Is Obama "soft on crime?" a troubling look

[DiamondJay]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals-2007-03-13.html

"In 1998, Obama was one of only three senators to vote against a proposal making it a criminal offense for convicts on probation or on bail to have contact with a street gang.

In 2001, Obama voted against a measure that would have expanded the penalties for some gang activity to include the death penalty. The bill was vetoed by then-Gov. George Ryan (R ) not long after he had issued a moratorium on the death penalty in the state.

Obama, at the time, said the bill would unfairly target minorities, stating, “There’s a strong overlap between gang affiliation and young men of color … I think it’s problematic for them to be singled out as more likely to receive the death penalty for carrying out certain acts than are others who do the same thing.”

Obama opposes the death penalty except for terrorists, serial killers and child-murderers, but his campaign added that he does not support the death penalty as it is currently administered in this country.

On a 1999 vote making adult prosecution mandatory for aggravated discharge of a firearm in or near a school, the senator voted “present.”

He explained the vote, saying, “There is really no proof or indication that automatic transfers and increased penalties and adult penalties for juvenile offenses have, in fact, proven to be more effective in reducing juvenile crime or cutting back on recidivism.”

And in 2001, Obama voted “present” on a bill that would increase penalties for trafficking in Ecstasy and other designer drugs.

The senator questioned the length of some drug penalties when compared to other crimes, noting that selling 15 tablets of Ecstasy was a Class X felony, as was raping a woman at knifepoint."

While I agree about the ecstacy thing, the votes on gangs will hurt Obama because his opponents will bring back the "tough on crime" thing because of Obama's color, and as we all know that the purpose for that is part racism. The votes on gangs were troubling, as he they will say he did that "for his own", and his present vote on shooting guns near schools is unacceptable. He needs to prove he is tough on crime, or they will tear him apart.

[cali]

1. I strongly agree with Obama's positions on crime

fuck the damn "tough on crime" meme. And he'll do just fine without the cruel stances too many in our party have adopted.

[MH1]

2. I don't see a problem with those votes, especially against death penalty and felonizing

I am glad Obama opposes those things.

By "felonizing" (ok I made that word up because I can't think of the right one) I mean ever expanding definitions of what constitutes a "felony" which oh by the way in many states, takes away a citizen's right to vote - forever.

Many, many laws are racist in their application if not their intent. I would have to do some research to see if I have any problems with any of those votes, but from the info in the OP, I'm guessing I won't.

[Jed Dilligan]

6. The laws are racist in intent as well

I'd say 70-80% of lawmakers in any legislative body in this country are racists.

[TomClash]

3. Death Penalty for "Gang Activity?"

My response would be: "So you approve of potentially killing innocent people? - our Republican Governor didn't."

[DiamondJay]

12. obviously it means murders

use common sense. it most likely meant for gang related murders or deaths or rapes. which it deserves

[TomClash]

16. Use your reading skills and read the rest of the post nt

[Jed Dilligan]

4. One more reason to vote for him

I don't know about Hillary, but I definitely sense that she gets off on locking people up. Didn't Bill gleefully execute that guy who was lobotomized by a self-inflicted gunshot?

We need a President who will put an end to our Prison Nation and the insanity of the Drug War. If anything, I see Hillary ramping it up. The prison pop grew exponentially while Bill was in office. It's one of the main reasons he NEVER got my vote.

[baldguy]

5. What has being "tough" on crime got us?

We've got more people in prison than any other country on the planet. Harsh criminal penalties don't deter crime.

[Jed Dilligan]

7. "Tough on crime" is racist code, and always has been

McCain will throw out this accusation to a bunch of other shrivelled up old fascists. Obama will come back with a sane drug policy that most of the nation will support.

[Sadie5]

8. Obama covering his ass

Thats the way it seems to me. If he thought it might offend someone who might help him in his quest for the presidency he voted present.

[daleks not included]

24. right. becuase....

it is the white man's fault that these thugs are terrozing neighborhoods, bringing in drugs, killing innocent families and creating generation after generation of cildren who don't respect life.


Gang cultures needs to be stopped. Rap has destroyed men because it teaches that nothing is ever their fault. Getting money by ill means is the only way to live. They are not responsible for their actions. It has taught women not to value themsleves. Women are only baby making machines or prostitues.

If Obama decided to get tough on crime, would it make him a racist? Of course not, he would be seen as caring for his community.

