“THERE ARE MUCH BIGGER RED FLAGS THAN THIS ONE …”
|| By MIA McLEOD || On June 17, life as we knew it, changed forever.
And although Mr. Dylann Roof intended to start a race war, he failed to realize one important fact.
The war in South Carolina has always been about race.
The confederate flag simply symbolizes the divisive, race-based hate that plays out in our policies, our practices and our politics. We’ve long-since turned a blind eye and refused to even acknowledge – let alone accept personal responsibility for the impact that our racist attitudes and actions have had on the “minority” in this state.
From “packing” swing Districts like mine with black voters to marginalize our voices to forfeiting billions of federal dollars by refusing to expand Medicaid, this state has led the fight to secede from anything authored, championed or supported by “the black man in the White House.”
And while the confederate flag is one symbol of racism, hatred and division, don’t be confused. When it comes to strategically and systematically oppressing a population of people solely on the basis of race, there are much bigger red flags in this state than that one.
So when the confederate flag finally comes down, we may have won the battle. But if we don’t change our attitudes, actions, policies and policy-makers … we will have lost the war.
I commend the Senate for voting overwhelmingly to bring the confederate flag and the flagpole down. But today, some House Republicans have come up with countless “compromise” amendments to replace it.
What’s up with this never-ending nostalgia for all things confederate? Flag supporters should pay homage to their heritage where we pay homage to ours … in history books and state museums.
Seems like the folks who claim they want elected officials who have the courage to do what’s right instead of what’s politically expedient are the same ones who now threaten their legislators to protect the status quo or risk being “unelected.”
So what if we get primary opposition. The seats we occupy aren’t ours. They belong to the people of South Carolina. So too, does the State Capitol and the grounds on which it sits.
Meanwhile … black and white lawmakers who support the flag’s removal continue to receive death threats and hate mail.
We have a real opportunity to do the right thing for once, in our sordid history. But that requires courage because nothing really changes in this state until we do.
Truth is … their heritage has always overridden our history. Their pride has always trumped our pain. That has always been “the compromise.”
But no more.
Gone are the days of playing partisan race-based politics that give the illusion of inclusion, but offer no real substance behind the rhetoric.
Over the past two weeks, we’ve mourned the loss and celebrated the life of our fallen comrade, Sen. Clementa Pinckney, and eight others whose lives were senselessly and tragically cut short because of the color of their skin.
I’ve already held four race-relations town halls this year and answered questions of white legislative colleagues who just wanted to know …”why are you still bringing this ‘race stuff’ up? If you keep reminding us of the past, how are we ever gonna move forward?”
Exactly. If you keep reminding us of the past, how are we ever gonna move forward?
Barely three weeks after “the heart and soul of South Carolina was broken,” governor Nikki Haley has already directed state agencies to resume their scripted greeting, ”It’s a great day in South Carolina.” But it’s not a great day and won’t be until that flag and the apparatus that supports it, comes down.
This is our moment, South Carolina. The world is watching. We must seize it or lose it. This is about our future, not our past. Bringing our state and all of its citizens into the 21st century is the goal – where there’s unity, peace, hope, optimism, opportunity – and liberty and justice for all.
I rarely stand united with Governor Haley on anything. But today, I’m proud to stand with her, as well as with former Governors and Congressional, business, government and community leaders who have publicly called for the flag’s removal so that we can move all of the people of South Carolina forward.
Just three short weeks ago, when bullets pierced their bodies and our hearts, none of the things that usually divide and separate us mattered. We understood that we’re all part of the human race and that regardless of ethnicity, political party, gender, socio-economic status or politics … our “fabric” is uniquely interwoven and inextricably intertwined by God Almighty, our Divine Creator.
And for the first time ever, we acted like it.
We’ve heard so much about the honor, dignity and courage of your ancestors. Honor their memories and service today by showing the world yours.
Our future no longer has to be tainted by our past. The confederate flag and the flagpole must come down.
That, and only that, is the compromise.
