Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee wore Confederate uniform in 1980 yearbook photo: report

[Yosemito]

Source: Washington Post

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee wore a Confederate uniform in a photo published in his 1980 college yearbook, the Tennessean newspaper reported Thursday, in the latest instance of a state leader coming under scrutiny for past actions that critics have decried as racially insensitive.

Lee (R), who won election in November, confirmed to the newspaper through his office that he wore the uniform at an “Old South” party as a student at Auburn University in Alabama.

In a statement to The Washington Post, Lee said he regretted wearing the uniform.

“Although I have never acted to intentionally hurt anyone, I have the benefit of 40 years of hindsight to see that participating was insensitive and I’ve come to regret it,” Lee said.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tennessee-gov-bill-lee-wore-confederate-uniform-in-1980-yearbook-photo-report/2019/02/21/bd9a0b78-361c-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html

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Now Republicans calling for the resignation of Virginia Democrats cannot do so without asking for the resignation of this racist Tennessee governor.

[bluestarone]

1. NO he regreted

Being caught!!!!

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I don't even think he regrets that either

It's a badge of honor among the scum the GOP hangs around. It will probably confirm his bonafides!

[guillaumeb]

3. Being openly racist is acceptable in the GOP.

Witness the example of Trump, perhaps the most openly racist GOP President.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Guess that means he HAS TO resign . . . . .

Oh, wait a minute! He's a REPUBLICAN . . . . . . .

[rogue emissary]

5. It's over 35 years ago so no biggie.

[TomSlick]

6. I don't purport to know about the national KA fraternity or the Auburn chapter but

at the small Arkansas college I attended back in the 70s, the local KA chapter was clearly and unapologetically a neo-Confederate organization. I found a picture in an old college yearbook with the KA members standing behind the largest Confederate Battle Flag I've ever seen but none in Confederate uniforms. I thought that was just what KA was all about.

I frequently see a car in town with a KA plate on the front. I'm afraid that I come to the same conclusion I do when I see Bubba Joe with a Confederate flag in the back of his pickup truck.

[DAMANgoldberg]

14. I was there in the 80s...

They were always thought of as the "Young Klan" back then and had no beefs about letting people know about it. Also back then, the minority population of rather minuscule, about 3% of the student body. After all, you have 2 HBCUs within 50 miles of Auburn (Tuskegee and Alabama State).

[Stallion]

7. I Forgot About Kappa Alpha

they probably all wore a Confederate uniforms at least until about the 80s-90s.

[groundloop]

10. I'm pretty sure the uniforms were only worn at their 'formal'

They always thought of themselves as 'southern gentlemen' at my school.

[vsrazdem]

8. I don't really care what he wore in the 80s, I am concerned about what he does now.

This going back 40 years is just ridiculous, unless it is possible criminal activity I don't give a crap. I am sure a large portion of the population's life views have evolved over a 40 year period.

[LisaM]

9. While I technically CARE, I think that how he is now is more important.

I hope that a lot of people are suddenly doing some soul searching over who they were decades ago. Some will become better people for it, some will not, and I think that's what the real issue is now.

[oldsoftie]

12. I agree with both of you.

This retroactive punishment is getting out of hand.

[marble falls]

11. Upside? It wasn't blackface. I do enjoy listening to their "I'm not that now" stuff.

[CTAtheist]

13. I literally could not care less. -nt

[GulfCoast66]

15. The KA chapter on my campus did this every year.

They were formed in Lexington, Virginia at what is now Washington and Lee college right after the civil war when Lee was president of the college. Arrogant pricks as I remember them. Loved the whole Old South thing.

They had an old style cannon in their front lawn pointing north. One night one of my fraternity brothers and others got a logging chain and with his Ford F-250 Duelly ripped that fucking cannon out of the ground and drug it down the road a bit! Of course I have no first hand knowledge of this event. Strictly hearsay!

After that they mounted it in a big concrete base!

[hughee99]

16. Will people supporting Virginia Dems have to support this guy too? Nt

[dalton99a]

17. Kick