In Mississippi, defenders of state’s Confederate-themed flag dig in
In the primary round of elections earlier this month — which included every elected office in the state — no campaign turned on the issue. Few candidates even mentioned it.
Whit Waide, a political science professor at Mississippi State whose family has been in Mississippi since statehood, said, “I would give up this job if it would mean a new state flag.”
He’s also well placed to help make that happen. His college roommate and best friend is Reeves, the lieutenant governor. If Reeves supported a bill for a new flag, along with Gunn, the House speaker, it would almost certainly pass.
“I love him. He’s my best friend,” Waide says, shaking his head. “And I just hate that he’s on the wrong side of this.”
Washington Post
8/19/15
Magnolia Tribune