Mia McLeod represents District No. 79 in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
90 comments
Mia:
While you make some valid points, you also bury some of these valid points in your stretch to further your position. For example, claiming that South Carolina’s refusal of the proposed Medicaid expansion was based on race is a complete debauchery of the truth. It is almost as if you are trying to fan the flames, no?
Ya think? She sees the writing on the wall, just trying to save face when divisive politics fail.
I wonder of Todd Rutherford wrote that for her.
Blame more for race relations?
1.Confederate Flag
2.Mia
2.Mia
Medicaid expansion under Obamacare is a loser LONG term for states. The federal government will eventually stop sending this money to the states.It is already a financial burden on Ohio. Kasich just raised taxes in cigs and other services. NOBODY is accepting these new patients or their insurance.
No, the Federal government will continue to pay. That’s the way the law works. If it was a loser Kasich would not have done it. Reducing the number of uninsured people in your state is a winner. It reduces state costs for emergency room and catastrophic emergencies over time, and ultimately reduces a state’s liability. Look at Florida. They refuse to expand Medicaid, yet go back to the feds year after year, begging for a $1 billion to hand out to hospitals to fund their low income pool program. And even after being told, repeatedly, for years, that the funding would end, they continue to ignore it. Just kick the can down the road. Kasich and Christie both expanded Medicaid and have lower uninsured rates. And nearly all states are raising taxes on cigarettes – since reducing smoking is a huge lift in future state medical expenses.
For Christ sakes, all you do is complain, complain, complain. Ever try and offer up a solution?
The increasing number of Medicaid patients — the joint federal-state program now covers nearly 1 in 4 Ohioans — makes it vital to continue higher physician fees to ensure timely access to health care, advocates contend.
Nearly 40 percent of Ohio physicians who responded to a survey indicate that they plan to accept no or fewer Medicaid patients as fees for office visits are rolled back, according to the Ohio State Medical Association.
Doctors received a maximum of $71.09 last year for a 15-minute office visit with an established patient, a figure that drops to $40.38 this year.
Cathy Levine, executive director of the Universal Health Care Network of Ohio that lobbies for affordable health care for all Ohioans, warns that sicker patients and increased costs will accompany the cut in physician funding.
Read it and weep Rocky.Haley was smart NOT to expand Medicaid.
Nearly 40 percent of (existing) Ohio physicians – like it’s a static number. And other doctors will enter the market and accept them. What, are all the med school seats at Ohio State empty now?
Rocky.NOBODY is accepting new patients.The insurance companies involved in the EXPANDED Medicaid under SCOTUScare don’t pay anything.
The insurance is worthless. People are lucky to see a nurse at Wal Greens or CVS.
Nobody? Really? Let’s google that. OK, according to the Ohio State Medical Association survey, 36% of doctors offices expanded, increased, staff to handle new Medicaid offices. 14% accepted new Medicaid patients (suggesting the vast majority of those using Medicaid are regionally concentrated). Only 4% said the were contracting the volume of Medicaid patients. That was 2014. So they asked, in 2015 – with new disbursement levels – what are your plans – 52% said they’d continue to accept. Some said they’d continue to expand. So – we’ll rate your claim – Pants Are On Fire.
Ohio’s Medicaid expansion is estimated to result in $14 billion of new federal spending over the next seven years, and predictably, that money is expect to run out early, as the program is expected to be nearly $1 billion over budget by this June.
With Ohio on the hook for 10% of the expansion’s cost by 2020 (if the federal government keeps its promise) that will result in an annual cost of over $400 million for Ohio taxpayers. Hardly the characterization of proponents that expansion comes at virtually no cost for states. Even that projection depends on the reimbursement rate for the federal government staying where it is. If that reimbursement drops, the state cost would be even more crippling.
The fiscal outlook for Ohio is so bleak, Kasich even proposed in his latest budget to begin charging premiums for some of the highest earning Medicaid recipients, a move designed not only to increase state revenue, but to discourage use of the program.
