Ben Cardin Defends Taking Down Statues: We Don’t Need Offensive Monuments to Learn History

HEMMER: Let’s come back here in our country now and talk about this monument debate. It hit quite close to your home state of Maryland. This past week the president asked the following question about it.

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TRUMP: This week it’s Robert E. Lee. I notice that Stonewall Jackson’s coming down. I wonder, is it George Washington next week and is it Thomas Jefferson the week after? You know, you open — you really do have to ask yourself, where does it stop?

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HEMMER: Your state of Maryland removed statues in Annapolis and in Baltimore in the middle of the night this past week. Do you think this is the best way to handle history?

CARDIN: Well, first of all, I think the president’s gotten this all wrong as to how — what we’re trying to do. We’re not changing history. We want to learn from history. There’s no question about that. That’s an important aspect.

You don’t need a monument to learn history. Monuments are put up for different purposes. Some are more modern than others. Monuments should represent the contemporary needs of our society. And I think what Baltimore did and what Maryland is doing is appropriate. But we will not avoid history and we certainly want to learn from history.

HEMMER: All right, there is a prominent Democratic lawmaker in Maryland, a Democrat who leads the state senate. He was arguing in a letter to your governor, Larry Hogan, this past week that the addition of a statue is the appropriate way to go and he suggested the late Justice Thurgood Marshall. And he made the argument the following way. A very public and purposeful compromise to give balance to the state house grounds recognizing our state and our country have a flawed history. What’s wrong with that argument when you consider learning about all of our complex American history, senator?

CARDIN: Well, I want our — I want our young people to learn from all parts of our history. In Maryland we have Antietam Battlefield, which is a place where I hope people will go and visit and learn from it, the tragic history of our Civil War. We have the Harriet Tubman National Park where people can go and learn about the Underground Railroad. We have places in Maryland that I think are critically important to learn the good, bad and ugly about America’s history and our path towards our democratic society. You don’t need to have a monument that’s offensive to certain parts of our history being glorified in order to fully appreciate the history of our country.

HEMMER: Mike Miller’s making the case we need more monuments.

CARDIN: Well, you know, we have lots of monuments that people rarely visit. I think the important point is, let’s find effective ways so people can understand the struggles of America. And, again, I point out the Harriet Tubman National Park.

HEMMER: Understood.

CARDIN: It’s a wonderful place to visit, I’m going to be there later today.

HEMMER: All right, enjoy your visit there.

Senator, really appreciate your time today, thank you.

Ben Cardin, the Democrat from Maryland.

CARDIN: Thank you.

HEMMER: Thank you for being there.