Còns Gp Rémôves Slavery Lang From Marriage Pledge

[Mkitty is pro kitty]

"Conservative Group Removes Slavery Language From Marriage Pledge Amid Controversy"

Responding to a growing controversy, an Iowa-based conservative group has removed a passage in a marriage pact signed by two GOP presidential candidates that suggested black families were in better shape during slavery.

“After careful deliberation and wise insight and input from valued colleagues we deeply respect, we agree that the statement referencing children born into slavery can be misconstrued, and such misconstruction can detract from the core message of the Marriage Vow: that ALL of us must work to strengthen and support families and marriages between one woman and one man," said Bob Vander Plaats, head of The Family Leader.

"We sincerely apologize for any negative feelings this has caused, and have removed the language from the vow, " added Vander Plaats, who is known as a king maker in Iowa.

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum signed the two-page document entitled "The Marriage Vow - A Declaration of Dependence Upon Marriage and Family," on Thursday, but their campaigns emphasized that the "candidate vow" portion of the pledge that they put their stamps of approval on didn't mention slavery. Instead, it condemned gay marriage, abortion, infidelity and pornography.

The most controversial passage was in the opening statement on the first page of the document, which compared the state of the black family in the slave era to today.

"Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA's first African-American President," the opening statement reads.

It's not clear whether Bachmann was aware of the slavery passage on the first page. Alice Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Bachmann campaign, had told FoxNews.com that the Minnesota congresswoman had no second thoughts about signing the "candidate vow" portion that doesn't mention slavery.

"She stands by the points that are outlined in the pledge," she said. "Particularly the ones for strong marriage. She's been happily married for 32 years. That's the focus of the pledge."

But some commentators focused their criticism on the slavery passage.

"Given that families were broken up regularly for sales during slavery and that rape by masters was pretty common, this could not be more offensive," Cheryl Contee wrote on her blog, Jack and Jill Politics, which offers a middle class African-American take on politics.

"When will Republicans inquire with actual Black people whether or now we're ok with invoking slavery to score cheap political points?" she added. "It has to stop. It is the opposite of persuasive and is another reason Republicans repel. It's hard to believe that Michele Bachmann would be foolish enough to sign this pledge."

It's not clear whether Santorum was aware of the slavery passage when he signed the pledge. But he has invited controversy before by linking slavery to abortion.

In January, he questioned why Obama is denying civil rights to fetuses by supporting abortion rights. He told the Christian Broadcasting Network that for decades, slavery allowed blacks to be treated like property. He said fetuses are denied the right to life because they are considered property.

Read more: www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/09/bachmann-stands-by-marriage-pledge-that-links-slavery-to-black-family-values/#ixzz1Rou5mSP2

[Tigerwife3]

I would think its too late for the change. The damage is done.

[thyme4change]

What is a white lady going to do to fix the baby-daddy problem in the lower-social-economic class of african americans?

Why can't she concentrate on something really important - jobs, jobs, jobs.

Get Bachmann out of our bedrooms.

[rovo]

I suppose if you can not attack what was said in the above passage, you may as well attack what wasn't said.

[swamp]

::"The Marriage Vow - A Declaration of Dependence Upon Marriage and Family,::

As long as the family consists of a mommy, a daddy, and 2.4 kids.

[ed1066]

"Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA's first African-American President," the opening statement reads.

Is that a false statement? Or is the knee-jerk liberal reaction to the word "slavery" strong enough to overcome any rational thought?

[Deleted]

I think it's hard to tell if it's a factual statement. It may be if you don't include biological parents. The selling of slaves broke up families repeatedly - the parents and children would form new families and kinship networks.

The truth is that if Republicans wanted to support marriage and intact families they would increase the subsidies for college education, family planning and marriage preparation, and solve the problem of so the loss of living wage blue collar jobs. Those are pretty much the only things that have proven to make marriages stronger.

[thyme4change]

Is that a false statement? Or is the knee-jerk liberal reaction to the word "slavery" strong enough to overcome any rational thought?

I had the same question. They don't really say anything here to apologize for if this is a fact.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Wow... an astonishing lack of wisdom on the part of the drafters of the document.

[verrip1]

I think it is shocking that the pledge did not address climate change and paying one's fair share of taxes.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

I find it disappointing that there was no discussion of whether or not the statement was true?

[Deleted]

I guess it would be hard to verify... given that most slaves were not allowed to read and write and keep birth and death and family records. Not to mention the fact that, as property, the owners could dispose of children and parents as they saw fit. Not to mention the rape...

I can't even imagine you would want to go down that path... Do you really want to suggest that slavery was a better environment for children ? ... Is that really what you are thinking you would like to say here?

[steff]

Of course it was much better for them to live with the knowledge that their family could be split up on the owners whims. Those lucky lucky children that got to be sold off from that "stable" family environment. And of course, can't forget that often the "baby daddy" was living in the manor house well away from the slave quarters . *dripping with sarcasm*

yet another heaping pile of crapola.....

[Deleted]

As far as the pledge, i guess i have to say, way to go Gary Johnson...

[Phoenix84]

I know the point they were trying to make, and there's truth to it. Marriage is good for people and good for kids. This marriage problem is particularly bad among the lower income African Americans. But invoking slavery is a bad argument. Not only is it easy to miss the point (as many posters here have), but it's not hard to see slavery is a touchy subject and easy to offend people with.

[txbo]

Jul 11, 2011 19:42:21 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

I find it disappointing that there was no discussion of whether or not the statement was true?

I don’t know but wonder if the slave owners who fathered many of the children considered them family or property. Slaves could not marry during that time so no real family existed. Slave couples even with children were separated and sold off and the reason for not allowing marriages.

[ugonow]

I like the go forth and multiply like rabbits part of the pledge...lol

[Value Buy]

Michelle Obama should concentrate on lack of parenting in the black community, rather than be the food police.
After all, if nothing else is possible, the Obama family has proved anything can be accomplished in America if you work for it.
Michelle could do more for America (and family life in general) if she could make a difference in illegitimate birth rates and start a trend in the family unit.
This would go for White Americans as well.

[Deleted]

Idiots....both parties have them, that's for sure. The Repubicans have these guys & the Democrats have President Obama. Maybe they will all be voted out of office the next election.

[Deleted]

Yeah - if they wanted to improve marriage amongst african-americans they ought to do something about the drug war, which disproportionately hurts black men.

oped - have you read "The New Jim Crow"? It's on my reading list but I haven't gotten to it.

[ugonow]

This would go for White Americans as well.

Yes.It is becoming more apparent everyday parents are shirking their responsibilities. Parents nowdays send their kids off to school,and expect teachers to not only educate them, but feed them,teach them right from wrong,work ethics,and just about raise them.Back in my day, this new it's the teachers fault bull would never fly.My parents would make me work,study, and keep track of my assignments,even help when I needed it.

[Deleted]

I'm having a hard time getting anything read... did Art of Racing in the Rain for book club... have a stack of mindless summer stuff and can't even seem to fit that in? ... its a weird year all around...

So Value... do you ever wonder if lack of parenting contributes to obesity?

[Virgil Showlion]

I find it disappointing that there was no discussion of whether or not the statement was true?

I had similar thoughts. Truth is poisonous, as they say.

[swamp]

Jul 12, 2011 11:06:11 GMT -5 oped said:

So Value... do you ever wonder if lack of parenting contributes to obesity?

You mean just letting your kids park their butts in front of the tv for hours and eat crap instead of going outside and playing frisbee with your kids? Or involving your kids in meal prep? No, I don't think they're related at all............