As a state senator in 2000, Wilson voted against removing the Confederate flag from outside the South Carolina state capitol building. In defense of his vote, Wilson called the Confederate flag part of his “heritage” and said “the Confederate heritage is very honorable.”
May 2000: The South Carolina Senate Voted To Stop Flying The Confederate Flag Outside Of The State Capitol Building. According to InfoPlease, “But on May 18, 2000, after the bill was modified to ensure that the height of the flag's new pole would be 30 feet, it was passed by a majority of 66 to 43, and Governor Jim Hodges signed the bill five days later. On July 1, the flag was removed from the South Carolina statehouse.” [InfoPlease via Wayback Machine, 9/16/09]
Wilson Defended His Vote Against Removing The Flag By Saying The Confederacy Was His “Heritage” And “The Confederate Heritage Is Very Honorable.” According to the Institute for Southern Studies, “But then-Sen. Wilson did more than vote to keep it: he went so far as to appear to defend the Confederacy, declaring that ‘the Confederate heritage is very honorable.’ Here's the full quote from a BBC News report: But local lawmakers, like Republican senator Joe Wilson say it is all about pride and history, and nothing to do with racism and hate. He finds comparisons with Nazis odious. ‘That's offensive to me that they would take my heritage and make it into a Holocaust era type description. I find that very offensive, and it's not true,’ Senator Wilson said. ‘The Southern heritage, the Confederate heritage is very honourable.’” [Institute for Southern Studies via Wayback Machine, 9/14/09]