Thomas Jefferson

[Minimalist]

Jefferson's views on slavery were far more complicated than you know, Wyrd.  Much as with Robert E. Lee ( who is always referred to as an opponent of slavery even though he commanded the Army of Northern Virginia) those comments are generally spouted by people who have no idea what Lee's views on slavery were.  But there was no way that the southern colonies/states would have approved the Declaration of Independence or, later, the constitution if either condemned slavery.  Unlike these tea-bagging shits we have now, they knew that you had to compromise to get things done.