Obama Opposes Slavery Reperations

[FutureWxManNimmy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080802/ap_on_el_pr/obama_slavery_reparations



I am COMPLETELY OUTRAGED about this. My ancestors had been victims of this terrible torture and this is the kind of message you want to present. Shame on YOU! + You support limited offshore drilling when you strongly opposed it before. I no LONGER support you Mr. Obama. Learn from previous comander in chiefs, because you sure dont know how to run a COUNTRY. I just hope McCain screws you over.

That's all I have to say. I now support Bob Barr. Bob Barr 08!!!

[Chartsengrafs]

Your ancestors that were slaves deserve reparations. Not you.

[cinehead]

And who pays for it? My family came here it the 1920's, what do we have to apologize for?

[FutureWxManNimmy]

And who pays for it? My family came here it the 1920's, what do we have to apologize for?

Well, they were able to give reperations to the Jews? Why cant they give it to us?

[FD2BLK]

Well, they were able to give reperations to the Jews? Why cant they give it to us?

A few questions to be answered first...

1) Where is the money going to come from? We're running record deficits already.

Assuming it comes from higher taxes...

2) Why should I pay higher taxes for reparations when my ancestors came here AFTER slavery was abolished?

3) Will potential recipients have to prove their ancestors were slaves? If so, how?

4) If your ancestors came here after slavery was abolished, are you entitled to any money?

It's not an easy solution, no matter which side you're on.

[Tripe Face]

What about the ancestors of white people who fought and DIED to end slavery.

110,000 Union soldiers... the huge majority of them WHITE MEN... died fighting the Confederacy in the Civil War. Regardless of the motivation of the war, the most immediate end result was FREEDOM for blacks.

So it's not enough that some people who look like me DIED to free people who look like you. Know I have to give you money? Even though you were never a slave and no one you know was ever a slave?

What about RevRee, she's half black-half white does she pay herself?

How much African-American heritage does one need to have to qualify to receive reperations, and how much caucasian heritage must one have in order to be required to PAY reperations (DNA studies have shown that virtually ALL African-Americans who can trace their roots back to the time of slavery have at least some white ancestors)

[kmfdmatt]

Were not some of those reparations for quantifiable losses, too? As in, specific family fortunes lost?

As for America, for all the country's collective ill-begotten wealth, I would argue we've never been able to keep it.

"Vengeance is mine, sayeth The Lord". This is otherwise known as "karma is a b**ch".

[Sultanosurf]

If I'm quarter something, do I get a quarter share?

And is Barr really your guy? He's been more all over the place than McCain or Obama. Against Viet Nam as a Democrat, for the drug war as a Republican. And lest we forget, he's a graduate of dread USC...

(You guys logged in just ahead of me - "What about RevRee, she's half black-half white does she pay herself?" one of your better lines)

[Lazlo Toth]

he's a graduate of dread USC...



The University of Second Choice?

[Kace]

Wait...Barr's in favor of reparations?

[Jax]

"I have said in the past — and I'll repeat again — that the best reparations we can provide are good schools in the inner city and jobs for people who are unemployed," the Illinois Democrat said recently.

Couldn't agree more...

[Jax]

I now support Bob Barr. Bob Barr 08!!!

So now you're supporting the LAST guy to be in favor of reparations?

[FutureWxManNimmy]

So now you're supporting the LAST guy to be in favor of reparations?

Yes! Since the Greens want Reparations. Since I totally agree as well as other issues, and I even check on a candidate checker that I do belong to Libertarian Bob Barr.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/08/greens-want-reparations/


They should give reperations for Whites who were killed by fighting to abate slavery but the goverment hasnt even appologised for 400 years of white oppression.

[Banned_Forever]

I say **** Reparations!

Hell! You haven't even achieved equality Yet! That would be a good goal.

[Jax]

Yes! Since the Greens want Reparations. Since I totally agree as well as other issues, and I even check on a candidate checker that I do belong to Libertarian Bob Barr.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/08/greens-want-reparations/


They should give reperations for Whites who were killed by fighting to abate slavery but the goverment hasnt even appologised for 400 years of white oppression.

Fake thread? WTF do the Greens have to do with this?

You "belong to Libertarian Bob Barr" but I can sure as hell guarantee he's not giving you or anyone else reparations.

[Pro]

Jax, with all due respect, I do believe you're having your chain yanked.

[PTP WX]

I am COMPLETELY OUTRAGED about this. My ancestors had been victims of this terrible torture and this is the kind of message you want to present. Shame on YOU!

Yeah, yeah. My ancestors were victims of terrible torture also, and my wifes grandparents were as well. Actually, my neighbors underwent torture also. Where is ours?

To head off questions, my ancestors are Cherokee. My wifes grandparents are Jewish and came from Slovakia in 1940. My neighbors are Polish, and escaped a year after the Germans invaded. The first thing he did was get off the boat and join the US Army.

History is full of awful garbage. Humans are animals.

[Banned_Forever]

That's All We Need!

Angry Jews with Hatchets.


-----------------------

Speaking of heading off questions? Have you checked out the Greyhound Specials?

[Bandit]

Jax, with all due respect, I do believe you're having you chain yanked.I agree, and I think Jax should demand "reperations" (whatever the hell that word means) immediately! :D

[Diplomat]

That's All We Need!

Angry Jews with Hatchets.




Huh...?

[Lazlo Toth]

Okay, serious answer that's not about should or should not. Just an observation and an opinion on what I see as the real politik political implications:

I don't think Obama could have taken any other position and remained a viable candidate for President. Had he come out in favor of reparation payments, I believe he would have decided the election right there in John McCain's favor.

We would have spent weeks arguing about the merits and justifications of reparations (or lack thereof), pushing all other issues off the radar on all the political talk shows. Obama's advantage on the economy and the war and the value of not being a Republican this year would have been enormously shrunk. Some people would have decided not to vote for him on the basis of that issue alone

And, sadly, it would have increased the racial divide in the United States, not lessened it, And that would have taken away another part of Obama's appeal as a unifying candidate.

[s'news]

Lazlo's take is very sharp, as always.

Also note this, from the story.


But this is not a position Obama adopted just for the presidential campaign. He voiced the same concerns about reparations during his successful run for the Senate in 2004.

There's enough flexibility in the term "reparations" that Obama can oppose them and still have plenty of common ground with supporters.

The NAACP says reparations could take the form of government programs to help struggling people of all races. Efforts to improve schools in the inner city could also aid students in the mountains of West Virginia, said Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP's Washington bureau.

[FutureWxManNimmy]

Im sorry for offending some of you guys but now I understand why he opposes it and it actually makes sense. So I do support him. I was just saying that because I was mad.