Arizona candidate apologizes for slavery comments

PHOENIX — An Arizona congressional candidate apologized Friday after linking slavery to political entitlements.

According to Think Progress, Republican Jim Brown said entitlements give politicians power over the public in a Facebook post:

I want folks to think about something. I want folks to think seriously about how slavery really works. Back in the day of slavery, slaves were kept in slavery by denying them education and opportunity while providing them with their basic needs .. Not by beating them and starving them. (Although there were isolated cases if course) Basically slave owners took pretty good care of their slaves and livestock and this kept business rolling along.

It is my sincere belief that over entitlements are a means of em- slaving the people by robbing opportunity while taking care of basic needs. Think about it. We ARE NOT cattle. We are human beings living in a country that still allows us the opportunity to write our own ticket. But that is rapidly slipping away. We have to wake up fast and realize that entitlements aren’t there because politicians love the people. It’s a means to gain power over the people allowing them to control us. Vote smart in 2014 and pressure political leaders to focus on jobs, education and opportunity – not slavery.

Brown removed the original post and followed it up with a second one, including an apology:

Brown is seeking election in Arizona’s 2nd District.