(J. David Ake/AP)
Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. displays a bracelet given to him by a woman in New Hampshire who's son died in Iraq, during a newsmakers interview with The Associated Press in Washington, Tue, Oct. 16.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Wednesday the Senate should apologize for slavery and segregation, calling them “dark chapters in our history.”
McCain said he would support a planned resolution by fellow Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, who is also seeking the presidency, to apologize for racist laws, some of which ended more than a century ago.
“They were federal policies,” Brownback told the Boston Globe on Monday. “They were wrong. The only way for us to move forward . . . is at the end of the day acknowledging those, taking ownership for it, and asking for forgiveness.”
McCain agreed with Brownback’s approach.
This story continues belowAdvertisement
“I would support it, because I think it's appropriate,” he said in response to questions from The Examiner on the campaign trail. “I certainly would support any recognition of the dark chapters in our history.”
Spokesmen for other presidential candidates, including Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, the only top-tier black candidate, declined to comment on the planned Brownback apology. Also silent were Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican candidates Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson.
Nothing that “various states have adopted similar resolutions,” McCain emphasized that words alone cannot make amends for America's past policies of racism. He said the U.S. should “continue our efforts to make sure that all Americans have equal opportunity to take part in this great, great free-enterprise system of ours.”
The Arizona Republican pledged to “address the issues of poverty and lack of education in parts of America, including parts of South Carolina, parts of my state, that some of our Hispanic students are not getting the same quality of education we want them to.”
McCain made the remarks during a two-day swing through South Carolina, a state that effectively ended his presidential campaign in 2000 when Republicans voted instead for George W. Bush. McCain used the visit to attack Clinton for advocating taxpayer funding of a museum on the Woodstock rock concert. McCain also slammed Giuliani for fighting against the presidential line-item veto, which McCain called an essential tool for controlling federal spending.
Your comments will appear shortly after they are posted.
Comments
Examiner Reader says:
I agree with McCain about the necessity of an apology, but how it is done I do not know. Money is shallow, and seems like bribery, but we cannot just keep sitting back here and not say anything about the horrible treatment slaves went through. I would most definitely want an apology.
However, it would seem very ironic if Obama, who is now our president, apologized as he is half Black. A Black man apologizing for what White people did...but maybe people would appreciate it more from him because he would mean it. It would still seem like he is cleaning up another mess belonging to/caused by someone else.
Has/would McCain stand before America and personally apologize on behalf of his ancestors - who were slaveowners in Mississippi before the Civil War? Would he welcome, acknowledge and embrace the African -American relatives born from the same loins that sired his father? Ummm, how about a DNA test?
Has/would McCain stand before America and personally apologize on behalf of his ancestors - who were slaveowners in Mississippi before the Civil War? Would he welcome, acknowledge and embrace the African -American relatives born from the same loins that sired his father? Ummm, how about a DNA test?
My school is not very supportive of McCain. But 25% wants him as president. I am a supporter of John McCain. I really don'tknow whatg I was supposed to write in here. But i told you about my school! :)
Senator McCain had a moment of guilt that's all. His great grandfather Wm. A. McCain owned 51 slaves in the 1850 Mississippi Slave Schedule. His mood swing behavior started long ago! He should apologize for walking two steps ahead of his wife.
Examiner Reader said: Re: Sammon column on McCain's fall - I don't think it's even his voting record on immigration. Nixon said that the worst sin a candidate can commit is to be boring. I think we're all just tired of McCain. We no longer look at him as "war hero" or "maverick;" but simply a tired old workhorse that is past his prime. That's unfortunate, but the voting public, as well as that part of the public that is polled from time to time, has never been terribly sophisticated.**** ARE YOU F&*%ING KIDDING??? People are tired of McCain because he built a reputation on a set of core beliefs and then systematically abandoned every damn one of them! After 9/11 folks thought McCain might be one of those rare pols who had integrity. HA! He's a weasel. Your saying "it's not immigration" is wishful thinking - IT IS IMMIGRATION!
McCain proves that the "Great Society" is a misnomer. He also proves that bleeding heart liberals have not cornered the market on white guilt. Between erasing the borders and this, McCain seems to be subscribing to the almost suicidal pathos of establishment white politicians. It does nothing but give racists everywhere fuel that they need. McCain apparently agrees with the minority interests who feel that justice means revenge - not equality.
The more the US government does something "for" the black community the worse off it is. I think equal treatment before the law is enough.
The apology means nothing to me, I wasn't a slave and don't expect anything from the government. As long as my rights as a US Citizen are protected, I could give a flying fig.
It probably should be done, just to keep the complainers happy. But that may be followed by a demand for reparations and I can't think of anything worse. That would mean people trying to count how "black" they are. Bad idea.
Now ask McCain would he support ending the use and display of the confederate flag... He is on the record supporting displaying that flag which symbolize racism, slavery and hate...
I didn't see anyone say all is fair now. But, blacks who would follow the likes of Sharpton and Jackson or some idiot rapper should instead choose their heroes and role models more wisely, otherwise they will never rise above their hate. The Bill Cosbys and Colin Powells of this world did not sit back feeling sorry for themselves waiting for someone to give them a perceived entitlement. Like most people in this world they earned the respect of millions through hard work. Unfortunately, they are castigated as Uncle Toms for having the guts to leave the Democrat party's plantation. Some blacks complain that they are discriminated against when trying to find a better job, and I have no doubt this occurs. But many times they are not hired because when they speak they simply cannot be u n d e r s t o o d. Colloquialisms and slurring accents will not make it in the business world. If you don't sound intelligent, you won't be perceived as intelligent.
Having failed to solve the black-white race problem, American elites made things worse in 1965 by opening the United States to mass non-white immigration from Latin America, Asia and Africa. Thanks to mass immigration, within this century non-whites are likely to displace whites as the majority in many of their historic homelands.
The trillions of dollars spent to lift blacks out of poverty since the 1960s—money largely taken from white taxpayers—has not had the transformative effect the architects of the Great Society hoped for. Today, the Great Society’s spiritual heirs blame persistent white “racism,” and demand even more money and penance from whites.
Oh yeah everything is fair now. Why bring it up. It's a waste of time. Hard work and education is what people are judged on in or society today> please The fact is a Black man with a college degree makes significantly less than his White counterpart with a H.S. diploma. Where is the fairness in that. I don't blame some people for playing the "racism is over card" I wouldn't be so quick to give up White Priviledge either.
who in the heck does he want to apologize to and what good will that do now? Yes, it was a terrible thing; I think we've recognized that and abolished unequal treatment. Don't we have more current things to work on now?
"... but had the sellers (Africans) known the level of inhumane acts that would be afforded them, they most assuredly wouldn't have."
This is an absurd statement with no basis in fact. It is merely your personal opinion aimed at minimizing the black man's inhumanity to another black man. Blacks sold other blacks. Period.
And for all of you history buffs, blacks did sell slaves, but had the sellers (Africans) known the level of inhumane acts that would be afforded them, they most assuredly wouldn't have. And aside from the sold bought scenario, it was the traders (ship owners) that trapped and beat slaves across the head for this to prosper to the levels it did. And the numbers will never be known of the amount of humans that were taken from the continent of Africa. Anytime you have South America that has the highest number of African descent outside of Africa, what does that tell you? From South America to the tip of Canada including the Caribbean, all of those blacks in one form or the other journeyed from Africa. And in many cases we cannot understand one another, but we all have nothing but love for one another even though we cannot understand, you have to be from the culture to understand it.
Nobody today had anything to do with it, but PLENTY of people are benefiting from it today !!! However, apologize for what? I don't agree with so called apology act. To me it is just another attempt to get a backing for the presidency. One minute he for illegal immigration, the next he is against it. Sorry, but his words hold no foundation to me. Also, when America apologized to the Japanese they got reparations, do you honestly think this nation is going to do the same for blacks? I guess is NO !! So keep your apologies and in due time all of the wrongs will be made rights!!
If I have to apologize for buying the slaves, is Rev Jackson going to apologize for selling them? White people didn't enslave Africans, they went to Africa to buy them because that was where they were sold... by Africans.
This is just one example of why John McCain will never be president. Slavery was a terrible thing, but this senate had nothing to do with slavery. I had nothing to do with slavery. YOU had nothing to do with slavery. There is no one left alive who had anything to do with slavery. This government and the American people have no reason to apologize for that which occurred over 150 years ago. To do so merely enables Sharpton and Jackson to perpetuate their own brand of racism.
One more thing...we have a Holocaust Museum (it is overwhelming) how come we don't have a slavery museum? Wouldn't it be good to truly let ALL the children of this country see what ALL their forefathers went through to get just where we are right now? Wouldn't it be good to show them exactly what people are capable of but for the sake of commerce and financing this great country? They should have it. The story should include even the ugly parts...It wasn't a dream that got us where we are now, it was a nightmare. I agree, we should never forget what humans are capable of doing to a fellow human being.
He must surely be desperate if he thinks he can get the black vote from Hillary and Obama with that one.
This country will never apologize about slavery. I doubt they will formally ever talk about it and its lasting effects not only on Black people, but on White and Native Americans as well.
The Senate will never do something that may open themselves up to liability (most of them are slick lawyers)...why you think Hillary and Obama won't comment on this. They are surely hoping it just disappears into the other barrage of headlines!
McCain, the great proponder of democracy in the rest of the world, should personally apologize to the citizens of DC for voting against representation in the Congress....what a hippo-crit!!
these politicians will say anything to get a vote! too bad the native americans dont have a voting block as big as the africans do. Then we would really hear it!
you must be kidding. these candidates will say anything and pander to anybody to get votes. Too bad the native americans dont have a voting block as big as the africans do
Oh Please ... haven't we gotten past this yet? ... can't we all just get along? ...aren't there enought other things to worry about? ...why not focus on current race relations instead of digging up old one and rehashing them over and over and over again?
McCain was just on O'Reilly saying his fall was due to his support for the war....this proves how incredibly deep in denial or fantasy McCain is.
I emailed O'Reilly telling him exactly what Sammon has written here before I even read it.
McCains mysterious new support for border enforcement is merely his attempt to keep his senate seat...forget it John, you utterly failed us on your watch and it's now over.
Citizens of Arizona! Call the RNC and demand a replacement at your Senate primary for this idiot. Lets get someone in there who's got the first clue.
This article is right on target! McCain is out of touch with main stream conservatives. His support of the Amnesty Bill is an abomination. He is a "closet liberal", a stealth candidate of the liberal media.
Re: Sammon column on McCain's fall - I don't think it's even his voting record on immigration. Nixon said that the worst sin a candidate can commit is to be boring. I think we're all just tired of McCain. We no longer look at him as "war hero" or "maverick;" but simply a tired old workhorse that is past his prime. That's unfortunate, but the voting public, as well as that part of the public that is polled from time to time, has never been terribly sophisticated.
McCain with Trent Lott McConnel Bush and good old boy Teddy tried to slip the immigration bill through without even looking at the cost to the taxpayers. Some of these senators will pay the price their next election of course not Teddy Kennedy he got reelected after things he did that hardly anyone else could do.
sounds like the tail wagging the dog. and in case you don't know what I mean... I mean the fired fund raisers should have fired John McCain and looked for a viable candidate.
RSS
Home
Politics
SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED
)
Comments
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate
Vote on this comment: agree or disagree | Report as inappropriate