And not only is Kasich’s budget strategy falling apart, but his promise that Medicaid expansion would provide a boost to Ohio’s economy is also proving to be a fairy tale. In 2014, the first full year of the Medicaid expansion, Ohio gained fewer jobs than it had in any of the previous three years, proving that his state is not “roaring ahead” as he claims.
And in Florida, where they did not expand the roles, but still had an increase of people getting Medicaid thanks to the steering of the healthcare-dot-gov website, they were on the hook for – ready – a $1.4 billion increase in Medicaid costs. So for one third the cost, Kasich got three times as many people insured. Smart man.
The Foundation for Government Accountability has also acknowledged that when states expand Medicaid, the uninsured rate often does not decrease, meaning the new enrollees to program were previously insured on their own private plans.
But perhaps the worst part of Kasich’s expanded Medicaid deal, and the aspect that will have the greatest impact on his home state, is the price tag.
Kasich and other organizations based their predictions for the cost Medicaid expansion on the assumption that 275,000 Ohioans would join the program after the income eligibility level was increased to 138% of the federal poverty level.
However, that rough estimate is nearly half the actual number, and as a result, the cost for expanded Medicaid in Ohio has exceeded even the worst case predictions.
However, even without that expansion, the roles would have increased as people went to the exchange. So really, whilest his overall cost exposure has increased somewhat, it’s only the 10% diffierence from what the Feds pay, versus say in SC, where the expanded roles for legacy Medicaid eligibility – is 100% paid by the state. In the past those eligible didn’t know it. So the roles were artificially low. Once they had to get insurance, they discovered they were eligible. What Kasich did was the right thing.
Even as the Affordable Care Act provided additional funding to states to increase the numbers of uninsured eligible for health care through Medicaid, concern has grown among some people in the health-care community that not enough family doctors will take on new patients with Medicaid health coverage.
Dr. William Feeman, Jr., who has operated a family medical practice in Bowling Green for more than 40 years, said he is leery of taking new patients with Medicaid insurance plans.
He said there is the traditional state-run Medicaid that reimburses doctors for services and has been operating for years. There are also new private insurance companies that are contracting with the state to provide health care for low-income patients.
The Ohio Medicaid managed-care plans are Buckeye Health Plan, Caresource, Molina Healthcare, Paramount Advantage, and the United Healthcare Community Plan.
“I take the state Medicaid, but I don’t take Buckeye Medicaid because they don’t pay anything,” Dr. Feeman said.
He said many doctors are worried about reimbursements and other perceived problems when dealing with health-care companies that cover Ohio’s low-income residents. One of the concerns he expressed is that it can be difficult to get approval from some of the Medicaid managed-care plans for patients to take tests that doctors believe are routine.
Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/Medical/2014/12/01/Ohio-doctors-leery-of-new-Medicaid-patients.html#fVIPMQAOcic6URYO.99
“South Carolina’s refusal of the proposed Medicaid expansion was based on race..”
Yeah, that one got my goat also. It cheapens your credibility to make any issue in in the social/political arena about race when it is not.
There are many people on this blog that agree that the flag coming down is the thing to do, but rantings like this from the political opposition just misses the mark.
And as GrandPa used to say when unnecessary words were uttered, “Stop pissing in the stew.”
Do mean to say that SC’s position on social spending is not largely based in the ideology that “we aren’t going to spend our hard earned tax dollars on THOSE people”? Really? You’re going to try to sell that? Next you’ll tell us that you don’t see color and when someone brings something like this up that they are playing the race card.
“And for the first time ever, we acted like it.” – Mia McLeod
With absolutely no thanks to any efforts by you but thanks for trying to jump in front of the parade. Is Cynthia McKinney a cousin?
good call…
No major issues with this article except that she fails to mention that they flag does not represent racism to all people and that she plays the race card on Obamacare instead or realizing that the opposition is to a national healthcare plan that creates a massive amount of debt that we as nation will never be able to repay. Despite the recent Supreme Court rulings on Obamacare other parts have been ruled unconstitutional. By playing the race card on an issue that had nothing to do with race, she has shown that she makes irrational decisions based on race. That makes her a racist and unfit to serve in any productive capacity.
