From Politico.com.
Money quote:
Clinton, who said she supports a federal recommendation for shorter sentences for some people caught with crack cocaine, opposed making those shorter sentences retroactive – which could eventually result in the early release of 20,000 people convicted on drug charges.
“In principle I have problems with retroactivity," she said. "It’s something a lot of communities will be concerned about as well."
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.
What's that sound?
Oh yeah,
BLACK FOLK BEING THROWN UNDER THE BUS.
This is a line in the sand, people.
And all those Hillay pushers, who have been mumbling about what 'positions' Obama has taken that are in line with the Black community.
Well, HERE YOU GO.
He's taken plenty of them, but here's a gimme for you.
You want one, here is one.
Obama is for retroactivity, Clinton IS NOT.
Clear as day for me, and yet ANOTHER reason why I'll never vote for her.
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This initial post was written in the wee hours of the morning just after I had read about Clinton's remarks. I haven't changed my mind, in fact, I woke up pissed over this issue.
I have always had problems with Black Folks' Loyalty to the Clintons, because, quite frankly, they didn't deserve it. When the time came to expound any serious political capital on an issue that affected BLACK FOLK, the Clintons were, more often than not, M-I-A.
For those of us who see the Justice System as the ' Just-US System', NOTHING could be a better example than the drug sentencing disparity, which has fallen on racial lines.
We are now on our SECOND GENERATION of Young Black Men being turned into fodder for the Prison Industrial Complex.
Bill Clinton had the opportunity to correct this 1995.
Yes, I said 1995.
Don't believe me?
Here you go:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton rejected the recommendations of the U.S. Sentencing Commission to equalize the penalties for crack and powder cocaine distribution Monday.
In a statement released by the White House, the president also refused the commission's proposals to reduce the penalties for money laundering.
"I am opposed to both of these changes," he said in a written statement.
In recent weeks, several black leaders including Jesse Jackson have complained that the penalties for crack cocaine are stiffer than those for powdered cocaine. They have pointed out that crack cocaine users are often inner city black youths while powdered cocaine users usually are more affluent white adults.
But in his statement, Clinton says "Trafficking in crack, and the violence it fosters, has a devastating impact on communities across America, especially inner city communities. Tough penalties for crack trafficking are required because of the effect on individuals and families, related gang activity, turf battles, and other violence."
Clinton called on the sentencing commission to undertake further review of the penalties for powdered cocaine users.
He says his administration will continue to go "after drug traffickers at every level of their networks."
1995.
TWELVE YEARS of Young Black Men churning as fodder in the Prison Industrial Complex.
TWELVE YEARS of those lives lost and dismantled.
TWELVE YEARS that simply didn't need to happen.
Because Bill Clinton threw Black folk UNDER THE BUS.
And now, his wife, as already told you, those of you who have someone toiling under these sentencing laws, or those who care concerned with Racial Disparity in Sentencing, that you can go f($* yourselves.
Don't give me the 3-6-9 of well, ' she's just saying this to get elected'.
Um, NO.
Not good enough here. Because, she's willing to throw you under the bus and the PRIMARIES haven't even happened...
It's a pretty good indicator of where you will be IF she's elected.
But, will those Hillary Mumblers find their voices and speak up on this? Or will they simply shuffle along, waiting for their crumbs?
Cross-posted on Brown Iowa
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4 comments:
seems we have the same tastes in books. come by and watch me tell young brothas how much i love james baldwin. visit http://youtube.com/profile?user=bygINCpresents, look and let me know what you think. click on "letter to my young brotha."
Can someone tell me WHAT MAKES CRACK A "BLACK DRUG"?
Why hasn't the actor-vist community created a "Crack Kit" to get around the Federal sentencing guidelines:
http://parallelhood.blogspot.com/2007/11/justice-actor-vists-will-propose-new.html
That woman scares the shit out of me mostly because she might win. I don't know what all of her supporters are expecting, but I don't see a major difference between HC and the GOP except on abortion. Granted, that is a mjor issue and if she gets the nominations it might force me to vote for her...but I shudder to think of that day coming.
CF,
It's not a "Black drug"....but it is a drug sold/used by minorities in higher concentrations, esp in urban areas...and the sentencing laws concerning Crack have always had a disproportionate impact on Black offenders.
I personally don't have much sympathy for the crack dealers... however, I would like to see the punishment for powdered cocaine, meth, and other drugs increased so that there is parity across the board in terms of penalties for drug offenses. The courts and the sentencing commission obviously recognized the disparity and tried remedy the situation.
Now regarding making it retroactive... I don't know if that would be a good idea or not (although I would lean towards no).
To allow thousands back on the street at once... that could pose a problem for law enforcement. These folks are not angels. Many of the offenders are in prison because of crimes committed in relation to their drug possession/distribution convictions. Often they may have been in possession of a weapon at the time of their arrest, may have been involved in violent activity, may have led considerable drug gang operations, may have been involved in trafficking a significant amount of drugs, may have been involved in drug activity within a school zone, may have been involved in distribution of drugs using minors as dealers and mules, etc etc... there are often other mitigating factors involved. And to release them all could have a negative impact on local communities. Prison often turns these folks into better criminals. They figure out all the mistakes they made regarding getting caught... and they often leave prison worse than when they entered. And about 1/2 of these folks end up right back in the "old neighborhood" doing the same things that they were doing before.
Plus...the Federal system doesn't have a parole infrastructure (there is no Federal Parole...only Probation)... so some kind of conditional release is not really an option either. There are not enough Federal Probation officers and drug specialists to monitor compliance... especially for that many people being released at one time.
WNG,
I agree that their is not much of a difference between the Republicans and Hillary. She will bring nothing but the same thing we have been getting... including political corruption, special interests controlling the government, and an agressive pro-war/pro-interventionist foreign policy. She will be under the control of the oil companies, the health industry lobbyists and all the rest.
She was in St. Louis (my town) yesterday... and had the nerve to be in one of my old neighborhoods...where I grew up. After her visit there...she went to a $2000.00 per plate fundraising dinner in the suburbs... $2000.00 per plate!!!!
Does it look like she represents change?????? She represents the same elitism that is in the White House right now. With her $2000.00 per plate elitist fundraising dinners... I just don't see how in the world people are thinking that she would represent a change in Washington DC. And it's not just her...it's most of the candidates on both sides.
I happen to believe John Edwards and Barack Obama represent the lesser of the evils and the best chance for some type of change. But we already have Edwards saying he wants Republicans in his cabinet...and Barack doesn't stand a chance of being elected. So that doesn't leave me with much hope.
Despite that... I think Edwards would make a decent President (as decent as one can be within the confines of this corrupt, undemocratic political system).
The solution that the U.S. needs... (If it wants to be a true Democracy rather than just a paper Democracy) is more major political parties in the mix.... with more diverse political representation in the Congress.
Nothing says "status quo" better than Hillary Clinton.
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