Congress’ fight over Confederate Flag takes an unexpected turn
05/20/16 09:20 AM—UPDATED 05/20/16 12:36 PM
By Steve Benen
One of the unexpected consequences of last summer’s brutal massacre at Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church was a renewed debate over public display of the Confederate flag. In fact, less than a week after the nine African-American parishioners were murdered, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) endorsed removing the Confederate battle flag from the capitol grounds.
A month later, on Capitol Hill, congressional Democrats said it was time to curtail the display of Confederate flags on graves in federal cemeteries and the sale of Confederate flags in national park gift stores. Southern Republicans balked.
It took nearly a year, but the political conditions appear to have changed ...
... the fact that the amendment passed at all represents progress that wasn’t possible a year ago. Most Republicans opposed yesterday’s measure, but not enough to prevent it from passing ...
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/congress-fight-over-confederate-flag-takes-unexpected-turn
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