DISQUS

Anonymous · 2 years ago

I'm surprised she'd use crack as an example. Seems you could start with pot and slowly work the way up.


Oh well, just another reason to prove she is unelectable.

AAPP · 2 years ago

I don't see it as Hillary Clinton getting shaky on this important issue. I see her as a skillful pol looking beyond the primaries to the general election?


Republicans are ready with Willie Horton Ads against any democratic nominee who supports a federal recommendation for shorter sentences for some people caught and convicted with crack cocaine and a currently serving Federal prison time.



Of course shorter sentences should be retroactive. The question is, will the Republicans use scare tactics to make the democrats look like they want to provide an early release to over 20,000 people convicted on drug charges into black and brown communities across America?



I think Hillary Clinton may be on to something.



Obama advisor's would have been wise to take the same temporary position. Is it not about winning the election?

AAPP · 2 years ago

PS, and i'm no Hillary supporter (st this point anyway). I'm leaning towards Obama. But the brother is on a national stage now. He can raise good money, but he has few times to mis-step. this may have been one. Suppporting black community positions are good, but don't let them run ads in the critical key southern states saying your soft on crime. It will get you out of office or no elected everytime. and this is about winning!

NMP · 2 years ago

AAPP, are you serious? Black folks have been castigating Senator Obama for not standing up for us for fear of alienating White voters, which is absolutely FALSE. Now that he's taking a principled position on an issue that almost exclusively effects our community, albeit not very politically prudent especially in a lilly White state like Iowa, you're going to criticize him for being too militant? Ain't this some sh*t?

NMP · 2 years ago

Rikyrah,


Thanks, girl!!! I'm keeping my eye on Marian Wright Edelman. She's been torn between loyalty to the Clinton's and her personal affection and admiration for Senator Obama. Let's see if this knocks her off the fence. She's been decrying the modern-day slavery system that we call the Amercan penal system for a very long time, but nonetheless gave Bill Clinton a pass. I'm hoping she says enough is enough, especially in light of her recent blog on Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marian-wright-ede... Arriana Huffington will highlight Clinton's stance as well because she wrote a highly critical column in the LA Times just a couple of months ago criticizing Obama, Clinton and Edwards for not taking a more vocal stand against crack cocaine sentencing.



P.S.: I miss you all too at SB! Out of sight is not out of mind, know that! I'll be back soon when I have more time for vigorous debates. Keep holding it down, girl!

AAPP · 2 years ago

I respect the Obama for taking principled position on an issue. I do think he could have taken positions on issues that won't impact negatively in his ability to gain white votes in the general election. You indicate I criticize him for being too militant, those words never were used in my response. I consider it constructive observation from afar.


But, if that is criticizing him, "so be it." Candidly, I want to vote for the brother, but he is giving me reasons not to at this point. yes, he is not being politically prudent on this issue. One should know which issue to take a principled position on. This one may come back to bite him. let's hope not.

baratunde aka jack turner · 2 years ago

Interesting poll out of South Carolina. Obama now leads among blacks over clinton 25% to 21%.


50% are still undecided.



the point: THIS DISCUSSION IS CRITICAL. Let's keep it up.



Plus Oprah is about to hit the circuit. I've been to the Oprah show, and her people are all midwestern white women.



This race is exciting.

Seattle Slim · 2 years ago

Okay for the record I do think that the sentencing should be the same. I do. Both are vile drugs, they are basically the same damned thing, just one is high end, higher grade, whatever. So the white dude in the suit should get the same amount of time as the black dude on the corner slinging rocks.


MY issue is this: why should she retroactivate the sentences now? I guess does it matter? For the record I do not support her at all. I am gravitating towards Obama for a number of reasons and am an Independent. But we are seeing the result of drugs and the sale of drugs in black neighborhoods right now and it doesn't look pretty. Why shed tears for those who were killing their own people with that crap anyway?

