Davis Calls for Slavery Reparations

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Saturday, April 27, 2002 | Carla Marinucci

[budwiesest]

presumably most Hispanic and Asian and essentially all black votes would have gone to him anyway.

So true, what's he thinking? BTW, hasn't the IRS already 'payed' reparations to some?

"The line to the feeding frenzy begins over here."

[Billy_bob_bob]

It's obvious to me that Greyout Davis knows that he is in real hot water with the voters, so he is trying to come up with some diversionary issue to get people talking about anything other that the awful mess he's made of things.

The best way for Simon to deal with this issue to is not deal with it, to dismiss it with the back of his hand while saying "Bah!" This is an issue that cannot be dealt with in a profitable way for Simon, and Davis knows this. Simon needs to avoid "taking the bait", and should instead focus on reminding the voters about the great job Davis has done over the last four years.

[.38sw]

I'm waiting for some reparations as well. My grandparents were able to flee the Bolsheviks in Russia, but their brothers and sisters, and their parents (my great-grandparents), were unable to make it out. They were rounded up and marched off to Siberia where they were worked to death. So I owe some minorities in this country money? This is an outrage.

[IonInsights]

He can forget the Presidency, forever.

[Avoiding_Sulla]

As if in Doofus' Captain Queeg episode (interview for the San Diego Union-Tribune) hadn't dug for himself a hole deep enough. Desparation is not pretty.

Now, who thinks conservatives could capitalize on this opportunity with a GOP landslide in November? One that surpasses the one in 1994? One that will make a difference this time?

Planning anyone?

[paul51]

The scary thing is that the concept of reparations wasn't shot to hell the moment it arose.

[Travis McGee]

When did California have slavery?

Oh never mind.

[daviddennis]

California came into the Union as a free state. There weren't any slaves here. At best, then, some California insurance companies insured slaves who lived outside of the state. And, of course, the proceeds of these insurance policies would have gone to slave owners, not slaves. OpinionJournal.com quite reasonably pointed out that the affected clauses were good for the slaves since they excluded coverage in cases of murder or severe injury by masters. The affected slaves, then, were beaten to death by their owners, and the insurance companies quite rightly refused to pay their masters. Fair, no?

In short, this policy would appear to pander to voters, the descendants of slaves who did not even live in this state! What point is there in having California intervene in such an absurd case? (Perhaps this is the whole point - Davis can grandstand but will know nothing can come of it).

If anyone should pay reparations, it's Jesse Jackson, the man who's benefitted more from slavery than anyone in US history.

So it seems particularly nauseating that this money is going to go to non-profits, most of which are run by none other than Jackson himself. Sick.

That aside, Simon should do nothing. This step is going to be well enough known without him. He can just sit back and let it happen, therefore avoiding any possible accusations of racism.

[antaresequity]

Ha ha....this guy wasnt content with his first attempt at political suicide with the power crisis whinings....What an idiot....If Simon doesnt jump all over this his handlers are lame....Maybe my DUMP DAVIS stickers will be more popular....he he

Best news of the week (politically)

[antaresequity]

"I'm sorry there was slavery . . . but where does it end?" said Parkhurst, a registered independent voter. "I mean, except for murder, isn't there supposed to be a statute of limitations on crime? This is 150 years, or more."

Typical liberal...assumes slavery was illegal...it wasn't...until after the civil war and if they want to try an find those who practiced slavery beyond the war...go right ahead...they are barking up a fruitless tree...

By the way...what is the legal basis for repirations? Slavery was not illegal, so no crime. Are they suggesting a massive civil action?

[rockfish59]

like i said before, why don't the guilty, white lib/commies rally all the rappers with their big money and call it 'RAPERATIONS'?
i'm sure they can also pimp their ho's for some extra franklin's too!

[Hugin]

Brown and Jackson have suggested reparations should not go to individuals but to "a major Marshall Plan-type program" to finance community groups and nonprofits that help black neighborhoods.

Right. Raise everybody's insurance rates and give it to the extortionist grifters like Jesse Jackson. Wouldn't want any reparations to actually get anyone out of poverty.

[SunStar]

"(Davis) was appearing with Jesse Jackson, and he's fallen into taking a position out of the mainstream because he didn't want to offend him. It sounds like a remarkably undisciplined campaign trail mistake by the professional politician in this race."

Translation: The "political newcomer" Bill Simon will be elected Governor in November.

[SunStar]

When can I expect my check?

According to Jesse Jackson, the money should not go to individuals, but rather, to non-profit agencies which could control and disperse the funds (yeah right).

[SunStar]

Ah, the charmed Bill Simon...he can just let his opponents run against themselves. :) Go Bill!

Bill Simon was smart enough to let Riordan hang himself, and he is smart enough to let Davis to the same. Both Riordan and Davis are bitter men who are terrible candidates. Simon is a winner. He wants to lead, and Gray Davis' record tends to speak for itself as to his lack of leadership. Quoting a fine man named Bush, "They have not led. We will."

[SunStar]

He can forget the Presidency, forever.

He can forget the Governor's Office too come November.

[nina0113]

Go Gray! Say it loud & say it proud!

While Bill Simon thanks God on his knees for this gift.

[Ohioan]

When Gov. Gray Davis suggested that he supports reparations to minorities for slave-era business practices, he took a risky position that could prove unpopular with many voters as he seeks re-election.

That is how the San Francisco Chronicle describes the idea that one generation owes those, who were socially in an undesirable position in another time, reparations: a risky position?!

The idea that one class of persons owes another anything in the present because of historic relations, in an other time span between the ancestors of the one group and the other, is not a risky position. It is pure Communist lunacy. It starts with the premise that those who have achieved owe those who have not, purely because we are all human. The presupposition is some sort of universal common collective duty. It is a purer distillation of Communist theory than anything the actual Marxists or Bolsheviks ever tried to implement. It is redolent of some of the worst excesses of Chairman Mao, after he went partially insane.

I used to think that the references to California's Governor as "Red Davis," were hyperbole. But no more! The man would be truly dangerous if he were not apparently on the way out. I admit that it is not this Ohioans call, but "California Governor Simon" sounds better by the moment.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[nina0113]

Let's send all who think they are worse off than those blacks still in Africa back to Africa. We could even pay for the ticket (one way).

Cheapskate. We should throw in a year's per capita income - I think the max is about $600.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

[irishjuggler]

This is an issue that cannot be dealt with in a profitable way for Simon, and Davis knows this. Simon needs to avoid "taking the bait",

You could be right. Davis is so cynical that literally all of his "positions" are merely tactics to achieve maximum political gain. Davis might indeed by trying to get Simon to jump on this, so Davis could then paint him as a mean, racist, minority-bashing Republican. On the other hand, maybe that's a risk Simon should take. Simon shouldn't necessarily speak on this issue directly, but why not use this in his advertising later in the year? "In a time of budget crisis, Governor Davis advocates giving taxpayers' money to Jesse Jackson for slavery reparations." It wouldn't be a PC approach, but there's about a 100% chance it would drive up Davis' negatives.