As an Independent presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may just succeed in taking from President Joe Biden a sizeable chunk of the all-important Black vote, thanks to his controversial stand on “reparations” — a policy of atonement (some would say, “appeasement”) about which, thus far, Biden has largely remained silent.
According to his campaign website, Kennedy “will appeal not to guilt and blame, but to the conscience of Americans of all races who want to repair the wounds of history.”
“Communities that were specifically targeted for destruction need to be specifically targeted for repair,” Kennedy states. “During Jim Crow, Black banks, businesses, hospitals, schools, and farms were targeted for destruction. Racists knew that without these, the Black community had no chance of building wealth. We must set federal dollars aside to rebuild Black infrastructure.”
According to the website, his proposed programs “complement direct redress payments or tax credits to the descendants of the victims of Jim Crow and other victims of persecution.”
“RFK Jr. will find ways to offer this redress that are legal, fair, and win the approval of Americans of all races,” his campaign boldly vows.
As part of his plan for “racial healing,” Kennedy aims to “reorient police to serve, not occupy, Black communities.”
“The federal government will work with localities to change police culture, with pro-community incentives, training in de-escalation, and cooperation with neighborhood organizations,” he promises.
Kennedy proposes a “$15 minimum wage, tax credits, childcare subsidies, and home-buying programs” for the Black community.
“Federally-backed 3% mortgages will extend home ownership to millions of Black families,” he states.
He intends to revive inner-city schools and combat drug addiction with “a nationwide network of low-cost or free addiction healing centers on organic farms available to anyone who sincerely wants to heal.”
He will “expand youth programs to make them available to every young person who wants to learn skills while serving society, the environment, the sick, the elderly, and so on” and will offer “free passport cards available to anyone who wants one.”
(Video: YouTube)
“Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., believes that all of these policies can be accomplished only by uniting Black and White working people in conscience and compassion,” the website states. “He seeks to inspire a spirit of common cause, that recognizes that no one can thrive when many are left out.”
While many have feared that, as an Independent candidate, Kennedy will take votes away from former President Donald Trump, his call for reparations now threatens to hamper Biden’s hopes for a second term.
“Now that RFK supports race-based reparations, his support amongst Republican voters should drop to near zero,” stated the popular D.C. Draino account on X. “He’ll now pull even more black Democrat votes from Biden, which will sink Biden’s chances in narrow swing states.”
Now that RFK supports race-based reparations, his support amongst Republican voters should drop to near zero
He’ll now pull even more black Democrat votes from Biden, which will sink Biden’s chances in narrow swing states https://t.co/fa1QDztKkI
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) October 18, 2023
Kennedy responded, arguing, “my policy of Targeted Community Repair is not the same as race-based reparations.”
“The program will make capital and resources available to the poorest and most desperate communities in America,” he explained. “These include inner cities, the rust belt, Appalachia, the devastated towns of the farm belt, etc.”
“Yes, because Black people are disproportionately poor, this program will benefit them disproportionately,” he said. “But the criteria will be indicators like poverty, addiction rates, violence, etc. Not skin color.”
.@DC_Draino, my policy of Targeted Community Repair is not the same as race-based reparations. The program will make capital and resources available to the poorest and most desperate communities in America. These include inner cities, the rust belt, Appalachia, the devastated… https://t.co/iveNdxnJ8X
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) October 18, 2023
Meanwhile, according to the New York Post, “Biden has faced pressure from activist groups and Democratic members of Congress to issue an executive order on reparations amid congressional gridlock. The White House has maintained that the president supports a ‘study’ into reparations, but has not specifically said whether he would sign a reparations bill.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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