Michigan senator apologizes for wearing Confederate flag face mask

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian


Dale Zorn initially defended his actions, saying it was part of ‘our history’, but eventually apologized after widespread outrage

Tom Lutz
@tom_lutz
Sat 25 Apr 2020 14.23 EDTLast modified on Sat 25 Apr 2020 17.34 EDT

A Republican politician in Michigan has apologized after wearing a face mask that appeared to depict the Confederate flag, an image offensive to many Americans as a symbol of racism and slavery.

Michigan state Senator Dale Zorn wore the mask during a Senate vote at the state capitol in Lansing on Friday. He initially defended his actions, saying his wife had made the mask and that it depicted the flag of Tennessee or Kentucky.

“I told my wife it probably will raise some eyebrows, but it was not a Confederate flag,” Zorn told Lansing TV station WLNS on Friday.

He went on to add: “Even if it was a Confederate flag, you know, we should be talking about teaching our national history in schools and that’s part of our national history and it’s something we can’t just throw away because it is part of our history.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/25/michigan-senator-mask-confederate-flag

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/25/michigan-senator-mask-confederate-flag

---

Michigan state lawmaker apologizes for wearing apparent Confederate flag face mask
By Kelly Mena

Updated 5:13 PM ET, Sat April 25, 2020



Washington, DC (CNN)A Michigan state senator is now apologizing for wearing a face mask with what appeared to be a Confederate flag pattern.

State Sen. Dale Zorn, a Republican from Ida, apologized in a pair of Twitter posts Saturday for the face mask that he wore on the Michigan Senate floor on Friday.

"I'm sorry for my choice of pattern on the face mask I wore yesterday on the Senate floor. I did not intend to offend anyone; however, I realize that I did, and for that I am sorry. Those who know me best know that I do not support the things this pattern represents," Zorn said.

Zorn, in an interview with CNN affiliate WLNS, said his wife made the face mask for him and it was not a Confederate flag. He said that even if it were a Confederate flag, it represents a part of our history and we should be teaching about the "atrocities that happened during that time" so it doesn't happen again.

More:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/25/politics/michigan-legislator-dale-zorn-confederate-face-mask/index.html

[rusty quoin]

1. Oh crap, he knew what he was doing. Your sorry is not accepted. You knew exactly what you meant.

You are shit.

[Jamastiene]

3. Exactly.

I am sick of non-apology apologies that are beyond fake. I don't buy it and apology not accepted. They know exactly what they are doing when they pull stunts like this.

[DBoon]

29. He meant it as a big FU to Detroit

nt

[Kid Berwyn]

43. And to Gov. Whitmer.

Courtesy of Betsy DeVos and all who can consider human beings, “property.”

[DownriverDem]

60. Not to mention

that many folks in Michigan have southern roots. Their relatives came to Michigan for work in the auto plants - Henry Ford's $5 a day pay) and for the defense plants during WWll. My neighbor has a confederate flag tatooed on his arm.

[iluvtennis]

45. + 1 nt.

[larwdem]

2. The Iron Brigade

Michigan 24th Union forever WTF This trader needs to resign

[rogue emissary]

4. Here's an earlier video of him lying about it not being a confederate flag.

Props to the newscast that displayed the Kentucky and Tennesee flags next to a confederate flag when he said he thought it was a state flag image.
Jump to 1:14 mark to see him try to throw Kentucky and Tennessee under the bus.

[Judi Lynn]

7. It looks the least like the Kentucky flag! Aaand, his wife made him wear it.

Prime Republican, right there!

Thanks for sharing the video.

[rogue emissary]

8. I forgot he blamed her as well. What a gentleman.

[Botany]

35. The "ass-troces-AH-tee"

No that was not the Confederate Flag it was their battle flag "the stars & Bars. And the flag of the Army
of N. Virginia too.

[keithbvadu2]

39. It is commonly known as 'The Confederate Flag' and understood as such, even by its supporters.

It is commonly known as 'The Confederate Flag' and understood as such, even by its supporters.

[Botany]

41. I prefer Treason Rag ... it backed slavery and the violent destruction of the United States

The Stars and Bars Flag started getting a second life when the civil rights movement
gained power in the 1950s. I forget how many southern states incorporated parts
of the "stars and bars" into their state flags in the 50 & 60s.

[rusty quoin]

9. I hope my fat white face doesn't look as bad as his in a mask, but it probably does.

But there is one thing sure to shit that my fat white ass would never have is anything to do with Republicans and especially racists.

[Grokenstein]

10. The straps make my jowls bulge

...and the mask really emphasizes my wrinkly old-man wattle. So I made a neck gaiter out of the sleeve and part of the trunk of an old black T-shirt that I was about to cut up into rags anyway. It's nice and snug but not so tight it mashes my nose, and I wear the mask over it. Now I have an extra (and washable!) layer over nose and mouth, no one has to see all that loose skin, and it keeps those irritating straps off said skin to boot.

[DENVERPOPS]

32. Hell

he looks like he is pregnant in this photo.........Lardass racist........

[denem]

5. Because nothing says 'never surrender' like a Confederate flag.

[Astraea]

6. I didn't even know Michigan was part of the Confederacy

[Kaleva]

15. Much of Michigan is.

[atreides1]

25. True

The Neo-Confederates...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Sure "I do not support the things this pattern represents". Sure MI legislators wear Kentucky flag

Are we seriously to believe that a Michigan legislator routinely or casually wears a Kentucky flag while conducting official Michigan state business?

Nonsense.

He's a racist and now we all know it.

