State Lawmakers Want To Put A Statue Of Billy Graham Inside The US Capitol

[DonViejo]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Some General Assembly members say it's time North Carolina native Rev. Billy Graham is honored with a statue inside the U.S. Capitol. His likeness would replace a statue remembering a former governor with links to the white supremacy movement over a century ago.

Bills filed in the House and Senate last week ask a congressional committee to approve the replacement of the statue of former Gov. Charles Aycock for one of Graham, the Charlotte-born evangelist now living in Montreat.

Each state gets two statues inside Statuary Hall. Federal law allows states to request changes.

Aycock was governor from 1901 to 1905 and a fierce advocate of universal public education. But the Democrat also backed segregation and used racial fears during a campaign against Republicans and populists in the late 1890s.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/north-carolina-billy-graham-capitol-statue

[sinkingfeeling]

1. No way Jose.

[dsc]

2. I could live with this

I am not a total fan of Billy Graham but he was good on race back when it was hard for a southern preacher to be good on race.

[LuvLoogie]

3. Plenty of North Carolinians to choose

What about a musician?

Thelonious Monk
John Coltrane
Nina Simone
Charlie Daniels
Randy Travis
James Taylor
George Clinton

There's more, but these jump out.

[hifiguy]

5. I vote Coltrane. nt

[wordpix]

12. excellent idea

Is there a sculpture for MLK, Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Charles Darwin, John Muir, Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony...OK, so maybe these aren't N. Carolinians but the idea is honoring those who have done more real, solid good for this country and the world than an evangelist preaching the word of an invisible god who isn't in the physical realm.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

4. I see no reason not to allow it n/t

[Action_Patrol]

6. I'm no fan but it's not like he is the only religious

Figure that has a statue.
The state's can pick what they want, good or bad.

[MineralMan]

7. Maybe they can get the same scuptor

who did the Lucille Ball statue we heard about this weekend.

[wordpix]

8. that does not look like Lucille Ball! But a good sculpture, anyway

[MineralMan]

9. Maybe the one of Billy Graham WILL look like Lucy.

Who can say?

[wordpix]

10. NO! Why do we need a preacher sculpture at US Capitol?

Is there a sculpture for MLK, Rosa Parks, Charles Darwin, John Muir, Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony...there are many Americans and non-Americans (Darwin, for instance) who did a lot more for this country and the world than an evangelist preaching the word of an invisible god who decreasing numbers of Americans believe in.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

14. Have the states associated with those people asked to have a statue installed?

If not, your beef is with those states, not with North Carolina.

If every state is permitted two statues, they should be able to put Billy Graham in if they want to.

[former9thward]

15. There is a pretty massive statue of MLK in DC.

Not well done in my view but that is another matter. As far as the rest of those folks it is up to their states to request a statue.

[joeybee12]

11. Yes, let's put an anti-Semitic asshat in there...great idea...nt

[Oktober]

13. Swap bigoted stupidity for bigoted stupidity...

What's the difference?