Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio on the Michael Medved Show Thursday said that although for some the Confederate Flag is a symbol of heritage, "we have to recognize that for millions of Americans, it is a deeply painful symbol and that's why it shouldn't be over government buildings, as it is not in Florida and it will now not be over in South Carolina."
Here's the full quote:
It was the right decision for South Carolina to make. I knew they would make the decision that was best for them. I had trust and faith in their process and in their leadership. And I felt strongly that outsiders should not be coming in and telling them what to do. That they knew what to do and they would do it. And I thought it would be counterproductive. Look, I know people who see the confederate flag as a symbol of their heritage, not as a symbol of racism. But I also know people, many people, who see it as a symbol of pain. For them, it's a reminder of an era in which in this country human beings were enslaved. And so, that's why in Florida and in many parts of the country, people have decided that the time has come for that flag not to be displayed in government buildings. And I think it's, it's, you're — it is possible to say you agree with that decision, as I do, and also say that we recognize, that, for many people, the flag — the reason that they're tied to it is not because of racism. They're not racist, it's a cultural attachment. But we have to recognize that for millions of Americans, it is a deeply painful symbol and that's why it shouldn't be over government buildings, as it is not in Florida and it will now not be over in South Carolina.
The flag was taken down from the South Carolina statehouse grounds this morning:
