Mitch McConnell's ancestors owned slaves, according to a new report. He opposes reparations.

[DonViejo]

Last edited Tue Jul 9, 2019, 09:44 PM - Edit history (1)

By Eli Rosenberg July 8 at 8:04 PM

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a direct descendant of two slave owners in his family line, according to an NBC report published Monday.

James McConnell and Richard Daley, two of the Kentucky Republican’s great-great-grandfathers, owned at least 14 slaves in Limestone County, Ala., NBC reported, citing 19th-century census records. All but two of the slaves were female.

McConnell, who grew up in the area of Limestone County, has said he opposes reparations, the process of giving compensation to the descendants of slaves. The idea of reparations has recently animated the political debate surrounding racial injustice.

“I don’t think reparations for something that happened 150 years ago, when none of us currently living are responsible, is a good idea,” he said in June before a House committee held hearings on the matter. “We’ve tried to deal with our original sin of slavery by fighting a civil war, by passing landmark civil rights legislation. We’ve elected an African American president.”

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/09/mitch-mcconnells-ancestors-owned-slaves-according-new-report-he-opposes-reparations/

[democratisphere]

1. I don't believe in reparations. I would have bet Mitch McConnell's

family would have owned slaves. Says a lot!

[Skidmore]

2. Mitch is afraid

that he will have to part with some of his ill gotten gains.

[fescuerescue]

5. That's pretty unlikely imo

Reparations, if ever paid (again unlikely) will come from the treasury instead of individuals.

Very few individuals, even rich ones like Mcconnel have enough personal funds to pay out any meaningful amount to tens of thousands of descendents.

[Freethinker65]

3. Mitch has no control over what his ancestors did. Mitch has total control of the GOP Senate agenda.

Mitch is basing his policy decisions on what is currently best for Mitch holding onto power and enriching himself.

[clementine613]

4. Of course Slaveholder Mitch doesn't want reparations...

n/t