Fox Business host Charles Payne heard the news that Chicago will pay reparations to victims of police torture – and concluded that it was a sign President Obama will pay slavery reparations – to shiftless, undeserving black folk.

Payne briefly reported that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will pay a package of reparations to victims of Chicago’s former police commander Jon Burge. Burge and his crew allegedly tortured African American suspects. But Payne never said what happened. He merely said, “Well, these things occurred from the early 1970s until the 1990s.” However, a graphic did say that reparations would be paid to “torture victims.”

To Payne that indicated slavery reparations must be on the way, too.

PAYNE: Now, the news in my mind is a glimpse of, really, much bigger news that’s gonna come from the White House. I’m saying next year, I’m leaning toward I think there’s gonna a) be an official apology from the White House for slavery in America. And then there’s gonna be a major push to get cash and I’m talkin’ lots of cash.

…Many including those closest to President Obama will push him to make this happen and they’re going to say, “By the way, it wouldn’t be the first time America’s paid out a lot of money in reparations for the wrongs that it did to other people.”

Not surprisingly, Payne said he thought it would be a “major mistake.”

“Instead,” Payne added, “President Obama really should discuss and focus on all the progress that we’ve made and how all Americans need to move forward for better days for all of our kids.”

Payne then turned to his all-white panel. Only two had a chance to speak. First up Scottie Hughes, news director for the Tea Party News Network. That’s the same Tea Party News Network where a group of staffers recently resigned en masse, slamming the company’s “despicable practices” as “immoral and unethical.”

Hughes said that as “horrible” as slavery was, “it’s not going to help race relations in the United States today. …All it’s going to do is cause more tension amongst the races.” She didn’t say – nor did Payne ask – what her basis for such a conclusion was.

David Nelson, chief strategist for an asset management company said, “If we keep focusing on the past, we probably won’t reach our destiny. We probably need to focus on the future. I think we have to make sure that these kind of injustices don’t happen again. That’s where the focus should be.”

But Payne got the last word by specifically suggesting that the money would be wasted:

PAYNE: I don’t think a lot of people know, one and a half billion dollars was given out to black people in the last couple of years for wrongs the government did to black farmers. Unfortunately – like I have cousins who got money. They never farmed before. They got 50 grand, the taxes were paid, and a lot of people – most people – let’s be honest, blew the money. I think it’s a huge mistake.

Watch it below, from the April 16 Making Money with Charles Payne, on Fox Business Network, via Media Matters.

(H/T reader Eric J.)