McConnell says he and Obama are both 'descendants of slave holders'

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) brushed off a question about an NBC News report that his great-great-grandfathers owned slaves, saying it puts him in the same camp as former President Barack Obama.

McConnell appeared to smile as a reporter asked him during a weekly press conference if he knew that his family once owned slaves, and if it changed his position on reparations for African Americans.

"You know I found myself once again in the same position as President Obama, we both oppose reparations and we both are the descendants of slave holders," McConnell told reporters.

NBC News reported Monday that McConnell's great-great-grandfathers, James McConnell and Richard Daley, owned a total of at least 14 slaves in Alabama.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/452241-mcconnell-says-he-and-obama-are-both-descendants-of-slave-holders?amp&__twitter_impression=true

[BeyondGeography]

1. What a vile POS

[TDale313]

2. God, he's such a racist fuck.

Difference is, McConnell still wishes he could be one.

[groundloop]

3. I just did a quick search and could find nothing to back up McTurtle

Also, on the off chance that McTurtle might be correct remember of this - slave owners had a nasty habit of raping their slaves.

[Jose Garcia]

7. Not hard to find:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.obama02mar02-story.html

[groundloop]

10. OK..... McTurtle is still a prick

There were an infinite number of ways he could have responded that would have been better than that.

[jberryhill]

12. How would that even be relevant to anything?

Barack Obama's father was from Kenya.

McConnell is referring to Obama's mother's side of the family.

[Honeycombe8]

16. It's irrelevant altogether whose ancestors had slaves.

It might be interesting, but it's irrelevant, IMO. Whether it's Obama, McConnell, me, you.... doesn't make any difference.

[MurrayDelph]

26. You mean the same mother's side of the family

that Republicans tried to say didn't count towards Obama being a citizen?

[jberryhill]

28. Hey. Come to think of it....

If being a descendant of a slaveowner doesn’t make you a US citizen, then I just don’t know what.

[yardwork]

36. It's as American as hot dogs and apple pie.

[The_Counsel]

4. Well, He's Probably Right. Ann Dunham WAS White. McConnell Is Still Being a Dick, Though...

As per usual, I might add...

[Fritz Walter]

5. I'd be willing to chip in on an Ancestry DNA test on Yertl

First, to convince us that he is human, and not a mutated reptile.
Second, if there's any chance that he has genetic markers shared with People of Color, it would be fun to watch how his supporters would react.

[mac56]

6. Seems pretty sure of himself, doesn't he?

[Corgigal]

8. Please Obama

come here and hang out with Amy McGraft. Revenge is best served cold.

Trump is going to stump for our weasel governor, come that day. Shake it up, the hills are red but where the people live is blue. I would love to see you and hear an elegant speakers again.

[Bayard]

38. Yes, please!

Would love to see Amy and Obama on the stage together here.

[Runningdawg]

9. They want us to believe all white people

were slave holders and all black people were kidnapping and selling each other. It's ALL BS.

[tymorial]

17. Who is they

[flyingfysh]

11. Isn't Obama also a descendant of slaves?

I remember reading once that Obama was a descendant of the first slave in North America - through his mother's side!

[Scalded Nun]

20. I thought he descended from Kenyans

[tymorial]

24. He has a mother and countless great-grandparents

They double at each generation.

[ArizonaLib]

13. He's ashamed to be caught being a racist or associated with racists

That's partly why Klan members wear disguises. They are too chickenshit to own up. After trolling with the Betsy Ross flag on the 4th, senator fish face is again enjoying a round of smart ass with his racist base.

[sakabatou]

14. As if saying such a thing exonerates your racist ass, McConnell

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. "Whataboutism" is getting ridiculous

Is he suggesting that EVERY white person has descendants whom were slaveowners? That couldn't be what he is saying, is he?

[tymorial]

23. I don't know. It isnt necessarily unlikely depending on how long your family has been here.

One's great grand parent count doubles at each generation. I am 42 and my paternal line can be traced to the Massachusetts bay colony in 1636. There is substantial research and genealogical work on my last name because it's not common and a distant cousin (removed) is pretty recognizable in our nations history.

Anyway while my paternal line has held no slaves, I cant say the same for all of my carious great grandparents or even distant relatives. I am unable to speak with certainty about whether I am directly descended from slave owners. I would have to trace so many lines and look at hundreds of census documents and that is still no guarantee.

Even still, let's say I did all that and found no slave ownership. Great. But my family has been here since the beginning and that means we helped to displace and murder native Americans and not just in Massachusetts. My ancestors apparently had the pioneering spirit because they moved further west to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois when the land became available. More displacement, more theft. Likely more death. Am I certain about my forefathers directly murdering, no. But their presence contributed to the situation.

I am grateful for the opportunities and freedom offered by America. At the same time, I must recognize that all of this came at the expense of innocent men and women who were here first. Even if no one in my family own slaves we still benefited from slavery.

This isn't an attack but I get very touchy about this subject. It's not cut and dry.

[moniss]

18. People should note the difference

is that Mitch wishes he could bring the old days back.

[Hulk]

19. Wake the hell up Kentucky!!!

This ugly fook is shafting the future of this country for 30 pieces of silver. What a worthless son of a bitch.

[BlueIdaho]

21. Fucking Liar.

If McConnell had his way, he’d still be a slave holder.

[cstanleytech]

22. One major difference Mitch between you two and that is atleast Obama is not a giant asshole.

[machI]

25. Here is the difference between McConnell and Obama

McConnell is proud to be descendant from slave owners; Obama not so much.

[The Liberal Lion]

27. People can't be owned!

The enslaved of this country were not "owned" they were pressed into involuntary servitude, held in bondage and exploited for their labor for the vast majority for life, and as icing on the cake, their descendants could hope for nothing greater than to labor for the benefit of some devil for whatever of their natural lives they were able to obtain, committing no greater crime than to seen as a object able to bring wealth to the truly evil of that time. No, a human can not be owned!

[riversedge]

29. Republicans are still running against Obama and Hillary.

[DFW]

30. Yeh, but McTurtle is the only one who's proud of it! n/t

[diva77]

31. Unlike Obama, McTurd is ECSTATIC to continue suppressing votes of people of color --

-- in the spirit of his ancestors. How's the Senate version of HR 1 coming along, McTurd???

[clementine613]

32. Oh, shut up Slaveholder Mitch...

... nobody want to hear what your racist slaveholding ass thinks.

[dflprincess]

33. Given the way African American women were abused

I would imagine that most Black people who had ancestors in the U.S. prior to the civil war are descended from slave owners as well as slaves.

It doesn't mean they consider the rapists "family" the way Mitch would.

[Princetonian]

34. I will throw a party when he finally goes to Hell

Bastard.

[Steelrolled]

35. This is why going back generations looking for dirt is bullshit.

Even going back a few decades is often questionable.

[LogicFirst]

37. Just WOW

McConnell just tied himself to Obama. He is so cocky he doesn't even know what he said.