Posted on 08/17/2004 5:58:48 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
One day after their first meeting, U.S. Senate hopefuls Barack Obama and Alan Keyes were back on the campaign trail again Monday.
Speaking at a news conference at the Hotel InterContinental in Chicago, Republican Keyes added to his now familiar talking points his stance on slavery reparations.
Prompted by a reporter's question, Keyes gave a brief tutorial on Roman history and said that in regard to reparations for slavery, the U.S. should do what the Romans did: "When a city had been devastated [in the Roman empire], for a certain length of time--a generation or two--they exempted the damaged city from taxation."
Keyes proposed that for a generation or two, African-Americans of slave heritage should be exempted from federal taxes--federal because slavery "was an egregious failure on the part of the federal establishment." In calling for the tax relief, Keyes appeared to be reaching out to capture the black vote, something that may prove difficult to do, particularly after his unwelcome reception at the Bud Billiken Day Parade Saturday...
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
You're right. This idiocy is giving tax breaks to one group and letting them keep their money, while denying the same break to the rest of us and expecting the us to pay for it. Good plan.
Well, Alan, if you hold to your proposition, that generation or two went by nearly a century ago, at least. Thus, case closed.
Otherwise, you should be ashamed for such overt pandering.
They don't ? Is that what "they" think in Canada?..
Actually, it isnt. You can always find support for raising taxes on the other guy to pay for yourself.. Yea, lets have a new entitlement program and lets raise taxes... on those people that pay the taxes! What can be more popular than that ?!
OK, but the subs aren't included.
I don't believe this at all.
Slavery hasn't materially effected the lives of blacks today? Are you series?
Me too. This isn't Rome, it's America, and it's 2004.
It seems odd Keyes would want to punish those who have committed no crime. We weren't there. We had nothing to do with it. Punish the slave holders, not us.
This doesn't sound like Keyes. If we find out later it's true, Keyes is forever toast. I hope this article is just another Boston Globe . The Globe never gets it right.
If you reduce somebody's current tax rate of zero by 100%, what tax break did you give them ?
No, but I am serious.
"Reparations" was the headline writers choice. What if the article was headlined. "Keyes proposes specific tax cut to promote minority business development"?
Don't punish Keyes for finding new and creative ways to expose flaws in the liberal mindset. No reason to fear that the Republican Party is going to adopt his platform either, so be entertained.
good point
LOL It's beautiful. The net result is the same - more money in their pockets. But the liberals just hate the idea of tax cuts. They want to take the money first, skim off their 25% and they return the pittence.
The more I ponder this idea, the more I like it. I think I can see where Dr. Keyes is going with this.
The only blacks who would be rewarded are those who have gone out, worked hard, made something of themselves, and have become successful. The moochers of society who pay no federal taxes already do not benefit.
Pro sports athletes have to be loving this idea.
Someone should tell amb. Keyes that after the slaves were freed there was already 2 generations that lived without the tyranny of federal taxation - which only started this century.
LOL jumping to conclusions aren't you?
A tax exemption at least rewards hard work. That's a step in the right direction from pure handouts.
As shallow as a puddle; a phony with a slick tounge who never worked a real job and who is pretty well hated down here in Maryland, even by the conservative radio talk show hosts.
A few black people whom I imagine would find this statement insulting:
Ward Connerly
Clarence Thomas
Walter Williams
Thomas Sowell
Ken Hamblin
Armstrong Williams
Larry Elder
Shelby Steele
John McWhorter
..as well as every other writer in Black & Right.
And some of our own FReepers:
Trueblackman
rdb3
mhking
You might try painting with a more narrow brush.
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