Bob McDonnell Apologizes For Slavery Omission In 'Confederate History Month' Proclamation

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Huffington Post

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's apologized on Wednesday for declaring April as "Confederate History Month," but failing to mention slavery anywhere in his proclamation.

"The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission. 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 said in a statement.

The newly-minted GOP governor added: "The Confederate History Month proclamation issued was solely intended to promote the study of our history, encourage tourism in our state in advance of the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, and recognize Virginia's unique role in the story of America."

But earlier, McDonnell told the Washington Post that slavery was not "significant" enough to be included in the proclamation:

McDonnell said Tuesday that the move was designed to promote tourism in the state, which next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the war. McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/07/bob-mcdonnell-leaves-out_n_528733.html

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Governor did you ever stop to think how outraged everyone would be if Germany declared National Nazi History Month or if Japan had a National Japanese WWII Imperialism month?

Your anscestors lost! And they killed a helluva lot of people defending their immoral cause! Not to mention the horror and enslavement plus the continued subjugation of an entire race!

There's not a damn thing glorious about The Confederacy!

And I'll speak for my Union army great-grandfather who suffered 6 wounds at the hands of your damn Confederate army!

[provis99]

1. so April is slave-owning traitor history month?

Way to take a step backwards on the path to civilization, Virginia.

Does Virginia also honor Benedict Arnold Day, or Banistre "Bloody" Tarleton Week to celebrate other Southern traitors?

[hlthe2b]

2. Idiot--could have proclaimed VIrigina History month

and have been celebrated for doing so-- Virginia is rich in history from the founding of this country to the present. The civil war could readily been put in context, including tourism promotions to civil war battlegrounds and museums, if that were really the intent. Somehow, promoting tourism does not appear to be the REAL intent. :eyes:

[RamboLiberal]

3. Yeah I think my home state of PA should declare

Union History month! After all we sent Lee packing at Gettysburg which was a key turning point of the war.

[msanthrope]

9. Mcdonnell can take Pickett's role in the Seminary Ridge reenactment. Loser. n/t

[hay rick]

8. Oops, I did it again.

It's white-folks-are-victims time with the Governor of the Commonwealth. What's hilarious is half of his base is so rabid they are offended even by his racist-pandering nonapology.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Sons Of Confederate Vets Split On McDonnell Apology

Some neo-Confederates aren't happy about Governor Bob McDonnell's apology this afternoon for failing to mention slavery in his proclamation of Confederate History Month.

In an interview with TPMmuckraker, Brandon Dorsey, of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, called McDonnell's move "an insult," and charged that the governor had undermined the purpose of the resolution," and damaged himself with his core supporters. But another member of the group disagreed, saying he supported the apology "one hundred percent."

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Contacted this afternoon by TPMmuckraker, Dorsey said he was unaware of McDonnell's apology. After it was read to him, Dorsey said the apology "comes as a shock," and accused the governor of "pandering to people who never would have voted for him nor supported any of his policies."

Making clear that he was speaking only for himself, Dorsey said that the apology "completely undermined the purpose of the resolution." He added: "We would probably have rather not had a proclamation whatsoever, than for him to add a clause that says that everything that we support and everything we hold dear has to do with slavery."

But Brag Bowling, who uses the title Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, said Dorsey was "off base." "I support Governor McDonnell one hundred percent," said Bowling. "I think he did a courageous thing even issuing the proclamation."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/sons_of_confederate_vets_split_on_mcdonnell_apolog.php?ref=fpblg

[Ian David]

5. And now he will get death threats from his base. n/t

[yellowcanine]

6. Except that this was not a "fail to mention", it was deliberate. McDonnell is being less than

truthful about this. Earlier he gave some mealy mouthed reason for the omission - something to the effect that slavery was not the main reason for the Civil War.....apparently not aware that this is a standard Confederate apologist revisionist history line - I would not be surprised if it came directly from a neo Confederate on the Governor's staff - who was also probably responsible for the wording for the proclamation.

[Grand Taurean]

7. It is sickening to see any honor given to the treasonous Generals

of the Confederate Army. Lincoln was just too damn soft with them.

[Faygo Kid]

12. What do you mean? Warning: I am so deeply involved in the Civil War that I AM now Bruce Catton.

Better know what you are talking about.

[Joey Liberal]

10. What is up with these lunatic republicans? nt

[Uncle Joe]

13. They're trying to divide the nation along regional lines as a means to re-obtain power.

Their goal is to polarize emotions on both sides.

Divide and conquer is all they care about.

[Jefferson23]

15. I never would have thought they would take it this far, but it is becoming

more and more obvious, isn't it? Republicans seem to be going for broke, they have dumped their moderates and are now
embracing the worst of the bottom feeders.

[ShockediSay]

17. AGREED. Once they had absolute power.

And they will resort to Fascist tactics to get it back.

[Faygo Kid]

11. I did not expect that. What is going on?

I despise him and his AG, KuKKinelli. But that was decent. Maybe just poltical, but it was the right thing to do. Is this a Rethuglican with a conscience?

[DebbieCDC]

14. No -- his No. 1 African American supported busted his chops over it

See the article in today's Washington Puke -- er Post -- regarding the wife of the founder of BET being his BIG dem/black booster in the campaign and she called bullshit on him. That's the ONLY reason he gave this lame-ass apology.

[Xenotime]

16. Does he have stock in JPMorgan/Chase?

Time to pay up, asshole.

[Zoeisright]

18. What a fucking idiot. Typical repuke.

They get dumber every day. And THEY LOST.

[valerief]

19. McDonnell, FU and the slave you rode in on! You're a lying sack of shit. nt

[Confusious]

20. HAW! that's funny!

"Governor did you ever stop to think"

He's a southern republican. Thinking is for black holes.

BTW, if he wants to declare this, he can't talk about PATRIOTISM EVER AGAIN.

I WILL NOT HAVE MY LOYALTY QUESTIONED BY A MAN WHO SUPPORTS TRAITORS TO THE UNITED STATES.

[old mark]

21. Gosh, fellas - maybe he just forgot.....nt

[lanlady]

22. Is anyone surprised by this turd's behavior?

He went to Regent so-called University, for pete's sake -- an overpriced bible school where they give degrees in Rapture Studies and How to Hate a Liberal Arts. No intelligent person in his right mind goes there without being hopelessly drunk on fundamentalist b.s., not in a state where he could have attended prestigious schools such as Univ. of Virginia or William & Mary and actually learned something about, shall we say, Civil War history. McDonnell proceeds to write a thesis on why women should stay out of the workforce and make babies, which he is forced to distance himself from during the gubernatorial election campaign. Well, now he's had his George "Macaca" Allen moment. This, I hope, puts an end to any aspirations he had for higher office.

[underpants]

23. At least "Bobblehead" is consistent- he backtracks on almost everything

including the double Bobbleheaded backtrack on the Cuccinelli university non-discrimination mess

Oh BUT!! we are getting our stinky interstate rest areas back...so then there is that

[LibertyLover]

24. I can't wait to get home tonight and check in with my husband -

He is a member of a Civil War re-enactors' group, Wheat's Tigers. The real Tigers were Confederate troops from Louisiana and mostly fresh-off-the-boat Irish immigrants with no concept about what the Confederacy, or the Union for that matter, stood for. All they knew was that somebody was willing to pay them to fight. My husband's group is part of the North-South Skirmish Association and basically exists for, as far as I can see, 2 reasons: (i) to shoot reproduction period pistols, revolvers, carbines, rifles, muskets and artillery pieces in competitions; and (ii) to drink beer, although not while shooting. The interesting thing is that most of the people in the group are from Pennsylvania. Sadly they are for the most part teabaggers and birthers and my husband has decided that he simply cannot ignore their rampant stupidity any longer. He is using an old shoulder injury as his excuse to leave and not return. But he is still on their chat page and I can't wait to hear about some of their posts on McDonald's latest flip flop. The ones they were posting after he made the initial announcement were very complimentary.