Rand Paul’s big “selling point” is dead: How Clinton schooled him on criminal justice reform

[DonViejo]

In aftermath of Garner tragedy, Clinton indicted police abuse and mass incarceration. Paul? He railed against taxes

JOAN WALSH

I got a lot of pushback, mainly from Rand Paul fanboys, to my suggestion that the Kentucky senator’s blaming Eric Garner’s death on cigarette taxes was tin-eared, to say the least. The complaints, on Twitter and (surprisingly) in a lot of personal email, took two forms: 1) I’m a nanny state liberal who doesn’t care about the wanton abuse of state power to not only impose taxes but then aggressively police their enforcement. And 2) I’m terrified that Rand Paul can beat Hillary Clinton, especially because he’s better than she is when it comes to issues of our expanding police state.

On the first point: I support high cigarette taxes, because cigarettes kill people and impose vast costs on society. I regret that those taxes fall heavily on the poor, and I support community programs to help people stop smoking and improve their health. But on the issue of enforcement, cigarette taxes are just one of many, many “laws” that are over-enforced or arbitrarily enforced in poor communities, in order to give the police greater control over the population.

From aggressive traffic stops to littering citations to harsher penalties for crack cocaine than powder, and higher rates of marijuana busts, we know that comparatively small infractions are policed heavily in low-income black communities, to keep people ensnared with the cops and to keep them controlled. Eric Garner didn’t die because the police were dispassionately trying to enforce a nanny-state law taxing cigarettes, but because cops routinely find ways to harass low-income black men, and then escalate the situation, often with violence.

On the second point, that I’m “afraid” of Rand Paul because he’s a threat to Hillary Clinton, well, that’s even sillier. First, I’ve said all I have to say about Hillary Clinton here, in the Nation. I respect her, I may support her in the Democratic primary, but I may not, depending on who’s running. However, I think she’s much better than any Republican eyeing the race, and that includes Paul – including on criminal justice issues.

more:
http://www.salon.com/2014/12/05/rand_pauls_big_selling_point_is_dead_how_clinton_schooled_him_on_criminal_justice_reform/

[Ykcutnek]

1. And when he repeals part of the Civil Rights Act...

Jails will fill up with blacks who dared enter private businesses owned by racists.

[hifiguy]

2. One of these days that awful toupee

is going to come to life and eat what is left of Aqua Buddha's brains.

[11 Bravo]

4. That's a toupee? FUCK, I thought it was a mange-ridden bit of road kill!

[DonViejo]

5. Maybe if we stood Rand next to Donald Trump...

we'd be witnesses to the "battle of the Toupes"!!!! Trumps bouffant style snarling at Rand's curls.

[sharp_stick]

6. Surprising number

of Rand Paul fans were weighing in on that here as well.