Davis May Back Slavery Era Reparations

NewsMax ^ | 4/25/02 | Carl Limbacher and crew

[NormsRevenge]

California's Governor Gray Davis is siding with Jesse Jackson in seeking reparations for African-Americans and other minorities whose ancestors were the alleged victims of slavery era insurance policies.

"Clearly, we want to right any wrongs and do justice to people who were taken advantage of," Davis told a conference in San Jose organized by Jackson's scandal ridden Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Davis failed to explain how he plans to do justice to people who are long dead.

The remarks were spurred by the coming release of a California Department of Insurance study on slave-era insurance practices which collected data on businesses that insured slaves, much the same as they insured cargo or property.

At a news conference, Jackson told reporters that the California Department of Insurance study on slave-era insurance practices represented "a ground-breaking national issue." He said the findings, might raise the possibility of reparations from private businesses owed to African Americans -- and Californians of Chinese and Mexican descent.

"We do know that the same ships that brought Africans over, to become African Americans . . . brought in Chinese to the West Coast," said Jackson, referring to immigrant Chinese laborers, known as "coolies," who worked on the railroads and other building projects, including the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta levees.

According the San Francisco Chronicle, Jackson said African Americans, as well as Mexican Americans, also appeared to have been the victims of unethical insurance business practices in which they were charged more than whites for the same services.

At an editorial board meeting at The Chronicle this week, Jackson said he would not expect reparations to be paid to individuals, but to nonprofit groups, educational programs, arts facilities or other groups that help minorities.

Such as his own Rainbow/PUSH Coalition?

Jackson praised Davis and state Insurance Commissioner Harry Low for assisting the current study and "laying out the predicate . . . which will go a long way toward a national remedy of this crisis. If we correct a wrong, and make a crooked way straight, everybody wins."

Davis refused to divulge his position on reparations, saying he would await the release of the study. But he noted pointedly: "I signed the legislation that commissioned the study by the insurance commissioner."

The law, which took effect in January, authorized state researchers to collect data on slaveholder insurance policies issued before 1865.

Davis told the Chronicle that Insurance Commissioner Harry Low "will indicate in detail which, if any, companies have not treated their policyholders properly, and what the appropriate remedies are for those policyholders."

Dead policy holders! Long dead policy holders.

Having the highly controversial issue of reparations raised during his campaign for re-election could be a major political headache for Davis, Chronicle political reporter Carla Marinucci suggested, noting that "the governor must satisfy the concerns of legions of minority voters in his Democratic base, who were represented in force yesterday at Jackson's business conference."

But, she added, "71 percent of the Californians who voted in the 2000 presidential election were non-Latino and white, studies have shown.

Despite that, Davis suggested yesterday that he would side with Jackson on the issue.

"Clearly, we want to right any wrongs and do justice to people who were taken advantage of, if that is the case," Davis said. "I believe that will be the case."

Wouldn't forcing insurance companies to pay for alleged wrongs done to people who lived in the 1860s, the cost of which would ultimately be paid in the forms of higher premiums for Californians now living, be taking advantage of them.

[NormsRevenge]

Sounds like ya already made up yur lil mind on this one, Guv... Silly man!

SEMPER FI
Norm

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Davis is a gonner.

[Poohbah]

He's trying to maximize the base. Looks like he's written off the undecideds. Maybe he's hoping they'll stay home instead of turning out to vote against him.

[Veggie Todd]

Oh, that's just what California needs - The Guv and The Criminal Blackmailer Thief getting all chummy.

[FairWitness]

"We do know that the same ships that brought Africans over, to become African Americans . . . brought in Chinese to the West Coast," said Jackson, referring to immigrant Chinese laborers, known as "coolies,"

If the "same ships" served both the east and west coast they were even faster and busier than I thought.

[socal_parrot]

I think Davis' continuing move to the left will backfire. He already has the lefty wacko vote. It amazes me that this guy was on the fast track for the Dem Presidential Nomination at one point.

[Mfkmmof4]

Sounds like he is looking for black votes. Mr. Davis I want reparations for taking too many taxes out of my check.

[MadRobotArtist]

Welcome to the death of America, and the beginning of a potential race war. I resent anyone demanding reparations as my forefathers NEVER owned slaves. Why must I a white person be held accountable for the actions of people long dead who were not the majority of Americans? If you look at who is going to pay the tab for this, it will be corporate, and white America. If I wanted to be enslaved, I'd go to Africa where it's still being practiced today. If there are to be reparations paid, then ALL blacks who receive a payment must be repatriated back to Africa, NEVER to return.

[Baytoh]

Calif has a +/- $15b budget deficit this year. Where's the money going to come from? Davis is such a pander bear.

[Flint]

The Spanish held Indians as slaves in California. I sure hope that they get their cut of the cake.

[Veggie Todd]

I think it's time to storm the castle.

[KSCITYBOY]

Hey hey goodbye. Davis is desperate and on the way out. Reparations will just make his exit by a bigger margin.

[Digger]

You know that the fix is in if Simon does not win.

[w_over_w]

"It amazes me that this guy was on the fast track for the Dem Presidential Nomination at one point."

Why? Name one DPN since Harry Truman that wasn't a squirrelly lib. Also, do this without correcting my spelling/grammar! (Hee-Hee)

[RoseofTexas]

I agree! I hate to say this, but in CA. blacks and hispanics don't see eye to eye. This is NOT a popular idea, and Californians are already paying through the nose for electricity, they will have a royal FIT when they find out that their insurance premiums will sky rocket!! I believe, Hispanics out number Blacks there. BUH-BYE Davis!

[Landru]

~eh?

:o)

[KC_Conspirator]

I knew Davis was pretty desperate, but I did not realize actually how desperate he was. This issue has about 90% (thats poll tested) of the American people against it and how the heck is going to tell all those Mexican-Americans in CA that they owe money for slavery.

My advice, when your opponent is taking himself out of the game, best get out the way (although a little egging on never hurt).

[socal_parrot]

You got me there. Also, if this is an attempt to get the black vote, blacks a may be the smallest minority in California. I don't think promising "Coolie" reparations will make Asians flock to the polls to vote for him.

[Green Knight]

That's EXACTLY what this is about. This is essentially a bribe. "Vote for me this november and I'll cut you a check". As if turning a $30 billion surplus into a $15 billion deficit wasn't bad enough. Now he wants to soak white California voters to buy black votes. I am SO glad I don't live in California! Seems Davis is determined to obliterate California's economy.

Though with someone like Davis as his opponent, Simon has a damn good chance of winning. Barring a horrible mistake on his part, if he doesn't win then the fix is DEFINITELY in. Either that or the voters in California are ridiculously stupid and deserve what they get.

[TommyDale]

He's an idiot. Why not pay the Mexicans for stealing California in the 1800's as well?