JULY 9, 2015
The events in Charleston that have unfolded over the past three weeks have prompted soul-searching throughout the United States and the world. And no part of this tragedy has caused more self-reflection among South Carolina lawmakers than the presence of the Confederate battle flag unfurling on the grounds of the state capitol.
After being passed by the state senate, a bill mandating the removal of the flag was approved early this morning by the house after over 13 hours of emotional debate by a vote of 94-20. Later this morning, Gov. Nikki Haley signed the bill into law. The flag is scheduled to be removed on Friday at 10am.
With already so much discussion of the racial and emotional elements of this tragic story, I’d like to turn this story into something political and crass, which is my bread and butter. Nikki Haley for Vice-President.
After an initially tentative reaction to the shooting on June 18, Gov. Haley took the lead five days later and called for the Confederate battle flag to be taken down, a position that very few national Republicans were willing to take at that time.
From that moment on, Gov. Haley’s responses have been pitch-perfect — strong yet comforting. In a very difficult time, she has shown leadership without being partisan or divisive, traits that have been sorely lacking among many of the GOP presidential for President.
Now here’s the crass part: she is a conservative Indian-American female governor from a Southern state who has demonstrably shown leadership in the face of a crisis that drew nationwide attention.
Jeb Bush and Scott Walker should be paying attention.
