Slavery a 'Blessing in Disguise' Says Arkansas State Rep.

State Republicans call his comments 'ridiculous'

Over the weekend, Arkansas Republicans scrambled to distance themselves from offensive comments made by two GOP politicians: a state representative and a candidate.

Rep. Jon Hubbard of Jonesboro claimed in his 2008 book (pictured) that slavery was a "blessing in disguise" for blacks:

The institution of slavery...may actually have been a blessing in disguise. The blacks who could endure those conditions and circumstances would someday be rewarded with citizenship in the greatest nation ever established upon the face of the Earth...Even while in the throes of slavery, their lives as Americans are likely much better than they ever would have enjoyed living in sub-Saharan Africa.

GOP state house candidate Charlie Fuqua is also receiving negative attention for stating in his 2012 book God's Law that all Muslim Americans should be deported. Fuqua has already served as Arkansas state rep. from 1996-96.

Among the many Republicans condemning the statements, Rep. Tim Griffin, R-AK called them "ridiculous, outrageous and have no place in the civil discourse of either party." He said he regrets giving $100 to the Hubbard and Fuqua campaigns, and asked them to donate his contributions to charity.

Via the Arkansas Times and the AP.

How should Republicans respond to these two party members?

[DARSB]

I don't suppose they could be fired from the. Party...

[Penn1699]

They have no business in public service.

[Laradian]

This is a typical Republican racist. He truly believes that because he was born with pink-colored skin, that such gives he him supremacy over others who are much darker in complexion.

No Democrat could ever say such a thing. Democrats just don't think like that.

[dances-weebles]

these guys are right up there on my list with akin and his comment about 'legitimate rape'. there is no room for these idiots in government at all... or even be brought out in public by their handlers.

[Denizen_Kate]

I agree, but I also believe in allowing them enough rope to hang themselves. Free speech is a good thing, else how will we know who are the real monsters and nut bags?

[dances-weebles]

@Denizen_Kate watch how they treat their wives and children, i suppose.

[ibcingu]

Hubbard must be a frend or relative of Akin. WHERE, in God's name, do they find these morons? You mean to tell me these states have nothing better to run for these offices? How damn pathetic.

[CoIntelProMike]

Republicans don't lie when it comes to racism and apathy. They need these two morons; if only to substantiate how the extreem right wing fundamentals feel deep down inside.

[Capt_Morgan02]

They aren't extreme right wing, they are extremely stupid @$$holes. Nobody condones this kind of thing. Right or Left.

[CoIntelProMike]

@Capt_Moran agrees with many who don't see the racism through the American dream. Example: "All that terrorizing and racial hate, was character building to us Americans."

[Capt_Morgan02]

@CoIntelProMike what the hell are you talking about?

[st-louie12]

There are, and will always be lies in politics. It's with the ease and frequency they are told, that is scary. Gullibility spawns such plain ol' Idiots such as these in believing they are so right that everyone else must be wrong. They are driving this bus and it's heading toward a cliff.

[CoIntelProMike]

@Capt_Morgan02 nothin just kissing you with satire. Not that I think you're attractive.

[Wilberhum]

They sound like typical Republicans to me.

[PNWest]

Given the current state of the party I suppose they will be given leadership positions. This kind of lunacy is rampant in the GOP.

[Bobolinsky]

I've heard that line of reasoning before. He made the same mistakes liberals make all the time. The first mistake he made was when he said that citizenship in the "greatest nation ever established upon the face of the Earth." It's supposed to be a "silver lining." The suffering endured by millions of people over the course of centuries is equalled out by the blessings that their descendants enjoy. His ignorance is astounding in his lack of consideration as to what might have become of the people who were enslaved, their descendants, and if Europe hadn't tried nation-building combined with monopolistic trade policies... the whole continent of Africa.

Another mistake that this guy made was to be historically ignorant and a bit of a throwback to the colonial mentality of "civilizing the savages." This is a mentality that is still encountered among the older generation of republicans... sort of like this guy.

[Bobolinsky]

Liberals make these mistakes too. First they remove Western Civilization and America specifically from the context in which it existed and then pass judgement on historical figures and the West in general based on 21st century morality. Historical Ignorance. Ignored is the fact that slavery existed all over the world until the West decided it wasn't a good idea.

Second, Liberals like to use the suffering of past generations as a rationalization for race-based laws like affirmative action that only flip race-based discrimination backed up by the force of law the other way.

