'Proud to be from the South': Joe Scarborough applauds Confederate flag vote, told to 'grow a pair'

Brett T. | 5:43 PM on July 06, 2015

Following what was for all intents and purposes a needless #TakeItDown rally on a Saturday in mid-June that attracted thousands to Columbia, South Carolina, Gov. Nikki Haley announced during a press conference that, yes, the Confederate flag would come down from its place on the State House grounds.

The Republican-controlled state senate voted today 37-3 on a second reading to take down the flag. A third and final reading is scheduled for tomorrow, and then the House will debate the legislation.

#BREAKING: SC Senate votes 37-3 to remove Confederate flag from SC State House. Measure must still pass a third reading

— News 19 WLTX (@WLTX) July 6, 2015

Pro-slavery flag voted down in SC senate, but it's not a done deal. Will this ever be a done deal? http://t.co/zH8pWsuKNK

— Lisa McElroy (@captiveww) July 6, 2015

Will this ever be a done deal? Yes, almost certainly. And legally.

“Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough tweeted after the vote that he was “proud to be from the South.”

Proud of The Palmetto State and proud to be from the South-> South Carolina Senate Votes to Remove Confederate Flag. http://t.co/eEFVBWoDnr

— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) July 6, 2015

Gov. Haley was still a target for abuse after announcing the flag would come down, with Salon editor-at-large Joan Walsh complaining that Haley looked a little too self-satisfied considering “it took the assassination of nine African Americans to do the right thing.” Scarborough’s tweet opened him up to criticism as well.