"SC Senate leader defends photo evoking slave past"

[Hepburn]

http://media.heraldonline.com/smedia/2010/09/16/00/0916Glenn_G9B1N06N3.1+McConnell%20in%20uniform.JPG.standalone.prod_affiliate.6.jpg


Courtesy of Thomas C. Hanson - This photo of state Sen. Glenn McConnell (center) and Frank and Sharon Murray has set off a firestorm in the past week.

A South Carolina Senate leader is defending a photo he posed for wearing a Civil War uniform alongside two blacks in servants' costumes reminiscent of slavery.

Senate President Pro-tem Glenn McConnell said the photo taken in Charleston last week was an innocent moment among friends. The Charleston Republican is well-known as a Civil War enthusiast and re-enactor.

He says the National Federation of Republican Women's conference asked him to arrange re-enactors to depict parts of the state history.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gHstQUiaPV5Cgutfcs5IXGjXlVPAD9I913E80

The event in question – dubbed “The Southern Experience” – was held last Friday evening at the Country Club of Charleston. Hosted by the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women, it was included on the national conference’s official itinerary.

In addition to McConnell, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford attended (and spoke at) the event – although it was not listed on his weekly public schedule. S.C. Republican Attorney General nominee Alan Wilson also attended.

Invited speakers to the NFRW conference included U.S. House Majority Leader John Boehner, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Rep. Joe Wilson, House Speaker Bobby Harrell, former U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins and GOP gubernatorial nominee Nikki Haley.

http://chattahbox.com/us/2010/09/15/look-away-dixie-land-s-c-republicans-mingle-with-slaves/

IMO: Looks like the Repukes are longing to return to the Good Ol' Days.

[uncommon]

1. It looks like it's just a photo from a stupid Civil War re-enactment...

While those who celebrate the confederacy do not have my respect in general, I don't see how this is really an issue at all.

[sharp_stick]

2. I wonder if the folks depicting slaves

were at least allowed to stay for dinner or did they have to serve it?

[L0oniX]

3. Keep that pic for the next campaign ad.

[BurtWorm]

4. I wonder if the only time African Americans are welcome at that club is when they agree to pretend

to be slaves.

:patriot:

[Hepburn]

6. My thoughts exactly.

My parents belonged to a WASP Country Club...gag me. My mother hid the fact that she came from a Jewish background so that our family could get in. I hated the place ~~ it was like Disneyland for the pre-dead. When you walked into the dining room, it looked like a retirement home. This part amazed me: For the interview to join, they asked my mother to go ~~ that was a new rule to ask the wives to be there. The reason? They only used to ask that the husbands attend...but they made a MAJOR mistake: The allowed in an orthopedic surgeon and discovered afterward after they approved him for membership that is wife was "Oriental." :eyes:

[BurtWorm]

7. Oriental! Shocking!

:eyes:

[zipplewrath]

8. What does this mean?

"My mother hid the fact that she came from a Jewish background"

Was her mother jewish, or just her father?

[Hepburn]

17. My maternal grandmother was Jewish...

...and my mother denied this all her life.

[blondeatlast]

9. I had that same thought. nt

[BurtWorm]

11. To be fair, African Americans are probably also welcome to work in the kitchen or on the grounds.

[blondeatlast]

12. Depends on the number of immigrants available, I would guess. nt

[Scurrilous]

5. Amazing. n/t

[blondeatlast]

10. What do you want to bet that Sen. McConnell will use this as evidence of his

outreach to African American voters--and then bellyache and pseudo-apologize ("to anyone I MIGHT have offended") about how it was all misinterpreted?

Seriously, I'd bet money on it.

[BoneDaddy]

13. Come on now

people. It is a defendable position. Let's turn the outrage meter down to a sensible level.

[mitchum]

14. Glen McConnell. Lifelong bachelor. Who owns an antique store. In Charleston.

Hmmmm...

[LostinVA]

15. Of course he does

You should read the comments at Yahoo News. OMG.

[blogslut]

16. Clueless, tin-eared and blind

What a Grand Old Party it is.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. I wish that some people in the south...

would realize just one thing: "YOU LOST THE WAR- GET OVER IT". Oh, and go ahead and try to secede again- I am sure the army can come up with another Sherman.