The Confederate flag raising yesterday may be the final straw for a lot of people.

[kelliekat44]

I know a few staunch GOPers who said they were just sickened by what they saw and heard yesterday at the WH. One has even said she will no longer vote for any Republican, anywhere, at any time. She say the GOP House leaders give Christianity a bad name and that they violate everything she was taught and believes about Christianity and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Two other friends one male and one female said they just hate Cruz more than they dislike the President. The last two watched the President speak for the last two times he has given pressers and interviews. They were impressed. I guess they never watched him before?

[Hoyt]

1. They'll be back to hating in a few days.

[barnabas63]

3. +1

[roguevalley]

40. they might have just as well come in sheets. Amazing lack of smarts.

[PatrynXX]

50. your not much better :(

I'll take her at her word. Just because they don't I don't wanna stoop to her level.

[Cosmocat]

100. Right ...

The Pukes have to sink to these kinds of lows to get some pulse from the "base."

But, once they have managed to not sink so low, there will be SOME trumped up bullshit they can throw at the POTUS or "liberals" that will bring them home.

2010 was a BIG wakeup for me.

They were lower than they ever had been in my life in 2008, but somehow they rebounded on steroids over NOTHING to sweep mid terms in 2010.

Still not too late for them to find something to rally around for next November ...

PLENTY of time.

[steve2470]

2. yea that flag was a really stupid move on their part to allow it

Only a Nazi flag would have been worse. It really turns off we non-racists.

[adieu]

7. Nazi flag would not have been worse

(except to those WWII vets who fought against the Germans). They could partially explain away a Nazi flag as saying that, "Obama is a Nazi" for not negotiating with Congress, or some such bullcrap.

But there's no way to explain away the Confederate Flag. There is no way to associate the Confederate Flag with Obama in any way whatsoever. That Confederate Flag forces them to own that flag and its meaning, which -- in the light of the shutdown -- is just that we have a black man in the white house.

[steve2470]

8. ok yes, I agree, good points nt

[MrModerate]

42. Yeah, but to a lot of people (me included) . . .

The swastika is lightning, while the Confederate flag is just a lightning bug.

[DBoon]

61. and it offends them the Black man is not their slave

NT

[NYC_SKP]

65. This is your first post? Shit, you might not get a second.

Direwolf131 (1 post)
64. Confederate flag ownership?

You appear to have an interesting take on history, not surprising, considering the level of ignorance on display within this thread, so for your assignment for class, I task you with researching just which political party it was/is that "ahh" owns the flag in question? Not that I support either of the two parties, I don't, rather because the vast majority of you intellects are completely erroneous in your conclusions, which couldn't be further from the reality...The party of hate, the one that you drones are mindlessly parroting, is the democratic party, they are the ones that created the KKK, and opposed every effort at liberating black folk from the yolk of democratic party enforced apartheid, and slavery....The hatred & intolerance on display within this thread, speaks volumes, most of the respondents to this particular topic, have clearly chosen the right & proper political party in which to give loyalty. Remember, all you have to do is look at the true historical record, and then open your eyes to the horror you've cozened up too, then stop with the revolting stupidity as to just who it is that really owns that flag....

[noiretextatique]

66. oh goody...a history lesson from a teabagger

who gets his "information" from faux snooze and limbaugh they never get tired of trying to sell this bs.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

71. It must be hard being too thick to get that the parties have not stayed

exactly the same throughout history. Too dumb to know that today's Republican Party would be the ones fighting for slavery. Too moronic to understand what made the South leave the Democratic Party.

Then again, it's probably easier. No need to deal with messy, complicated reality.

[brush]

85. Give it a rest

We don't need a lecture from someone who doesn't seem to know that the Dixiecrats all left the Democratic Party in a huff after the 1964 Democratic convention, party because LBJ allowed for the seating of Fannie Lou Hamer's Freedom Democratic Party.

Go read up on history yourself. The racists Dixiecrats JOINED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY which is where they reside today.

Got that?

[Arugula Latte]

87. Apparently this banned dumbass never heard of the Southern Strategy.

[brush]

92. Yes!

Repug history of some significance.

[Squinch]

108. I feel like I am seeing a lot of this kind of thing on DU these days. We must have been

referenced in some right wing rag again.

[NYC_SKP]

109. Could be.

We banned 11 accounts today, that's been about the average.

Some get more attention than others.

[Squinch]

111. Is that normal in regular (non shutdown/debt limit/confederate parade) times?

I had no idea you guys dealt with that many in a given day.

[NYC_SKP]

112. Yes, it is.

8 to 12/day.

I looked at a couple days in mid-September and saw the same frequency!

[Squinch]

114. Wow! I'm truly surprised. I didn't know it was anything like that. It must be like playing

"whack-a-mole"

[NYC_SKP]

116. Sometimes their username gives them right away:

Like this one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=308682

Other times, it's harder and they might get over 100 or more posts in.

[Squinch]

118. I bet he thought he was being cagey!

[Myrina]

73. ... dunno. Alot of "white power" groups hide behind a Swastika noawadays ...

... to me it would have been just as revolting as the Confederate Flag.

[adieu]

79. I don't think you understood my post

I agree that the atrocities of the Nazis were far worse than those by the southern whites of America. Th point I made was that a Nazi flag could be an attempt by those waving it to indict Obama as a Nazi, since they have called him a Nazi, socialist, commie, Muslim, etc. They could say that they're waving the Nazi flag to protest the tyrannical actions of the Obama administration against our WWII vet heroes, or some such excuse. But they couldn't make the argument that Obama is a southern white-lovin' nigg*-hatin' good ol' boy, because, well, Obama could never be associated as a pro-white racist and what the heck does the confederate have to do with the WWII vets?

[Myrina]

84. No, you missed MY point.

Google any of the US based white power groups. THEY USE THE NAZI FLAG.
They want 'racial purity' just like the Klan. They are often offshoots of the Klan.

So the use of the swastika at the TP rally could be construed to mean the same thing as the Konfederate flag.

[Hubert Flottz]

103. Every time something don't go the rabid right's way they

Start the confederate dog whistling.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/rick-perry-secession_n_2120453.html

[Rebellious Republican]

11. Yet not many seem to be offended by this one.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023849981

[steve2470]

14. to be honest I didn't see it until a few hours ago here at DU

The Confederate flag imho is much more inflammatory. EVERYONE knows what it means.

[Rebellious Republican]

18. Thats the rub, many are like you. Most people see stars and start hemorrhaging out of the eyeballs

when they see that tired old symbol the confederate flag. But hey whats this other flag in the background of a photo, does not even register to the masses. However it does register with guys like this, code speak. People better get savvy, and quit falling for the smoke and mirrors.

Doesn't this guy claim to be an oath keeper.....

"Kessler is a law enforcement officer who is looking to honor his father who honorably served during the Vietnam war. "If not for him, I would not be the man I am today," he said. He's also an Oath Keeper."

http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/02/police-chief-wants-citizens-as-reserve-force-to-defend-against-feds/

[CanonRay]

74. Good catch on the OathKeepers flag

It's basically the Christian Dominionist flag. As scary as the swastika to me.

[thecrow]

96. This man seriously needs to be stripped of all public authority.

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. The optics of that, in this day & age, was just jaw dropping for many people of conscience.

[pitbullgirl1965]

5. Details, details!!

What was the tipping point? Was it the flag? Palin and Cruz showboating?

[IrishAyes]

16. I read where the actual parade organizers are incensed that their day got hijacked

for a TP event, and that they want it to remain NON-political. Good for them.

[Scootaloo]

51. I imagine they were utterly delighted, until the criticism began

'Cause there sure didn't seem to be any conflict with the "hijacking" at the time...

[IrishAyes]

56. Maybe so. It could be false outrage. But then again,

we weren't there to see the whole thing, and tape editing can give a totally false impression of the whole. I hope it was genuine objection. Certainly, individual veterans who weren't there have been lodging complaints. Bottom line, w/o credible eyewitness affirmation, we don't know what the majority did.

I hope you're wrong. But I can only hope.

[Old Union Guy]

6. Guerrilla theater? n/t

[madinmaryland]

9. Where was the Liberal Media?? I saw none of this on the teevee or anywhere else.

[BumRushDaShow]

26. MSNBC's afternoon/evening programming had it

Apparently the RW blogs are now screaming that Democrats have started "fund-raising" off the above photo (from the Washington Post today - Jonathan Capehart I believe). Goldie Taylor went ballistic on Martin's show because the guy is also waving the Marine flag (and she is a retired Marine).