[danny1955]

12. 2 things

2 things:
He went on to add: “Even if it was a Confederate flag, you know, we should be talking about teaching our national history in schools and that’s part of our national history and it’s something we can’t just throw away because it is part of our history.” So I guess Germans have swastikas on their Covid-19 masks for the same reason.
Also:
Is that dumb fuck texting from a flip phone? I thought those went out with the Confederacy.
Jeez, Trump and his minions are so fucking dumb.
Peace

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. It's the Have Your Cake And Eat It Too defence. . . . nt

[FLSurfer]

13. A State Senator openly wearing the symbol of rebellion

against the United States.
And he wasn't removed by security.
These are certainly interesting times.

[cutroot]

14. Michigan soldiers died fighting that flag.

[marble falls]

23. A very large number of Michigan soldiers died in Southern POW camps including Andersonville.

[NCjack]

46. Zorn just pissed on the graves of all that died fighting against slavery in the Civil War.

[marble falls]

48. Is he vulnerable in at the polls in Nov?

[mwb970]

16. It's always republicans. Always.

[rpannier]

17. "I told my wife it probably will raise some eyebrows, but it was not a Confederate flag,"

"I'm sorry for my choice of pattern on the face mask I wore yesterday on the Senate floor. I did not intend to offend anyone; however, I realize that I did, and for that I am sorry. Those who know me best know that I do not support the things this pattern represents"

So it wasn't a Confederate flag, but it was the pattern.
He didn't intend to offend, but knew it would raise eyebrows

Ummmmm... yeah

[marble falls]

24. "I do not support the things this pattern represents"" Same might be said about his US flag pin,too.

[theaocp]

26. How's he going to explain

his appointment for a swastika tattoo in GA next week? On his forehead, too? Dude's a freak.

[47of74]

18. Fuck you Senator

You just shit and pissed on the graves of everyone in Michigan who fought against that band of treasonous slavelords.

So fuck you Senator, and fuck your apology.

[WVreaper]

19. Was it supposed to be sarcasm?

[Ferrets are Cool]

21. Fuck you AND your phony apology...if that is what that was. nt

[Maeve]

22. Neither Kentucky nor Tennessee has a flag like that

At least lie intelligently.

[sarge43]

27. On behalf of my great great grandfather,

apology not accepted.

[chwaliszewski]

28. My post....enjoy. :)

Link to tweet

[AllaN01Bear]

30. riiggghhht.

[malthaussen]

31. Pretty sure Michigan stayed loyal to the USA...

"history," forsooth.

-- Mal

[djacq]

33. Apology accepted Racist Pig.

[yellowcanine]

34. The Confederate Battle Flag is part of our history, yes, and Michigan soldiers fought against it.

If you are going to cite history, please include all the history, buffoon.

[ChoosenWisely]

36. I'm appalled but not suprised by the Michigan Rebubs

Our Lt Gov was presiding over this session.

Here is a link to the Lt Gov.'s page please visit it to read his bio:

https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90502---,00.html

The session was called by the Republican majority leader to start a committee to oversee the Governor's response to Covid-19 and to vote on a bill to limit her powers.

[DUar17]

37. "We should be talking about teaching our national history in schools"

BTW Dale: THE SOUTH LOST.

[Scalded Nun]

38. "Our History"?

How about genocide against native Americans? How many did you inject with Smallpox on your way into the Senate so you could further celebrate 'Our History" you fucking maggot?

[keithbvadu2]

40. "Our kids should know what that flag stands for."

"Our kids should know what that flag stands for."

Confederate Flag ad from the time of LBJ:

"The Confederate Flag is no longer a sectional emblem. It is now the symbol of the White
race and White supremacy. Fly it on your car and house."

[IronLionZion]

42. Show your Michigan pride with the flags of other states

[raging moderate]

44. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" might answer him.

Whenever one of these Copperhead pro-racists shows up in their regalia, everyone else should immediately stand and sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It is mostly very loud, and has many very educational verses.

[packman]

47. Should have worn a white mask

The true flag of the confederacy - surrendering to the North

[ArizonaLib]

55. Yes - the final flag flown over the confederacy

Cut and run was also a favorite tactic of theirs.

[NoRoadUntravelled]

49. Endlessly interesting how many Republicans self righteously insist on being on the losing side

of history.

[ffr]

50. What, not the it was a joke BS, or that you were drunk BS or that you were taken out of context BS?

Fuck you, you piece of human garbage!

[J3AC4]

51. Of Course

it was a Republican.

[J3AC4]

52. Traitor!!

The state of Michigan was not on the confederate side of the war.
We fought against that flag.
What next? Nazi mask? Russian maybe?
Maybe next he could wear a British flag mask to celebrate the revolutionary war.
Republicans seem to all be total POS.

[Yeehah]

53. Michiganders died fighting for the USA against the traitors who flew that rag

It boggles my mind that dirtbags like this are elected to any office.

[tirebiter]

54. Th thunderbolt is a takeoff on the SS symbol

Just sayin'...

[kacekwl]

56. Do these clowns have absolutely

no self-awareness of or just don't care ?

[Haggis for Breakfast]

57. You don't get to apologize for this.

You were a stupid c*nt to wear it in the first place.

This is the 21st century. LOSE the racist sh*t.

[mahina]

58. Yeah, my family bled in that one too

For the South and you Mr Zorn can go fuck yourself.
Trying to look all cute and rebelly

[mahina]

59. You know what? IMO. 2nd thought. The Republicans should adopt that flag.

Leave the Stars and Stripes out if it.

The Confederate flag is a much better choice for them. It summarizes what they stand for without a word being said.

[Hotler]

61. You're too late, your ignorance is already out there for all to see. nt