Roy Moore shouldn’t have said it. But he did. Now it’s out there.
The controversial Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Alabama fielded a question earlier this year about American greatness. Someone asked Moore when he thought this country was truly great. He said:
“I think it was great at the time when families were united — even though we had slavery — they cared for one another … our families were strong, our country had a direction.”
Even though we had slavery? Is this fellow suggesting that slavery was part of the formula for greatness?
Why in the name of rhetorical clumsiness did he have to add that qualifier?
As I look at his statement, the candidate — who’s also been accused of sexual misconduct with children — could have omitted the slavery reference altogether. He didn’t. He tossed it out there.
From my standpoint, the notion that this nation would allow the level of human bondage and captivity that it did prior to the Civil War is a mark of supreme condemnation. It never — ever! — should be included in a discussion of American “greatness.”
American greatness effectively began when African-Americans were emancipated, freed from the hideous bondage of slavery.
This is yet another reason why Alabama voters should reject this man’s candidacy for an important public office.