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Backtracking on Georgia Flag Dispute
As a gubernatorial candidate, Republican Sonny Perdue often criticized Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes (D) and the legislature for changing the state flag by converting the prominent Confederate cross into a much smaller insignia. If elected, Perdue vowed, he would let Georgia's voters decide the flag's details.
In a Nov. 5 stunner, Perdue ousted Barnes. But, now, the governor-elect sounds less eager to tackle the racially charged issue.
"My goal is to have this state heal, to be reconciled from a standpoint of bitter partisanship and the issues that would divide us," he told the Associated Press. His proposed referendum on the issue, he said, "is something we will look at with the leadership once the leadership gets in place in the House and Senate and make a decision on how we will resolve the issue."
Election analysts say Perdue's campaign stance apparently appealed to many rural, white Georgians who considered the old flag an important part of their heritage. But Perdue is playing down the flag issue's role in the election outcome.
"The people offended by the flag change were only a small constituency of the people offended by Roy Barnes's arrogant abuse of power," he said. "They represent a small piece."
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Keeping in mind that the confederate symbolism only appeared on the flag in the mid-fifties in response to federally enforced desegregation, so it's not at issue which heritage they're talking about.
At last we've come to that golden moment where the Republicans, secure in their big-tent hegemony over the south, let you folks know that your cracker asses just don't count when there's liberal elite money at stake (Mr. Perdue doesn't want any boycotts).
You folks sold your souls (and your jobs and your environment and your pension funds) for a pot of message and now you're standing at the closed back door with your hats in hand while the party goes on inside.
You don't matter. Your fair-haired boy disappeared you. You got nothing.
You can still talk mean to your dog, I guess.
As a gubernatorial candidate, Republican Sonny Perdue often criticized Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes (D) and the legislature for changing the state flag by converting the prominent Confederate cross into a much smaller insignia. If elected, Perdue vowed, he would let Georgia's voters decide the flag's details.
In a Nov. 5 stunner, Perdue ousted Barnes. But, now, the governor-elect sounds less eager to tackle the racially charged issue.
"My goal is to have this state heal, to be reconciled from a standpoint of bitter partisanship and the issues that would divide us," he told the Associated Press. His proposed referendum on the issue, he said, "is something we will look at with the leadership once the leadership gets in place in the House and Senate and make a decision on how we will resolve the issue."
Election analysts say Perdue's campaign stance apparently appealed to many rural, white Georgians who considered the old flag an important part of their heritage. But Perdue is playing down the flag issue's role in the election outcome.
"The people offended by the flag change were only a small constituency of the people offended by Roy Barnes's arrogant abuse of power," he said. "They represent a small piece."
-----
Keeping in mind that the confederate symbolism only appeared on the flag in the mid-fifties in response to federally enforced desegregation, so it's not at issue which heritage they're talking about.
At last we've come to that golden moment where the Republicans, secure in their big-tent hegemony over the south, let you folks know that your cracker asses just don't count when there's liberal elite money at stake (Mr. Perdue doesn't want any boycotts).
You folks sold your souls (and your jobs and your environment and your pension funds) for a pot of message and now you're standing at the closed back door with your hats in hand while the party goes on inside.
You don't matter. Your fair-haired boy disappeared you. You got nothing.
You can still talk mean to your dog, I guess.
