Senator Demands Apology for Bennett Comments on Blacks and Crime

AP ^ | 9/29/05

[Crackingham]

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and other Democrats on Thursday demanded that former Education Secretary William Bennett apologize for remarks on his radio program linking the crime rate and the abortion of black babies. Bennett responded that the comments, made Wednesday on his "Morning in America" show, had been mischaracterized and that his point was that the idea of supporting abortion to reduce crime was "morally reprehensible."

The author of "The Book of Virtues," answering a caller's question, took issue with the hypothesis put forth in a recent book that one reason crime is down is that abortion is up.

"But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down," Bennett said.

He went on to call that "an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky."

On his show Thursday, the anti-abortion Bennett said he was "pointing out that abortion should not be opposed for economic reasons any more than racism ... should be supported or opposed for economic reasons. Immoral policies are wrong because they are wrong, not because of an economic calculation."

Reid, D-Nev., said he was "appalled by Mr. Bennett's remarks" and called on him "to issue an immediate apology not only to African Americans but to the nation."

Rep. Raum Emanuel, D-Ill., said in a statement, "At the very time our country yearns for national unity in the wake of hurricane Katrina, these comments reflect a spirit of hate and division."

[rdb3]

It had to come, didn't it?

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[flashbunny]

uh, he's just saying the same thing liberals have been saying for decades, in a slightly different manner.

[toddlintown]

"Rep. Raum Emanuel, D-Ill., said in a statement, "At the very time our country yearns for national unity in the wake of hurricane Katrina, these comments reflect a spirit of hate and division."

Hey Raum Where'd you get all your money from? Just wondering.

[coconutt2000]

Democrats cry for unity while acting divisively.

[Tall_Texan]

Rep. Raum Emanuel, D-Ill., said in a statement, "At the very time our country yearns for national unity in the wake of hurricane Katrina, these comments reflect a spirit of hate and division."

But Rep. Jackson Lee's comments do not?

[Rampolla]

If Reid and his ilk want to reduce hate speech and racism, they should start with Congressman Rangel, Rev. Al Sharpton, et al in their racist hate-speech against the President whom they likened to Bull Connor. Reid and the Congressional Black Caucus lack credibility on the issue of race and hate-speech.

[KC Burke]

So, basically what we have is the Democrats minority leader in the Senate calling for an end to the Bill of Rights provisions for Free Speech? Why is this even news?

Such actions and such sophomoric grandstanding happens out of his office morning, noon and night, each and every day.

[staytrue]

Crime is down because there just is not much worth stealing anymore.

Home electronics and computers are so cheap, it is easier to get a job than steal this stuff. Also, no one carries cash anymore, just an easily trackable credit card. Finally, automobiles are getting more and more theft resistant with alarms, lojack, on star, ingnitions that require special keys, etc.

Crime just does not pay like it used to. Plus there are cheap surveillance cameras everywhere today.

[goldstategop]

Its funny watching a liberal white racist like Sen. Harry Reid demand Bill Bennett apologize for drawing attention to the racist underpinnings of abortion. And here we were all thinking he was "pro-life." Another media manufactured lie. If Reid WAS pro-life, he would have welcomed the gist of Bennett's comments.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[rocksblues]

Mr. Bennett should have also stated that if you aborted every white baby in this country the crime rate would also go down.

Talk about stuck on stupid!

[vbmoneyspender]

I wonder how much Bennett had to pay Harry Reid and Rahm Emanuel to get them to issue their denuciations?

[Rosemont]

Still waiting for Charlie "Bush is our Bull Connor" Rangel's apology.

[cardinal4]

Why should a Senator demand a response from a private talk show??

[G.Mason]

"It had to come, didn't it?"

You can hardly be surprised, and it's going to get better that that.

What would you expect from a policy of personal destruction?

[goldstategop]

Pro-life comments are verboten. Raum Emmanuel's hateful reaction shows how much the Democrats are in the grip of the Death Lobby.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[cgk]

Bennett responded that the comments, made Wednesday on his "Morning in America" show, had been mischaracterized and that his point was that the idea of supporting abortion to reduce crime was "morally reprehensible."

The left smells fresh blood having already made Bennett apologize once before. I hope he doesn't give them one this time.

[goldstategop]

Yeah, its not like Harry Reid's party wants to create a culture of life. Bennett made a very valid point. Why all the faux outrage?

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Williams]

All agreed but the real point is how democrats will fish for trouble and use lies to stir up race hatred. bennett plainly is against abortion and was criticizing those who say it keeps crime down. He then made teh exaggerated statement that aborting ALL black babies would reduce crime, but that doesn't make abortion worth doing as a crimestopper. he plainly was against aborting any black baby.

Now, because he used the example of blacks and crime he is slightly open to a complaint that he accused blacks of causing crime. He didn't say that, but it's true blacks are committing a dispropotionate amount of crime. But he could just as well have said aborting white babies, or all babies would reduce crime.

Reprehensible thing here is that Bennett is such a low key and deeply moral guy who never says anything in a mean spirit. So now he gets accused of something mean which he never said.

[goldstategop]

Of course it is. Abortion is reprehensible - that was exactly Bennett's point. But to the Democrats, abortion is the party's holy writ. No wonder they were so offended.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)