Huckabee: Confederate flag ‘not an issue’ in 2016 race

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.) said on Sunday that the Confederate flag should not become a 2016 presidential campaign issue.

{mosads}“I still feel like it’s not an issue for a person running for president,” Huckabee told host Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“For those of us running for president, we’re getting baited with this question as if it has something to do with running for president,” said Huckabee, a 2016 GOP presidential candidate.

“It most certainly does not,” he added.

Debate over presenting the Confederate flag reignited last week following a mass shooting in Charleston, S.C.

Dylann Storm Roof, the alleged gunman, reportedly displayed the historic emblem on his car’s license plate.

Huckabee said on Sunday that the issue is one South Carolina should handle on its own.

He added that Americans did not like White House hopefuls like himself dictating their states’ affairs.

“I don’t think they want us to weigh in on every issue in all 50 states,” Huckabee said.

“I don’t personally display it anywhere,” he added of the Confederate flag. “It’s not an issue for me.”

Nine people died on Wednesday evening after Roof allegedly opened fire on congregants at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston.

Huckabee praised the church’s members on Sunday for showing their alleged attacker forgiveness and mercy following his arrest on Thursday morning.

“We’ve seen God’s grace in Emanuel AME Church and its members,” he said.

“Christianity is not this cartoonish, contemptible, reprehensible faith people try to marginalize today,” Huckabee said.

“I think we’ve seen the people of South Carolina and their character,” the former Baptist minister added.