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."
: )
But what I don't understand is why so many conservatives simply refuse to see the benefits of what would amount to a HUGE tax cut. Yes, it is "unfair." Life is unfair. The tax code is deeply unfair. Matter of fact, I think that just about any tax break that someone else gets that I don't is unfair.
This mentality is nearly universal. It is what the Democrats so successfully tap into every time they accuse Bush and the Republicans of "squeezing the middle class" to give a tax break to the rich.
If your sole standard for supporting a tax break is "fairness," then how can you support any tax breaks at all???
This goes beyond "unfair."
It goes beyond "stupid."
It's got to have MLK turning in his grave, fuming in anger, banging his fists against his coffin, screaming "YOU IDIOT!"
This IDIOCY turns back the clock on EVERYTHING positive done with race relations in this country over the past half century.
I remember seeing the Little Rock stuff on the news when it happened, and I was at demonstrations where I listened to Stokely Charmichael. Yes, I was a left-wing radical hippie back in the '60s. I was at the Pentagon in '67 with Abbie Hoffman.
I grew up since then.
And Alan Keyes just took a mega-leap backwards.
This is SO far beyond crazy that it shouldn't even have to be explained. And it HAS been explained to exhaustion, anyway.
So I won't try to explain it again -- the reasons WHY it is crazy.
All I will say is that this is a formula for a race war that will destroy this country -- and that the REASON it was originally proposed (by the left) was *because* it had potential for a race war. It was the ultimate blackmail against whitey. "Give us what we want, or we call for reparations. Either way you lose."
Oh, come on, you can trust me :o)
Do you know WHY Robert Johnson went down to the crossroads?
It wasn't to meet Sweet Georgia Brown, that's for sure.
Looks like I get exemption as well!
The proof is in the pudding, baby. ANYYYYYYYTIME. ANYYYYYWHERE. Medveds not the best debater.
Crybabies tend to do that.
waaaaah! I want the moderator! Waaaaaah!
The irony...
You added an elipsis, and changed the entire meaning of what I said.
I'll try one more time before writing you off compltely as a troll.
There is a world of difference between "selective" (NO elipsis!) and "selective tax break based on skin color, sexual practices, gender, or national origin".
In the first case, "selective" can mean any damn thing you want, including "selective, based on tax paid -- no tax paid, no tax cut".
In the second case, we have a vile, despicable form of bigotry -- the kind of thing that USED to be frowned upon by civilized people in this land.
Suddenly, we have "conservatives" advocating tax cuts based on race -- and, attacking those who object.
You will pardon me while I pick my jaw up from the floor.
Your reactions are way over the top.
I might have to take off for a while. But when I come back have the guitar tuned...and have someone here to play it :o)
Now, now, I know you don't mean that :o)
You're so full of it it's laughable.
"I know he wants to abolish the income tax--take us ALL out from under the yoke of the slave tax."
Money is fungible.
The only people who receive the benefits of tax cuts are those who work.
Wanna bet?
Can you say "Children of Slavery Act/EITC-Enancment"?
Got the call this morning.
It's happening as we speak.
Sorry EV.
Your support of his race based tax scheme is gonna sink the pseudo conservative with fisc-cons.
He MIGHT be able to undo it, if he full on repents in public.
He won't.
Get the fork.
no its not.
socialist principles of redistribution of wealth along racial lines is NOT OK.
it's morally wrong.
conservative.
Doubtful anyone would have.
I can visualize Osamba asking, "Can I say something yet?" and Clinton chuckling, and then answering, "No, wait until Alan's finished digging himself in. Never interrupt the other guy while he's tearing himself down!"
You need to understand that I agree that Keyes said a silly thing about reparations. But, he's definitely against the income tax. I KNOW this. Yes, he'a a conservative.
You should be careful with that word! You sometimes forget that you use it!
I think you're just a little too sensitive for this sort of thing. You think everyone is "attacking" you, "strawmanning" you, etc. etc. This is a discussion forum. If you're looking for the "nobody better disagree with me forum," you'll have to ask the mods for directions.
As for this little dispute over whether or not you used the word "selective," what can I say except "who cares?" You said it. It's in your post. End of story. Now, before I converse with you anymore, I may have to have my lawyer draw up an agreement that your wife won't sue me if you have a heart attack.
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