President Barack Obama belatedly, and perhaps gratuitously, has slapped Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell on the wrist for omitting a condemnation of slavery in the Governor's proclamation making April Confederate History Month in the Old Dominion.  Governor McDonnell amended the proclamation on Wednesday to include a condemnation of slavery.   

But before Mr. Obama starts slapping Republican wrists over what is or isn't said about slavery, he may want to slap his own Democrats for annually celebrating slaveholders.  Every Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner or celebration held by Democratic parties across the country is a tribute to not just two outstanding presidents, but two conspicuous southern slaveholders.

About the need for consideration of African-American sensitivities over slavery, Mr. Obama said this:

"[T]he controversy was "a reminder that when we talk about issues like slavery that are so fraught with pain and emotion, that, you know, we'd better do so thinking through how this is going to affect a lot of people."