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Keyes won't back down on reparations
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 8/19/04 | SCOTT FORNEK

Posted on 08/19/2004 5:27:04 AM PDT by kattracks

His voice rising to a yell, Republican U.S. Senate nominee Alan Keyes told a bipartisan civic group Wednesday he "will not budge" from his belief that descendants of slaves should be exempted from income taxes to help heal the wounds of past discrimination and segregation.

The former presidential candidate disdainfully brushed aside questions over whether his suggestion should apply to rich African Americans such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan or Oprah Winfrey.

"Do you know how many Oprah Winfreys there might have been running around in the 1930s or in the 1920s or in the 19-teens that got nowhere because the doors were shut in their face?" Keyes thundered. "If you think that because I wear a conservative label, I have forgotten that history and am not mindful of that injustice -- then I will tell you now that you are wrong."

Keyes delivered his blistering defense at a luncheon of the City Club of Chicago, scolding fellow conservatives who challenged his proposal and evoking the struggle of his African-American parents, saying they had talent and "hearts and spirit and strength and faith."

"Why didn't they get to a point where they could stand on this platform?" Keyes aked.

Vying against Democrat Barack Obama, Keyes drew heat from conservatives earlier this week when he proposed exempting descendants of slaves from income taxes for a generation or two, a view he insists "involves a traditionally Republican, conservative and market-oriented approach."

On Wednesday, Keyes ridiculed the fuss over his position, saying it is simply a tax break, something "Republicans and my conservative brethren" don't object to when applied to a "wealthy corporation."

Conservative activist Jack Roeser met with Keyes for what Roeser called "a long argument and an intense one" over the issue before the speech. A Barrington businessman, Roeser said he still is not sold on Keyes' reparations proposal, but still plans to support him anyway. "I will tell my friends that this is a good man, and we should support him."



TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: keyes; reparations
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To: onyx

If I could vote in the Illinois (I can't, but my cousins can), I'd skip voting in the senatorial race. Wouldn't vote for Obama, but I wouldn't vote for Keyes.


321 posted on 08/19/2004 11:44:31 AM PDT by Catspaw
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To: MNnice
Even die-hard democrat blacks are gonna stop and listen to him now. That's all you can ask for.

That's all he can ask for?

Good, 'cuz that's all he can get.

322 posted on 08/19/2004 11:46:12 AM PDT by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: Don Joe

Robert Mugabe WOULD BE PROUD OF ALL THE KEYES BASHERS and obama cheerleaders.

OBAMASAMA is worse than Mugabe. Obywanabeesama thinks its great to let babies die and kill them off at a rate of 3000 a day.

Go Keyes, crush Obamasama and the rest of the liberal scum.


323 posted on 08/19/2004 11:46:28 AM PDT by TomasUSMC
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To: Don Joe

Sorry - can't respond. Honest discussion forbidden.


324 posted on 08/19/2004 11:47:59 AM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Some of my best friends are white, middle-class males.)
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet

HERE IS SOME HONEST DISCUSSION:
FROM STAR PARKER:



Alan Keyes would say that God's greatest gift to us is his law. This is what makes us unique. His law shows us the way and guides us how to use our hope properly.

And if it will not be his law, whose law will it be? Politicians and judges will decide. So Obama can say, as he did in Boston, "We coach little league in the Blue States, and yes, we've got some gay friends in the Red States." Obama's insinuation for us here is that it is up to us to make up the law regarding sexual behavior and, surely, marriage. Because for Obama, God's special gift is hope. We will fit the law to whatever our aspiration of the moment might be, confused or not.

As a black man, Obama should know better. There was a time in our nation's history when we made up the law, when we didn't think we needed God's law. Then we decided black men could be slaves and that black men were property. It took national recognition of God's law to change that.

We know when a man decides he can make up the rules there is no end to where he will go. So, predictably, Obama is not for school choice because he will decide what the school system should look like. Obama is not for personal retirement accounts to replace the Social Security tax because he doesn't believe that individuals can choose and take care of their own retirement future. He does, however, propose a retirement account option on top of Social Security. However, what worker earning $30,000 has extra money, after paying Social Security taxes, to put into such an account? And, of course, Obama raises the money to pay for these new accounts by raising taxes on businesses because he'll decide who should make what and how much.

Alan Keyes provides a stark contrast and genuine alternative for voters. In Keyes' view, a free society cannot exist with capricious law. A standard must exist and for the "nation under God" that Lincoln addressed at Gettysburg, that standard must be our religion and our tradition. This is the standard that has protected life, liberty, and property so well and provided the basis for the prosperity we have created. It is this standard that recognizes human dignity and uniqueness and allows parents to educate their children as they see fit and allows them to retain their earnings and to save.


325 posted on 08/19/2004 11:54:06 AM PDT by TomasUSMC
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To: EternalVigilance
"Too many here are wrapped up in personalities instead of keeping their eye on the prize."

