Cris Hayes...with Michelle Alexander. Set the record straight about the 1994 Crime Bill.

[Jitter65]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by tammywammy (a host of the General Discussion forum).

Alexander's entire reason for why blacks should not vote for Hillary is fraught with innuendo and misleading attacks on Bill and Hillary Clinton.

First off...let's set one thing straight. Bernie voted for this bill. Hillary Clinton did not and could not.

Second, most of the Black Caucus also voted for this bill. Reasons some use to support their vote was that the bill included an assault weapons ban, midnight basketball, violence against women and several other features that were attractive to the yeas. Two previous and much harsher versions were vetoed by Bill Clinton.

Third, the GOP that voted against it did so because of they regarded it as too soft on crime and looked at it as welfare bill for criminals..."hug a thug" was there meme.

So it is quite disingenuous for Alexander to place the blame for passage of this bill on Hillary's shoulders. And it is shameful, to me, for Chris to bring this up again (Alexander had appeared on several shows soon after her piece was published) just before a critical WI primary. No one of opposing views appeared. (If anyone thinks this more appropriately belongs in the GD-Primary feel free to copy and post it there).

http://reason.com/blog/2015/04/30/former-cbc-chair-who-voted-for-1994-crim

[Jitter65]

1. For the record:

"Back in 1994, only 12 out of 38 CBC members voted against the crime bill, including Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.), both of whom also voted to limit police militarization."

[Rebkeh]

2. None of this changes anything, it's not relevant to me

Bernie is a better candidate for the poor and middle class. And that includes black people. There's no debate to be had there, it's abundantly clear.

The idea that a rigged system is not rigged for black people as well is preposterous. Totally absurd, but hey, vote how you will. I respect all choices, it's not my call. But don't peddle the bs that protecting the status quo is the safer, more pragmatic route for anybody but those invested in inequality.

It's downright insulting.

Edited to add: about the title. It's not relevant to me.

[leftofcool]

3. That is your opinion and Democrats disagree with you obviously

[dr60omg]

4. Alexander's book is something that was an important work of scholarship

Maybe you ought to criticize her work based on her research. Have you read her book?

[Jitter65]

5. I am responding to what she is saying now. nt

[tammywammy]

6. Locking

You can repost in General Discussion: Primaries