VA Governor downplays slavery as not "significant"

[jgraz]

Raise your hand if you knew this guy was a racist shitbag from the start...

Not ’significant’: Virginia governor downplays slavery

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is being accused of historical revisionism after reinstating the state's controversial Confederate History Month and declaring that the event won't focus on slavery because the issue is not "significant" enough in Virginia.

"There were any number of aspects" to the Civil War, McDonnell said, explaining why he left slavery out of the proclamation announcing Confederate History Month. "Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."

His comments were published at the Washington Post.

The Post reports that both Virginia's black legislative caucus and the local chapter of the NAACP are upset with McDonnell's move.

"Governor McDonnell's proclamation was offensive and offered a disturbing revision of the Civil War and the brutal era that followed," state delegate Kenneth Cooper Alexander, head of the Legislative Black Caucus, told the Post. "Virginia has worked hard to move beyond the very things for which Governor McDonnell seems nostalgic."

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0407/virginia-governor-downplays-slavery

[SeattleGirl]

1. This guy has completely jumped the shark; I have no words for

how utterly disgusted I am.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[joeybee12]

2. raise my hand? I feel like a kid in class who so desperately knows the answer

and I raise my hand screaming, "Oh-oh! Call me, call me!"

Wasn't a significant aspect, my ass...essentially it was the ONLY aspect...tell me they would have seceded over any other dispute...

[Kber]

10. Not at all. The Civil war war fought primarily to preserve a state's right

to keep slaves.

Completely different, don't you see.

:sarcasm:

[joeybee12]

13. NOW I get it! thanks for the clarification!!!

:hi:

[hlthe2b]

15. Absolutely the MOST SIGNFICANT issue...

but, NOT the only aspect.... There are some really good unbiased and comprehensive historical texts out there that do a very nice job covering this without buying into the "apologists". Without a doubt, slavery was the major issue, especially given its symbolism of the states rights disputes which persevere to this day.

That said, this governor is a racist, revisionist, bigoted asshole.

[Kber]

3. Thank you Gov. McDonnell

for reminding us what a "moderate" republican looks like.

And sincerest sympathy for Virginia residents from an equally frustrated NJ native.

[HipChick]

glad he is starting to show his ass so soon...

[monmouth]

19. I'm from Freehold and Manasquan and relaives and friends are

very worried about the education issue up there. Christie i showing his "moderate" side also. One-termer I'm sure.

[Kber]

36. One termer - i certainly hope so!

[wtbymark]

4. "But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."

...which are?????????????Sir, could you elaborate????? (crickets)

[Brickbat]

8. Leaving the union? Treason? Hmmmm....

[bluestateguy]

5. I disagree with what he did

But it is simply false to say that slavery was the ONLY thing the war was all about. The main thing? Yes, but not the only thing.

[joeybee12]

12. They would not have gone to war over anything else...none of the other

disputes would have caused them to secede.

[bobburgster]

16. To leave slavery out is like forgetting the shrimp...

when making shrimp scampi!

[jgraz]

22. Believe it or not, I've actually done that

I've gone to the grocery store and bought everything for scampi except the shrimp. This is, sadly, a common occurrence for me. I've also done it when shopping for lamb curry (forgot the lamb) and braised short ribs (fill in the blank).

[bobburgster]

38. Haha, thanks, gave me a good chuckle!

[Deep13]

23. No not the ONLY thing. Just the most huge, collosal, giant thing.

So saying it is insignificant is just not true. But you're right, different people fought for or supported the CSA for different reasons.

[MadHound]

27. Every single thing about secession, including the state's rights arguments, relates back to slavery

In fact one could say, and many historians do, that the peripheral issues brought up by the Confederacy were simply a smokescreen for the real reason of their secession, slavery.

[Enrique]

34. it was pretty much about slavery n/t

[TwilightGardener]

37. You are right. It was about slavery, and resentment of Yankees

bossing them around, and those awesome gray uniforms. But mostly about slavery.

[Dogtown]

6. K&R n/t

[leftofcool]

7. WTF?

[Faygo Kid]

9. Inevitable, him and his attorney general, KuKKinelli.

Knew it from day one of the campaign. This was bound to happen, and it will happen again.

I have said it before and will say it again: While minority rights are in danger now in Virginia, it's women's rights that are in the gravest danger. These two and their minions will not only go after a woman's right to choose, they will dismantle programs that benefit women, including programs against domestic abuse.

Watch and see. You heard it here.

(By the way, Civil War buff here. To not mention slavery was no mere "oversight.")

