Arkansas Republicans' comments on slavery, Muslims stir controversy

[TomCADem]

Source: Reuters

Republicans in Arkansas are struggling to get past the controversy generated by a state lawmaker who wrote that slavery might have benefited blacks and a candidate who has advocated expelling Muslims from the United States.

The Republican politicians' comments have been roundly criticized and have created an opportunity for Democrats ahead of the November 6 election. Arkansas has a Democratic governor but has voted Republican in the past three presidential elections.

In his self-published 2009 book titled "Letters to the Editor: Confessions of a Frustrated Conservative," state Representative Jon Hubbard of Jonesboro, Arkansas, writes that "the institution of slavery that the black race has long believed to be an abomination upon its people may actually have been a blessing in disguise."

Hubbard, a retired teacher and Vietnam veteran who was elected to the statehouse in 2010, also wrote, "Wouldn't life for blacks in America today be more enjoyable and successful if they would only learn to appreciate the value of a good education?"


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/06/us-usa-politics-arkansas-idUSBRE8950FU20121006

[PlanetBev]

1. That's like saying the Holocaust was a good thing

At least we have Israel now.

Jeez...Everyday there's more shit I can't fucking believe. I keep hoping I'll wake up from this nightmare.

[Godless in Seattle]

2. Jon Hubbard

An excellent argument for making abortions retroactive.

[gopiscrap]

47. Welcome to DU from Tacoma!!!

[James48]

3. Nasty man

"Charles Fuqua of Batesville, Arkansas, is currently seeking a House of Representatives seat. His e-book "God's Law: The Only Political Solution" came out in April on Amazon.

"I see no solution to the Muslim problem short of expelling all followers of the religion from the United States," he writes in his book, according to The Arkansas Times newspaper.

Fuqua, an attorney, served as a state representative from 1995 to 1998 before losing a state senate race.

Neither Hubbard nor Fuqua could be reached for comment. Both are running for election in November.

-----------------------

I cry daily for the hatred and ignorance that festers across our great nation.

[jwirr]

25. Are they going to win?

[YOHABLO]

39. They Will If We Refuse To Participate Politically

We have to fight back by placing sane, rational, and educated people in office as our representatives. If we don't, the consequences will be horrific.

[sinkingfeeling]

59. Probably, one only has to realize that their ideas are common in Batesville and

Jonesboro. I live in NW Arkansas.

[jwirr]

62. That is what I was asking specifically. I have relatives living in Arkansas.

[Turbineguy]

4. I don't know why people get worked up over this.

It should be expected by now. There is no limit to ignorance.

[efhmc]

36. I don't know. Maybe because his comments are cruel and bigoted and WRONG and people's

attention should be drawn to them to help reveal the true face of the Republican party.

[exboyfil]

56. Yes but his position of power comes from

his party being in control of the House. Linking that fact can be useful in other congressional races. Put other Republicans on the spot by asking them if someone who thinks the earth is 9,000 years old should be on the Science Committee. It really is pretty embarrassing.

[grantcart]

5. Of course he might be right, so in order to test his thesis I suggest that Jon undergo a 7 year

period of slavery picking cotton the ole fashioned way.

Of course to really see the benefits we would have to sell his wife and children away as well.

It is an experiment that would interest me a great deal and I would be most interested in hearing his opinions if 7 years after he had a chance to experience it himself.

[6502]

21. As a Black man I feel that I must say....

.... that this idea is TOTALLY EPIC!!!!!!

I SO WISH I HAD THOUGH IT THIS!!!!!

[grantcart]

28. welcome to DU and thanks

[efhmc]

33. Please. please e-mail this idea to him. I want him to do this experiment.

[yardwork]

45. Now that you mention it, that's a really good suggestion.

[reACTIONary]

46. +10 !!! (NT)

[defacto7]

6. You know, I have used

all the rotten words I can use for these kind of people and I am fresh out of things bad enough to say. I am speechless at the cruel stupidity of these jackasses.

[abolugi]

9. ^^

Boy... you and me both! After awhile what else is there to say about these Neanderthals... (and I DO apologize to all the Neanderthals who may be lurking for the comparison..)

[Rain Mcloud]

7. Hate!

The core of their values.
Now that the layers on the onion have been peeled away after being exposed as bullshit,the ugly inside has been exposed.
It's quite poetic actually,the Cuckold has to wear the horns proudly.

[hrmjustin]

8. I bet he is tea party.

[xfundy]

10. This is the real face of the repig party.

Most of the rest of them only talk like this at the dinner table, after church.