Ronnie B. · 2 years ago

On the one hand, if a disparately applied sentencing statute is tossed, then it's a clear admission that it was unfair from the beginning. Retroactivity is fair.


But we gotta think reeeeeal hard about the consequences. We know good and damn well that the prison system ain't about rehabilitation and correction anymore. It's a warehousing system. Brothas will be cut loose with no contributory job skills; no education; and barely an ability to function in "free" society.



If Obama is smarter than Clinton, he'll articulate the need for a counter-balance. In other words, if we're going to release people because it's fair, then we gotta have some sort of re-entry programs for newly released, non-violent ex-cons already in place. We as a civilized society can't have a system for paying your debt to society, without having a system for making sure that you're then able to contribute to society.

Anonymous · 2 years ago

The solution is real simple..stay out of the drug trade; don't do the crime, if you can't do the time..Instead of crying about unfair sentences, we should be trying to keep our people out of jail!! Do the right thing and you won't have to worry about unfair sentences!!


I've done time, so I'm not throwing stones from a glass house.

Ronnie B. · 2 years ago

While the simplest solution is abstinence, human nature proves that solutions are also required when people fail to abstain. So, while you're right to suggest abstinence, we must also be confident that our system of laws are fair to all of us.

D. · 2 years ago

I'm not really for retroactivity either...because (similar to Ronnie B), my concern is what do we do with these people once they're all out of the prison system. Inevitably, because they have little education/marketable skills, they're going to go right back to crime, and utlimately back to jail.


I have no problem with fixing the sentencing disparity...seems only fair. Would be better, though, if we argued how to keep people OUT of jail, than trying to spring them in the name of "fairness."

baratunde aka jack turner · 2 years ago

@Ronnie B you said


"if we're going to release people because it's fair, then we gotta have some sort of re-entry programs for newly released, non-violent ex-cons already in place. We as a civilized society can't have a system for paying your debt to society, without having a system for making sure that you're then able to contribute to society. "



To which i say RIGHT ON!!!

AAPP · 2 years ago

There are many black men who deserve to be in prison. Hey, they did sell crack cocaine in the streets of urban America to our brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. Oh, that's right many black folks who talk loud don't kive in urban communities hard hit by the drug addiction, drug killings and violence so they are all for letting everyone out of jail that sold crack because it didn't weigh the same. whatever!


Crack dealers can all rot in hell as far as I'm concerned. If you experienced what a crack baby, or the children of a crack addicted mother had to go through, maybe you would not talk so easily about this whole idea of letting folks out. These crack dealers were not "fair" when the sold drug in school playgrounds, in our communities. screw them! Let them do their time. they knew they were at risk of going to prison, and they did it anyway. Each case should be reviewed case by case.

Constructive Feedback · 2 years ago

[quote]Hell yeah, how about the communities that have seen their sons, grandsons, cousins, nephews and family friends, go to JAIL for disproportionate sentences since her HUSBAND helped usher in these disproportionate sentences in the first place.[/quote]


Excuse me!



There WERE NOT thrown in jail due to "DISPROPORTIONATE SENTENCES".



They were thrown in jail because they POSSESSED CRACK!!!!



It is interesting that you all want to make the case that CRACK IS A BLACK DRUG. What properties of crack make it the drug exclusive to people with melanated skin?



Arrested because YOU ARE BLACK means that you had no choice in the matter.

Arrested because YOU HAD CRACK that was above a certain amount meant that YOU CHOSE TO HAVE CRACK rather than powered cocaine or some other intoxicant.



Why don't you all appeal to the CRACK DEALER and tell him that it is in his best interests to keep his customer base out of jail. Why not have them either switch entirely to powder cocaine or to distribute a CRACK KIT as described here:



http://parallelhood.blogspot.com/2007/11/justice-actor-vists-will-propose-new.html

Evey Chavez · 2 years ago

I cant say that i agree with the release of these criminals either Black or not (and yes I am).