Mitch McConnell: We paid for 'sin of slavery' by electing Obama

[JonLP24]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's remarks over the last week have been making headlines, but the latest may be the most controversial.

When asked about reparations for slavery on the eve of a House hearing on the issue, McConnell said reparations "for something that happened 150 years ago, for whom none of us currently living are responsible," were not a good idea. Besides, he suggested acts, such as electing Barack Obama president, could be considered a form of compensation.

"We tried to deal with our original sin of slavery by fighting a Civil War, by passing landmark civil rights legislation, elected an African American president," McConnell said. "I don't think we should be trying to figure out how to compensate for it. First of all, it would be hard to figure out whom to compensate."

The backlash, as it often happens with McConnell, came swiftly.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/19/mitch-mcconnell-reparations-slavery-compensation-not-needed-after-obama-presidency/1501650001/

[uponit7771]

1. WOW !!! I heard this and thought he lost his damned mind

[Croney]

2. Now if we could only figure out how to pay for the sin of electing Mitch McConnell.

[doc03]

3. We? nt

[Iliyah]

4. Shut the fuck up.

[Highway61]

5. Getting him removed

from the power grid in the Senate should be of top priority. That son of a bitch has GOT TO GO! Some people are pure evil and he's one of them.

[spanone]

6. racist pos.

[beachbum bob]

7. at least McConnel recognized its was a "sinful" practice

[LuvNewcastle]

8. He's right about it being a bad idea, although Obama certainly

has nothing to do with it. Democrats don't need to make this an issue during the election unless they want to stoke more anger from white voters. Making reparations an issue in 2020 will lose the election for Dems, it's that simple.

[JonLP24]

9. I'm a white voter that support reparations

Last edited Thu Jun 20, 2019, 02:43 PM - Edit history (1)

60% of African Americans support it.

Link to tweet

[LuvNewcastle]

11. Well I don't think a very high percentage of white people support it.

I haven't seen any polls on the subject, but I doubt that more than a third of white people in the U.S. support reparations.

[JonLP24]

12. 15% of white people

but 9 to 1 African Americans vote for Democrats in the general election. I'm not in favor of throwing them under the bus to appease white people.

[LuvNewcastle]

15. Nobody's throwing anybody under a bus.

If the Democrats want to be a majority party, they can't ignore the majority of the country.

[JonLP24]

16. 54% of primary voters would support a candidate that favors reparations

ADOS came after Kamala Harris & Bernie Sanders early over the reparations issue. I'm waiting for them to come after Biden to pressure him to back reparations.

[LuvNewcastle]

19. I think it's a mistake to make it an issue.

People who vote in the general election are more conservative than the people who vote in Democratic primaries. I'll still vote for the Democrat regardless of whether or not they support reparations, but a lot of people will be turned off by it. If the Democratic nominee supports this, there will be a backlash and the election will be a lot closer than it should be.

[JonLP24]

20. I'm more worried about the black lash from those that support reparations

I haven't made it an issue but I agree with Ta-Nehisi Coates & Shelia Jackson Lee over racist white voters.

[LuvNewcastle]

21. Just because someone doesn't support reparations doesn't mean they're racist.

Some people just don't think it's right. I don't think it's right. If you start sending money to people whose ancestors were treated badly, you're going to run out of money very quickly.

[JonLP24]

22. When there is a huge racial wealth gap and all forms of racial economic injustice

to get bent out of shape over reparations to the point of voting for a racist Trump doesn't seem anti racist to me. Example is the OP. Mitch McConnell injected racism into a debate about reparations.

There is no middle ground on reparations

Reparations is not my litmus test for presidential candidates. But it is a litmus test for whether a person is being a racist or anti-racist when it comes to one of the most damaging racial inequities of our time, of all American time—the racial wealth gap. To oppose reparations is to be racist. To support reparations is to be anti-racist. The middle ground is racist ground. It is occupied by people passively doing nothing in the face of racial inequity, or actively supporting policies that reproduce racial inequity. The anti-racist approach requires standing up for the policies, like reparations, that can create racial equity.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/ibram-x-kendi-opposing-reparations-racist/592060/

As far as questions that are experts such as Ta Nehisi Coates that are best suited to handle these issues. Not me or you. The US pays reparations for everything but slavery.

[LuvNewcastle]

24. I don't choose to support an issue based on what Ta Nehisi Coates thinks.

And if you think it's racist to be against giving out checks to people who happen to have the right ancestry, then I guess there's nothing more to say. This election could be a big win for Democrats or we can have more of the same. Radical approaches to fighting racism and poverty will divide the country further and people will just dig their heels in deeper against it.

