Obama: Omission of slaves' history 'unacceptable'

[NJmaverick]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says Virginia's governor made "an unacceptable omission" when he proclaimed it Confederate History Month without mentioning slavery.
"I don't think you can understand the Confederacy and the Civil War unless you understand slavery," said Obama, the nation's first black president. First lady Michelle Obama is descended from a South Carolina slave.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell came under harsh criticism for issuing April's history month proclamation without any reference to slavery. The Republican governor at first defended his decree, saying it was intended to honor the Confederate sacrifice on Virginia soil and promote tourism. On Wednesday he apologized and added a paragraph condemning slavery, saying that leaving it out had been a "major omission."
Interviewed by ABC News on Thursday in Prague, Obama said the controversy was "a reminder that when we talk about issues like slavery that are so fraught with pain and emotion, that, you know, we'd better do so thinking through how this is going to affect a lot of people."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100409/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_slavery;_ylt=Am2RllmfpXmXDJBB9aPxDWes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlaTM0N2ozBHBvcwM3MQRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3BvbGl0aWNzBHNsawNvYmFtYW9taXNzaW8-

[Jefferson23]

1. Always the gentleman. I would have said it is unacceptable that

Virginia has a fucking racist for a governor, but then, I'll never be president.


Good for you Obama!

[cosmicone]

2. He could have used a harsher diplo-speak

such as "while I am not saying it is outright racism, some people may construe it as such and such proclamations are as divisive as the civil war itself which dredge up the most painful of times for America and thus are not constructive."

[Tumbulu]

3. very good! (nt)

[greyl]

4. To me, that comes across as BS double-talk, not diplo-speak.

I think he addressed the situation well without giving our sensationalist media catnip.

[cosmicone]

8. ummmmmmmm

I don't see double talk there. Double talk is when you are saying two opposing things simultaneously.

The thrust of that sentence was as clear as a flame thrower but no one could actually say "Obama called VA racist"

[Threedifferentones]

13. Which is why it is double talk

Either you call him a racist, or you don't.

"I'm not saying he's a racist, but his behavior seems racist" is a weak way to make your point IMO.

[maxsolomon]

5. should have declared it "CIVIL WAR HISTORY MONTH"

and mentioned Slavery. then there's no drama & the re-enactment/entertainment complex can hum along.

[theHandpuppet]

6. Should have, but they deliberately declared it "Confederate History"

Excluding not only any mention of the tyranny of slavery, but a deliberate insult to the thousands of Virginia Unionists and over 5,000 men who fought with Virginia units of the USCT. Then of course there's that little matter of the western part of the state that broke away from the Old Domniion in 1863. Southern "heritage" and Virginia history is not the sole domain of white men who fought with the Confederacy.

[Cha]

7. Perfect,, President Obama..

thank you!

[depakid]

9. It is unacceptable- and was a slight directed at him and his family in the White House

I hope that it helps to bring home the reality of the types of Republicans in positions of power that he's dealing with.

Note to Barack: the Bob McDonnel's and Tom Coburn's of the world are not reasonable people. This Harvard Law Review deal that you did isn't going to work with them, no matter how much you want it to.

[marshall]

10. Recogning it doesn't mean you celebrate it

History if full of warts. It's not a celebration, it is a remembrance of what happened.

[Paladin]

11. Oh, It's A Celebration, All Right. (n/t)

[No Elephants]

12. Confederate History Month is what's unacceptable.

Obama said this AFTER the Governor backpedaled, right?