She should keep her mouth shut. She would sound more intelligent.
Fuck you!
Behahahaha asshole
87$/hour I looked at the draft which said $9958@mk11
c…..m,,
http://www.WebGl0balworkworldDijital/weII/pay...
Whew! For a moment there I thought there might be real compromises with the hate-hertigeainienists. We want none of that! We want nothing to mute their miserable moaning at their long-overdue and complete defeat . . . ordered by their conservative betters seated in the plush boardrooms.
Sometimes your meanderings do contain contain some things worth reading. This one is totally off the mark. Just another handful of your normal self-serving bullshit..
You missed the mark,
The biggest change at the State level that could impact this institutionalized disparity between the communities, in fact all poor communities, would be to address how state dollars are appropriated for school districts, and consolidation of school districts at the county level.
Verily verily!
So in 2010 SC for Responsible Government Foundation issues a report. Let’s just take Lex 1 and Lex 4. At the state level portion, Lex 4 gets a bit more, an extra $767 per student. Then at the fed portion Lex 1 gets 826, Lex 4 gets 2,555. OK, seems like a big bump. At the local level, Lex 1 has $5,444 per student local tax dollars, Lex 4, $3,500. When you add them all up, pretty equal, Lex 4 even comes out a bit ahead, by around $600 a student. But this issue is, is Lex 4 the same, or do they possibly face greater challenges. At the Fed level the Department of Education believes so. Let’s say all the local money for the entire county was combined. Lex 1 is outperforming most of the state, Lex 4 is struggling. There may be programs that can established to help Lex 4, but they cannot reallocate local funds from Lex 1 to address. I’m not saying just throw money at it either. I’m saying you look at districts, and identify innovative solutions for specific areas of deficiency. But right now, that’s not done, nor could it be done, because of the way districts are sub-divided at the county level. And IMHO, most of those districts tend to be drawn – along racial lines.
[W]ould be to address how state dollars are appropriated for
school districtseverything ..There, I fixed it for you!
Just as long as Rocky’s NON citizen mother in-law gets her taxpayer funded health insurance, he doesn’t care.
You are a sick person bringing people’s family into things.
He’s just upset because he feels his Medicaid is threatened.
Not on Medicaid Rocky.None of my family members are freeloaders and moochers and we ALL are American citizens that don’t rely on the taxpayers to pay our bills.
“None of my family members are freeloaders and moochers and we ALL are
American citizens that don’t rely on the taxpayers to pay our bills.”
And I’m a millionaire celebrity model astrophysicist.
Any of your family work for GM?
Just exposing another liberal as a hypocrite.
If she applies for citizenship and passes the test and gets sworn it, is that OK for you? Will that shut your pie hole? Because it won’t change a single thing, the coverage and the carrier will be the same.
Why doesn’t she have insurance in Canada? You live near an airport. :)
Sad thing is she heads back to the end of the line after all your illegal immigrant criminal buddies flooded the border.
Who said she’s from Canada – senor? Might want to try guessing another continent. And she received her Green Card by going through the line, as a legal immigrant. So she’s already been through the line. I would think you’d be happy, since you’re all about “legal immigration – going through the line like everyone else.” Here you have someone who did just that – and you still complain. Complain, bitch, glass half empty crap. Law said she had to have insurance. We followed the process to the letter of the law.
I’m for taking down the flag and have been for quite some time now. (I supported Gov. Beasley’s efforts) The flag is coming down, but we’re not expanding government and if you think that is racist, or has anything to do with the Marxist in the White House, you’re just wrong. Flying the confederate flag at the Capital has always been wrong, and tying it to your version of how government should be operated in this state is a false dichotomy.
