John Edwards: 'Pretty Soon' All Young African-American Men Will Be Dead or in Prison

[Herman Munster]

http://www.breitbart.tv/html/6142.html

[bigdarryl]

1. As an african american male I think he is somewhat right

except ALL are not going to be dead or in prison but a hell of a lot will

[itsrobert]

3. I agree

Looks like the Hillary campaign is running over to right wing blogs to attack Edwards now. Edwards is pretty much saying the legal and education system is stack against the African-American male.

[sandnsea]

40. I think he's courageous to say it

I think most white people don't know how bad the prison system has been on minorities, the unfairness of the laws to start, the bias in the sentencing. I don't understand why people get in a twirl over an obvious tongue-in-cheek comment. A teency bit of hypberbole to stress how bad it is. It's about time we start talking about the issues of the 50%, the ones below the median income, the ones who don't vote.

[Ethelk2044]

43. He thought he was not going to get any of the African American votes he just made sure of it.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Asinine

[Exultant Democracy]

29. Most people would think tipping 50% would be absurd, but we are already there

I get pulled over at least 6 times a year because "some black guy who fits my description stole a BMW just like this one." In the last 10 year I have also noticed that things have gotten worse for me.

[BeyondGeography]

34. And all Edwards does with a comment like the above is perpetuate the stereotype that results

in you getting pulled over. His careless statement would lead many in this country whose intentions are not good to wonder exactly what are ALL young black men doing that is going to get them killed. In fact, four times as many black males between the ages of 18 and 24 are going to college as are in prison. Are they on the road to perdition as well, John?

The situation is alarming enough without making statements that advance the most negative images and verge on hopelessness.

[Exultant Democracy]

35. Shoot I guess I'm wrong, I guess that 40% of the people put to death in the U.S.

that are exonerated by DNA would prefer if John Edwards just shut up. We should probably ignore the Jena 6 too, stuff like that probably doesn't happen everywhere.

My sig line says it all.

[NYVet]

4. Pure Hyperbole

But it is what I have come to expect from John.

[bread_and_roses]

13. Is it? There is a clear pattern of using the criminal justice system to oppress people of color,

especially black men. What have a read - something like 25% incarcerated? Whatever the exact number, it is utterly appalling, especially since there has been a total abandonment of our inner cities for about the last thirty years. With the unequal application of the insane "war on drugs" in our black communities. With the gross under-funding of schools in inner cities. The unequal sentencing. If the statement is "hyperbole" it is a hyperbole that illuminates a truth. The sixties shook the real money and power in the world to their core, and in so many ways people of color led in the struggles that shook the bones of the Oligarchs. They've made damn sure ever since that no such leadership and vision will arise.

[goodgd_yall]

39. Well said! n/t

[loves_dulcinea]

5. i notice that he didn't mention

us latinos, that's because everyone knows that we breed like roaches.

seriously, if he continues talking like this, he may yet accrue a republican landslide!

[robcon]

6. Disgusting quote

Why would he say that? Doesn't he know of any successful, vibrant African-Americans?

I know it was hyperbole, but the message - that African-Americans are criminals or dead, is awful.

[slick8790]

45. Are you being deliberately obtuse?

That's not the message, did you even watch the video? He's saying that the system is rigged against young black males, not that they're all criminal.

[KingFlorez]

7. What a crock

What a way to generalize. Edwards is nothing but a right-winger who has snowed people into thinking he's a progressive, he cannot be trusted.

[jody]

8. Bureau of Justice Statistics, black inmate rates 2.5 times Hispanic rate and 6.7 times white rate.

Prison Statistics

Summary findings
On June 30, 2006--
-- 2,245,189 prisoners were held in Federal or State prisons or in local jails -- an increase of 2.8% from midyear 2005, less than the average annual growth of 3.4% since yearend 1995.
-- there were an estimated 497 prison inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents -- up from 411 at yearend 1995.
-- the number of women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal prison authorities increased 4.8% from midyear 2005, reaching 111,403 and the number of men rose 2.7%, totaling 1,445,115.