True enuff...I have no delusions that Hanoi John would properly address the issue of our porous borders either, and in a way, Bush's inane policy suggestions on this issue are meaningless as long as we can keep the pressure on the GOP House to insure that Bush's "non-Amnesty" AmnestyProgram is Dead On Arrival!! Fer his part, I don't see Dubyuh making this a primary focus...I believe it is pandering fer pandering's sake.

"Good to see you, my friend."

Same here, EV...keep on fightin' the Good Fight!!

FReegards...MUD

326 posted on 08/19/2004 11:55:23 AM PDT by Mudboy Slim (RE-IMPEACH Osama bil Clinton!!)
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To: EternalVigilance
"Too many here are wrapped up in personalities instead of keeping their eye on the prize."

True enuff...I have no delusions that Hanoi John would properly address the issue of our porous borders either, and in a way, Bush's inane policy suggestions on this issue are meaningless as long as we can keep the pressure on the GOP House to insure that Bush's "non-Amnesty" AmnestyProgram is Dead On Arrival!! Fer his part, I don't see Dubyuh making this a primary focus...I believe it is pandering fer pandering's sake.

"Good to see you, my friend."

Same here, EV...keep on fightin' the Good Fight!!

FReegards...MUD

327 posted on 08/19/2004 11:55:42 AM PDT by Mudboy Slim (RE-IMPEACH Osama bil Clinton!!)
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To: EternalVigilance
You and your friends have slammed, slurred, denigrated and criticized every word and action of Alan Keyes for four long years on FR.

And you and yours have attacked every single Republican candidate, including the president, that you don't deem worthy of being YOUR "sacred cow."

Try not to be such a victim.

328 posted on 08/19/2004 12:02:28 PM PDT by Howlin (Kerry being called a war hero is "a colloquialism.")
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To: Prince Charles
Only if the descendants of those who fought a civil war to free the slaves are also exempted.

Now you're talking! Where do I sign up?

329 posted on 08/19/2004 12:04:33 PM PDT by Howlin (Kerry being called a war hero is "a colloquialism.")
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To: Non-Sequitur
And how do you predict his reparations scheme will play downstate, among those who won't benefit from it? I'm sure they'll be watching.

Don't know. I pretty much write it off as a quirky idea that's going nowhere.

Obviously, the remarks have disturbed a lot of conservatives. But once the conservative voters compare Alan to the competition, I think they'll overcome their reservations about reparations.

Serious, activist, pro-life conservatives, like myself, already know a lot about Alan Keyes. He's the most articulate defender of the unborn in America today. This is the paramount political issue for me and for most politically active conservatives, so I expect that to buy Alan a lot of slack.

330 posted on 08/19/2004 12:05:50 PM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: TomasUSMC

That'll be Senator Obywanabeesama to you in a few months.


331 posted on 08/19/2004 12:05:53 PM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Jefferson Davis - the first 'selected, not elected' president.)
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To: tame

Before you give that advice to others, you should take it.


332 posted on 08/19/2004 12:05:57 PM PDT by Howlin (Kerry being called a war hero is "a colloquialism.")
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To: tame

Back off, son.


333 posted on 08/19/2004 12:06:11 PM PDT by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: Howlin
And you and yours have attacked every single Republican candidate, including the president, that you don't deem worthy of being YOUR "sacred cow."

Yeah? When exactly did I do that?

334 posted on 08/19/2004 12:08:27 PM PDT by EternalVigilance ('Impossible' is the favorite word of cowards...nothing is impossible with God...)
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To: EternalVigilance
Your destination is your business.

I'm sure I'll see you there.

335 posted on 08/19/2004 12:08:38 PM PDT by Howlin (Kerry being called a war hero is "a colloquialism.")
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To: EternalVigilance; onyx

Selective amnesia?


336 posted on 08/19/2004 12:09:04 PM PDT by Howlin (Kerry being called a war hero is "a colloquialism.")
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To: Non-Sequitur; Howlin; Don Joe
JR: Good grief. Don't you ever stop bad mouthing people? Are you going to campaign for Obama? If so, you won't be doing it here." "Take it to DU*"
337 posted on 08/19/2004 12:09:42 PM PDT by tame (Are you willing to do for the truth what leftists are willing to do for a lie?)
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To: Non-Sequitur
That'll be Senator Obywanabeesama to you in a few months.

Where you having your celebratory party?

338 posted on 08/19/2004 12:09:42 PM PDT by EternalVigilance ('Impossible' is the favorite word of cowards...nothing is impossible with God...)
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To: Aquinasfan
Obviously, the remarks have disturbed a lot of conservatives. But once the conservative voters compare Alan to the competition, I think they'll overcome their reservations about reparations.

It's not the bulk of his base I'm concerned with. It's conservative white Democrats or Independents and yes, even some Republicans who he'll alienate with schemes like this, and that is the support he will lose. The support he needs to make a decent showing much less win.

339 posted on 08/19/2004 12:10:04 PM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Jefferson Davis - the first 'selected, not elected' president.)
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To: Howlin
Selective amnesia?

Name one time I've attacked the President, or retract.

340 posted on 08/19/2004 12:10:42 PM PDT by EternalVigilance ('Impossible' is the favorite word of cowards...nothing is impossible with God...)
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