Abraham Lincoln, Racist - NYTimes.com

If you look at many of his political decisions he was a very practical man and shared the racism of most of the white population of the US in that period. One of the big ideas back during the Civil War seemed to be shipping the freed slaves back to Africa.

"More problematic were Lincoln’s views on race. He held opinions not very different from those of the majority of his racist countrymen. Even if slavery was wrong, 'there is a physical difference between the white and black races that will for ever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality.' His solution was a form of ethnic cleansing: shipping blacks off to Liberia, or Haiti, or Central America — anywhere as long as it wasn’t the United States." from the above linked NYTimes article.

I won't judge an 1800's man by today's standards. The great legacy he left behind excuses any personal "flaws" he might have been laden with.

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Abraham Lincoln, Racist - NYTimes.com

If you look at many of his political decisions he was a very practical man and shared the racism of most of the white population of the US in that period. One of the big ideas back during the Civil War seemed to be shipping the freed slaves back to Africa.

"More problematic were Lincoln’s views on race. He held opinions not very different from those of the majority of his racist countrymen. Even if slavery was wrong, 'there is a physical difference between the white and black races that will for ever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality.' His solution was a form of ethnic cleansing: shipping blacks off to Liberia, or Haiti, or Central America — anywhere as long as it wasn’t the United States." from the above linked NYTimes article.

In his own words in letters he wrote, it is obvious Lincoln was a racist and a liar. All in all, he was not a very nice fella.

A Republican is a Republican. Nothing much has changed since 1865 among the Cons.

The article linked, at NYTimes, is from 2008. I think the only reason this article and the subject of Lincoln considering blacks as inferior to whites is being brought out now--3.5 years later--is because of Obama being President now.

I think it's an attempt at getting us to draw some conclusion about how Lincoln would have viewed Obama as President.

I also think it's an attempt to further paint Republicans as "racists", to give this DUD of a president (Obama) somebody ELSE to blame for dividing this nation instead of uniting it as Lincoln "consistently" did.

Historically it was the Democrat Party which was the party of Racists.

It was the Republican Party that freed the slaves.

The Democrat Party was the party of segregation.

It was the Democrats who had to be dragged to the table to grant civil rights to people of color.

Originally Posted by RichieLion;50***9

I won't judge an 1800's man by today's standards. The great legacy he left behind excuses any personal "flaws" he might have been laden with.

You mean standards actually change? Values, morals, beliefs? Perhaps with regard to gay marriage, woman's choice....stuff like that? Wow, who would have thought it.

Originally Posted by DaleMN

You mean standards actually change? Values, morals, beliefs? Perhaps with regard to gay marriage, woman's choice....stuff like that? Wow, who would have thought it.

is there a point??

measuring what a person was centuries ago with our current yard stick me has no merit, adds no value and means absolutely nothing about the person.

What would be said about women not being allowed out of the cabin back then?

btk

Originally Posted by billethkid

measuring what a person was centuries ago with our current yard stick me has no merit, adds no value and means absolutely nothing about the person.

What would be said about women not being allowed out of the cabin back then?

btk

Then why is Woodrow Wilson's racism being brought in as part of the current thinking of various Progressivists? Its a different world from that of the 1910s-- almost 100 years ago-- from that of Progressivists like Barack Obama, Hillary and William Clinton, etc.


The 1910s were one of the worst-- if not the worst-- period for race relations in the US.

perhaps it does no more than demonstrate that speech writers and ad copy writers only do enough research to get a good or interesting or controversial match to fill in a point.....with very little rationale or real thought included.

btk