But for the GOP/teabagger nation, this guy is their hero.

[Squinch]

30. I'll lay you 10 to 1 odds that that guy beats his wife and kids.

[Marie Marie]

39. He definitely looks like he only respects white males.

Gee, maybe the flags gave him away. That picture makes me shudder.

[Squinch]

41. Me too. We know everything about him that we need to know. And none of it is good.

[nvme]

45. It warms my lil' heart

I see the downfall of the Rethugs. Remember, the Confederacy did lose. Be as ruthless and spread these images frequently and often. Remind Americans these are the family values party you see. They Wave that hateful flag in front of America's First Family. The independents will see. The independents will shun the party of family values. Thank God that man holding that flag is not in my family or we would have opened some whoopass on him for shaming himself like that.

[1000words]

46. You figured it all out from a few pictures?

I wonder what I would "know" about you if your picture was posted here. Pretty sure you'd have a problem with anything I speculated ... and rightfully so.

The exchange above is shameful.

[Squinch]

47. The behavior of the man in the photo is shameful. The discussion is just pointing it out.

If my picture was posted, you would know that I was not a racist reactionary who is ignorant enough to follow a grifter and a con man in a pseudo-conservative movement which is just, at it's base, nothing but fear of any change that removes their racial and gender unearned advantages.

Yes. I figured all that out from a few pictures.

[1000words]

53. You don't even know if he is married, yet he likely beats his wife and kids.

He isn't wearing a wedding ring.

You are engaging in the very behavior you loathe. How are your words any different from making snap judgements from say .... the color of someone's skin?

[Squinch]

57. He's holding a confederate flag outside of the home of a black family. The home

of his president. That is a threat of violence. So no, I am not engaging in the same behavior.

It's stunning that you can't see the difference, and stunning that you would defend his behavior and make feeble attempts at false equivalences.

[1000words]

58. Good luck

We're done

[heaven05]

82. No, I hope you're done

no clue, and probably will never gain one.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

55. Good for you. We often misjudge people by their looks, but when you

are where this guy is doing what this guy is doing, you make it pretty easy for people to judge your character.

[Niceguy1]

81. some think it is ok

To act like that if it is towards a bagger. Not partaking in such boorish behavior can get you labelled as a sympathiser.

[Snake Plissken]

59. He definitely looks like he could start in a remake of Deliverance

I can see him saying "You sure do got a purdy mouth"

[lolly]

38. Love his tee shirt

Bless his heart, he really is "special," isn't he?

[ChazInAz]

43. Uh....gee....

He doesn't exactly look much like Marine material, does he?

[marble falls]

78. I love the t-shirt - isn't he specialll! Could he be.......

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4636796367734998&w=235&h=187&c=7&rs=1&pid=1.7

[Arugula Latte]

89. It seems like these days it's up to things like Facebook to spread these images.

Most mainstream "journalists" are worthless -- actually worse than worthless.

[yuiyoshida]

10. Hoisting the Confederate flag was much like

Vampires impaling themselves on Stakes.... a foolish move. How stupid can Stupid get?

[IrishAyes]

17. True... but they're proud of it. Fiercely proud. Stupidly, self-immolating proud.

And yet I've had a few such ignoramuses try to convince me it has nothing at all to do with race!

BTW, my favorite Obama tee shirt shows a line drawing of him ripping apart a confederate flag, as he declares "Next time grow your own cotton!"

From what I read and hear, some of the white supremacists have a version of that, where they claim next time they'll grow their own cotton. Yeah, right. Lazy slobs.

[yuiyoshida]

21. If you can find that image...

I would love to see it!

[IrishAyes]

29. Sorry, I had it bookmarked and then one day I re-installed Win7 on my Acer laptop

and, you guessed it - I forgot to save my bookmarks. But I'm pretty sure it was either on Zazzle or CafePress. Regardless, it would be easy enough for any decent artist to reproduce, and wouldn't violate copyright laws if done for personal use and not as a commercial act. Let me know if you can find or reproduce it. I just liked the picture.

Another tee shirt I like shows David and Goliath, where the latter is a forward-facing version of John Bull holding a huge club; facing him, back to viewer, is a little boy David with the imprint 'IRA' on his back. Goliath is saying to the little boy, "Yer a bleedin' terr'ist!" My Sinn Feiner ancestors would've loved it.

