What is Obama's position on reparations?

[doc03]

I don't recall anyone ever asking him about that, I would be interested in his answer.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. What's your position on it?

[MethuenProgressive]

8. We should tax every person who owned slaves to pay the slaves while they're still alive.

My first European ancestor in the New World came here as a slave in 1650. He was a prisoner of war sold as an "endentured servent" as the English called their Scot slaves.
I'm not convinced anyone owes me any money for that.

[lligrd]

2. Why Only Obama? How About Hillary's Or McCain's? nt

[FARAFIELD]

3. this thread will die

Under our new pledge

[MethuenProgressive]

4. It was an issue when Obama ran for Senate.

Back when he was just a nobody from nowhere.

[enid602]

5. debt

The debt we've incurred will already be more of a reparation than we can possibly hope to pay.

[zabet]

6. ..

:popcorn:

[leftofcool]

7. I had heard back when he was a state senator

that he was against it but you might want to google this and get blog opinions.

[Yael]

9. This was asked during the YouTube debates last August (?)

Kucinich was the only one on the dais in favor. Everyone else had some shade of the same response -- invest the money into schools and teachers.

ETA -- you can see this on YouTube. Last I looked for that debate, they had every question sectioned off into its own vid so that you could see all responses.

[GrantDem]

10. wow???

:popcorn:

[stellanoir]

11. Halliburton, KBR & R, SAIC, Blackwater, and Bechtel should all be looted of

their war profiteering and be made to pay for the wounds of the innumerable Iraqi and American victims.

But oh Gee Halliburton just took the money and ran off to Dubai.

"So. . .?"

Unbelievable really

[Danger Mouse]

12. Uh...why is this even an issue?

[doc03]

15. It will be this fall, I would guess. I heard one of the radio

Repubs making a big issue about it the other day. So I would imagine the subject will come up.

[Danger Mouse]

18. obama has already says he's against them. if asked again, i'm sure he'll say the same.

[ikojo]

22. It's an issue because you can bet the Republicans

will bring it up. O'Reilly and his kind will find some radical black "leader" such as Malik Shabazz who will come on their show to demand reparations. Also I think John Conyers has introduced a bill to study reparations (http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_reparations.htm) I don't know if he's endorsed Obama but it wont take that for the pugs to make this a more divisive issue than it is already.

The Democratic party and Barack Obama need to think how they will handle the issue once the pugs go on the attack.

[doc03]

13. Someone asked what my position was

Well I guess you could justify it, then again I as a white guy have been laid off, locked off my job and had three pension plans stolen from by other rich white guys. Another thing where in the hell would we get the money, barrow it from China?

[bluestateguy]

14. I believe his position is the same as Clinton and McCain's: against

And thank God too. What a tinderbox that would open up.

[ikojo]

21. One way to ensure a landslide McCain victory should

Obama receive the nomination, is for the Republicans to start the meme that Barack Obama supports taxing working Americans to pay slave reparations. It wont matter whether it's true or false (witness the swiftboaters and still the number of people who call into CSPAN saying Obama is a Muslim..as if that is a disqualifying factor from being president of the US)

Oh and it just might start a race war as well.

[ellacott]

25. Talk of reparations might start a race war?

I think you're hoping that would happen. What's with you?

[ikojo]

27. No, I am not hoping that would happen, oh trust me

on that one.

I don't think giving reparations would have any reparative effect on already strained racial relations, however.

I don't think one rights to wrongs of history by making those alive in the present pay for them. I think one way to right the wrongs of history for all poor people, black and white would be to ensure a free college or vocational education. Some Ivy League schools are doing this but it's very difficult for lower income students to get into the Ivy League. When we spend so much money on one bomber I know this country can come up with a way to pay for every student's college or vocational education.

[ellacott]

30. I agree that a payment to blacks is not the answer

I also agree that if there were to be any type of reparations it would go towards education. Most people who do support reparations also endorse this idea.

Very few people are advocating for a check to all black people.

[Rageneau]

16. He had better not answer. And if he answers, he'd better lie.

Fortunately for him, I think he already knows those things.

[bridgit]

17. I don't think that squares with his call for an end to victimization and history being...

the end-all excuse for not taking personal responsibility for one's life & future; it's a somewhat Reagan-esque point of view i.e. "Let them vote with their feet.", etc, but whatever the color of it this is The New World Order so vote, vote early, and be happy

[Barack_America]

19. He is against them. Next question?

:eyes:

[cooolandrew]

20. Ain't going to happen.America is stoney broke and I imagine he wants 2 terms.

[cliffordu]

23. He said he was going to buy me some koolaid...

:smoke:

[Johnny__Motown]

24. have you asked Hillary this question? No?? why not? Do you only ask black people that?

[Buzz Clik]

26. What a wonderfully divisive, race baiting question!

bye!

[monicaaida]

28. here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSAL8YII3Sk

[doc03]

31. Now thanks, you answered my question without

the moronic name calling usally spewed out by the Obama supporters. I will say again many of the Obama supporters have done their candidate more harm than good by their knee jerk attacks on anyone that even asked a question. The reason I asked the question in the first place I heard one of the right-wingers on the radio trying to stir up his audience on the issue. So now I know it was just more Republican BS like the Muslim stuff. The worry I have is every little thing they bring out pushes a button with a certain percentage of the people, they push enough buttons they may end up winning. I also know if there is way to lose an election the Democrats usually find it.

[blonndee]

29. What is Hillary's position? Since this is clearly NOT a race-baiting question.

[ecstatic]

32. Race baiter. Just vote for McCain and stop

wasting the time of good democrats. That goes for your 2 recommenders also.