My Congressman Rick Allen and the Confederate Flag

August 28, 2015 I had a chance to go to a gathering in Dublin, Georgia to see my Congressman Rick Allen about the recent vote in Congress dealing with the Confederate Flag.

Congress had done a voice vote on two amendments regarding the Confederate Flag. They passed by voice vote but were subsequently

Squashed

 These amendments were written by a Californian Congressman named Huffman. The two amendments follow.

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2822, AS REPORTED OFFERED BY MR. HUFFMAN OF CALIFORNIA At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the following: 1 SEC. ll. None of the funds made available by this 2 Act may be used to implement National Park Service Di- 3 rector’s Order 61 as it pertains to allowing a grave in any 4 Federal cemetery to be decorated with a Confederate flag.


 AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2822 OFFERED BY MR. HUFFMAN OF CALIFORNIA At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the following: 1 SEC. ll. None of the funds made available by this 2 Act may be used to enter into a new contract or agreement 3 or to administer a portion of an existing contract or agree- 4 ment with a concessioner, a cooperating association, or 5 any other entity that provides for the sale in any facility 6 within a unit of the National Park System of an item with 7 a Confederate flag as a stand-alone feature.

Upon contacting my Congressman Rick Allen's office I was told that Allen was taking calls on the issue. I could not believe that my congressman would even consider banning Confederate Flags.

 I received the following letter from Congressman Allen. Upon reading it I read between the lines that he was in support of the removal of Confederate Flags. When I found out that he would be in town I decided to bring my letter and ask him in his presence if this was true.

The County Courthouse is not far from my Confederate Vetrerans home built in 1873. I walked down and found a gathering outside of County Commissioners, Chamber members, city council and others from the community. I carried a Confederate Flag I have had for over 20 years. The looks on the crowds faces were typical like a deer in the headlights. I greeted a few folks I knew including a history professor who had invited me to give a talk on Reconstruction in Georgia in his classroom at our local university......The head of the State VFW approached me and said he liked my flag. I was also wearing my Confederate Kapi.

It was then picture time for the entire group so I went to the back of the group with my flag. Previously Congressman Allen had shook my hand. While standing behind I was asked by a member of his staff to move out of the picture. My response was NO....this is a free country. The picture was taken.

We then all moved  indoors for a meeting. I was still carrying my Confederate Flag and stood with everybody else listening....the meeting went on for about 20 minutes and then the official meeting was over.

I then approached the congressman as seen in the picture above. I waited my turn to discuss the flag issue.

We then had a conversation. I discussed his letter and what the meaning was. Of course he was avoiding the meaning of his letter and I had to ask three different times. Eventually I asked "Do you support what Niki Haley of South Carolina did by taking down the Confederate Flag." His answer was YES!

During the conversation several items to note.....upon inquiry Allen defended himself...... he got defensive and said I should run for office against him......he said that the flag caused problems for States and business and that some people were offended. I mentioned that it was a part of our history and heritage and should not be taken down.

 He mentioned he had been in business for 30 years....I answered back that I have been in business for 20 years and by having my own business nobody could fire me for carrying and supporting the flag.

Allen asked me if my children supported what I was doing (say what?)....my response was that they were not as politically active as I was. I did mention to him that my daughter had written her us senator and I was proud of that.

The conversation went on for a few more minutes and then he left. I was talking to one of the County Commissioners about his Confederate Ancestor and the pistol he had in his possession. So many Southerners actually support the Confederate Flag but hide their views due to political correctness.

All of the sudden Mr. Allen came back into the room and walked up to me. It was just he and I in the room. Clearly he was concerned that he had let the cat out of the bag regarding not supporting the Confederate Flag. He started talking about his christian faith and how christ leads him every day. I found this to be a defense of his position on the flag as if saying being a christian gave excuse for his anti-flag stance. One's faith is a private thing and does not need to be used for politics btw.

I found this entire event with Allen a confirmation of my initial belief that Allen was against the Confederate Flag. In our conversation I used my knowledge of history gained by spending 3 years of research and writing on my book about my ancestor. I mentioned to Allen my ancestor was a member of the 41st us Congress. Allen was antagonistic in a gentlemanly way. When I left I actually felt sorry for him.

I did learn one thing about the vote on the amendments. The CA congressman had done the voice vote at midnight. Clearly Rep Huffman is your typical California Fruit Cake Coward. The only fruit cake I like comes from Claxton, Georgia.

 As Ronnie Van Zant said "A Southern Man don't need him around anyhow."

Rep. Huffman: Shameful that House Republicans quashed progress made to take down Confederate Flag

Jul 9, 2015 

Press Release

Huffman: “Symbols matter.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), the author of two amendments
 curtailing sales and displays of Confederate flags on federal property, today released the following
statement after House Republican Leadership retracted a spending bill, effectively quashing the
 progress the House of Representatives made to take down the Confederate flag.

