Mitt Romney Demands Confederate Flag Be Removed After Charleston Shooting

This weekend, former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took to Twitter to demand that South Carolina remove the confederate flag because “it is a symbol of racial hatred”:

Take down the #ConfederateFlag at the SC Capitol. To many, it is a symbol of racial hatred. Remove it now to honor #Charleston victims.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) June 20, 2015

Current presidential hopeful Jeb Bush responded on his Twitter account regarding the flag as well:

My perspective on the Confederate flag issue: http://t.co/4HG9CPuz92 pic.twitter.com/As7iKYE78w

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) June 20, 2015

On “Meet the Press,” Mike Huckabee was confronted with this issue as well, responding:

“For those of us running for president, everyone’s being baited with this question as if somehow that has anything to do whatsoever with running for president. And my position is: It most certainly does not.”

NBC News was quick to point out that, because of a state law, the flag would not be flown at half-staff following the Charleston shooting:

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has jurisdiction over how and when state flags fly — but the Confederate flag is under the authority of the state’s General Assembly, lawmakers told NBC News. It can’t be changed in any way without a sign-off from the General Assembly.

While South Carolina Governor Haley believes the debate will be reignited on an official level in the state, she responded by saying, “her job right now is to heal, not to have policy conversations”.