‘Confederate History Month’ in Virginia Sparks Political Furor

McDonnell explained that his original decree was meant to focus on Civil War history, not slavery. He also said his statements were intended to promote Virginia tourism and highlight "significant" issues in the state.

However, his remarks had already offended many citizens as they spread rapidly through cable news shows, social media and the blogosphere. The governor apologized, stating that "the failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake."

African-American leaders angered by omission

	Douglas Wilder, the nation's first African-American governor and a descendant of slaves, spoke out against McDonnell's omission.

State and national African-American leaders were particularly miffed by McDonnell's failure to mention slavery in his proclamation. Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and one of McDonnell's most visible black supporters, called his statement "insensitive" to Virginia's complicated history and said the slavery omission was "both academically flawed and personally offensive."

McDonnell called many black leaders to apologize, including fellow Virginian Douglas Wilder, a Democrat. Wilder, a grandson of slaves and the nation's first black governor, accepted the apology.

"I think he did the best he could do with what he had to work with," Wilder said. "For him to come out at first and do what he did was a mistake. He admits that was a mistake."

Past governors made similar proclamations

	Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell revived the practice of declaring Confederate History Month.

McDonnell's proclamation brought back a long-dormant controversy in Virginia. Confederate History Month was first declared by Gov. George Allen in 1997; the next governor, Jim Gilmore, followed suit and included anti-slavery language in his decree. Virginia's most recent governor, Democrat Tim Kaine, refused to issue such a proclamation when asked to do so and criticized his successor for reviving the practice.

"Governor McDonnell's decision to designate April as Confederate History Month without condemning, or even acknowledging, the pernicious stain of slavery or its role in the war disregards history, is insensitive to the extraordinary efforts of Americans to eliminate slavery and bind the nation's wounds, and offends millions of Americans of all races and in all parts of our nation," said Kaine, who now heads the Democratic National Committee.

McDonnell changed his decree to include the statement, "Whereas, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our history."

Virginia's complex political history

	In the 2008 presidential election, Virginians voted for Barack Obama by a narrow margin.

As a battleground for much of the Civil War, Virginia played a significant role in the war. Its capital, Richmond, served as the capital of the Confederacy and a major strategic stronghold for Confederate leaders such as Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.

Nowadays, Virginia is made up of distinct political and geographical regions. Its northern counties, many of which are directly adjacent to Washington, D.C., tend to be wealthier and more politically liberal than other parts of the state. Richmond is a diverse city with a population that is more than half African-American. Virginians from southern and rural areas tend to hold more conservative political views.

This political diversity has made the state hotly contested territory in recent presidential and gubernatorial elections. Virginia's governors serve four-year terms and are barred from serving consecutive terms, which is not the case in any other state. The past several governors have been a mix of Republicans and Democrats with starkly contrasting political views.

In the 2008 presidential election, Virginians chose Barack Obama for president by a narrow margin, earning him 13 Electoral College votes. It was the first time Virginia had voted for a Democrat for president since Lyndon Johnson was elected in 1964.

Last month, Virginia was the first state to file a lawsuit against the Democrats' health care reform bill, claiming it is illegal to require Americans to buy health insurance.