Obama Calls For Drug Law Changes

Democratic Hopeful Says He Would Relax Sentencing Requirements, Correct Racial Inequities

(AP)  Democrat Barack Obama said Friday that as president he would relax drug sentencing laws and address vast racial inequities in the justice system as part of his crime policy.

The Illinois senator said he would review mandatory minimum drug sentencing and give first-time, nonviolent drug offenders a chance to serve their sentence in drug rehabilitation programs instead of prison.

“If you're convicted of a crime involving drugs, of course you should be punished,” Obama said in a speech at Howard University's opening convocation. “But let's not make the punishment for crack cocaine that much more severe than the punishment for powder cocaine when the real difference is where the people are using them or who is using them.”

The historically black college awarded Obama an honorary degree.

Obama framed his speech around the case of a racially charged school beating in Jena, La., that has sparked demonstrations by civil rights advocates. Racial animosity flared about a year ago in the largely white town when a black student sat under a tree that was a traditional gathering place for whites.

A day later, three nooses were found hanging from the tree. Reports followed of racial fights at the school, culminating in the a December attack by a group of black students on a white classmate. The black students were arrested while no one was ever held responsible for hanging the noose.

“Like Katrina did with poverty, Jena exposed glaring inequities in our justice system that were around long before that schoolyard fight broke out,” Obama said.

Last week, the State newspaper in South Carolina reported that civil rights activist Jesse Jackson said Obama was “acting like he's white” for not speaking out more forcefully about the incidents in Jena. Jackson later said in a statement that he had been taken out of context.

As Obama finished his speech, his campaign announced he would make a four-day “judgment and experience tour” across Iowa next week. The tour was timed for the fifth anniversary of a speech Obama gave in opposition to the Iraq war. It is meant to answer doubts that the first-term senator is ready to be president, a reality that his advisers acknowledge are keeping some voters from signing onto his campaign.

During his years as an Illinois state legislature, Obama played a lead role on several law enforcement issues, from reforming the death penalty system to studying racial profiling in traffic stops. He brought a decidedly liberal viewpoint but developed a reputation for listening closely to police and Republican lawmakers.

For instance, he led negotiations on legislation to require Illinois police to videotape interrogations in death penalty cases as a safeguard against abusing and threatening suspects into false confessions. Police groups had long opposed the idea, but Obama got them on board and the measure passed unanimously.

“There's also no reason why we can't pass a racial profiling law like I did in Illinois, or encourage state to reform the death penalty so that innocent people do not end up on death row,” Obama said.

[likeitis5050]

When someone who gets caught with marijuana ends up doing more time than a minister''s wife who kills her husband, we can safely say the scales are extremely out of balance. Judges say they have to follow the law but it''s clear to a blind man that they have their own agendas they follow. Time for change.

[kansas1946]

Good for Barack. It is about time the drug laws were looked at in this country. I REALLY like this guy.

[greco99-2009]

I like this proposal.

I also really like his proposal for tax relief for the middle class and poor.

[socrates392]

Good for Barack. It is about time the drug laws were looked at in this country. I REALLY like this guy.

Posted by kansas1946 at 10:15 PM : Sep 28, 2007

I like this guy too . . . I just wish he would really confront Hillary more directly in the deabates. As it is know, it seems more like he''s campaigning to get a place in her cabinet.

"I agree with Hillary." "I agree with Barrack." How many times did I hear that in the last debate? It''s like the frigin'' mutual admiration society.

[socrates392]

Good for Barack. It is about time the drug laws were looked at in this country. I REALLY like this guy.

Posted by kansas1946 at 10:15 PM : Sep 28, 2007

I like this guy too . . . I just wish he would confront Hillary more directly in the debates. As it is now, it seems more like he''''s campaigning to get a place in her cabinet.

"I agree with Hillary." "I agree with Barrack." How many times did I hear that in the last debate? It''''s like the frigin'''' mutual admiration society.

[geezer62]

I have said for years that we need to revise the drug laws in this country. If you look at the results of prohabition it is clear that as long as there is a demand there will be people who are willing to take the risks to supply that demand. It all comes down to money...if you remove the profit motive you remove the criminal element. I''m not saying that drugs are OK, but since it is clear that people are going to use drugs it makes sense to regulate and control them. Instead of wasting millions on ineffective efforts to stop the flow lets look at treatment programs to help those who want to stop doing drugs. Anyone who is heavy into drugs will reach a point where they want to stop so let''s give them a place to get help. Let''s get real..."just say no" didn''t work.

[drummer94]

This might endear him to some more,um, "liberal-minded" folks, but the guy just does not have enough experience to conduct world affairs on our behalf. Jackson said he was "acting white" so now he''s "acting black".

[getloud1]

If Americans don%u2019t wake up their will be nothing left, our Nation is broke and Wall Street is the only people making a profit. While the Hidden inflation tax continues to rise and the value of the dollar declines. Ron Paul is the only one who truely understands this, and honestly if he is not elected America should be prepared for a real economic depression like it has never seen before.

Unless you want a North American Union and a new currency the "Amero" split with Canada and Mexico. And lose all your rights and freedom. Vote For Ron Paul 2008!

So my advice is to bypass the media and spread the word to your family and friends about him. The power of the People is far greater than a campaign spending 10''s of million to buy an image. Because this man is a real American Hero. He has dedicated his life to this country and everyone in it, and now he is trying to save it from disaster.

Spread The Word! Go Ron Paul 2008!

