He wasn't advocating socialism. It was worse.
Much was made Monday of a 2001 interview in which Barack Obama lamented the failure of the civil rights movement to bring about «redistributive change» to achieve «political and economic justice in this society.»
Of course, this sounds like socialism on its face. Redistributing the wealth is socialism, right? From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
But that misses the context. Obama was referring to the civil rights movement which secured important rights, which he disparaged as mere negative liberties, for African-Americans.
No, Obama wasn't suggesting that the Warren Court failed to achieve socialism. What he was lamenting was the failure of the civil rights movement to demand and the Warren Court to provide reparations for slavery and Jim Crow laws.
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2 comments
1 year and 9 months ago
I've always wondered how a country would go about providing reparations so long after the fact. Would someone have to provide proof of lineage? Does it leave newer immigrants out of luck? What about others who are socioeconomically disadvantaged?
If redistributive change merely refers to reparations for a certain type of discrimination, and others aren't going, literally, to reap benefits, won't there be some gnashing of teeth from those who aren't of color but still expecting handouts?
Can one do class warfare in the same class?
Neither interpretation is all that appealing to me, frankly.
Sigh
1 year and 9 months ago
I wish the MSM would look at his past a little more. Unfortunately, I don't think they care, after all this was found and posted by a blogger.
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