Had the confederate flag never been flown at the Capital, nothing substantially different with regard to the size of government would have taken place, they are unrelated. However, packing black voters into your District would always take place as result of Federal law requiring creation of Minority Majority Districts, which of course created Lilly-white districts. Would you prefer that South Carolina not comply with Federal Law on redistricting? Did the Obama Justice Department oppose the last round of redistricting? No – and that was with the flag flying you erroneously simple-mindedly conflate as to your root cause explanation as to how the World According To Mia does not exist.
I have real interest, one way or another regarding the flag coming down or staying at the monument. However, after reading this garbage I’m inclined to support keeping it flying.
The ravings of the rabid pro-flagellists do similar for me. Drag it down.
The death threats should be investigated. Yes, these people are public figures, but that doesn’t mean you can threaten to kill them.
In other news, see link for results of Rep. Henderson’s survey (assuming link works): http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/855181/02aaf22dbc/TEST/TEST/
so just to be clear, in an article to talk about race you yourself use a few racist remarks? Mainly the main reason we in this state oppose anything (and you say directly) “the balck man in the white house’ proposes. Well your accusations that it is done just because he is black is what makes it racist. By your analogy anything you disagreed with before was only because the white man in the white house proposed it. Lets forget that Obamacare was passed before anyone even knew exactly what it would do. “Lets just pass it then we will figure it out” was the attitude there. No it was opposed, as it should because it is lie as to what it does, not that he is “black” So you come out and write an article on fits basically telling people if they vote not to bring down the flag they are racist. Well guess what I believe the flag should come down, and never should have been up to begin with, but for you to “threaten” like you did in your rant to gain public support would make me almost want to keep it up just because you said that poo.
The only heroes in all of this are the family members on June 19 — facing the killer and responding to his bullet with a kiss of forgiveness. Senator Clementa Pinckney lives on through them and through all of us. It is disgraceful for this house of assembly to continue to deny the pain of so many. Whose house is it anyway?
Mia’s “..For the first time in my adult lifetime I am proud of my country…” moment?
I will grant her some validity in this piece but decrying the system that “…packs swing districts…” that got her elected as being designed to deny blacks a voice is tortured logic. Her circular response to the “…why do you keep bringing this up…” question is tortured as well.
Do we as South Carolinians have work to do in the area of race relations – of course we do. Is there an ongoing “…race war…” in South Carolina – there must be, at least in Ms. McLeod’s mind.
Didn’t the First Bitch Moochelle say something similar years ago?
Ding, ding, ding…
I rarely stand united with Governor Haley on anything. But today, I’m proud to stand with her, as well as with former Governors and Congressional, business, government and community leaders who have publicly called for the flag’s removal so that we can move all of the people of South Carolina forward.-Mia McLeod
Good call, standing out there by yourself looking like Al Sharpton in a skirt while the bulldozer of Unity runs you over would be a ugly sight.
Hey somebody just mistranscribed (the closed captioning for viewers) the House words of Rep. James Smith — “Gamecock” to “King Cotton” Nation.
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/videopage.php?chamber=H&AUDIO=0
Also — why is “Ms. Berenstein” “going to the balcony” — is this some sort of civil rights vaudeville or a seat of government?
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/videopage.php?chamber=H&AUDIO=0
I quote from LBJ seems appropriate here.
I see Jesse dropped off a box of race cards for Mia when he was here visiting.
Funny how Mia doesn’t mention any of the more recent black on black shootings in the state… I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s blacks shooting blacks.
Ms Mcleod, I am all for the removal of the flag from the dome. It’s not something occupies my mind daily as it apparently does others. But, will it really matter in terms of racial problems/animosities? Will it, in a way, somehow cut down on teenage pregnancies, single parent moms, black school dropouts, gangs, drug use, killings, black on black crime, number of blacks incarcerated, HIV/VD (which are mostly confined to the black culture, number on Medicaid, etc etc. All of these require an billions of taxpayer monies for programs to enable/take care of families and children to hopefully, escape from the dysfunctional environments in which they were born. Finally, do you think for one minute that removing the flag will motivate the black community to suddenly vote for a conservative, a desire for gainfully employment, to become good, taxpaying citizens of our fair state? Or, will they continue to vote exclusively the liberal ticket to continue the entitlements that liberals toss to them for their vote? Lastly, afore, someone jump on my case, there are many, many blacks out there who realized the value of an education and are living the American dream and have escaped the bonds the liberals have attached to them for so long for nothing more than a guaranteed 90% of the black vote.
