White House Criticizes Bennett for Remarks

NYTIMES ^ | 09/30/05 | DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and MAREK FUCHS

[Pikamax]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 - The White House distanced itself today from the comments of a prominent Republican who said on a recent radio program that the nation's crime rate could potentially be reduced through aborting blacks.

The White House called the comments, made by William J. Bennett, the former Republican secretary of education, off base. The White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, said that President George W. Bush "believes the comments were not appropriate."

Mr. Bennett has said the remarks were taken out of context, noting that he immediately said such abortions would be "reprehensible."

Mr. Bennett, who served as drug czar for the president's father, came under fire from Democratic Congressional leaders on Thursday for the comments, which were made on a his radio show, "Bill Bennett's Morning in America," earlier this week.

[samadams2000]

Go back to work doing a great job protecting our borders!!!

[goldstategop]

The White House rushed to disassociate itself from Bennett without even looking at the complete context of his remarks. Its too bad they can't stand a little heat from liberals.

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

[msnimje]

Can someone please tell me what Wolfgang Blitzer JUST SAID to Robert Bennett to make him say in return, "I am offended by that" ???

I was flipping through the channels and saw this exchange, they were obviously talking about Robert Bennett's brother, William.

[fortheDeclaration]

The White House rushed to disassociate itself from Bennett without even looking at the complete context of his remarks. Its too bad they can't stand a little heat from liberals.

The context of the remarks are not going to save Bennet and he knows it.

He would have to bring out the stats that Blacks are more likely to commit crimes then non-Blacks, which opens an entire new can of worms.

Crying 'out of context' will only make matters worse.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Did Roe v. Wade Abort Crime?

[MNlurker]

They don't have one damn response to anything derogatory said about them from left personalities, but anything that is decried as wrong by the MSM and left wing special interest from someone on the right (and which was taken out of context) and they are falling over themselves trying to put distance between them.

Being disgusted is an understatement. If the big picture for me wasn't about the Supreme Court, I think I would consider this Administration an embarassment on many levels now.

[manwiththehands]

Dramamine time.

[pbear8]

He said the he was disappointed that Wolf did not tell him that he was going to ask him about Bill's remarks. "You've always been straight with me before Wolf". He mentioned that Bill said it would be morally reprehensible and that it was a mountain out of a molehill. He said that men are more violent than women so he could suggest that aborting all men would lower the crime rate.

Wolf had the doe-in-headlights look. Couldn't believe that Bennett was calling him on his cheap tactics. "Well Bob, I know that you love your brother..."

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

The issue isn't race; it's culture. We have become of nation of fact-haters.

[goldstategop]

You made my point for me. We're not allowed to have a truly honest discussion about race in this country because the Left has ruled it out of bounds. Bennett actually addressed how the Left's support of abortion has HURT blacks - but thanks to PC restrictions on what can be said, we can't talk about that either. We can only talk about race on liberal terms and that's what you think we ought to do. Concede the "black issue" to the Left.

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

[Czar]

"...I think I would consider this Administration an embarassment on many levels now."

That's because it is an embarrassment on many levels.

[goldstategop]

You know we're told to be multicultural and enlightened and sensitive. God forbid we point out how the culture of death is affecting minorities. That touches a nerve with the Left on the two issues they own - abortion and the minority vote. Criticizing them as we know, on those subjects is verboten.

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

[dts32041]

That about sums it up.

Do we feel like a country at war for our survival, or am I missing something?

[hotsteppa]

Whatever. You are an embarrassment.

[msnimje]

Thanks for the information. I love it when ethical people speak up for themselves at the same time exposing the MSM's lack of ethics. I also like that PC is taking a bit of a hit.

Somebody should let it be known that Planned Parenthood was founded by a white woman to keep blacks and other "undesirables" (their word) from having so many babies and "polluting" the population.

[fortheDeclaration]

You made my point for me. We're not allowed to have a truly honest discussion about race in this country because the Left has ruled it out of bounds. Bennett actually addressed how the Left's support of abortion has HURT blacks - but thanks to PC restrictions on what can be said, we can't talk about that either. We can only talk about race on liberal terms and that's what you think we ought to do. Concede the "black issue" to the Left.

I agree that we cannot have a frank, non-emotional discussion on the Black issue.

That is what Bennet should state, not that his comments were taken out of context.

What the Democrats are jumping on is the inference that Blacks are responsible for the high crime rate.

That is not out of context of what he said, but very much part of the central thesis of his hypothesis.

Benett should point to the stats and then put the Left on the defensive in justifying them.

He is smart enough to know that it is not the abortion remark the Left is going after.

[Polyxene]

"White House Criticizes Bennett for Remarks"

Won't matter to the MSM. They all know that it was the E-V-I-L Karl Rove who made Bennett say those things! Ergo, it is -- Bush's fault! (sarc)

[pbear8]

You're welcome.

Rush mentioned the PP angle today! Hope the right people were listening.

[cgk]

WHITE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD: COMMENTS LINE

Comments: 202-456-1111

I just called in my comments and first said that I was a strong supporter of the President and our troops and their mission in Iraq, and to "stay the course".

Then I asked that the President and his staff take another look at Bennett's comments in full as I believed the White House was too hasty in making a judgment. .

The operator told me she believed Bennett's quote was "taken out of context" and she "heard that Soros' money is behind the attack on Bennett."