Obama Calls For Drug Law Changes
Democratic Hopeful Says He Would Relax Sentencing Requirements, Correct Racial Inequities
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Photo
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves to the crowd after delivering his convocation address at Howard University in Washington, Friday, Sept. 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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"CBS News RAW": Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., tries to deliver a speech in Iowa but a noisy train steals the show.
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Photo Essay
Barack Obama
The junior senator from Illinois is making his name known.
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.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.




I also really like his proposal for tax relief for the middle class and poor.
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.
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.
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:
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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.
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!
Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about
Join A ReVoLuTiOn Group In Your City:
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RESTORE YOU LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!
** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
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** Restore America''s Freedom!
HE HAS RAISED ALMOST 1 MILLION DOLLARS IN 5 DAYS!
Check out www.ronpaul2008.com
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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.
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.
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.
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..
Abandon emotion. Abandon it! And you''ll come acrossed normal.
My answers no.
There''s a system yer sign''n up fer here.. Drop dat ******* skkkkank Tyra Banks. No Tyra Banks.
No more ******** skkkank talkshows.
No Tyra Banks, No Oprah Winfry, No Al Sharpton, and no ******* nut''n but de debates.
- Posted by coffee_guy1 at 07:52 PM : Sep 30, 2007
I''d rather look at Tyra Banks.
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by gunownerdan
October 1, 2007 9:44 AM PDT
- To fight crime and violence, cops say LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
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