April is "Confederate History Month" in Virginia.

Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell takes out his revolver and takes careful aim at his own foot. Not to mention the collective feet of the GOP.

More important, politics aside and strictly on the merits, McDonald's decision to remove the anti-slavery language added by a previous governor is a colossally stupid move. It is fine to study the Confederacy -- it is part of our nation's history after all -- and it's also fine to acknowledge that the Confederate soldiers fought bravely, and were motivated by more than just a desire to preserve the noxious, Curious Institution. In fact, such an acknowledgment is necessary to a full understanding of the Civil War. And I should also say that I do not think this proclamation is a window into McDonnell's soul, or that it will affect the lives of anyone in Virginia or elsewhere. This proclamation is at most a symbol. But symbols matter, which is why the proclamation was issued in the first place. Removing the anti-slavery language makes that symbol less true to the underlying reality, and suggests a certain obtuseness as to that reality.

Imagine a salute to the French revolutionaries that did not acknowledge the guillotine, or the Bolshevik revolution in Russia without a nod to the horrors that came after.

Anyway, if nothing else this serves as a reminder of the remarkable tone-deafness of Republican officials. The fall elections, to say nothing of 2012, will be difficult enough. No need to write the Democrats' sound bites for them.

UPDATE: Similar thoughts from Ramesh Ponnuru.