Law and Order Issues, Once G.O.P.’s Strength, Now Divide the Party

[LiberalElite]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Since the Watts riots in Los Angeles in 1965, generations of Republicans from Richard M. Nixon to the first George Bush deftly capitalized on the anxiety of white voters over crime and urban unrest, winning elections with appeals for law and order and unbending support of the police.

But in recent years, with crime plummeting and the party struggling among minority voters, some Republicans have turned away from the tough talk and embraced efforts to reduce the number of black men in prison and overhaul the criminal justice system.

Now the violence and protests after two grand juries declined to prosecute white police officers who killed black men, as well as the killings of two New York City police officers, have angered some of the party’s most ardent defenders of the police. Republicans find themselves debating how to maintain their traditional embrace of law enforcement while not alienating minority voters or ignoring systemic criminal justice issues.

The divisions have spilled out on television in recent days. Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York declared on Fox News that the protests were leading to violence and that “all lead to a conclusion: The police are bad, the police are racist. That is completely wrong.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/25/us/politics/law-and-order-issues-once-gops-strong-suit-now-divide-party.html?_r=0

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But then to Rudy, the police, ALL OF THEM, are saints.

[msongs]

1. many police are bad, are racist, but the good ones will not get rid of the bad

ones

[BumRushDaShow]

2. The GOP doesn't care about "minorities"

and basically, the only one who they could dig up as "opposition" is Rand Paul and some of his libertarian ilk.

[freshwest]

10. You win the thread! Now I don't have anything to add.

[Chakab]

3. This article is garbage. There's been no public conflict whatsoever among the

GOP faithful regarding the recent unrest. Being uneasy about changing demographics behind closed doors doesnn't mean that they aren't willing to provide a united front of blind support for the police and race baiting against black people in the media.

[Midnight Writer]

4. Republicans hate "Big Government" programs

like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, Obamacare, minimum wage, environmental protection, and workplace safety regulations.

They love "Big Government" programs like military-style police tactics to keep folks "in their place", big military budgets to keep foreign governments "in their place", and laissez faire policies to keep workers and consumers "in their place".

If we all just remember to cooperate, be quiet, and stay "in our place", we shouldn't have any problems with the Republican government.

[Scuba]

5. Yeah, the Republicans are all about law and order. But justice? Not so much.

[GliderGuider]

6. +1 That's a crucial distinction. nt

[dembotoz]

7. damn scuba dead on straight

[bemildred]

9. +1. Justice costs money. nt

[certainot]

8. michael savage's christmas eve message: plumbers w/pipes to deal w/protestors

overlaying it are radio assholes like michael savage calling for pipe-wielding plumbers to deal with the 'communist vermin' protestors.

400 talk radio gods/blowhards working for the rw think tanks have been doing their racist best to sell the hate and fear that builds prisons, keeps the drug war going, and passes legislation to suppress the vote.

the discussion within the GOP, as in the country as a whole, will continue to be distorted by that republican radio PSYOPS until democracy loving americans stop ignoring it.

[freshwest]

11. Man, I was hoping that goon had retired. No such luck, they're the walking dead of the airways.