Obama's PR Machine Sucks (Pardons 9 people, 4 of which on Cocaine offenses)

[NightWatcher]

The week following a pay freeze for federal workers, tax cuts for the rich, terrible unemployment......and what happens on Friday?

How will this play in the media? Gee what drug did he mention trying in the past? Nevermind, but they must realize how this LOOKS!


http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/131937-obama-issues-first-pardons-of-presidency-four-in-cocaine-cases
President Obama issued the first pardons of his presidency, excusing the convicts of crimes, many of which were drug-related.

Obama made nine pardons, four of which were in cases related to cocaine convictions.

The other convictions were related to illegal possession of government property, liquor law violations, making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration, passing counterfeit obligations and securities, and mutilation of coins.

Obama has only previously used the power of pardoning for ceremonial purposes: pardoning turkeys ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

By contrast, President George W. Bush pardoned 189 people, and President Clinton pardoned 150.

[tularetom]

1. How will it play in the media???

If Obama does it, the media will trash it.

That doesn't matter if he's advocating reductions in social security and medicare, pulling combat troops out of Iraq, using the federal government to breathe life into the automobile industry or pardoning druggies. Whatever he does the media will oppose.

Don't understand why the man seems unable to see this.

[NightWatcher]

4. if I were Prez, HA, I'd save them all up for the last day in office and Boom!

Pardon all my friends. With one exception, Leonard Peltier on Day One.

But no, Obama's taking shit from all sides and he pardons 4 cocaine-related criminals. I think Fux News just came in their pants

[ProSense]

8. "But no, Obama's taking shit from all sides and he pardons 4 cocaine-related criminals. "

" I think Fux News just came in their pants"

Maybe you're more worried about Fox than the President.

After all, he signed the Fair Sentencing Act into law.

[MineralMan]

15. Nice image you present there about Fox News.

You're enjoying this, it seems. Too bad you don't know the stories behind these pardons, eh?

[Bobbieo]

27. If Clinton would have pardoned Leonard Peltier. Hillary would now be president.

Remember that Bob Geltner(SP)the Hollywood mogul,who latched on to Obama and got him in the spotlight,was pissed that Clinton would not pardon Leonard. Like who's gonna buck the FBI?

[Beetwasher]

2. *Sigh* Was It Two Weeks Ago Some Shitty Fucking Article Was Posted About Obama's Lack Of Humanity

For NOT pardoning anyone and SPECIFICALLY these exact type of offenders?

I believe I predicted this in that thread that He WOULD pardon people eventually and if they were exactly these types of offenders, he would get slammed for pardoning them for exactly the reasons you posted.

Just call me Nostradamus.

[onenote]

17. yep. I also pointed out at the time that Bush and Clinton didn't issue

their first pardons until November/December of their second year in office -- precisely the time frame in which Obama has now acted.

The author of the Hill blog piece is a hack of the highest order for comparing the number of pardons granted by Bush and Clinton in 8 years to the number granted by Obama in 2. At this exact point in Bush's presidency he had granted exactly zero pardons. His first pardons weren't issued until December 20 and he issued a grand total of 6 at that time -- fewer than Obama. Not that the idiot from Hill seems to care. And, oh yeah, Bush pardoned turkeys too.

[Beetwasher]

21. I Think The Piece A Couple Of Weeks Ago Was Even Worse

It essentially called Obama's "decision" to NOT pardon anyone (yet) inhuman. I wonder if the author of that hit piece and all the DU'ers who piled on that thread will acknowledge this?

[JamesA1102]

23. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Too many here are just looking for an excuse to slam the guy.

[otohara]

3. OFGS

must every POTUS thread have a negative spin on it?

[Kadie]

9. We don't need the media for negative spin anymore.

There is plenty here.

:(

[ProSense]

5. Don't understand the point made in the OP

What's the point of highlighting the drug offenses?

Also, most of Bush and Clinton's pardons came in their second terms.

[NightWatcher]

7. Does Obama realize how this LOOKS (and can be spun by those on the right)?

that is all. I expect to see "Obama pardons Coke Monkeys" at Fux news any second now.

[ProSense]

10. Ugh! n/t

[MineralMan]

14. Maybe the President is doing what's right, despite the

"LOOKS" of it. Did you ever consider that possibility? I want a President to pardon people who are wrongfully sentenced or convicted. Don't you?

Again, until you know the stories behind these pardons, your scorn of the President is unwarranted, I think.

[Hello_Kitty]

6. MUTILATION OF COINS??!!!1?

:shrug:

[Sonoman]

12. Can someone on Death Row get a pardon?

That's a pretty serious crime.

Oh, .... the Humanity....

I'm locking all of my doors.

Right now.

Sonoman

[MineralMan]

11. Do you know the stories behind those pardons?

No? Many "drug-related" convictions are bogus or the sentencing is too harsh by far. President Obama pardoned four drug-related people, along with some others. Unless you know the stories, I think this is just another baseless attack on President Obama.

If you do know the stories behind each of these people who were pardoned, then I apologize. I'm betting you don't know, though.

[Zen Democrat]

13. A large number of W Bush and Clinton pardons were cocaine offenses too. Nothing new.

[onenote]

22. around a dozen of Bush's pardons were cocaine distribution convictions

he also pardoned a few folks convicted of meth distribution, a lot of folks convicted in pot busts, and even a few involved with acid, heroin, and other drugs.

There is no news here other than that Obama has pardoned a couple more people than Bush had at this point in their respective presidencies, and fewer than Clinton had. (Bush pardoned noone in his first year in office, 7 in his seocond year and four in his third year. Clinton pardoned noo ne his first year but more than 40 his second year and around another dozen his third year. He didn't pardon anyone in the last year of his first term.

[okieinpain]

16. yeah president obama is evil, man he's just plain evil. n/t.

[Sonoman]

18. Adultery and 3 NSF checks?

• Edgar Leopold Kranz Jr. - Minot, N.D.
Offense: Wrongful use of cocaine, adultery and writing three insufficient fund checks; Articles 112a and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Sentence: Sept. 14, 1994, as approved Nov. 4, 1994; General court-martial convened at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; bad conduct discharge (suspended), 24 months of confinement and reduction to pay grade E-1.


Gee, I wonder if he gets back-pay.

"Wrongful use of cocaine".

I suppose the AF has a "rightful use" clause.

Obama sure picked some tough cases, here.

Sonoman

[NuclearDem]

20. ""Wrongful use of cocaine". I suppose the AF has a "rightful use" clause."

Back during my time in Monterey at DLI, we had some airmen actually punished for, I shit you not, "improper use of inhalants" for sniffing spray paint. :rofl:

[Sonoman]

24. Oh, damn, that is hilarious.

Leave it to the military. You just cannot make up shit like that.

Sonoman

[AndrewP]

19. I think that it was a good thing for the President to do

This is a case of him doing something right and not letting worry over the spin stop that. I applaud him.

[Glimmer of Hope]

26. I agree. Who cares what the judgmental right thinks?

[Lucinda]

25. I had the same reaction n/t