Well done.
Black voters well know who dislike them and wish them ignored. That is why black voters don’t vote GOP.
Or to put it in more political (partisan) terms:
Black voters know who hate them and wish them ill. Conservatives, Republicans.
Soft Sigh,
Look at the history of this country and tell me which party has done more to harm the black race.
Look at how many politicians switched to the Republican Party during this shift and how many switched to the Democratic Party.
Look at Thurmond’s change in rhetoric and attitude toward blacks before and after the switch.
Ask why Byrd was loved by the Democratic Party, even after his KKK affiliation was known. Why wasn’t he removed from office? Why wasn’t he prosecuted for his crimes? Why wasn’t he rebuked for his actions?
Do your own research and you will see that you have been disenfranchised by the party that you support.
Byrd renounced and denounced the Klan four decades before Dub Bush ended his daily drunkenness, yet Dub was forgiven by the GOPers and given the presidency to mismanage. Funny dichotomy. Only GOPers get grace.
You compare racism to alcohol consumption? What desperation.
You ignore repentance unless it suits your purpose. How dismal. How unchristian.
And you ignore a half century of the GOP enabling racism.
Examples of the Republican Party endorsing racism?
Trent Lott’s speech to the Council of Conservative Citizens.
Reagan’s southern strategy speech at Philadelphia, MS.
Does any of these compare to endorsing slavery?
Writing the articles of secession?
Declaring the Civil War?
Forming the KKK?
Having the KKK perform murderous acts as the henchman for the party?
And other acts of overt racism?
Mcleod should print that out, trim it up, tape it to her purse, and read it at least once a day. The reality is, most harm being done in the black community is being done by blacks.
Well said Nehru, you may go back to India!
how about starting with a short list of key/root problems contributing to poverty, say unplanned pregnancy for example, and do pilots of programs that have shown to have repeated evidence of success, and do SOMETHING other than complain about how lazy and irresponsible THOSE PEOPLE are as lifelines and opportunities continue to disappear. All while naively claiming that “success and escape from poverty is possible for anyone who is motivated enough”.
“Will it really matter in terms of racial animosities?” You’re kidding, right? Tell us you are kidding. And, no one is claiming that taking it down will wholly solve the social problems you mentioned. That’s a straw man argument
Point A,9 people were killed in a mass murder,to Point B,we should take the flag down.What kind of logic is that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoV-awiHpuM
The seeds of hate were not planted by the flag but by the hearts and minds of those that clung to the racist roots of the democratic party. Removing the flag may be a nice feel good gesture that makes us look good in the public eye but it will not change the hearts and minds of those filled with hatred.
In fact, It will only deepen their hatred and resentfulness, It will strengthen their resolve to fight back and it will make things worse. Keeping the flag would up would have cause the same thing to happen with those filled with hate on the “take it down side.”
It is ironic that this is really a fight among the democratic party. We are watching the evil racists attitudes toward blacks that were fostered in their past get pitted against the race baiting racist attitudes that they currently resort to remain electable.
All Klansmen vote GOP now.
The southern strategy worked. Too well. The ex-Dixiecrats now own the national GOP. A region of solid red.
And the New Black Panthers, the NAACP, the Nation of Islam, and ACORN all vote Democrat. There are racist groups that vote for both parties but that does not mean that they are defined by them.
To say that all vote for either party is inaccurate. Some are ineligible to vote, some decline to vote, and some do vote for the other party. Most would have been the proper generalization for you to use.
