GOP Presidential Hopeful Michele Bachmann Says Black Farmers' Settlement "Wasteful Government Program" Despite Evidence of Systematic Discrimination

GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann criticizes black farmers settlement for federal government discrimination, says it's a wasteful government program.

GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann has proven once again that she doesn't give a hoot about blacks in this country, despite calling President Obama to task for not doing enough to help the black and Latino communities battle high unemployment rates. This time, Mrs. Bachmann, echoing the sentiments of Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is calling the black farmers' settlement a "wasteful government program." This is coming from the same person who said "the Founding Fathers fought hard to end slavery" and that being gay was an abomination. Never mind the fact that the black farmers received the multimillion settlement as a result of the federal government discriminating against them for decades in awarding loans and other types of aid. This is nothing new and it's all verifiable, so what's this nitwit talking about?

The issue came up after Bachmann and Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa toured flooded areas along the Missouri River. During a news conference, they fielded a question about whether farmers affected by the flooding also should be worried by proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture cuts.

The two responded by criticizing a 1999 settlement in what is known as the Pigford case, after the original plaintiff, North Carolina farmer Timothy Pigford. Late last year, President Barack Obama signed legislation authorizing a new, nearly $1.2 billion settlement for people who were denied payments in the earlier one because they missed deadlines for filing.

Bachmann seconded King's criticism, saying, "When money is diverted to inefficient projects, like the Pigford project, where there seems to be proof-positive of fraud, we can't afford $2 billion in potentially fraudulent claims when that money can be used to benefit the people along the Mississippi River and the Missouri River." Source: AJC

Rep. Steve King has a history of making derogatory comments about blacks. Many I have documented on this website such as, "Obama Keeps Bringing Small Amounts of Muslims in U.S.A.;  "President Obama Favors Blacks Over Whites": "If Obama Elected Terrorists Would Dance in the Streets." I could go on and on, but for Michele Bachmann to echo this wingnut's sentiments is awfully telling about what kind of president she would be. She doesn't give a hoot about blacks and Latinos. She continues to show her true colors day after day.