RFK Jr. to support reparations for Black American community by means of targeted government-funded programs, not cash giveaways

10/26/2023 / By Arsenio Toledo

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vowed to support reparations for the African American community if elected president in the latest pronouncement that can directly threaten President Joe Biden’s left-wing voting base.

Kennedy, who recently ditched the Democratic Party’s presidential primary following allegations that the party machinery had rigged the nomination for Biden, has published a statement on his campaign website approving of providing Black communities with tax credits, direct redress payments and federal investment dollars. (Related: Marist poll: RFK Jr.’s independent run could help Biden in 2024.)

“Communities that were specifically targeted for destruction need to be specifically targeted for repair,” wrote the Kennedy campaign on the part of his campaign website devoted to platform positions on “Civil Rights” and “Racial Healing.”

“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,” the page continued. “These 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.”

Kennedy argued that targeted programs and investments, rather than no-strings-attached cash giveaways, would be more acceptable for all Americans and “less likely to contribute to polarization between Blacks and Whites,” especially if the investments and programs benefit everyone.

“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,” said Kennedy. “These include inner cities, the rust belt, Appalachia, the devastated towns of the farm belt.”

“Yes, because Black people are disproportionately poor, this program will benefit them disproportionately,” he added. “But the criteria will be indicators like poverty, addiction rates, violence, et cetera. Not skin color.”

Speaking out in favor of reparations could take more voters away from Biden

Kennedy’s decision to support reparations comes as he continues to try and court both Republican and Democratic voters alike.

Despite regular calls from the left-wing of the Democratic Party as well as activist groups, Biden has largely been silent on the issue of reparations, leading to widespread frustration, especially among the party’s disillusioned left-leaning voters.

These activist groups and far-left elected officials have called on Biden to issue some kind of executive order on reparations to avoid congressional gridlock, similar to how he used executive orders to issue student loan forgiveness.

The only thing the White House has done is say that it is committed to conducting some kind of study into reparations. Biden himself has not specifically said whether he would sign any kind of bill in support of reparations.

Political commentators note that Kennedy’s support for reparations should harm Biden’s chances of winning key swing states, as more Black voters in those states turn to Kennedy.

Watch this clip from “Battleground” on Red Voice Media as host Sean Parnell reacts to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to support reparations for the African-American community.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.