McDonnell Decides Slavery Was Significant After All
Virginia governor Bob McDonnell fueled a huge controversy when he resurrected “Confederate History Month” after an 8-year hiatus. Just to make things extra controversial he included absolutely no statement about slavery and when asked said slavery wasn’t significant enough to be included in the declaration. After much criticism, including from many Republicans, McDonnell is changing his tune:
“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,” McDonnell wrote in a statement. “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.”
He also added a clause to the proclamation that declares slavery “led to this war.”
WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our history.
Bob McDonnell successfully fooled enough people in Virginia into thinking he was moderate and focused on the economy. So far his top priorities have been to take away rights from LGBT people and to honor slaveowners. I find it pretty hilarious that Republicans call themselves the party of Lincoln. I doubt Lincoln would find much in common with them today.
Tags: Bob McDonnell, Neo-Confederates, racism, VA-Gov
Too late. He has already revealed the true nature of his party.
McDonnell did this in the most bone-headed way possible. For one, he did this declaration on something that had been dead for 8 years, so of course it’s going to get attention. Secondly, when asked about slavery he said it wasn’t significant. After days of criticism he finally says slavery was important after all. He basically pissed off every constituency. Heckuva job McDonnell!
At least on Virginia lawmaker says apology not accepted:
Of course McDonnell is not sincere. He never was. He just managed to appear that way for long enough to get elected, aided by a poor Democratic candidate.
Slavery was an institution that benefited both the north and south.
Both sides are to blame.
Yes, a big part of the civil war was fought to end slavery, and yes Lincoln was a Republican, and yes the slave owners were Democrats.
And yes, since Lincoln’s time, the parties have literally switched positions on the issue of slavery, with the GOP over the last 50 years implementing the Southern stragety of racial code words to garner support of racists, embracing the Confederacy, and opposing all civil rights legislation. Meanwhile, the Democrats were the ones to pass civil rights legislation and make equality for all a central tenet of our platform.
Indeed, if Lincoln were alive today, he’d be a Democrat. If Jefferson Davis were alive today, he’d be a Republican.
Some of supporters of the resolution were unhappy as well:
So, in his eyes, the proclamation was all about white people, in case you were wondering.
Really the only arguments Republicans have now on what they’ve done for racism is Lincoln! and Dixiecrats! Do they get it when we say perhaps they should name something more contemporary?
Why these backwoods types keep cheering for a bunch of traitors who attempted to wreck this country is beyond me and in spite of all that they LOST
I’d also add, TT, that it amazes me how the same general group that throws a fit anytime Obama evens hints at the fact that America might not be perfect or might have made mistakes also are the first ones in line to threaten secession and/or to glorify the largest mass treason in our history. So, saying the country has flaws is unforgivable, but threatening to tear it apart is OK.
Exactly Scott. Many of these people are small-minded and short-sighted as well as grossly underinformed.
Wow, UI. That might be the best, most succinct description of the Tea Party movement I’ve ever heard.
Wow, UI. That might be the best, most succinct description of the Tea Party movement I’ve ever heard.
Can’t remember where I just saw this comment: Republicans need to choose between Lincoln and the Confederacy.
That was going around Twitter yesterday. I think DD might have posted it on yesterday’s thread.
All neo-Confederates and McDonnell apologists must go read this Balkinization post:
Hmmmm…it sounds like the South thought the war was about slavery. Balkin also quotes from several secession resolutions:
They are saying that Northern states are violating their Constitutional rights to own slaves.
The NORTH made a big mistake in not hunting down and erasing from the earth the last vestiges of the treasonous southern traitors and their supporters.They should all have,at the least, been sent to harsh re-education camps and only released when they swore a BLOOD OATH to the UNION.ANYONE,to this day,should be KILLED on the spot for flying that treasonous flag and their bodies left for the vultures and maggots and as a warning.A bounty should be paid to the HERO who exterminates the scum.
See I disagree. The thing that should not had been done was allowing Southern States the leeway in loosely interpreting the 15th Amendment, and later, the bullshit SCOTUS Plessy case.
Such broad interpretations included the Poll Tax.
All gains blacks made right after the war were wiped away due to extremely low voter turnout.
As it happens, last week I was visiting a graveyard with a number of Civil War interments.
Such a stupid waste. 🙁