[yuiyoshida]

33. ah!

cool beans!

[Hubert Flottz]

104. While you guys are at it...

How about the shirt with the Marines on Iwo Jima raising the EXXON flag?

[IrishAyes]

105. Pictures worth a thousand words, unless it's the Gettysburg Address

[Snake Plissken]

12. This is nothing new for these cretins

remember this one, and these a GOP delegates at a GOP convention, not some random person they can just explain away as not representing their core beliefs.

[IrishAyes]

20. That woman in the top picture looks demonic to me.

[NastyRiffraff]

23. How come so many Republicans...

look like that? Bad genes? Could explain the stupidity, too.

[calimary]

25. They ARE demonic. ALL of them.

Shitty people. And I'll bet they swear up and down that they're more patriotic than thou. Imagine - shitting on the Purple Heart like that. What a disgrace!

Some people are just shitty. Sorry. That's the long and the short of it. Just plain shitty.

[japple]

93. They all love Jesus more than you. Just ask any

one of them.

[calimary]

94. Yeah, aren't they just fucking adorable?

[Beacool]

48. Who are those, genetic white people?

They look like they could be related.

[IrishAyes]

13. I don't know how anyone could watch President Obama and not be impressed.

As for the GOP woman you mention, she's right about that; Jesus was/is a liberal, and is reported to have said, "What you do to the least of these, you do to me."

[liberalmuse]

15. I'll believe it when these assholes stop voting them in.

I don't know a single right wing asshat who claims to be "Republican", but I know damn well how they vote. They don't want to come out and say what they really think because some part of them knows they are wrong and that there are decent people out there who will shut them down if they spew the shit that is stirring in their souls. The truth is, a large part of your friends agree with Cruz, but are too ashamed to admit it. They're not going to tell their liberal friend what they're really thinking and whispering amongst themselves.

[IrishAyes]

19. Yes, that too; but then again, on rare occasions scales fall from the eyes.

[gopiscrap]

22. if it isn't the final straw for them their either racists or

not paying attention.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. "I guess they never watched him before?"

If they did, it was on FOX "News" where they claim he's a Soros puppet with a teleprompter.

[struggle4progress]

27. Mebbe we should call it the Treason flag

[IrishAyes]

35. That's what I shall call it from now on. Thanks.

(Would've been all along if I'd thought of it, although that's how I always felt.)

[Brigid]

28. These idiots have also pissed off . . .

Every Marine and former Marine on the planet. Not a good idea.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. And the irony is that the Marines was the first branch of the Armed Services that promoted

black Americans to full ranks and to officers, etc.

[IrishAyes]

36. That can't be good. God might forgive somebody; marines won't.

[ripcord]

31. The sad fact is

That most people don't even know it happened, I have been talking to a different crowd of people for me and I am amazed at how little the majority of folks know and how little they care about what goes on in the U.S. Worldwide news and events are even worse.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

32. I'm sorry, but I still believe that about 90% of Republicans are racists because too many of them

remain silent and/or continue to support a party that remain silent while their leaders spout racist rhetoric or push racist public policies.

[noiretextatique]

67. i agree with you...except

I am not sorry racism is a GOP value.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

72. Yep. I was being generous with the 90%, though. I'm hoping things will change...

Praying that the Republican Party will see the light; that young Republicans will want to wake up and change their party from within.

[1000words]

37. I'd venture to guess many aren't even aware it happened

DU is a bit of a bubble in that respect.

[Johnny Ready]

44. It was the last straw, without a doubt for many people including me

the other point your friend makes is something I can identify with also. In my experience some of the so called "right wing conservatives" approximately 10% primarily Tea Party supporters, have a unique ability to remove the teachings of God from their actual daily actions. It is shocking and sad to hear people who call themselves "God fearing" to bully and attack the character of anyone who decides to speak against them. Love thy neighbor? Unlikely from at least 10% in my experience.

[lpbk2713]

52. All we had to do was give them enough rope.

Then sit back and watch as they hang themselves.

[Coyotl]

54. Looked like the Tweeker Party to me.

Plus, what's with the $32.00 Special Deluxe tee? Are really expensive tees the new redneck thing, or is this guy just a Faux Redneck actor?

[hollowdweller]

60. Play Freebird

Sad. I never particularly agreed with William F Buckley, but I always felt he made a reasoned argument for his positions. Now the GOP has gone from rich well educated people running the party to folks in a Skynard show. They needed a fake grassroots and it became living and took over the party. Now it's all about simple to understand stuff.