[WolverineDG]

11. They're not even trying to pretend anymore

:wow:

dg

[WillyT]

14. Jesus... It Just Keeps Getting Better, Eh ???

:wtf:

:banghead:

:evilfrown:

[polichick]

17. Thanks "indie" voters of VA and NJ - ya happy now?! nt

[LeftinOH]

18. What Bob McDonnell means is it's "not significant" for folks like himself....

[Dappleganger]

20. Please, Douglas Wilder call this pinhead out!

Remind this asshole just who the FUCK made Virginia what it is!

[Dappleganger]

32. Speaking of Gov. Wilder, Tweety has him on right now!

[malaise]

33. Wilder and Moran are destroying that jackass

Even Tweety is laughing

[Deep13]

21. After the 1801 ban on international slave trading...

...VA and SC became principle "exporters" to the rest of the South and the West where slavery was allowed. If we in the North are not allowed to gloss over the millions Boston and NYC shipping companies made transporting slaves, then VA sure as hell can't forget that slavery was one of its principle industries and that it went to war to defend that institution.

[marmar]

24. Bob McDonnell, Bringing the 18th Century Back to Old Dominion.

nt

[Dappleganger]

They're certainly attempting that with their road conditions.

It was appalling to have to drive around or over so many potholes in that state last week. I grew up there and have NEVER seen the roads in such awful conditions before. I know they had some bad snow conditions this season, but Jesus it was like going back in time!

[Fla Dem]

25. The far right has become enbolden.

All the big names on the right; Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, Palin, Boehner, Rich Perry and now this idiot of a Va govenor DO NOT FEAR any backlash. They are all pushing the envelop to see how far they can go to incite riots and other dangerous acts.

[SoxFan]

26. WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, NUMBNUTS?

[Deep13]

28. Here's the thing, for some 160-odd years we have heard that the South will rise again...

Okay, well it has in fact risen again. Its contributions to industry, energy, music, literature, social matters, six presidents since WWII* and the general strength (such as it is) of this country are things to be genuinely proud of. So why dwell on this shit?

:wtf:

*I'm counting Truman and both Bushes.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

29. I am so embarrassed right now

Having an openly racist like this fool as my governor is absolutely shameful :-( Makes me want to request being stationed as far away as possible from Governor Billy Bob :argh:

[14thColony]

30. Well of course slavery wasn't significant in VA

In the 1860 census there were 490,887 slaves and 1,105,196 free citizens in VA, meaning that slaves made up a mere THIRTY PERCENT OF VIRGINIA'S POPULATION!

Now I ask you, how on earth could that piddling number be significant?

And yes, this is sarcasm.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

31. If I were to do something so brazen like him

such as saying,"the property tax on my car is not significant, so don't expect a dime from me McDonnell", they'd throw my ass in jail in Fort Levanworth (I'm enlisted, so the UCMJ applies to me now). :eyes:

[lordcommander]

35. For McDonnell and Christie voters in VA and NJ.....

You reap what you sow. Period.

[cap]

39. I think the NAACP should use Confederate History Month

to point out the economic impact of slavery on both African Americans and poor whites. I think they should use it as a "teachable moment" where they expose the horrors of slavery and why so many people saw that the use of states rights was a means to perpetuate slavery. I mean, why the push to have states rights in the first place? The states wanted to regulate slavery and not have the Federal government tell them what to do. Virginia wanted to be able to continue the practice of slavery and the Feds were telling them No.

I think the NAACP should use this month for historical reenactments of auction block scenes, should petition that the spot in Alexandria of the largest slave market in the country should be restored much like Auschwitz is kept as a living memory. I think that they should talk about the impact of slavery on the African American family. I think that they should publish genealogies of the best families in Virginia showing both their Black and White ancestors, especially in small towns. It might be interesting to know who's "passing". I wonder who in the Confederate equivalent of the Daughters of the American Revolution is not as lilly white as they think they are!

Maybe, the NAACP should sponsor a "claim your share" of major businesses in Virginia whose African American descendants have been cut out of the family inheritance. How about at least presenting a bill for unpaid wages?

I think the NAACP could have a lot of fun. Just make sure that state dollars flow towards alternative viewpoints of the Confederacy. And, if they aren't getting funding, it's a good reason to picket events.

[autorank]

40. Split up Virginia - no more crypto fascism

McDonnell is a Pat Robertson clone. He is doing what he always intended to do, which is manifest
his racism and crypto fascism as soon as he could. The Virginia A.G. says he'll support laws he
believes in and not those he doesn't. He's speaking at an armed gathering of gun rights advocates
in Richmond. Virginia is nothing much without Northern Virginia and there are only about 5% of the
people here who tolerate Confederate month and so forth.

Time to split the state up. Free Northern Virginia from these vile leaders and let the rest of
the state earn its own way.

This is disgusting beyond words and only happened because people were apathetic and didn't care for
the Democratic candidate. They bought McDonnell's mild appearance and failed to look at the record.
Screw that, time to go. New state time.