[Big Blue Marble]

9. Why do you post a right wing talking point to attack Obama?

I notice that are increasing numbers of posters who have recently joined this site
who post negative spin about Obama as above. hmmmmm.......

[DiamondJay]

11. so we see what's coming

as this will def be used against us. especially against Obama. If Obama were tough on crime, the issue could be neutralized, but he was not tough on violent crime enough. We need to be aware of this huge weak point should we nominate him. we wouldn't like to get caught like a deer in headlights like we did with Michael Horton Dukakis

[Big Blue Marble]

15. Diamond, you are transparent.

Helping Obama is so not on you agenda. This is not the nineties or even the eighties as your post implies.

The issues in the GE will be Iraq and the economy. I assure Barack Obama is and will be perceived much
differently than Dukakis.

Your faux concern speaks of so much desperation.

Thanks for playing. Next.....

[daleks not included]

27. When did it become wrong to care about public safety?

[Big Blue Marble]

30. Red, red, red herring. n/t

[pdxmom]

10. I really like Obama's policies on crime. This is one in the plus column for me. N/T

[DiamondJay]

14. what about to the general electorate

this was the reason Clinton could get elected in 92 and dukakis couldn't in 88. tho i do agree with legalizing pot

[pdxmom]

23. If the topic is even broached in the GE, which I doubt it will be, in any

great substance, his positions are actually a reflection of many decisions that the current Supreme Court is making in regards to crime and punishment. That's the argument right there. Most of those decisions aren't getting nearly the press they deserve, but if you look at the most recent rulings over the past year and a half by the very right-leaning SCOTUS, you'll see that Obama isn't out of the mainstream.

[TreasonousBastard]

13. Well, yeah-- that would be a standard attack, but...

let's see how it goes.

Your concern is duly noted.

[AlFromDem]

17. Obama is soft on crime. NOT a progressive value.

Bill Clinton doubled the size of the nation's prisons. We need to return to that approach, especially with more illegals streaming in every day.

[MadBadger]

20. For Fuck's Sake, what the hell is wrong with you? Now you sound like a FREEPER

[Jed Dilligan]

33. Walks like a duck... n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

37. Yes, Bill Clinton sure loved to throw people in jail. Especially African Americans. nt

[Proud2BAmurkin]

18. That is troubling indeed

[jackson_dem]

19. His positionS on the death penalty are a doozy

He "opposes" it, except when he doesn't oppose it, except that he opposes it currently. :crazy:

[Adelante]

21. Are you Rudy Giuliani? nt

[Alexander]

22. Good. Obama agrees with me. Now I support him even more.

Real liberals realize that Obama is correct on his crime policy.

[Unsane]

25. The OP's attempt at disparaging Obama fell flat. LOL

try something else

[killbotfactory]

26. Maybe he doesn't want the US to have the highest incarceration rate in the world, anymore.

What's wrong with that?

[DiamondJay]

28. recidivism bring higher rates

if we let gangster roam free, they will come back to jail, and bring more people with em. keep gang members from returning to the street until they've learned their lesson, or keep gang members who kill in jail or dead. they have no respect for life.

[Alexander]

29. Crime prevention brings even lower rates of crimes.

Obama prefers preventing crime. Hillary prefers locking people up after the fact.

I'll take Obama's position any day of the week, and twice on Tuesday. :-)

[Jed Dilligan]

31. Legalize drugs and the gangs have no income. nt

[daleks not included]

38. Yeah right........

Carjacking, rape,prostitution, murder for hire, illegal goods etc.



Why do you think rap is so popular? Fools glorifying the thug life and quick cash. Killing each other because someone stepped on their turf. Someone looked at them wrong. Someone snitched. Someone wanted to walk to school in peace.


They don't need rehabilitation. They need punishment.

[Jed Dilligan]

39. There are other websites out there

for you to spout your crap on--you won't be very popular here.

[sniffa]

40. How ignorant of you

Oh, and welcome to DU. :hi:

[pdxmom]

32. What is the penalty for murder now? Whether you're a gang member or not. I

do believe it's maximum life in prison. So you want gang members to stay in prison longer than life?

[killbotfactory]

34. Yes, filling our prisons with non-violent drug offenders

is doing wonders for our society. They are all sub-human savages who deserve to be shot.

[DiamondJay]

35. not for non-violent but we need to be tough on violent crime

and Bloods and Crips and Kings kill people, along with MS 13, etc. they are thugs. there is no way around it.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

36. Thanks for your concern.