RFK Jr threatens to take chunk out of Biden's voters with plan to pay millions in slavery reparations
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivers his political speech at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines
REUTERS
Robert F Kennedy Jr has taken a chunk out of Joe Biden’s voter base after unveiling a plan to pay millions in slavery reparations.
The US President has kept schtum on the issue as his left-wing Democratic critics have urged the White House to do more.
Kennedy, who dropped out of the Democratic primary race to run as an independent, voiced support for the controversial plan.
He suggested issuing federals dollars “rebuild black infrastructure” like banks and businesses.
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The 69-year-old also suggested “direct[ing] redress payments or tax credits” rather than no-strings cash giveaways.
Kennedy wrote on his campaign website: “Communities that were specifically targeted for destruction need to be specifically targeted for repair.
“During Jim Crow, Black banks, businesses, hospitals, schools, and farms were targeted for destruction.
“Racists knew that without these, the Black community had no chance of building wealth.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives on stage to announce his entry to the 2024 presidential race as an independent candidate in Philadelphia
REUTERS
“We must set federal dollars aside to rebuild Black infrastructure.”
The pledge added: “These programs complement direct redress payments or tax credits to the descendants of the victims of Jim Crow and other victims of persecution.
“RFK Jr will find ways to offer this redress that are legal, fair, and win the approval of Americans of all races.”
Kennedy’s bid for the White House has seen both traditional Republicans and staunch Democrats flock to the independent.
Political commentators have previously warned Kennedy’s ambitions would damage Donald Trump’s campaign.
Joe BidenREUTERSHowever, a recent opinion poll suggested Biden would take a slight hit.
Redfield & Wilton Strategies gave Trump a head-to-head lead over Biden in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
The pair were neck-and-neck in Michigan and Biden was one-point ahead in Pennsylvania.
But Trump managed to pull ahead in the Great Lake State and draw level in the Keystone State when the pollster included Kennedy’s candidacy
A separate survey by Suffolk University suggested a slightly different story, with Kennedy’s supporters otherwise supporting the 45th President by a margin of two-to-one.