Ron Paul Has Raised $838,000 in 5 Days from people who really love this country and their freedom!

http://www.ronpaul2008.com

Join The ReVoLuTiOn:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities

[sftodd]

He''s just catering to drug-addicts like Rush Limbaugh who think they deserve a second chance. I say lock Rush up and throw away the key!

[starleo146]

He''''s just catering to drug-addicts like Rush Limbaugh who think they deserve a second chance. I say lock Rush up and throw away the key!

Posted by SFTodd at 08:16 PM : Sep 29, 2007
+ report abu

Can you just imagine the glee of the prisoners who have Rush ONE DAY-ONE LOVE.

[getloud1]

***** Stop The War & Restore America *****

Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul??????

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him.

Because they don''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!

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[iceman_1960]

Mark your calendars...

On Monday, October 1, Barack Obama will be the guest of honor on the Tyra Banks television show.

Check your local listings for time and station.

[homespunlady]

I see little difference between alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use. All are addictive in some form and not exactly healthy.
That said, I also find it an excessive burden on the taxpayer to jail people over one substance and not another when NO OTHER CRIME has been committed during it''s use.

We''re ALREADY turning a blind eye to the record OPIUM POPPY crop in Afghanistan.
Wonder why?
Love that the active ingredient in VIAGRA is a DERIVATIVE of the OPIUM POPPY.

I''d fully back legalizing hemp as a crop just so this nation could grow it and use the OTHER products this plant provides.
Apparently there''s still some growing wild in the Midwest - left over from WWII when it was grown for rope as it''s seawater resistant.
For now, other nations grow it and we IMPORT hemp fiber, clothing, paper, oil, etc.
The hemp plant uses less resources to grow and is more versatile than cutting down forests for paper, using oil for chemically treated synthetic clothing, and actually is NUTRITIOUS as a fatty acid and fiber supplement and FOOD.
There are also hemp plant varieties that have so little to NO THC as to be USELESS to "pot smoker" yet, growing even those varieties can be a jail-able offense.
It''s like someone being jailed for growing lettuce (it contains Minute amounts of opium).

As far as the people that choose to dull their senses with it, TAX IT TO THE HILT along with Alcohol and Tobacco Products that do the same and use the TAX REVENUES for HEALTH CARE.

[homespunlady]

"I agree with Hillary." "I agree with Barrack." How many times did I hear that in the last debate? It''s like the frigin'' mutual admiration society.
Posted by socrates392 at 01:44 AM : Sep 29, 2007

Maybe it''s a hint that the Republican encouragement of "Divide and Conquer" isn''t working anymore.

Besides, I think there are a whole LOT OF PEOPLE that would LOVE to see those 2 ON THE SAME TICKET COME ''08.

The polls show EITHER could WIN, TOGETHER it would be CERTAIN.

[coffee_guy1]

"On Monday, October 1, Barack Obama will be the guest of honor on the Tyra Banks television show."

Oh man.. don''t do that shyyt. Tyra Banks? She''s a ******* nutbag. Don''t be seen on those shows..

Yer too emotional.. YER TOO EMOTIONAL! Unbelievable..

[coffee_guy1]

Here''s somfin that you democrats gotta figer.. : Life ain''t supposed to be emotional. K? Thats not society? Thats not civility? Thats not science? Its not noth''n but banter.

Abandon emotion. Abandon it! And you''ll come acrossed normal.

[coffee_guy1]

Look at George Bush.. the dumbest? ******* rick kid you ever saw.. And ask yerself: "Should I be emotional?"

My answers no.

[coffee_guy1]

Coulter''s wedding..

[coffee_guy1]

Yer too emotional! Emotional people.. It scares people! IT SCARES PEOPLE!

There''s a system yer sign''n up fer here.. Drop dat ******* skkkkank Tyra Banks. No Tyra Banks.

[coffee_guy1]

In fact, no more Oprah Winfry! Ya hear? Oprah Winfry is a ******** perpetual ***... k? No more Oprah Winfry.

[coffee_guy1]

.. perpetual orggggasm. She''s in orggggasm mode, and she can''t git out of it. No more Oprah Winfry..

[coffee_guy1]

PEOPLE WILL LAUGH AT YOU! Don''t you understand that? Yer not "reach''n out"! Yer being laughed at!

No more ******** skkkank talkshows.

[coffee_guy1]

This is the separation.. right ******** here. Don''t do this. This is a system.. A system set up fer the most powerful man in the werld. And you wanna go on a ******** skkkkkank talk show? What are ya? ******** crazy?

[coffee_guy1]

HOnesty? Honesty.. Honesty has its place like any other. But baptist ******* weirdo dance ******* hallelujia weirdo overly emotional "we understand everything" vagggginal bullshyyt ******* ************? It ain''t real. K? It''s a piece''a ******* shyyt.

No Tyra Banks, No Oprah Winfry, No Al Sharpton, and no ******* nut''n but de debates.

[coffee_guy1]

Dis is de grand finale'' here.. dis is de mucho grande''. ****** doze skkkanks.

[coffee_guy1]

Tyra Banks will lose you the election.

[iceman_1960]

"Look at George Bush.."
- Posted by coffee_guy1 at 07:52 PM : Sep 30, 2007

I''d rather look at Tyra Banks.

[bks59]

tax issues with marijuana has nothing to do with leagalization, people grow their own food, make their own wine, etc and there are many people that have more money than time and therefore are willing to pay market price for their goods. it is primarlty if not completly the liquor industry that opposes legalizing marijuana.

[gunownerdan]

To fight crime and violence, cops say LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
www.leap.cc
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition