Baltimore Sun: "Fat, drunk and stupid"?

Newsbusters.org ^ | 1 October 2005 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Congressman Billybob]

In an article today (1 October) by Kelly Brewington, the Baltimore Sun takes Former Education Secretary Bill Bennett to task for his unusual comment on his radio show this week. The article is focused mostly on the reactions to that comment.

The reporter writes, "Democrat leaders leapt on Bennett, a prominent Republican analyst, describing his statement as the latest in a long trail of public comments by white conservatives unfairly linking blacks to crime and sexuality."

Source: hard copy, Baltimore Sun, page 6A, 10/01/0522

Here is Bennett's statement, "...if you wanted to reduce crime, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."

The source of this conclusion was, as the article notes and Bennett said on air, the book Freakonomics by Stephen Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Nowhere in this 24-paragraph article does the reporter bother to refer to this readily available book, cite its statistics and claim they are inaccurate.

Anyone who bothers to look at the crime statistics for any state in the Union, or the whole nation, would find that the racial group with the highest crime rate per thousand is African-Americans. But contrary to this article's false premise, this is not a white-black issue. The same statistics show that the racial group with the lowest crime rate per thousand is Asian-Americans, not Caucasians.

Near the end, this article even admits, indirectly, that Mr. Bennett's comment is factually correct. It refers to Jeffery Ian Ross, a University of Baltimore criminologist, who "said that minorities are disproportionately caught up in the criminal justice system for complex reasons."

That's a euphemism for "blacks disproportionately commit crimes."

Anyone who bothers to research the causes of criminal activity will find that poverty contributes, and race contributes. But the strongest indicator of probable criminal conduct is children born illegitimately to young mothers who drop out of high school. The link between blacks and crime and sexual promiscuity is not "unfair," it is statistically real.

The reporter and her editor are apparently unaware that there's a tradition in English literature of using harsh examples to make a valid point. Jonathan Swift did that in his tract, "A Modest Proposal." He wrote that the poor Irish could benefit by fattening up their children to be killed and eaten by the English. No one took Swift as actually suggesting that this should be done.

If Bennett's admittedly harsh comment causes a similar effort for all Americans to look honestly at the causes of crime in this nation, it will serve a similar, good purpose. That is a purpose the Baltimore Sun has entirely missed.

Are this reporter and her editor "fat, drunk and stupid" as Dean Wormer said to Flounder when revoking the Charter of Delta House? I have no reason to believe that they are fat or drunk. But their work shows that they are stupid. Just a touch of competent research would have produced an entirely different article.

John_Armor@aya.yale.edu

[tarzantheapeman]

I should have kept reading ...

[hombre_sincero]

"Fat, drunk and stupid"?

Ted Kennedy article ALERT!!

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

I'm not planning on defending or being critical of Bennett's statement but doesn't it appear to anyone other than me that it was a rather ill-advised example to pull out of a hat simply because it was so prone to be misinterpreted, taken out of context and thus become fodder for his detractors? It almost appears that Bill was looking for trouble.

[Congressman Billybob]

Limits on Newsbusters are 400 words. There wasn't space to write an "however" section in this piece. However, I agree with you that Bill Bennett made a statement that is an absolute snap to be misquoted -- and when misquoted to do a whole lot of damage.

After the he-was-right-on-the-facts would have come (space permitting) he-never-should-have-said-it-that-way.

John / Billybob

[skinkinthegrass]

Baltimore Sun: "Fat, drunk and stupid"?

Sen. Edward "Swimmer" (HIC!) Kennedy ('RAT-MA)???

No, Bill Bennett, using his comments "out of context", Business as usual for the lazy LMSM.

[R. Scott]

I thought the article was about Ted.

[skinkinthegrass]

many of the same comments

..should have read the whole thread first. :(

[John W]

Its a sign of the times-and not a good one-that even good conservatives can't say Bennett was right without some type of disclaimer.Thats the type of thing that makes we think we're doomed.

[John W]

Thats "me" not "we".

[mlc9852]

I assumed the same thing - lol.

[geezerwheezer]

Fat, drunk and stupid does not describe Teddy Kennedy. One should also insert the word.....KILLER...to describe said Demorat Senator!!!

[ghostcat]

"Fat, Drunk and Stupid"

I thought this was an article about Teddy Kennedy!!!!

[Pessimist]

"..is going to have a widespread impact on perceptions of race issues for those who have tended to have knee-jerk support for liberal views on the topic"

I'm interested in that aspect of the NO story too. One would think now would be the time for some straight talk re the true nature of the underclass. But so far I don't see anyone on the right standing up to address it. And no doubt the example being made of Bennett will give pause to anyone who might consider doing so.

Conversely, for the left this is a critical moment of sorts. Their slip is showing. The horror stories from NO (however inaccurate and overblown) have presented suburban America w/ an unpleasant view of the the character of such people - as have some of the subsequent stories of Gucci bags being bought w/ FEMA cards, etc...

There is a danger that this will challenge their common belief that the poor are just the victims of bad luck who only need a little more help to get a leg up.

If the left knows how to manage public opinion (and we all know they do), they need to put a stop to this right now.

[GVnana]

their work shows that they are stupid. Just a touch of competent research would have produced an entirely different article.

Ouch! (But well-deserved!)

[Caipirabob]

The potential for criminal behavior is nurtured by the destruction of strong family bonds. The Democrat "corruption machine" has excelled at leveling the foundations of family particularly in the black community. Such potential is further fostered by continual race baiting and other destructive group-think thrust upon minorities. They preserve their constituencies by feeding upon the worst fears they can harvest among such communities in order to separate them from society and prevent social promotion within mainstream society, which has no obligation to accept or condone lesser behavior. The Democrats can celebrate a morbid triumph in their destruction of the black community.

[mikrofon]

Word to the MSM...

[Congressman Billybob]

I agree with you about the destruction of the family as the genesis of higher crime rates. One of the reasons why the Asian-Americans have lower crime rates is that they have, generally, stronger family ties.

The Japanese word for self-respect is "on." But that is also the word for family respect. That tradition ties respect for self directly to respect for family. And that is why Asian-Americans tend to be high achievers across the board.

It is a simple equation. People who study hard, keep their noses clean, and then work hard will almost always succeed. That success will not be deterred because they are poor, or members of a racial minority. The Asian-Americans demonstrate that this is true. The African-Americans, all too often, demonstrate that the reverse is also true.

John / Billybob

[daybreakcoming]

I thought it was about the swimmer too.
Great to see you back - been wondering about you.

[processing please hold]

You just posted what I was thinking.Funny how the words fat drunk and stupid just naturally brings Teddy-boy to mind!

What a perputal joke he has become for him to be immediately associated with those words. The Democratic party of my fathers, is indeed dead.

[Hildy]

You also have to understand it was said on his radio show, right? These guys have to fill up hours of talk, talk, talk...at some point, someone's going to say something like this and the looney left will pounce on it.