Nikki Haley's SHOCKING interview with Palmetto Patriots

Update 6/23/2010: The Wall Street Journal reports that the interview was conducted by the Palmetto Patriots. The Palmetto Patriots website has the raw video posted here.

Update: Sorenkay provided me with a better copy of the video that hopefully will stay up. Also, should point out that it is strongly suspected, but has not yet confirmed, that the interview was conducted by Sons of Confederate Veterans Palmetto Patriots. When I have confirmation, I'll update this post again. Done!

Well, some might find it SHOCKING. I didn't. See for yourself and read my analysis below.

Big hat tip to sorenkay.



Her thoughts on why Civil War was fought:
"Traditions" vs. "Change" is how she sees it. The South being the ones stubbornly clinging to tradition vs. the North demanding change. Haley tries to be polite and not judge the motives of either side as hateful. Surely, some liberals will seize on this (a la Rand Paul) and assert that Haley just doesn't get it. But I would say that Haley is running for office in South Carolina, where Southern pride is a serious issue and she was trying very hard not to offend her interviewers or SC voters.

Afterwards, her interviewers from the SCV Palmetto Patriots go into a rambling apologist defense of the South's motives for the Civil War. Yawn. Boring.

Haley responds largely by not engaging their apologist, revisionist view of history and just letting them vent. Again, she's clearly being polite and trying not to engage the subject.

At the 4 minute mark, one of the interviewers lays down a threat by claiming that they helped to oust Governor Beasley in retaliation for "fibbing to us". Beasley proposed in the mid 1990s to move the Confederate flag from atop the State House. After laying out a couple more examples of politicians that fibbed and betrayed the SCV Palmetto Patriots, shortly after the 5 minute mark they ask Haley to go on the record as to how she will defend their beloved Confederate battle flag.

At the 6 minute mark, Haley answers by saying the existing compromise (keeping the Confederate flag in its current place on the grounds but not atop the State House) is fine by her and she has no intention of reopening the issue.

She then adroitly changes the conversation to highlight the issues she is fighting for: education, jobs, quality of life. She says she won't allow "us to be distracted by anything that doesn't focus on those three things". Finally, she touts herself as a "minority female".

In summary, Haley acquits herself reasonably well in an interview with one of those "traditional" groups South Carolina politicians have to ass kiss. I'm not a Nikki Haley fan (in case you haven't noticed) but I find no reason to dislike her based on this video. I still think she's a lying, cheating Palinista but I wouldn't "distract" readers from the topic at hand with that discussion. After all, the SCV Palmetto Patriots only care about whether she'll fight for the Confederate battle flag. They couldn't care less about how many GOP political operatives "Darling Nikki" Haley has slept with!