Former Supporters Slam Gov. McDonnell Over Confederate History Month

In response to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's move to proclaim April Confederate History Month, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which endorsed McDonnell, is now on the attack:

Gov. Bob McDonnell has proclaimed April as Confederate History Month. Although his proclamation quite properly recognizes the sacrifices of those who fought on behalf of the Confederacy, a hole lies in the statement's heart.

McDonnell speaks of shared history, yet does not cite slaves. Southern heritage includes not only those who supported the Confederacy but those who welcomed the Union armies as liberators.

McDonnell recognizes that the past must be interpreted within the context not only of its times but of ours. The inexcusable omission reduces the slaves and their descendants to invisibility once again.

The Roanoke Times is not happy with McDonnell, either. 

The Washington Post reports that Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, who endorsed McDonnell and called him a problem solver, is now repudiating him.

I must condemn Governor McDonnell's Proclamation honoring "Confederate History Month," and its insensitive disregard of Virginia's complicated and painful history, the remnants of which many Virginians still wrestle with today. The complete omission of slavery from an official government document, which purports to be a call for Virginians to "understand" and "study" their history, is both academically flawed and personally offensive. If Virginians are to celebrate their "shared history," as this proclamation suggests, then the whole truth of this history must be recognized and not evaded.