Confederate Flag? McCain's Not a Fan

(CBS)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- John McCain's town hall meeting in Spartanburg ended with a standing ovation of sorts.
Accompanied by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., McCain took the final question from an eager audience member who repeatedly called out, "Question!" throughout the Q and A portion of the event.
The comment turned question came from Robert Hayes, 67, who protested outside of two McCain's events today.
"You came out for the removal of the Confederate battle flag when 76 percent of Republicans in this state said they wanted it to stay on the Capitol. What's your answer to that?" he yelled across the room to McCain.
"My answer to that is I can't be more proud of the overwhelming majority of the people of this state who came together in taking that flag off the top of the Capitol," said McCain to a standing ovation.
After the event John McCain told reporters while he may encounter some people who want to see the return of the Confederate flag, the majority of South Carolinians agreed to retire it.
"That issue has been resolved in the minds of the overwhelming majority of citizens of the state. They don't like it reopened. And a coming together of almost all parts of the state, made the decision they did, and disposed of the issue that they did. And I think it was pretty obvious by the crowd reaction, they're not interested in reopening it," he said.
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The confederate states felt slavery was so important they were willing to go to war against their own government.
They lost that war, and now we have one flag of the United States of America.
Regardless of whose relatives fought in the war, the flag of an enemy, secessionist entity has no place on U.S. Government property.
The confederate states felt slavery was so important they were willing to go to war against their own government.
They lost that war, and now we have one flag of the United States of America.
Regardless of whose relatives fought in the war, the flag of an enemy, secessionist entity has no place on U.S. Government property.
The confederate states felt slavery was so important they were willing to go to war against their own government.
They lost that war, and now we have one flag of the United States of America.
Regardless of whose relatives fought in the war, the flag of an enemy, secessionist entity has no place on U.S. Government property.
The confederate states felt slavery was so important they were willing to go to war against their own government.
They lost that war, and now we have one flag of the United States of America.
Regardless of whose relatives fought in the war, the flag of an enemy, secessionist entity has no place on U.S. Government property.
The confederate states felt slavery was so important they were willing to go to war against their own government.
They lost that war, and now we have one flag of the United States of America.
Regardless of whose relatives fought in the war, the flag of an enemy, secessionist entity has no place on U.S. Government property.
As I recall from High School history the only northern states that allowed slavery before the war were Kansas & Missouri. They were not excluded from the Emancipation Proclamation. But that''s not the issue.
While the Confederate flag may be a symbol of southern pride and history to some it has been used by racists to promote white power and that''s what it has come to symbolize as a result.
The racists who have used it to promote "white power" have done a disservice not just to minorities but also to the southerners who fought for their families and homes.
we are the United States and the south has rejoined that Union and the Confederate flag is best left to history as we move into the 21st Century.
People have long forgotten that the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in the South ONLY.
The winners of wars always distort reality to make their cause seem more justified and acceptable.
The fact is, the Stars and Stripes has just as much to do with slavery as the Stars and Bars, if not more.
I''ve lost my admiration for McCain.