Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA) stepped into a political maelstrom for declaring April Confederate History Month without acknowledging slavery. It was the first time a Governor of Virginia made such a declaration since former Governor Jim Gilmore left office. Neither of McDonnell’s Democrat predecessors, Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, proclaimed a Confederate History Month.
We’re not going to get into the merits of a Confederate History Month and the nuances of such proclamations. However, it is interesting to note that former Virginia Governor and current Democrat National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine came out and blasted McDonnell for his “proclamation without condemning, or even acknowledging, the pernicious stain of slavery or its role in the war disregards history.”
• Kaine: “Governor McDonnell’s decision to designate April as Confederate History Month without condemning, or even acknowledging, the pernicious stain of slavery or its role in the war disregards history, is insensitive to the extraordinary efforts of Americans to eliminate slavery and bind the nation’s wounds, and offends millions of Americans of all races and in all parts of our nation.” (Michael O’Brien, “Kaine Jabs At McDonnell Over ‘Confederate History Month,’” The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, 4/7/10)
• Kaine: “A failure to acknowledge the central role of slavery in the Confederacy and deeming insignificant the reprehensible transgression of moral standards of liberty and equality that slavery represented is simply not acceptable in the America of the 21st century.” (Michael O’Brien, “Kaine Jabs At McDonnell Over ‘Confederate History Month,’” The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, 4/7/10)
Seems Kaine forgot about a man named “Cooter.”
Ben “Cooter” Jones, A Democratic Congressional Candidate In Virginia In 2002, Utilized The Confederate Flag As A Means Of Reaching Rural Voters. Prominent National Democrats, Including Then Lieutenant Governor Time Kaine, Openly Supported Jones, Donating And Raising Thousands Of Dollars For His Campaign:
“Congressional Candidate Ben ‘Cooter’ Jones Wants Everyone To Know He's Just A Good Old Boy, Never Meanin' No Harm.” (Mary Shaffrey, “Cooter Defends Use Of Confederate Flag,” The Washington Times, 9/29/02)
“He's Just Proud Of His Southern Heritage - And That Includes The Confederate Battle Flag, Says Mr. Jones, The Former Star Of ‘The Dukes Of Hazzard,’ CBS' Hit TV Show Of The Early '80s.” (Mary Shaffrey, “Cooter Defends Use Of Confederate Flag,” The Washington Times, 9/29/02)
• “Mr. Jones achieved fame and some fortune by portraying ace mechanic Cooter Davenport in ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ throughout its 1979-85 run.” (Mary Shaffrey, “Cooter Defends Use Of Confederate Flag,” The Washington Times, 9/29/02)
“Mr. Jones' Campaign Around Virginia's 7th Congressional District In A Replica Of The General Lee, The Orange 1969 Plymouth Charger Featured In The TV Show. . .” (Mary Shaffrey, “Cooter Defends Use Of Confederate Flag,” The Washington Times, 9/29/02)
“‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Star And Congressional Candidate Ben Jones Is Making Campaign Appearances In The TV Show’s Confederate Flag-Emblazoned Hot Rod…” (Bob Lewis, “‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Car Leads To Complaints Of Subliminal Racism,” The Associated Press, 10/3/02)
• “The General Lee is the fire-orange '69 Dodge Charger on the show in which characters Bo and Luke Duke outraced the corrupt local authorities.” (Warren Fiske, “Ex-TV Star Is Creating A Colorful Campaign,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 10/20/02)
• “Its horn blares ‘Dixie.’” (Warren Fiske, “Ex-TV Star Is Creating A Colorful Campaign,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 10/20/02)
• “Its roof is emblazoned with a Confederate flag.” (Warren Fiske, “Ex-TV Star Is Creating A Colorful Campaign,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 10/20/02)
• “Jones, 61, has appeared at several campaign events in a replica of the General Lee. That and his vigorous defense of Southern heritage issues are causing some to suggest he's making a subtle appeal to racism.” (Warren Fiske, “Ex-TV Star Is Creating A Colorful Campaign,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 10/20/02)
As you may have guessed where this is all going, the man who said just yesterday that there’s no place in the 21st Century for acknowledging the Confederacy without acknowldeging the evil stain of slavery gave $1,000 to Ben “Cooter” Jones… and yup, Tim Kaine gave Cooter the money (shock) in the 21st Century.
Oh he’s not alone, lots of Democrats gave to Cooter and helped his campaign along.
Then-Virginia Governor Mark Warner Put Politics Above Principle And Attended A Fundraising Event For Ben Jones. “Gov. Mark R. Warner has endorsed Jones and spoken at his fund-raiser, but does not share his affection for things Confederate. ‘The governor and Mr. Jones have agreed to disagree about the appropriate commemoration of Southern heritage,’ said Ellen Qualls, Warner’s press secretary.” (Bob Lewis, “Wilder Chides Democrats For Jones’ Use Of Confederate Flag,” The Associated Press, 9/19/02)
Then-Democrat Senator John Edwards Launched His “Tour For Rural America” By Hosting A Fundraising Event For Ben Jones. “[John] Edwards had hired the band to perform at a Washington fund-raiser for Ben Jones, who is running for Congress in Virginia. That's the same Ben Jones who played Cooter, the country mechanic in the 1980s good ol' boy TV hit ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’ The event was sponsored by Edwards' political action committee, New American Optimists, and is part of a key strategy Edwards is rolling out in his 2004 campaign for president.” (Charles Hurt, “In Tune With Rural Voters? Edwards Is Courting The Conservative Voters Who Often Back Republicans,” The Charlotte Observer, 9/8/02)
Seems like when it comes to the politics of race, the Democrats always win, regardless of just how utterly hypocritical they may be. And the media, well, they’re in on it too.
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