Obama Panders With Support For Reparations

Barack Obama has seemingly come out in favor of reparations for those minorities whom he believes have been the victims of abuse and injustice:

"I personally would want to see our tragic history, or the tragic elements of our history, acknowledged," the Democratic presidential hopeful said.

"I consistently believe that when it comes to whether it's Native Americans or African-American issues or reparations, the most important thing for the U.S. government to do is not just offer words, but offer deeds."

Let's focus on African-Americans.  While slavery has undoubtedly left an egregious stain on the American narrative, the very notion of reparations -- cash payments to an ancestor to provide recompense for an injustice -- is simply nonsensical.  Isn't it enough that the nation has sought to address the mistakes of the past through the adoption of changes in laws and jurisprudence -- some more effective than others -- that have themselves resulted in upheaval and pain?  Need we be reminded that many of these changes were wrought from a conflict that claimed the lives of over 600,000 Americans and forever altered the American body politic?

Even if reparations were considered a meritorious concept, what kind of responsibility would accompany the expenditure of something akin to "blood money?"  Can you imagine if someone took some of their reparation money down to Best Buy and purchased a plasma television or sound system?  That in and of itself would debase the very concept of awarding money in payment for the inhumane behavior of the past.

Enough about reparations.  It's time to look forward, not back.  Senator Obama's pandering to minority journalists eschews the very politics of the past he claims to abhor.

HT:  Hugh Hewitt