[Strelnikov_]

11. The Tea Party. Bless their pointed little heads. n/t

[bluetexas]

12. Petition calling for resignation

http://www.change.org/petitions/jon-hubbard-arkansas-house-of-representatives-resign-for-your-racist-and-ignorant-comments

[bluetexas]

13. His Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/jon.hubbard.52

[Scootaloo]

14. I'm so glad that a white man is finally talking sense to black people!

It's been so long in coming!


It's like Hubbard is campaigning to be the spokesperson of White Privilege... Oh.. .He's a Republican? Guess he won then.

[jwirr]

26. Not just the white privileged - whte scum as well.

[bluestateguy]

15. If you have to self-publish your book it is likely because it is a piece of crap

When no publisher will bite that means they are trying to tell you something.

[truthisfreedom]

16. They do our work for us by simply being themselves.

It's pretty remarkable that they have no discipline.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

17. "...Democratic governor but has voted Republican in the past three presidential elections..."

Am I the only one to find this kinda weird?

I mean, if we believe the hype that "Red Sates" consider "Demoncrats" to be pure evil than why do they pick them to run their state?

Could it be the presidential elections are rigged?

..............................................................naw,......can't be.......

[Hestia]

18. Down here in the Natural State, it's all about god and guns but don't trust a GOP governor

especially after Huckabuck. Along with that though, I blame the state Democratic party. Where in the hell are they? NEVER quoted in the paper, NEVER quote on tv news segments, EVER! I personally thought that as an Obama contributor, they would be knocking on my door asking for something, canvassing, whatever, but unless you are ensconced in their little clique, they don't want to hear from outsiders. If people aren't aware that there is another party besides the teabaggers, then who are you going to vote for? Also, remember Turd Blossom got his little buddy in as federal prosecutor and then he won 2nd district. It's neck and neck right now on that race. Dare we hope we get the Democratic Party back where it belongs in Ark & DC where they belong?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. Some of it may be remnants of the DLC. They wrote off a lot of "Red States" and left a token staff..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Leadership_Council

[Art_from_Ark]

30. Since 1968, Arkansas has voted for the Democratic candidate

only when he was a Southern governor. In other words, only 3 times-- 1976 for Jimmy Carter, and 1992 and 1996 for local boy Bill Clinton (and I'm not counting George Wallace in 1968, who had been a Democratic governor of a Southern state but ran on the American Independent Party ticket and won Arkansas's electoral votes). The thing is, Arkansans tend to be distrustful of the national Democratic Party, while the Democrats win state offices easily enough because they tend to be good ol' boys who steer clear of issues that cause Democrats to lose votes in Bible Belt states.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. The South has had more than it's share of corrupt Republicans who remind you of "Boss Hogg".

[Art_from_Ark]

49. That's not how it is in Arkansas

The closest thing we've had to a "Boss Hogg" Republican is Huckabee. And he wasn't particularly corrupt, just addle-headed.

The state has had only 3 Republican governors since 1876 (all of them since 1966, serving a total time of 16 years), and only 2 US Senators who have been Republican since that time (including the current one elected in 2010). The Democratic Party nearly always controls the state offices (in 2010, for example, there were few Republican candidates for state offices; token opposition to Democrats was offered by the Green Party). The state legislature (of which the "slavery wasn't so bad" legislator is a member) is almost always Democratic. The votes in elections are tallied by county officials, nearly all of whom are Democrats, and the final tally for statewide and national offices is authorized by the Secretary of State, who also is almost always a Democrat.

In Presidential elections, however, the state almost always goes for the Republican candidate because of the "guns, gays and abortion" issues that are the driving force of so many of the state's voters for national offices. And when the Republican presidential candidate wins the state's electoral votes, it's always by a sizable majority-- usually 55-45%, or even 60-40%. Thus, unless the Democratic candidate is a Southern governor, diverting presidential campaign money to Arkansas by the national Democratic Party has been a lost cause since 1968 (although I believe the state would have gone for RFK in '68).

[Spitfire of ATJ]

50. That's where Clinton got his "Conservadem" boogie on.

[Art_from_Ark]

51. Clinton actually tried to be a liberal governor in his first term

He was first elected in 1978, at a time when national politics were much more liberal than today. However, he was defeated by Frank White in 1980, who was riding on Reagan's ultraconservative coattails. Clinton came back to defeat White in 1982, but by then he had toned down his liberalism.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

52. Did you know Liberals were pissed when he picked Gore?

Gore was a known ConservaDem and Clinton actually said that he needed him to balance the ticket because he, himself was too Liberal.

