Fox News host Andrea Tantaros said Monday she didn’t understand why Republican presidential candidates were being “peppered” over the flying of the Confederate flag on the South Carolina state capitol grounds.
Tantaros, co-host of the Fox News show “Outnumbered,” said the flag was flown by southern Democrats and wasn’t “a Republican flag.”
Tantaros made her comments in light of responses GOP presidential candidates such as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and Rick Santorum have given about their take on the potential removal of the flag.
“You know what baffles the mind?” Tantaros said. “This isn’t a Republican flag. Historically this was the flag of southern Democrats, remember that, fact?”
“I find this flag offensive,” Tantaros continued. “This flag represents the fight in slavery and it was a flag that the southern Democrats — Democrats — used to fly against Northern Republicans so I’m not sure why Republicans are getting peppered over this.”
Former New York Gov. George Pataki (R), who is running for President and was Monday’s lone male panelist (the “#oneluckyguy”) weighed in.
“It’s a question not just of South Carolina. It’s a question of your view of how we bring people together,” Pataki said. “The flag should go from the state capitol grounds, period. … It should be moved to some place with historical, where historical reference is appropriate. … It should go from the grounds.”
“In the 21st century, that flag should not be on the capitol grounds in the state of South Carolina,” Pataki continued. “By the way, I think the people of South Carolina are gonna do the right thing.”
Tantaros also referred to comments made by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) who said the question about the flag was “not an issue for a person running for President.”
“I think that Mike Huckabee made a very good point when he said this is being used to bait Republicans into a trap,” Tantaros said. “I mean think about it. This is the legitimate rape litmus test that we saw in the last election. They’re trying to divide and they’re trying to trap Republicans.
“Outnumbered” co-host Jedediah Bila disagreed.
“I just want to give some advice to Republican candidates,” Bila said. “To say that this has no role in the presidential race is ridiculous. You are running for President. Everything is on the table. Be prepared. I don’t care if they’re gonna ask you if black or white cats are racist. Have an answer to that question. And if you can be trapped on this question, you’re not ready. Get off the stage. Let’s get someone in there that can answer it.”
Watch the video below, from Fox News:
