is supposed to attract visitors to Virginia, what type of folks is he trying to get to visit the state? Doesn't it make anyone wonder?

There is nothing benign about that.

[Kind of Blue]

17. And he accomplished Exactly what he intended to do

Get the message out there and then "apologize" later. Asshole.

[BlueMTexpat]

11. Racism and stupidity are not mutually exclusive.

Someone else may have run his campaign ... if it was indeed so "brilliant." I understood rather that he won because the Dem candidate was so lackluster and ran such a poor campaign.

[ShortnFiery]

15. Albeit we both reside in Virginia, I disagree, Bob McDonnell is not only ...

IMO, a racist but also a homophobe. He wanted to strip out the "equal rights" for sexual preference out of the state hiring practices.

Combine Governor McDonnell with the State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli you've got all kinds of right-wing crazy! :crazy:

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/s/a/saharag/2010/04/bob-mcdonnell-blows-the-racist.php?ref=mp

[Raineyb]

16. He's stupid AND racist.

What part of "honoring" the confederacy do you find to be not racist?

[political_Dem]

2. He may claim that he's not a racist, but he's still supporting sedition.

Doesn't he realize that by trying to sponsor this horrible month? Does he also not realize that his support of such treasonous events in American history actually hurts a portion of his constituency?

Is this man proud of not being a patriot?

Again, that's what it means to be proud of being ignorant. :grr:

[BlooInBloo]

4. You're forgetting White Person's Rule #2...

It's not racism unless you say "nigger". And maybe not even then.

[firedupdem]

7. Thank You n/t

[Enrique]

5. his political miscalculation is interesting

he was obviously pandering, but I think he overestimated how backwards his state is. I wonder if some poll showed that Virginia is reasonably civilized.

[Arugula Latte]

10. The big red herring is always "It was about economics"

Yeah -- The economics of SLAVERY.

Dumbasses.

[bigdarryl]

12. This is the same asshole that during the Governor election the stinking media masqueraded

him as a MODERATE!! saying he was a sensible rethug. Just goes to show if theirs an R in front of there name there all the same FUCKED UP

[yellowcanine]

13. I suspect this was all engineered by a hotblooded neoConfederate staffer.

McDonnell deserves all the flak he has gotten on this because he has been trying to have it both ways with the douchebaggers and more moderate voters. Now he is going to have to choose whether he wants to govern or whether he wants to listen to the douchebaggers.

[Raine1967]

14. At a certain point it's gotta be fair to ask this question:

What makes a racist different from a person who commits acts of racism?

I am having a really hard time with this issue this week.

I have always been more than willing to separate these points, but at a certain point, when do we get to ask about the motive?

This governor decided to omit a very large part of OUR country's history in the name of being a Virginian. I have a real problem with that. He's revising history for his own personal/political gain. Let's not parse words here, those that supported the civil war (and many who still do ) wanted to states rights in order to allow the legal ability of private citizens to own human beings.

[Gin]

18. his thesis and this "mistake" are insights into the man....he hasn't

changes since his college days at CBN....he is exposing the real
Bob....stand by for more "mistakes"

[Raine1967]

19. +1 --

Yeehaw. I get it.

[Cha]

20. Which begs the question..

How do some people who are so ignorant get to govern those who are so much more intelligent?