At yearend 2005 there were 3,145 black male sentenced prison inmates per 100,000 black males in the United States, compared to 1,244 Hispanic male inmates per 100,000 Hispanic males and 471 white male inmates per 100,000 white males.

In 2003 there were an estimated 650,400 State prisoners serving time for a violent offense. State prisons also held an estimated 262,000 property offenders and 250,900 drug offenders.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. He Meant Well

African Americans are incarcerated at an alarming rate... That needs to be addressed...

But if you control for income African American folks are no more likely to commit crimes than white folks...

[Kelly Rupert]

10. That seems reasonable and not at all exaggerated. n/t

[GreenArrow]

11. So, when is he going to propose ending

the insanely wasteful and destructive drug war? This isn't the time for still more "incremental half measures".

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/racepris.htm

# Of the 250,900 state prison inmates serving time for drug offenses in 2004, 133,100 (53.05%) were black, 50,100 (19.97%) were Hispanic, and 64,800 (25.83%) were white.

Source: Harrison, Paige M. & Allen J. Beck, PhD, US Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2005 (Washington, DC: US Dept. of Justice, Nov. 2006) (NCJ215092), Table 12, p. 9.

# "The racially disproportionate nature of the war on drugs is not just devastating to black Americans. It contradicts faith in the principles of justice and equal protection of the laws that should be the bedrock of any constitutional democracy; it exposes and deepens the racial fault lines that continue to weaken the country and belies its promise as a land of equal opportunity; and it undermines faith among all races in the fairness and efficacy of the criminal justice system. Urgent action is needed, at both the state and federal level, to address this crisis for the American nation."

Source: Key Recommendations from Punishment and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs (Washington, DC: Human Rights Watch, June 2000), from the web at http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/drugs/war/key-reco.htm
<<snip>>

-----------------------------------------------

Race and the Drug War

Despite the fact that drug use is more or less consistent across racial lines, many punitive drug laws are based on beliefs that certain communities of color commonly abuse certain substances. Due to the racial injustices caused by the drug war, supporting drug policy reform can help end racial inequality. Drug Policy Alliance is drawing attention to these disproportionate impacts of the drug war and working to end the war on people of color.

Although African Americans comprise only 12.2 percent of the population and 13 percent of drug users, they make up 38 percent of those arrested for drug offenses and 59 percent of those convicted of drug offenses causing critics to call the war on drugs the "New Jim Crow." The higher arrest rates for African Americans and Latinos do not reflect a higher abuse rate in these communities but rather a law enforcement emphasis on inner city areas where drug use and sales are more likely to take place in open-air drug markets where treatment resources are scarce.

http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/race/

[jody]

14. I agree, we need to legalize drugs. n/t

[benny05]

12. Consider the Source

and how many wingnuts attended last night's debate with Tavid Smiley. Travesty.

This clip is not worthy of trashing John Edwards. He knows the plight of African Americans and wants to do something to be of use, unlike this blog who has no interest in our beliefs as Progressives. This is worthy of only the kool-aid drinkers. Consider your source first.

[BeyondGeography]

16. The source: Edwards' mouth

Duly considered.

[benny05]

18. No the clip of this source

A freeper

[benny05]

19. But also consider Oliver Willis

http://www.oliverwillis.com/archives/2007/09/28/republicans-are-really-stupid/

Who understood what Edwards meant, even you don't. I think he knew this was just a sound bite.

[Connie_Corleone]

15. Does Edwards think that ALL of them are committing crimes...

so that's why ALL of them will be dead or in prison?

Maybe Edwards needs to cool it on the exaggerations.

[benny05]

23. No he doesn't

Read Oliver Willis: http://www.oliverwillis.com/archives/2007/09/28/republicans-are-really-stupid/

[Connie_Corleone]

25. That link has nothing to do with what I wrote.

An exaggeration is an exaggeration. Edwards said ALL young African-American men.

