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 ...
Victim hood propaganda keeps them back, not the American people. They listen to it. It's another left wing "Death style choice".
How would the Keyes Plan work anyhow, when so many Blacks didn't pay Federal taxes at all to begin with (due to low income), and now even fewer do so thanks to the Bush cuts took them off the rolls entirely.
You sure slurped up the Chicago Tribune and Sun Times Kool Aid without hesitation. Off to see F-911 later today?
That's brilliant on your part. But is is the same kind of brilliance Keyes displays: moral clarity, conservative principles, political stupidity. It MAY be a "sub rosa economics lesson": if it is, his "students" will not get it...it MAY be a moral argument, I'll give you that -- but -- and pay real close attention here:
IT IS HORRID POLITICS.
My God, can you imagine the scramble on everybody's part to "prove" their geneology? Does he realize that some huge part of the population would be able to "prove" that? And then you would need a huge NEW Federal bureaucracy just to vet all the claims, and the lawsuits from the people who were left out, and the politicians who would introduce laws to create partial reparations for those who are partially affected, and the NEW controversies...when you introduce an entitlement into the political arena, it spawns entire industries and concepts and bodies of statutes and agencies and...I could go on.
And I don't mean by "political" what many on this board seem to think it is, a synonym for "compromise". You say "horrid politics", and they rush to Keyes' defense as a non-compromiser. No, no, no: by horrid politics I mean HE IS AS STUPID ABOUT HOW ELECTIONS ARE WON AND HOW POLICIES GET PLAYED OUT IN THE REAL WORLD AS HE IS BRILLIANT FROM THE LECTURN.
As a candidate, he's a mess. No clue.
That is correct. And what conditions existed that made it possible to sell that Kool Aid?
"I'm glad that Alan Keyes acknowledges not only the justice of but the need for reparations to black Americans for centuries of slavery and oppression at the hands of an oppressive, racist society. Dr. Keyes proposal is a good start, however, it only benefits a small number of African Americans and none of those that need it most and the ones most discriminated against. Therefore, in addition to eliminating taxes on ALL African Americans, we believe a one time payment of $25,000 to EVERY AM, twenty billion more yearly to inner city schools, fifty billion yearly to energize black business', seventy five billion in scholarships to black students and most importantly, a 50% increase in city, state and federal set asides in contracting and a 100% increase in affirmative action programs."
The demands for this kind of stuff never stops. They will always ask for more and more and the only way to stop it is at the door. Thanks to Alan Keyes this issue is now inside the room and on the table. For decades they will use his statements to justify it to conservatives the same way the Kerry campaign has been using McCains comments to attack the Swift Boat Vets.
The Keyes plan is simple; divide Omamba from his base. This whole no-tax reparations thing was tongue-in-cheek.
Are you denying that he said this? What's your evidence?
As VRWC_Minion said
"In short, his proposal highlights the fact that poor people are not currently paying their share and that in itself is reparations."
So he's flip flopping for political gain? Who is picking p this tab?
"Kerry is an idiot *LOL* Does anyone take him seriously?"
About 50% of the voters.
"I really think freepers need to hear Keyes out on this one."
The ones that think Keyes is the second coming will justify this incredibly stupid move no matter where it leads. I think he just lost the rest. He lost me.
I respectfully disagree, but you do have a right to your opinion.
How does this divide Obama from his base? Keyes just legitimized the most divisive non issue in the country.
I'm willing to listen to Keyes. However, I don't see how he can win on this one and the left will use it to legitimize the issue. All this so Keyes can have a sound bite in a campaign he is behind in by 30 points?
From the Sun Times own article:
On another issue, Keyes on Monday said he supported reparations for descendants of slaves -- an apparent switch in his position.Keyes suggested descendants of slaves should be exempt from paying federal income taxes. But in a March 27, 2002, transcript of his show "Making Sense," Keyes -- who wants to abolish the federal income tax for everyone -- suggested that reparations were an insult.
Bolding was mine. These are the words of the Sun Times reporter. They know he's running a game on them and they are scrambling to spin it.
To me, the biggest problem with this suggestion. But is this true, or a media distortion of his position?
Keyes suggested descendants of slaves should be exempt from paying federal income taxes. But in a March 27, 2002, transcript of his show "Making Sense," Keyes -- who wants to abolish the federal income tax for everyone -- suggested that reparations were an insult.
"You want to tell me that what they suffered can actually be repaired with money?" Keyes asked at the time.
That sure looks like a contradiction.
Keyes, through a spokesman, said late Monday he does not support reparations if other people's money is used. "If you couldn't get the income tax abolished totally, that [exemption for slave descendants] is incremental progress," spokesman Bill Pascoe said.
Now we're getting the context.
You got it Dan.
Well, Mr. Keyes, if you really said this then you are no better than all of the other Race Pimps, such as Jesse Jackson etc...
I think that I would like to get an explanation from Alan Keyes of his position. I'm sure Keyes means well, but you are right about one thing. The left has a way of turning things on people. Look at Dubya and No Child Left Behind.
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