Obama’s crime votes are fodder for rivals
Snip:
State law enforcement officials who worked with the senator at the time were hesitant to criticize Obama, saying only that while he sometimes voted for “individual rights” rather than for facilitating law enforcement, in other areas he was very supportive and was “always” open to discussion.
In 1998, Obama was one of only three senators to vote against a proposal making it a criminal offense for convicts on probation or on bail to have contact with a street gang.
In 2001, Obama voted against a measure that would have expanded the penalties for some gang activity to include the death penalty. The bill was vetoed by then-Gov. George Ryan (R ) not long after he had issued a moratorium on the death penalty in the state.
Obama, at the time, said the bill would unfairly target minorities, stating, “There’s a strong overlap between gang affiliation and young men of color … I think it’s problematic for them to be singled out as more likely to receive the death penalty for carrying out certain acts than are others who do the same thing.”
Obama opposes the death penalty except for terrorists, serial killers and child-murderers, but his campaign added that he does not support the death penalty as it is currently administered in this country.
On a 1999 vote making adult prosecution mandatory for aggravated discharge of a firearm in or near a school, the senator voted “present.”
He explained the vote, saying, “There is really no proof or indication that automatic transfers and increased penalties and adult penalties for juvenile offenses have, in fact, proven to be more effective in reducing juvenile crime or cutting back on recidivism.”
And in 2001, Obama voted “present” on a bill that would increase penalties for trafficking in Ecstasy and other designer drugs.
The senator questioned the length of some drug penalties when compared to other crimes, noting that selling 15 tablets of Ecstasy was a Class X felony, as was raping a woman at knifepoint.
The first-term senator faces critics who question his experience and qualifications, but analysts think his short stint in the U.S. Senate is an advantage because it means he had less time to cast controversial votes that could be used against him.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals-2007-03-13.html
Note: Constitutional lawyer? Well, he can chuck that over as well as the real birth certificate.
With the state of the court, no way we can let Obama in... thank goodness for the last two justices; Had Kerry won, who would’ve been sitting there and how much of the constitution would be shredded by now?
Obama quote:
“There’s a strong overlap between gang affiliation and young men of color...”
Well that racial profiling bigot!!!!!!!