[jsamuel]

28. He is saying that the SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST THEM.

It is wrong and it needs to be completely overhauled.

[Connie_Corleone]

30. I didn't have a problem with the rest of his answer.

He was right about what needs to be done.

I just don't like exaggerations to make a point. It's a pet peeve of mine.

I didn't bash the man, did I? Just a criticism.

[jsamuel]

31. No, but there are people who are calling him racist when it is obviously the opposite.

That makes me edgy, sorry if it came out on you at all.

[smalll]

17. Edwards's "fourth H" makes another appearance -

hyperbole!

[Auntie Bush]

20. Edwards needs a lesson on positive thinking. Man, is that a negative

way to express his thoughts. Sounds too much like a bush comment...not the smiling Edwards I'm used to seeing./hearing...what happened?

[benny05]

21. Read Oliver Willis comment

http://www.oliverwillis.com/archives/2007/09/28/republicans-are-really-stupid/

Then you may have a different view.

[goodgd_yall]

22. Said within context of talking about the justice system and jail not being a solution

He is talking about ways to help African-American men from committing violent crime or becoming victims of violent crime. "In prison....or dead"

[jsamuel]

27. Don't let the facts or context prevent you from using RW smears against fellow Democrats.

Seeing people support this attack here is what disgusts me.


You are right, thank you!

[Yukari Yakumo]

24. -_-

...

Obama, if you don't unload a can of whoop-ass on Edwards, you don't deserve the nom (much less the Presidency).

[2rth2pwr]

26. John- Don't implode yet! At least make

it to Iowa. Hillary has to have a little competition and if you do this while you have a shot there....It just wouldn't be right.

[w4rma]

32. This should bring loads of attention to this important subject. Good for Edwards. (nt)

[snowbear]

33. Except that the OP (an HRC supporter) posted only selected statements in that video..

And knowing Munster as we all do ----- s/he (whatever) will never say anything positive about Edwards or Obama...

And will seek out videos that have been sliced and diced until nothing is left but the sentence they posted in their pathetic title here.

They do that because they'd prefer you only hear that soundbite and not the entire discussion.

Trying to influence the opinion of Edwards.. exactly what they do.. With Obama.. With Edwards... With anyone except for the DLC Queen-bee.

Don't trust the clip that Munster gave us --- they are up to NO good.

They chose a video that had been selectively edited in the attempts of making Senator Edwards look bad.

Sad what happens around here during the primaries....

[goodgd_yall]

37. Selective listening syndrome

Even with the slice-and-dice video, it is still in Edwards' favor, if you're listening to the whole context. The problem is that the anti-Edwards people have selective listening syndrome.

[sandnsea]

41. That clip is fine

I don't need to see anything more than that clip to know what he meant. Isn't attention to the incarceration problem more important than scoring political points? I swear, what the hell is wrong with people. No sense that some things are just more important than politics.

[ripple]

36. I agree with his points about the unfair criminal justice system

but the extreme exaggeration makes his argument seem much less credible.

[goodgd_yall]

38. Don't fall for the same tactics used against Howard Dean.

This is very much like the scream brouhaha. Much ado about nothing.

[fujiyama]

42. I don't like hyperbpole and exagerration

The incarceration rate among African Americans is incredibly alarming as is the death rate for young African American males, especially in inner cities (and I heard just the other day that the crime rate in MI has jumped - including the homicide rate).

However, it's important to address these issues in a realistic and reasonable manner. This kind of sensationalist talk will not solve anything. And the statement just doesn't sit well. Edwards may have meant well in bringing up the issues, but it sounds too similar to something a racist might say.

[goodgd_yall]

44. Only if it's spun that way

It's hard to ever talk about drugs, crime, and the Af-Am community because it can always be twisted by Repugs to sound racist (never mind by Dems themselves in order to attack a candidate they don't like).