“The United States House of Representatives had an opportunity to add its voice to end the
 promotion of the cruel, racist legacy of the Confederacy. My amendments were intended to
 help move us in the direction of reconciliation, unity, and justice. Initially, it appeared that
 my GOP colleagues would join us in the movement to take down the Confederate battle flag
 and unanimously supported my amendments.

“But politics has now barred the way forward. It is shameful that House leadership has
 decided to pull the entire Interior Appropriations bill over this issue in order to prevent 
a public debate and vote.

“Symbols matter. Even General Robert E. Lee recognized that symbols of the Confederacy 
are symbols of treason—which is why he asked that they not appear in his funeral. The United
 States Congress in 2015 should be at least as forward-looking as Robert E. Lee was in 1869.”

Nathan Deal's Abolistionist

This is Governor Nathan Dead of Georgia's head of the Department of Revenue. She is responsible for halting the sale of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Car tags in Georgia.

I had an opportunity to attend the annual Georgia Society of CPA's annual meeting with the Georgia Department of Revenue. This picture was taken at the meeting.

Her name is Lynne Riley

Commissioner Lynne Riley" <Lynne.riley@dor.ga.gov

She is from of all places Massachusetts. She is not a CPA but a lowly bookkeeper who was a State Representative from Johns Creek. Apparently she is just a political hack for Nathan Deal.

As luck would have it I arrived 10 minutes early and was standing with several others...once I realized who she was I immediately asked her "Why did you halt the sale of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Car tags". Judging from her reaction she was stunned that someone would ask her that question.

She said basically that paperwork had never been done on the tag properly. I then told her the tags have been around for years. To paraphrase....Her reaction was that they were getting things in order. I then asked her if other organizations were having to get their paperwork in order. At this point the director of legislative relations from the Georgia Society pulled me away.

He said that this was not the place to question the director. I responded that I was a native of Georgia, a CPA, a paid member of the Georgia Society and I had the right to question her. I also told him that the first bill introduced in the Georgia House to get funds from the tags for the Georgia Division was because I called Bobby Franklin and asked him to introduce the bill!

As a native Atlantan I always ask the question.....Where are you from? The director said the classic line "I have been here for 11 years."....that means you are not from the South....I then asked again...he said Maryland...hmmm...not quite as bad as being from NY like most of the attendees of the conference........the whole meeting the sound of yankee accents permeated the air...

Suffice it to say that the Skowhegan Skunk (used during reconstruction by Georgians for Carpetbaggers) got away from being cornered.....her whole demeanor was like a cornered possum hissing and ready to strike...not once did she look me in the eye and respond.

Georgians know why the abolitionist cancelled our tags.....all because of the Confederate Flag. It was great to have a chance to confront this yankee.

Interesting to note that about 15 members of the Georgia Department of Revenue staff were at the meeting. Only 3 were white....the rest were black. Maybe Ms.Riley feels the need to free the slaves from the site of the Sons of Confederate Tag.....I am sure by pulling the tag down black lives will really matter even more.

Stone Mountain Rally For the South August 1st 2015

A great crowd showed up for the Southern Rally at Stone Mountain. An estimated 1,000 Southerners had a great time. Had a chance to speak to the crowd about the SCV Car tags (Governor Deal has halted the Sale of the tags), Reconstruction, Stone Mountain History and the Atlanta City Council member who stole $15,000 from Atlanta ........Julian Bond's Son. He is the one behind the National Association of Angry Colored People's Efforts to blast the Confederates from Stone Mountain.

All about being Southern Ya'll.....

From my upcoming book on Captain Corker's letters I was able to mention several topics.....these included why Corker fought........"For Glory, Honor and Family".....and mentioning a letter that ended with  "All send their love black and white" Both letters from 1862. Also discussed Reconstruction as Corker was elected to the 41st Congress in 1870. Corker's election was contested and his seat initially denied by Benjamin "Spoons." Butler. Mention was made of all the first time in the USA the election of the first black Congressmen and Senators during Reconstruction.....Not one was elected to a Northern State!

A fine looking young man supporting the flag

One of the best crackers in Attendance

Cowboy with the Bonnie Blue on top of the mountain.

A very unusual combination...

Confederates marching up to the Top!

On top with Confederates

To the West the place where I was born....Atlanta, Ga. Georgia Baptist Hospital. Climbed the mountain bare foot....I hate shoes.....

We stayed for the Laser Light show....glad they still show Lee, Jackson and Davis on mounted horses marching across the Mountain.......this while Elvis sang the trilogy. One point of note....they show Lee breaking his sword at the end of this part of the Show....Lee would never have broken his sword.

The South was Right!