GOPer: Abortion taking worse toll on blacks than slavery

The African American populations has been decimated worse by abortions than by slavery, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said in video released Friday.

Franks, an anti-abortion rights lawmaker and a staunch conservative, told liberal blogger Mike Stark that he thinks the abortion rate among African Americans is so high that it has a more adverse impact on their population than slavery did.

Here is a partial transcript:

In this country, we had slavery for God knows how long.  And now we look back on it and we say "How brave were they? What was the matter with them?  You know, I can't believe, you know, four million slaves.  This is incredible."  And we're right, we're right. We should look back on that with criticism.  It is a crushing mark on America's soul.  And yet today, half of all black children are aborted.  Half of all black children are aborted.  Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by policies of slavery.  And I think, What does it take to get us to wake up?

Frank's comments raised the ire of Democrats.

"To compare the horrors and inhumane treatment of millions of African Americans during slavery as a better way of life for African Americans today is beyond repulsive," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Deputy Press Secretary Stephanie Young said in a statement. "In 2010, during the second year of our first African American President, it is astonishing that a thought such as this would come to mind, let alone be shared."

Frank could not be reached for comment because he is currently on a plane back to Arizona, according to his spokesperson.

VIDEO (remarks start around 6:20 mark)

h/t Matthew Yglesias