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I have always thought that the GOP could make a breakthrough with blacks if they adopted a more libertarian viewpoint on the war on drugs. If they ran ads supporting a change in sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenses in black districts I think it would draw a lot of support. Dems cannot do this as they would appear soft on crime. This is a huge issue in the black community. Softening these strict sentences (and pushing school choice)for non-violent users could change quite a few black voters voting patterns. Unfortunately, Ashcroft is threatening judges with sanctions if they don't follow draconian sentencing guidelines, regardless of extenuating circumstances.

"If they ran ads supporting a change in sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenses in black districts I think it would draw a lot of support."

Nothing new with this. Calif. passed Prop. 36 giving treatment as a sentence option, for 1st (and possibly 2nd) time drug offenders.

It is still pretty early to draw conclusions, on this. Blacks argue that harsh sentencing for crack, compared to more lenient terms for powder coke is racism.

It does seem inconsistent.

States have the legal right to set their own penalties for drugs. The feds seem to override this, for marijuana legalization for medical purposes (Calif. again).

Bush has probably got more to lose, by any relaxation of drug penalties, than he has to gain from blacks.

Treatment option to jail time seems popular, and many think it is better, too.