South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s remarks on Monday calling for the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the state capitol might be going over well in some political circles, but conservatives online are taking her decision as a betrayal of the Republican Party.
Within minutes of Haley’s statement, speculation began on whether she joined the call for the flag’s removal out of a need to score political points, or as a way to angle for higher office:
Nikki Haley is just making sure she gets to be whoever’s VP nominee. This isn’t profiles in courage #tlot #tcot
— csmiler20 (@csmiller20) June 22, 2015
Tell this RINO to shut up. https://t.co/bogFMMlTFL
— Paul Revere (@PRPOnline) June 22, 2015
Meanwhile, Pat Dollard, who identified himself as a contributor to conservative news site Breitbart.com — until the site distanced itself from him — took the occasion to bash Haley and her fellow Republican, Sen. Tim Scott.
.@nikkihaley is 1st gen #SouthCarolina who lacks any and all ancestral heritage to the state. #tcot #teaparty #pjnet #ConfederateFlag #gop
— Patrick Dollard (@PatDollard) June 22, 2015
Coward @SenatorTimScott knows ZERO of the bravery of warriors, so it is easy for him to dishonor warriors by robbing their grave of flag.
— Patrick Dollard (@PatDollard) June 22, 2015
He was also one of several users threatening to hold Monday’s remarks against her in the voting booth:
@PatDollard @nikkihaley I hope the voters remember this and send her ass packing
— American Dream (@Lost94133) June 22, 2015
Just remember what happened to #RoyBarnes down here in #Georgia when he changed our state flag #Governor Haley #NikkiHaley #ConfederateFlag
— Jim Mize (@Jim_Mize) June 22, 2015
Barnes, a Democrat, has been open about the fact that his efforts to change the Georgia state flag and minimize the presence of the Confederate symbol on it cost him a second term as that state’s governor. It also won him the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Profile in Courage Award in 2003.
Meanwhile, other users minimized the effort on Monday to take down the “stars and bars,” or attempted to liken it to symbols that might personally offend them:
Such a shame! If only they would have taken the #ConfederateFlag down sooner those 9 folks in the #CharlestonShooting would still be alive.
— Southrn Trophy Hntrs (@SoTrophyHntrs) June 22, 2015
@nikkihaley Madame Governor Hiding the #ConfederateFlag isn’t going 2 end #Racism or #Division but perpetuate a massive race war.
— I’m Westin (@YogiAsbury) June 22, 2015
If the #ConfederateFlag must come down why not the Gay Rainbow Flag.
— Count Down to 2016 (@bad_robot_57) June 22, 2015
Now that #NikkiHaley gave in to pseudo security for the sake of optics will we begin removing all “upsetting” articles?Cross? Star of David?
— Chef Michael Perry (@lcbchefperry) June 22, 2015
South Carolina caved to the #SJW mob. Will said mob move into Georgia and Mississippi to censure the #ConfederateFlag? I doubt it.
— Sorin (@sorin) June 22, 2015
If #ConfederateFlag has to be removed for a murderer why the Islamic Society #Mosque Tsarnaev attended in Cambridge, Mass. is still OPEN?!
— Crimson & Gold Gal (@RightWingFC) June 22, 2015
And at least one expressed hope it would spur a protest of its own, in response to the demonstrations over the weekend calling for the Confederate flag’s removal:
Calling #Bikers #Rednecks #Countryboys need a 1 million man/woman ride though the ghetto’s with #ConfederateFlag‘s high in the sky!!
— GOD & GUNS (@mountain__law1) June 22, 2015
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