Posted on 04/11/2015 9:38:43 AM PDT by Citizen Zed
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., formally launched his presidential campaign Tuesday with a speech in Louisville. Among the notable quotes from Paul's speech was a comment seemingly meant to raise minority support by calling for reform of federal drug laws that disproportionately lead to incarceration of black Americans.
"I see an America where criminal justice is applied equally and any law that disproportionately incarcerates people of color is repealed," Paul said.
Paul went on to address other topics without expanding much on what kinds of laws he meant. But given his past comments, it's not hard to guess he was talking about the war on drugs. "The war on drugs has become the most racially disparate outcome that you have in the entire country," Paul said in November 2014. "Our prisons are full of black and brown kids. Three-fourths of the people in prison are black or brown."
Lauren Galik, the Director of Criminal Justice Reform at Reason Foundation, said she was excited to hear a Republican presidential candidate campaigning on drug reform. "More than half of our federal prison population right now is there for drugs, many of which are African-American," Galik told the Washington Examiner. "African Americans are more likely to receive a sentence that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment than white individuals."
Mandatory minimums disproportionately affect African American criminals compared to whites and Hispanics. "Although Black offenders in 2012 made up 26.3 percent of drug offenders convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty, they accounted for 35.2 percent of the drug offenders still subject to that mandatory minimum at sentencing," according to the United States Sentencing Commission, an independent federal agency.
(Excerpt) Read more at m.washingtonexaminer.com ...
Sounds like murder, mugging, and robbery to me. And, of course, free pot for all, with tax-funded Pot Stamps for all--especially blacks and illegal aliens.
Prohibitionists arriving in 5-4-3-2-1...
Maybe they should mark it a "Libertarian Caucus" thread.
I got to admire this mans pandering. He really has learned to place both ends.
Two faced is what I call it. Another mini Mitt.
He is delusional if he thinks blacks will come out and vote for him. This pandering by him is an embarrassment to him and he would be better served by running for the Dem nomination.
So far he has pandered to the druggies and now to blacks, next week it will be the homosexuals and their marriage.
Hmm, maybe the reason so many black and brown people are in jail for drug crimes is that they sell their lives and freedom for so little? Or maybe it is the easiest conviction to get, so is the go to for prosecutors?
Wouldn’t the better solution be to encourage black and brown people to respect themselves, others, and the law?
Oh, right, libertarians of today don’t believe in personal responsibility and respect of others.
Just out of curiosity, has the drug trade ceased in Colorado and Washington? Has petty crime related to the drug trade gone down? Wasn’t that the claims made when prohibition of harmless drugs were repealed?
LOL Did you see his interview by Hannity?
He had t take both sides on immigration, homosexual agenda, reduced military, drugs, infact every issue he said he was for it but then against it.
Got to admit the man knows how to pander and then think he will get the nomination when he’s more left than most Dems.
“Libertarian Caucus”,libertarian circus is more like it.
Dud. You can’t have things both ways. It won’t work.
He’s another one off the list.
Hint for Mr Paul... Black people want to be able to walk the streets at night. They want black lives to matter in their community. They want leaders who stop waiving the racist card and actually free their streets of gangs, drugs, and prostitution.
Releasing more criminals doesn’t do that.
Senator Rand Paul-stop drinking with your dad. It’s not helping you....
someone should tell Paul because we all know what he really stands for but is trying to have it both ways to get the nomination.
Sadly there are people voting for their drugs to be legal, or some who hate the military to see it reduced, or homosexuals who want their agenda advancing.
Maybe Paul wants his drugs legal so he can get high legally with his daddy.
You seal the border, you deport the illegals, and you win the War on Drugs. Then you can dismantle the DEA, ATF, and most city SWAT units.
There's a reason why politicians want to keep the border open. To continue the militarization of police forces and build up the federal law enforcement agencies.
Paul's comments are pure political grandstanding and doesn't address the source of the issue as outlined.
Also he's going to alienate blue-collar and middle-class whites with this crap just like the Rats have lost white support.
bye bye rand pail
New Name for him Pandy Randy the Panderer.
Great, Rand. Bring society down to the lowest denominator.
“White, Asian, and all kids who have chosen the straight path and not gotten into the drug trade, YOU SHALT HAVE NO ADVANTAGES in the Paul America!”
LOL
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