On the January 16 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, chief national correspondent John King reported that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), during a campaign event in South Carolina, fielded “tough questions,” including one pertaining to “the campaign from eight years ago.” King continued, “Back then, John McCain angered many conservatives in this state by opposing the flying of the Confederate flag above the South Carolina State House.” In fact, during his 2000 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, McCain did not “oppose[] the flying of the Confederate flag” at the statehouse -- instead calling it a “symbol of heritage.” Indeed, McCain spoke out in opposition to the flag only after he dropped out of the GOP race.

As noted in an April 19, 2000, article on CNN's website, when asked about the flag by a reporter on January 12, 2000, McCain replied, “Personally, I see the flag as symbol of heritage.” The same article reported that -- following his defeat in the South Carolina primary and his subsequent withdrawal from the presidential race on March 9 -- McCain asserted, “I believe the flag should be removed from your Capitol, and I am encouraged that fair-minded people on both sides of the issue are working hard to define an honorable compromise.” The article asserted that McCain “acknowledg[ed] that his refusal to take such a stance during his primary battle for the Palmetto State was a 'sacrifice of principle for personal ambition.' ”

Asked about the flag during a May 15, 2007, Republican debate, McCain asserted:

McCAIN: Yes, I was wrong when I didn't say it -- well, when I said that I believed that it was up to the state of South Carolina. That was a wrong statement on my part.

Now, after long negotiation amongst most parties, there is an agreement that that flag no longer flies on top of the capitol of the state of South Carolina.

Almost all parties involved in those negotiations believe that that's a reasonable solution to this issue. I support it. I still believe that it should not have flown over the capitol, and I was wrong when I said that it was a state issue. But now I think it has been settled, and I think it's time that we all moved on on this issue -- especially the people of South Carolina.

A January 16 Associated Press article -- headlined "McCain Stands by Rebel Flag Stance" -- also falsely suggested that McCain called for the removal of the flag during the primary contest:

Several protesters aggressively waved Confederate flags at McCain's bus procession as it arrived for campaign events in Greenville and Spartanburg and passed out literature recalling McCain's April 2000 call for removal of the flag from atop the South Carolina statehouse.

The dispute became an issue in the presidential contest that year as McCain waged a losing battle in South Carolina against then Texas Gov. George W. Bush. The flag was subsequently moved and now is displayed elsewhere on the statehouse grounds.

From the January 16 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

KING: McCain telling us after one event that he is doing that at the top of his speeches because of phone calls and other -- some mailings being done here in South Carolina questioning his commitment to the anti-abortion cause, so Senator McCain says he needs to do that to appeal to conservatives here. Tough questions at immigration at a town hall here. The senator saying he gets the message from his previous support of allowing illegal immigrants to stay. He says he would now secure the borders first and then worry about the rest. And, Wolf, one ghost of the campaign from eight years ago. Back then, John McCain angered many conservatives in this state by opposing the flying of the Confederate flag above the South Carolina State House. Listen to this exchange at a town hall.

[begin video clip]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You came out in favor of removal of the Confederate Battle Flag when 76 percent of Republicans in this state when polled said they wanted it to stay on the Capitol dome. What's your answer to that?

McCAIN: My answer, sir, is that I cannot be more proud of the overwhelming majority of the people of this state who have joined together, taken that flag off the top of the Capitol, put it into the place where it belongs.

[end video clip]

KING: After that event, McCain saying the applause at that town hall convinces him that most conservatives stand with him on that issue, and that the people of South Carolina, Wolf, want to leave the flag controversy behind them.