NPR's Mara Liasson: racially insensitive? (3-2-05 comment on Brit Hume's "All Star" panel)

FoxNews Channel (Special Report with Brit Hume) | 3-2-05 | DTogo

[DTogo]

Re-broadcast coming up soon!

In the last segment of Brit's "All Star" panel today, when discussing some politicians' move to allow convicted felons the right to vote, Mara Liasson makes the unsubstantiated statement (she cites no source) that those politicians (Hillary) are going after black voters because 70% of felons are black. Brit made several attempts to gently coax her into rephrasing that, which she doesn't and continues talking. Huh?

[PGalt]

Democratic Crime Syndicate bump! Watch their deeds. Listen to their words.

[HardStarboard]

>>>I don't know what 70% of felons are: black, white, other? But she cites no source, and when Brit makes several attempts to get her to change her statement, that says something. To me anyway.<<<

It says that she stands by her statement. So the next step is to find out if she is close to being correct, or way off base.

To automatically dismiss her statement as incorrect seems to me to be PC.....prove her wrong if you can - but have a basis to challange her statement.

[Kirkwood]

That's the prison demographic, you have to add in the felons who have served their time and are out of prison.

[wardaddy]

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/murderrates.shtml

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/raceinc.shtml

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/raceusandincarcerated.shtml

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/malesinc.shtml

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/incratesgenderrace.shtml

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/blackpopincreases.shtml

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/internationalinc.shtml

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903755.html

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922678.html

[cyborg]

You just happened to have that ready.

[wardaddy]

oh yeah...I keep a laminated copy in my wallet.

[JLS]

That's the prison demographic, you have to add in the felons who have served their time and are out of prison.
____________________________________________________

It is also everyone incarcerated whether for a felony or misdemeanor. I would guess that it is not too far from the racial breakdown of felons.

[Kirkwood]

You are quoting a different statistic. She was saying what percentage of all felons are black, not what percentage of all blacks are also felons. Two different things.

[america-rules]

It is no wonder that racial minorities are most severely affected, since they represent an astonishing majority of those Americans sentenced to jail or prison. More than two-thirds-68 percent-of the nation's incarcerated are people of color.

Link Here

[kcvl]

ROFLOL!

[cyborg]

Next to the metal business card with the Bill of Rights on it to annoy the TSA.

[kcvl]

Research by University of Minnesota sociologist Christopher Uggen suggests that convicted felons could provide a boost to the Democratic ticket. While turnout among former prisoners tends to run at just 25% to 30%, more than 70% prefer Democrats.

[wardaddy]

well since so many felons who've lost voting and gun rights are minorities then we should all feel worse about it than yer garden variety peckerwood losing his.

puke.

[cyborg]

I wonder why they're not addressing the disenfranchisement of white prisoners. Hmmmm... I wish I wasn't so tired, otherwise I could make a really good comment.

[calex59]

According to post number 15 her statements are correct. What she said was the "vast Majority" of felons were african american. According to the chart in post 15 this is correct. More Black felons than any other ethnic group.

[3rd Order]

What's she talking about, if Hillary wanted the black vote she should be going after the hotel staff.
/ Deano

[Bogtrotter52]

Watched the show....I was stunned to hear ANYONE speaking the truth on that subject.....and she was REALLY squirming having been so politically incorrect. refreshing in a way

[DTogo]

See posts 23 & 27. Being in prison at any given time does not make you a convicted felon with no right to vote.

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

Something tells me Orenthal James Simpson, Kobe Bryant, Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson will all consider casting their ballots for Hillary. Oh, wait a minute, none of them is a felon (officially, I mean).

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from March 5, 2005. Thanks DTogo.

Mara Liasson makes the unsubstantiated statement (she cites no source) that those politicians (Hillary) are going after black voters because 70% of felons are black. Brit made several attempts to gently coax her into rephrasing that, which she doesn't and continues talking.

This shouldn't come as a surprise -- NPR doesn't think of this as anything but "stating fact". Oh, and Obama wasn't yet POTUS. And...

• Flashback: NPR Fires a Top Black Manager (NPR CEO hates black people...)
• Juan Williams Was Fox News' "Lawn Jockey"
  (According to prominent left-wing blog)

See, just helping out NPR on a pretext to fire Mara Liasson.