The Klan knows who welcomes them into the “big tent” and accepts their hate with a wink-and-a-nod. “Let’s just call you the Council of Conservative Citizens here.”
You should have seen the adoring section of Dub Bush on one Klan’s website. I kind of doubt they have that “respect the president” portion now.
You did not comprehend what I said. Racist support both parties. Did the NAACP not endorse Obama? Do you NBP not endorse democrats? Did ACORN not support Obama? Bush never reached out to the white racist parties. Obama reached out to the black racist parties. That is why Al Sharpton, an undeniable racist and tax evader is an advisor to the President. The Republican party has never had a racist platform or reached out to racist organizations. The democratic Party has. First to white supremacists and now to Black militants. That is why they are the party of division. As soon as black voters realize this and come back to the Republican Party the Democrats will move back to the white supremacists. Democrats are leeches and leeches need blood to survive. They don’t care whose blood as long as it’s blood.
The fact that so many have the same reaction to the Battle flag is not an indication of illogical thought on their part, but simple minded reasoning on your part.
A full scale attack on Southern Heritage is not a compromise!
Stirring more hate by racist Blacks is not going to make for a better situation.
Racism is just as bad in the Black community or worse.
Blaming Whites for all their problems, while other racial groups, i.e., Asians, Latinos and etc. move ahead with no excuses after being here a much shorter amount of time.
Maybe the person that’s causing Blacks the most problems, and the one they need to face up front, is the one in the MIRROR!
Did you learn that at El Cid? Come on. You can tell us
Latino American with no excuses.
Congratulations. Where did you grow up? And what income quintile did your family fall in?
SCUM TROLL like you don’t deserve an answer.
There are plenty of successful, non athlete or rapper, Blacks who don’t depend on the past to excuse their lack of a future. I have heard a cultural analogy of a crab bucket where when one almost escapes the others pull him back.
Condaleeza Rice is an excellent example. Then again, she did not grow up in SC. She can’t even visit SC without a lot of hate.
And some from other Blacks.
Agree. Ms. Rice is representative of what we should all hope to achieve, yet she decided not to visit SC at one time due to all the hate. Her life is very interesting.
Where is the draft Haley Page?
I wonder what would happen, if Mitt Romney and Gov. Haley ran on an Independent ticket? Not sure what the deadlines are, but both Romney and Haley are more appealing this election than last in my personal views.
Those death threats are being investigated. Wonder how many political hacks were involved that may regret their dirty tactis?
““We recognize the First Amendment protections offered for free speech. That’s not what this is about,” SLED Chief Mark Keel said in a statement. “Legislators on both sides of the issue have received communications that include death threats. That’s not free speech; it’s illegal to threaten to kill or injure a public official or their immediate family.”
http://www.independentmail.com/news/local-news/confederate-flag-debate-begins-in-sc-house
I’ve a confession to make: For a brief moment, I that the author was intelligent. Then I read her article. Fool me once….
Hear hear!
Mia, your appear to be running for the right hand side of Hillary when the Dems anoint her their Supreme Goddess and Savior.
What da hail is she talkin’ about?
“From “packing” swing Districts like mine with black voters to marginalize our voices”
Mrs. McCleod, You bring up an interesting point. I surely wish you would expound on it because I am clearly confused. Ironically the late Senator Pickneys district comes to mind. His district “swung” from Jasper to Beaufort, Hampton, Colleton and Charleston. In fact the late senator drew his own district. He also redrew the Colleton County school board districts after the superintendent was terminated by a majority of the school board to remove the duly elected member who led the charge for the superintendents termination. In fact he drew that member from his district. The late senator also introduced a bill on the house floor to redraw the Jasper county school board districts because it was poised to become majority white. This measure was killed by the Beaufort County delegation.
I think the voices that have been “marginalized” have not been the blacks. You have a very unique perspective. You should file a bill to redraw all house districts based on county lines and other “natural boundaries” instead of race.
You should do this the moment that the confederate flags comes down.