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Schaaf lands in hot water
Lawmaker's words anger black caucus
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A lawmaker who compared Democratic health care proposals to slavery drew the ire of the minority party this week, including a fellow member of the St. Joseph delegation.
Statements Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf made during a House of Representatives debate on the governor's push for increased funding for Medicaid resulted in face-to-face discussions between the St. Joseph Republican and the chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, Rep. Martin Rucker, D-St. Joseph, on Wednesday and Thursday.
"The essence of slavery is when one man is forced to labor against his will under threat of penalty and the fruit of that labor is given to another man who could labor for himself," Dr. Schaaf said.
Dr. Schaaf opposed a proposal for the state to pick up health care premiums for parents who earn between 150 percent and 200 percent of the poverty level and participate in the State Children's Health Insurance Program. He said "it's obvious they're working people" because they already pay the premiums.
"It's the place of government to care for those who cannot care for themselves, but it is not the place of government to enslave the taxpayers," he said.
The comparison isn't meshing well with the black caucus.
"You have likened providing health care to those that are less fortunate to slavery in the United States. I really resent the statements you've made," Rep. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, said Wednesday night. "We still have an insatiable thirst to spend, we just don't want to spend it on the poor."
Mr. Rucker twice has approached Dr. Schaaf on the issue, unsatisfied with his explanation.
"To minimize slavery to the point of comparing it to a social program is a little much," the caucus chairman said. "He's offended a lot of people. I can't tell you that not all of the colleagues he offended are not African-American."
This isn't the first time the black caucus has dealt with an issue of this type this year.
Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, in February publicly apologized for calling the Civil War the "War of Northern Aggression." Mr. Stevenson, during floor discussion on a resolution that asked Congress to reject an abortion proposal that could throw out many state restrictions, described it as the "greatest power grab by the federal government since the War of Northern Aggression," The Associated Press reported.
Mike Huckabee, a previous presidential candidate and governor of Arkansas, compared abortion to slavery on Monday in Jefferson City when he spoke at a fundraising event for the Vitae Caring Foundation, a pro-life group.
"I think there is some tension throughout the country because who we have as president and there is some division because of that, but I can't pinpoint that as a reason for all of this," Mr. Rucker said. "It's time to move on."
Dr. Schaaf, who previously served on a House interim committee on slavery, often has criticized the expansion of state-funded health care programs to "able-bodied adults" as a disservice to taxpayers.
But he said Thursday it wasn't his intention to offend anyone.
"I didn't say the children's health insurance program is like slavery," he said. "It's sad that we have to be careful, afraid to use words that have applicable meaning. ... It seems to me they would silence our valid argument by trying to turn it into a racial issue."
Both Mr. Rucker and Dr. Schaaf are mulling bids for the 34th Senatorial District seat.
Alyson E. Raletz can be reached
at alysonraletz@npgco.com.
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wildwest says...
War of words. There are major issues to be fixed and we are focused on the context of words and how they are used. Lovely!! Goes back to what i stated way back during the elections, fire them all and bring in new people, give them a chance.
March 27, 2009 at 3:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
"to make a slave of; reduce to slavery: His drug addiction has completely enslaved him."
gimme a break. rucker should stop using this issue to play party politics as usual.
March 27, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
comment says...
"It's sad that we have to be careful, afraid to use words that have applicable meaning. ... It seems to me they would silence our valid argument by trying to turn it into a racial issue."
That's why there will always and forever be racial divides. people just need to accept it and make the best of what it is because it is what it is!
March 27, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ladyfireside says...
This is in reply on Dr. Rob Schaaf. I know for a fact that if you have good insurance and suddenly lose it, he will refer you onto another facility that will accept medicaid, because he did not accept medicaid in 2003, but yet sent letters to me asking for donations. What is he trying to say here? Is he not wanting people to get one dime ahead of themselves. That is what it sounds like to me. Even a family of 5 with both people working need some help, because of medical cost. Even with 2 people working they still don't make enough to live on. Shame on you Schaaf.
March 27, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
saved1112 says...
It is obvious that the word slavery was not used as a racial term at all. Let's look it up in the dictionary. Sheesh!
March 27, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_O says...
Why would this be considered racist because it is said by a white man? This race thing is SO onesided. I wonder what would happen if the white people tried to have a WHITE HISTORY month, or WET, (White Intertainment TV). Let's get over this Race issue Crap and get the business at hand done.
My Pastor said it best when he said, there is only ONE race,
The Human Race, now stop all if the crap of bringing up the past and let's concentrate on the future, I doubt if anyone alive today even owned a slave or practiced slavery on another Human. Let the mistakes of our forfathers be burried with them and let's work together as one big Family of Americans, and drop the subtitles of African American, Mexican American, Asian American ETC. If you are an American Citizen then you are an American, PERIOD ! My family came over here from Ireland but I don't consider myself an Irish American and I have never even been to Ireland, and I doubt that most people who call themselves African Americans have ever been to Africa and so on.
My Friends, we have a lot of work to do so lets put these petty things behind us and start FIXING America.
GOD Bless Americans of ALL Colors !
Steve-O
March 27, 2009 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
"To minimize slavery to the point of comparing it to a social program is a little much," the caucus chairman said. "He's offended a lot of people. I can't tell you that not all of the colleagues he offended are not African-American."
I've re-read this quote a dozen times and still haven't figured out if all the offended were A.A. or not. . . it looks like there are three negatives which would mean they were not all A.A. - I think, maybe - not that it matters at all.
I also think that some of the tension that m.r. senses around President Obama comes from people getting used to a new way of doing things with a young, democrat president and a democrat congress. It's not a r--- thing and m.r. is being a little paranoid to wonder if it is.
March 27, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Calissourian says...
First of all the word "slave" is not restricted to blacks --so get off your high horse and stop this oversensitivity. Schaaf didn't compare it to black slavery.
Second: This is like slavery --- the stimulus package is slavery to all americans. Period. I will be working for the rest of my life for some lazy ass who chooses not to. We are making american dependent on government who works ont he backs of taxpayers--slaves.
Third: This is just an attempt to raise hell for a Republican who will be contending for a hot seat soon. AND THE MEDIA like the Left wing Newspress Who is still sore about their child democrat loosing the election--instigating trouble with this headline!
Fourth: Blacks you got a black president in the House -- Reparation is done -- lets call is good and move on.
Fifth -- This is a minority posting this so -- Don't blame the whiteman
March 28, 2009 at 2:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
xrep says...
And who, pray tell, is it that is perpetuating the race issue? Come on...
March 28, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )