The bigger news is that after careful consideration and deep soul searching McCain opposes slavery. He does. Really. Even though it apparently is costing him support among his right wing base.

but mccain is old enough to actually have owned slaves and therefore, is afraid of reparations cause he could have to pay based on actual slave owning experience

Obama better oppose it. After all, black americans (note I didnt say african, because there are almost NO african americans) arent the only ones who obama may represent.

Are they going to make the sellers pay up too? It was a slave trade!

Obama would not be eligible for reparations himself, as his father was a Kenyan (and obviously not the descendant of a slave)

The entire faux issue of "reparations" is one of the biggest right wing frauds I have come across in recent years. As if ANYONE not a total fringe lunatic advocates giving money to black people as payback for the institution of slavery 150 years ago. A red herring bogeyman created by the Right to scare the ignorant. Funny thing is, clearly some idiots on this site seem to believe it a possibility. Probably the same folks who believe Saddam Hussein was in on the 9/11 attacks.

I want money from Egypt.(sarcasm)

I am still waiting for my government check from Babylonia.

Nail on the head FLAG for Moder8's 4:51 post.

That flip didn't take long to flop.

"The entire faux issue of "reparations" is one of the biggest right wing frauds I have come across in recent years."

Obama: "I consistently believe that when it comes to whether it's Native Americans or African-American issues or reparations, the most important thing for the U.S. government to do is not just offer words, but offer deeds." June 27, 2008

Obama:
"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."

Probably the same folks who believe Saddam Hussein was in on the 9/11 attacks.

Isn't that supposed to be over 50%?

The entire faux issue of "reparations" is one of the biggest right wing frauds I have come across in recent years. As if ANYONE not a total fringe lunatic advocates giving money to black people as payback for the institution of slavery 150 years ago. A red herring bogeyman created by the Right to scare the ignorant. Funny thing is, clearly some idiots on this site seem to believe it a possibility. Probably the same folks who believe Saddam Hussein was in on the 9/11 attacks.

Posted by moder8

if its such a "faux" issue why is he even addressing it? The reason why he is addressing it is because many in the black community believe that reparations are an entitlement. I have heard first hand that the government owes people of african decent money on more than one occasion in casual conversation. The chances for reparations are slim to none and slim just left town.

If 0bama's truly sincere about his opposition to reparations (given his history of backtracking that's very questionable) then it's one of the few things I agree with him about.

Even if my ancestors had owned slaves I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay for anything my great grandparents and before were themselves solely responsible for.

ya know... all I could think of when I read this headline is that I am pretty sure Obama opposes slavery... So that's all I needed to know! Now I don't have to worry about becoming a white slave and all...whew!

So he's going to end welfare?

Just for the common man. Corporations will be bailed out s.o.p.

"That flip didn't take long to flop.

Posted by KBM"

AND

"Those are the "deeds" to which he's referring.

Posted by Danforth"

...just wait another month or less. And you'll hear another definition of what he really meant.

Actually, if he is the next POTUS, he will change his position. He can't afford to lose the votes today that he will need to win. He'll drop this subject like a hot potato.

Has Vegas posted the odds yet? Any takers out there?

Blacks in this country are faring much better than those in the countries from where their ancestors came.

would a $600 check take care of business?

Some of the posts after MODER8's prove his point.

""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," he said."

What is the definition of a "good school"?

His teachers' union has controlled the quality of the curriculum and the quality of teachers for decades.

...and there are plenty of qualified and unqualified jobs available for those who are willing to work. The key is "willing" to work.

Just how will the messiah wave his wand to accomplish this goal? Any guesses, uneducated or otherwise?

His teachers' union

Moron flag.

Actually 726, DANVED has a got a slight point there. Living in Illinois as I do I can assure you that our teachers pension funding is abysmal at best. The city of Chicago has their own SEPARATE Teachers pension fund that isn't tied to the larger STATE fund. As he has been in our state senate for a time and has done nothing to oppose our child governor at any level it would seem He doesnt care for the other 75% of this state period. I'm not a fan of Obama cause I've seen what he doesn't do in office.

and the teachers union in Chicago HAS set the quality of the curriculum and the quality of teachers for decades. and some of the graduation rates are terrible and the rates of graduates that drop out of college, they are fairly higher than what I would like to see which would be 0.

He became opposed to them when he found out what it was,

A chicken and two bails of cotton.

Even if my ancestors had owned slaves I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay for anything my great grandparents and before were themselves solely responsible for.

Posted by Gimme_a_Scotch

Gimme:

Interesting take, but you should increase the scope of your thought on the matter. The most credible person I have heard talk about the issue frames the matter as a contract issue arising from the "160 acres and a mule" promise to any slaves that joined the Union Army. The damages would be the value of the land + the value of the crops over the years + interest. (It would only be available to those who could prove their ancestors were party to the contract.) The problem is the statute of limitations. If that were waived, the theory of reparations would theoretically permit the descendants of the slave owners to also seek reparations for the "taking" (as prohibited by the Fifth Amendment) of their property without due process. Think about the dollar figure there. The value of the slaves + their descendants + the labor that lost + Interest. The only sure loser out of this would be the Yankee that is not a member of either group.

He better. This subject would sink him with white voters.

Reparations should be considered as seriously as repatriation to the mother-land.

BULLSHIT!

OR - maybe [persons with negroid features] can reparate law enforcement & social services.

***** As if ANYONE not a total fringe lunatic advocates giving money to black people as payback for the institution of slavery 150 years ago.
...Posted by moder8 *******

......how about reparations for segregation and Jim Crow laws ??......

.......that only ended 50 years ago.......lots of people still living, suffered irreparable harm under them ?.......