[DBoon]

62. I heard the guys in Lynyrd Skynyrd were Democrats

really, just because it may be a cliche redneck anthem

[OmahaBlueDog]

63. Listen to the lyrics of "Saturday Night Special" sometime

It was anti-handgun before it was cool.

[SunSeeker]

86. Great song. Best anti-gun song ever. nt

[NealK]

68. K&R - Bunch of weirdos.

[redstatebluegirl]

69. The right wingers are saying this guy was a Democratic plant...

He looks to inbred to be a democrat....

[Sparkly]

70. Cue Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck crying about "Southern Pride."

They're just proud of their Southern Heritage, y'know. Such a wonderful history, they like to remind people of their um... mint juleps. Yeah, that's it.

[treestar]

75. Never watched him before, that is possible

Which is why some of the wing nut stuff has the traction it does. Helps keep them in the bubble.

[Shankapotomus]

76. We all learn at our own pace, I guess

Some require less, some require more bs before they see the light. And for some the whole mountain has to collapse on top of them.

[klyon]

77. Do they really think flying the confederate battle flag

at a veterans rally is a smart move? And in front of the White House no less?

[Niceguy1]

80. shocking

Still don't get how the GOP is responsible for this creep?? Personally, I think fools like this guy are seeking attention and the best thing to do is ignore them. I haven't seen an endorsement of this jerk by anyone.

[heaven05]

83. Palin and kkkruz were there at this event standing in front of this flag

if that's not a ringing endorsement, then I don't know what is.

[Squinch]

113. His presence in the middle of the Tea bagger parade was just a coincidence, I guess.

You sure do seem to be bothered by people's appropriately negative responses to this moron sporting a Confederate flag outside the President's house.

Let me guess: your next argument is going to be that he's a plant, right?

[SunSeeker]

88. So how long before the GOP says the flag guy was a plant? nt

[gussmith]

90. That Flag

represents the most divisive, disgusting time in American history. Only the most ignorant, illiterate, self-absorbed creep could appear near it or use it to promote their brand of intolerance.

[DissidentVoice]

91. Ted Nugent wears a Confederate flag tee shirt onstage

Surprise, surprise, I know...but the juxtaposition of the Confederate flag with the U.S. flag is jarring, to say the least.

[maddiemom]

95. Has President Obama ever been ever been photographed in a barn coat?

That would be the one thing that would turn me against him.

[ck4829]

97. Can only hope so.

[mgardener]

98. I am....

I am a taxpayer, I vote and I will never vote for a republican.
Spread the word.

[santamargarita]

99. I went to a party where we burned that racist symbol of hate.

[Mikeystyle]

101. That's the best thing about freedom of speech

Protecting freedom of speech for wingnuts like that lets everyone see them for what and who they really are.

It's why so many dyed in the wool fiscal conservatives I know have left the GOP. Too much anger and hate.

[Doctor_J]

102. not a chance

We hear this after every new outrage, and they just keep getting worse. Wake up.

[blkmusclmachine]

106. .

.

[Moonwalk]

107. I hope these people are calling/sending email to their republican reps or the GOP about this...

Few things will get through better than if republican voters desert the party in droves. They don't have to switch to Dem, they can go Independent, but if the phone calls, polls, etc. show that the party is losing voters and supporters hand-over-fist, then that will make an impression.

Every republican who says something like this should say it to the GOP, loudly and firmly.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

110. Guy across the street washed his Confederate flag last week.

When it wasn't raining.

Saw his big Confederate flag hanging on his laundry line behind his house.

And I know for a fact his father hits his mother, because one of the sons told me about throwing the dad up against the wall, calling him a sorry son of a bitch, and threatening to kill him. Two of the boys are weightlifters and football players, so they could intimidate the dad, and that's all he understands.

[mstinamotorcity2]

115. As they come out of

their Fox News coma, you will see a lot more anger. You must remember they have been under since St. Reagan. And to wake up after such a long time you are kind of foggy at first. but as the fog clears you start realizing how much time has really passed and you haven't participated in life.

[Berlum]

117. That flag things makes it clear lots of Repubbies really do hate America

No American need be ignorant of the ugly traitorous reality. They are out to take America down.