Some conservatives are just aghast that arch-conservative Alan Keyes would actually support any kind of reparations plan for African-Americans. The nature of their shock, though, says quite a lot about them.

Agape Press reports:

Keyes went on to propose that one possible plan for reparations might be to exempt African-Americans of slave heritage from paying federal income tax since slavery resulted from "an egregious failure on the part of the federal establishment." ... David Almasi, a member of the black conservative organization known as Project 21, says he was shocked by Keyes' disclosure, a suggestion that "doesn't stand very well" and "makes his move so confusing." He believes many of the Republican candidate's strongest advocates are scratching their heads over his statements.

"When Alan Keyes said future generations of Black America should not have to pay taxes for a couple generations as a way of getting back reparations for slavery, he didn't say how increased wealth will help everyone out, how lower taxes will help everyone out. He didn't include that second part," Almasi says, "and that's what has people wondering if it was just a crass way to appeal to voters."

Why is this important? Because Almasi’s criticism of Keyes’ proposal could be said about absolutely any tax cut. After all, what Keyes is proposing is a massive tax cut for African-Americans — and a consistent one, too, since I think he favors eliminating the federal income tax. Conservatives who favor large tax cuts like George Bush’s can’t very well complain about Keyes’ proposal without doing some serious explaining and substantive arguing, both of which Almasi avoids.

Then again, maybe Republican tax cuts are just a crass way to appeal to voters? Naaahhhh....

The director of Project 21, a program for African-American conservatives, is a white man — interesting, no?

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