The Lone Libertarian

I overheard this being talked about at the office yesterday. I thought it was just a rumination, not actually based in fact. However, I was wrong.

Memphis’s own Congressman Steve Cohen (D-9^th) has performed the political grandstand of the century.

For those whom don’t live in Memphis, or Tennessee, Cohen is a white Jew, who represents a majority black district. He was denied membership to the Congressional Black Caucus. The CBC has donated $5,000 to his Democratic opponent Nikki Tinker (whom is black) during the primary cycle. Certain polls show that the primary season for Cohen is going to be very difficult.

Due to the 3-way split vote between the Democratic contenders last primary season, Cohen won the nomination by a razor thin 31%.

With all of those things against him, he performs the ultimate pander, and introduces HR194 “Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.”

Democratic opponent, Nikki Tinker has a great point:

“I find it very interesting that Mr. Cohen would call for a national apology during a heated election when he clearly needs African-American votes. For over 20 years while serving in the Tennessee General Assembly, he never thought to ask the State of Tennessee for an apology, not once.”

Someone remind me, how long has it been since the US allowed slavery? Are there any slaves still alive to be apologized to?

Hasn’t the US already apologized for this ad-infinitum via every civil rights bill and affirmative action bill?

Anyone else see this as a waste of time?

I think that Cohen has his jurisdictions confused as well. The federal government did not pass Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that were passed primarily in the southern states. As far as I know, every state that had enacted them has repealed and apologized for them.

How many more times will this nation apologize to the dead?

From the resolution text:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow;

(2) apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow; and

(3) expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.