[Bobolinsky]

There's a difference between this guy and liberals like Derrick Bell and Eric Holder. The difference is that this guy is historically challenged buffoon who made a couple mistakes through ignorance. Derrick Bell (creator of Critical Race Theory) and Eric Holder (practitioner of Critical Race Theory) made the same mistakes through intent.

[Romney2012]

These guys aren't racist, they just said some things that they should have known better than to say because the liberal media will take anything that any Republican has to say, and twist it against them!!!!!!!!

[DARSB]

I don't understand how quoting directly from the guy's book equals "twisting" by media.

[Romney2012]

@DARSB The first thing this article asked was, is this guy racist? But he is not racist! Read what the guy said, and if you think it is racist, then the media has made you mentally ill!!! Don't reply if you are gonna say what i think you will!!!!

[Cheenoguy]

If you think slavery was a good thing you are a racist moron. This isn't some "liberal twisting" it is called quoting. It is sad and pathetic that you proclaim moral superiority and victim hood for the mentally diseased at every turn. I am sure Republicans are victims of skewing for the sake of scandal just like Democrats have happen to them at Fox and the WSJ. When you claim victimhood status for jerks like this you simply show your true colors. If you support this guys statements you are a racist or put loyalty to the party above the good of country and its citizens.

[Romney2012]

@Cheenoguy For the last time, this man isn't racist! He said although slavery was a horrible thing, because of it, black families get to live in the greatest country this world has ever seen, because they had ancestors that were slaves!

[Cheenoguy]

@Romney2012 If you don't see that as racist then you are yourself a racist. There are many blacks in this country whose ancestors never came here to be slaves. Thus proving black people could still be here without the evils of slavery. And whose to say what their lives in Africa would be like if it weren't for European colonialism and the slave trade?
It's kinda like saying "It's a good thing Hitler killed all those Jews because otherwise they wouldn't have a modern day nation of Isreal."

[edindav]

What they should do is , if possible , sack them or make them stand down. They should then take them to Africa and turn them into slaves. You never know in five or six generations they may be free to become foodstamp and welfare eligible. Ignoramus is beyond these morons.

[Thomas_Paine]

What? This is how Republicans feel about it... What's the big deal?

[Elialia]

if the comments are true. then the speaker(s) should be fired. if false, go after the ones trying to slander the folks.
remember it was the Republicans that STOPPED slavery.
one has to remember that the Republican party was founded by anti-slavery activists in 1854. whereas the democrat party was founded by the slave owners.

[mimi57]

And you don't find that to be a racist comment?...

[Decent-Dissent]

@mimi57
No silly, i was giving a compliment ^_^

[mimi57]

@Decent-Dissent Surely, it was a comment that was not thought out before spoken...However, I heard no Liberals saying anything about Biden's statement about putting "ya'll back in chains." I guess if you are a
Liberal you can say anything, even if it's a racist slur, and that's okay. Why the
double standard. A racist remark is still a racist remark, no matter who it comes from.

[Decent-Dissent]

@mimi57
So when you view the drones who make minimum wage at work, you cant imagine them as slaves? Chained down in poverty? Whipped by management? Servents to a CEO pharoa to whome they are just a calculation from the top of the pyramid? Not even a little bit?

[mimi57]

@Decent-Dissent Oh most definitely I have...I have worked very hard jobs w/
mentally retarded people.(handicapped) I was paid 8.00 an hour, and risked
injury, in fact sustained a serious rib injury that I still suffer from... I did manage
to get a degree in social work, despite having three boys. It wasn't easy for
sure. I also came from a poor family, my dad had TB. and several lung diseases and my mom didn't work outside the home. So, I am very sensitive
to poverty issues... I do understand, and that is the reason I became a Republican after spending most of my life being a Democrat...I learned that
I will never, ever work for a poor person, they do not create jobs.

[Thomas_Paine]

All this is is the expression of racism that is at the heart of right wing conservative politics. Why are the Republicans trying to distance from their racist views?

[gammler]

Unfortunately the Republicans have half wits in their party too.

[Franciscomv]

Stupid

[Buzzfriendly]

I know not all republicans are racist, but there a reason for the stereotyping, and this is it. You can't keep saying your for the rights of the people and smaller government, when you have leaders in the party making these types of statements, being against gays marrying and against abortion.

[David944]

Thats just a stupid thing to say.

[TeamAmerica]

They sound like the Democrats who started the KKK.