Seems weird now.

[Art_from_Ark]

53. I never heard that before

In 1992, I had no Internet and was out of the state for the whole year, and my main information was coming from AP News feeds on the local cable TV community station, and the occasional blurb on AFRTS. I had heard that he had picked Gore for "balance", but I don't remember hearing the reason why.

But yes, that does seem weird now.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

54. His wife Tipper used to spout that "family values" crap like a Republican....

Another reason he picked Gore was because Gore had served in Vietnam while Clinton was called a draft dodger.

Now look at who the Republicans are running.

[sinkingfeeling]

61. Where are you? Very active Democratic Party in Washington County.

[sinkingfeeling]

60. Until 2010, 3 out of 4 Congressmen and both Senators were Democrats as well. Now it's

turning entirely 'red.' There's a real chance that come Nov. 7, Gov. Beebe will face a GOP majority in both the state house and senate.

[oldsarge54]

20. Did anyone explain

Just how the terrible loses endured in the Middle Passage was a blessing in disquise? How about the deliberate division of families. How about selling this Republican to a black family? Make him walk a few miles in slave slippers and find out what it was like. Sick.

As for the anti-muslim commentator, does he really believe in the Constituion?

[pstokely]

22. Will the Kocksuckers pull out their $ now?

nt

[Joe Bacon]

44. No.

Because these are the views of the Kochroach Bros.

[Botany]

24. send him a note

[e-mail]

[davidthegnome]

27. Wow...

Just when you think the stupid is so overwhelming it can't get any more profound... this asshole comes out with this

""Wouldn't life for blacks in America today be more enjoyable and successful if they would only learn to appreciate the value of a good education?" "


I don't know Sir, why don't you ask any of the black graduates you know? Why not come over to my University here in Northern Maine - and ask them if they appreciate the value of a good education. They're working their asses off and I have no doubt that at least the majority of them will become productive and decent members of society. I have no doubt at all, Sir, that they will become far better educated than you. You were a teacher? Seriously?

I strongly suggest that you return to school. It seems that you do not appreciate the value of a good education.

[Suji to Seoul]

29. The Rape of Nanking has long believed to be an abomination upon its people may have been a blessing

in disguise.

Look at the decrease in population it caused. . .and how many women were introduced to new, exciting lovers?

WHAT A FUCKING CREEP!!! REPUBLICAN FROM THE SOUTH!!!! NOT FUCKING SURPRISED!!!!

[DBoon]

31. Does Jon understand it was *illegal* to teach slaves to read and write?

and that one of the great accomplishments of the Freedmen's Bureau after the Civil War was to establish a public education system missing in the South?

[iandhr]

32. This kind of stuff doesn't surprise me anymore.

[efhmc]

34. Would you please add his e-mail address and the petition link to your orginal post.

Thanks.

[yurbud]

37. "Wouldn't life for Republicans be better if they learned to appreciate a good education?"

Instead of telling each other over and over about Jesus riding dinosaurs and economic darwinism?

[yurbud]

38. I wonder if that nitwit knows "Muslim problem" is a direct echo of "Jewish problem"?

You read Mein Kampf too often, it starts to seep out in your writing.

[YOHABLO]

40. To Think That This Guy Was a Teacher Makes Me Vomit

Unfortunately, there are many so called ''teachers'' out there filling young people's heads full of shit. They are teaching on every level .. from elementary through college ... and like sponges the young eat this shit up. Don't forget that Newt was a college professor as well. Yuck.

[BrainMann1]

41. It's easy to say when it is not you, Brother.

[madrchsod]

42. he now thinks it is acceptable to say in public

he`s always said such thing in private.

we really have sunk to the bottom of political discourse in this country

[muntrv]

43. Hey Hubbard! If slavery was so great, why don't you become a slave yourself?

[Le Taz Hot]

48. What the hell

do you say to something like that? And he's an ELECTED official.

[neeksgeek]

55. I had this argument with my ex-wife's grandmother, once...

Her basic theory was that "colored people" (her words, this was in 1997!), were happier when they were segregated, and even happier when they were slaves (she was old but not that old...).

I told her that what she meant was, people like her were happier. She didn't like that one bit.

[ck4829]

57. "I see no solution to the Muslim problem short of..."

Wasn't there another guy who thought up 'solutions' to 'problem' populations?

[SpartanDem]

58. I'll bet he thinks the civil war was fought over states rights

150+ years later and you still have assholes from the South trying to justify their past.