[JonLP24]

30. I mean it is racist to vote for the racist Republicans

because the Democratic party supports reparations.

I'm not worried about losing them as much as am losing loyal Democrats that support reparations. You don't have to support it but this is something Ta Nehisi Coates researched so it is something he is an expert on and I agree with him. I agree with Shelia Jackson Lee.

You want the Democrats to drop something you don't support.

[Caliman73]

31. This is where your argument goes wrong.

It isn't just about slavery. It is about the structural and societal effects of slavery that are STILL in place. The resolution was not about making reparations, it is about studying the issue and making recommendations. The United States has NEVER come to terms with slavery nor have they come to terms with the effects of slavery and what came after.

Think about it. Black people were seen as "not human" to be bought and sold like a bull or pig 150 years ago. Even after the Civil War which was fought over the issue of slavery, but not necessarily to actually free the slaves and make their lives better, there was another 100 years where Black people were basically legally shut out of participating in society. Even after the Civil Rights Acts, Black people continue to face overt and subtle discrimination that keeps them from fully benefiting from society.

People think it is because Black people haven't tried hard enough, or can't get their own house in order, but the reality is that it is the continuation of policies and attitudes that place a tremendous obstacle in their way. That needs to be addressed. It doesn't necessarily have to be money, but there has to be something done to actually deal with the past and it current and ongoing effects.

[USALiberal]

13. Paying individuals makes no sense. Spending billions on helping.....

AA is a better solution! Housing, schools, etc! Nt

[LuvNewcastle]

18. I agree.

Besides, who would we pay? Would white descendants of slaves get paid? Would wealthy black people get a check. I prefer to help people based on need, not on who their ancestors were.

[TheRealNorth]

32. Russians/Republicans are driving this reparations discussion

Because they know poor white people will resent it.

Just watch as we get closer to the election, they will try to hijack the issues like they did BLM.

[LuvNewcastle]

34. Yep, people can expect it.

[malaise]

10. If all men are created equal how did electing Obama

compensate for slavery.

What a fucking stupid racist response.

[USALiberal]

14. He is a piece of shit! Nt

[GoCubsGo]

17. And, we will pay for the sin of allowing Mitch McConnell to remain Senate Majority Leader

by abdicating our democracy. Fuck that treasonous, racist sack of shit and the horse he rode in on.

[Goodheart]

23. Even if you're opposed to monetary reparations that remark is highly offensive

TO ALL AMERICANS, black or white or anything else.

[customerserviceguy]

25. Yes, but

it is highly indicative of some sentiment out there.

My theory is that a number of white voters voted for Barack Obama to try to put racism behind us. Whether you want to characterize that as accepting responsibility for white privilege, or trying to expunge themselves of white guilt, or something in between, that was their motivation when faced with the lackluster candidacies of John McCain and Mitt Romney.

It didn't work, Ferguson and the Black Lives Matter movements happened during the Obama administration, so they gave up trying to vote away friction over racism, and went with Trump. They're not going to then go along with reparations or even a committee to discuss it as their reason to cast a vote for a Democratic candidate next year.

[The Wizard]

26. If he's saying he voted for Obama

He'll say anything

[shanti]

27. Ugh

What a shitty and clueless thing to say. I can't stand this mf'er!

[Turbineguy]

28. Yes but...

in that case we incurred it all over by electing you.

[librechik]

29. Great Immortal Tortoise: "Case Closed. Cuz I can."

"Besides, it's not slavery when you're safe warm and fed, right? We were doing them a favor."

Signed the Imperial Wizard of the Confederated Republic" "

"They owe us"

At least that's what I heard him say. It's an imaginary turtle. It could say anything.

[Vegas Roller]

33. What a frigging a-hole

I am so sick of McConnel. I hope there is a special place in hell for that vile character.

[MagickMuffin]

35. Says the Racist Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky

Yep, only a racist would say something that incredibly racist.

[bdamomma]

36. Bastard!!

Who can ever his remark "we will make him a one term President", Mitch, karma will bite you back hard.

[Retrograde]

37. And you did your best to thwart him for eight years

and in 2017 you tried to censure Sen. Harris (in addition to Sen. Warren) for attempting to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor during Sessions' confirmation hearings.

Right, Gravedigger - keep taking credit for things that happened despite your efforts.