I am outraged: Fmr. Sec. of Education makes racist comments
I trust my blog readers are just as outraged as me.
MSNBC.com
Bennett’s remarks on blacks, crime stir outrage Ex-education secretary seeks to clarify comments on aborting black babies
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:16 p.m. ET Sept. 29, 2005
WASHINGTON - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and other Democrats on Thursday demanded that former Education Secretary William Bennett apologize for remarks on his radio program linking the crime rate and the abortion of black babies.
Bennett responded that the comments, made Wednesday on his “Morning in America” show, had been mischaracterized and that his point was that the idea of supporting abortion to reduce crime was “morally reprehensible.”
The author of “The Book of Virtues,” answering a caller’s question, took issue with the hypothesis put forth in a recent book that one reason crime is down is that abortion is up.
“But I do know that it’s true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down,” Bennett said.
He went on to call that “an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.”
On his show Thursday, Bennett, who opposes abortion, said he was “pointing out that abortion should not be opposed for economic reasons any more than racism ... should be supported or opposed for economic reasons. Immoral policies are wrong because they are wrong, not because of an economic calculation.”
Reid, D-Nev., said he was “appalled by Mr. Bennett’s remarks” and called on him “to issue an immediate apology not only to African Americans but to the nation.”
Rep. Raum Emanuel, D-Ill., said in a statement, “At the very time our country yearns for national unity in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, these comments reflect a spirit of hate and division.”
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Jail Time?
1. Will Former Gov. Ryan be convicted?
2. If yes, will he actually serve time in jail?
Please provide two one word answers.
Thank you to Illinois State Univ. College Democrats
Tonight, I was the guest of the ISU College Democrats. First and foremost, thank you to Nick, my good friend and probably my boss one day; Logan, President, ISU College Dems and Zack, President Il. College Federation of Democrats. The meeting began with great punctuality. This puts the ISU College Dems miles ahead of there peers! I spoke for 45 minutes in my official capacity as YDA Treasurer. I shared my experiences with the group form my intimate tour of the White House, to working for Congressman Jackson, my campaign for YDA Treasurer and law school.
I wish the best for this outstanding chapter of the College Democrats.
A picture is worth a thousand words
One of my classmates, who I have mentioned before flew to D.C. to take her picture with the President. Yes, she does work and affiliate with the bad guys but I am working on her :-) Regardless, I thought this was an interesting subject matter. With whom do you have an important photo with? You do not have to limit your response to politicians such as Gov. Blagoevich or NGO executives (Non-Governmental Organization) such as United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan. If your picture is with Michael Jackson or Mike Ditka please share and I understand (well not really) if you list your politician picture second.
CBCF Weekend
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Weekend is the formerly known as ALS-Annual Legislative Symposium. This is the biggest weekend of the foundation's fiscal year. Fundraiser are held throughout the weekend. These proceeds go on to fund the scholarships that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus awards to students of his/her district. If you attended CBCF weekend please let me know what happened. Also, a special note of interest. If anyone attended my former bosses party let me know if it was the main event (as usual).
Happy Belated Birthday
My mother celebrated her birthday on September 13. No I didn't forget to call but I thought it would be nice to post. If you know Sherma say a nice word. I think she looks damn good for 50, what do you think?
Ms. Jacqueline Barnett
My good friend and mentor, Ms. Jacqueline Barnett was recently named the Secretary of Education for the City of Philadelphia. She is a dynamic young lady and I know she will go far.
Street taps education secretary
The mayor served notice that he wants Jacqueline Barnett to work for the return of city schools from state control.
By Michael Currie SchafferInquirer Staff Writer
A top aide to U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Phila.) will be Mayor Street's next education secretary.
And when she takes office, Jacqueline Barnett will have an extra job beyond steering education policy for City Hall: wresting back control over Philadelphia schools, taken over by the state in 2001.
"I don't think anybody intended for it to be forever," Street said, arguing that it was time to "start creating the groundwork to be able to modify that arrangement so that the mayor and our appointees pursuant to the Home Rule Charter start taking back control over education in the city of Philadelphia."
Asked about his comments later, Street did not set a timetable for a hand-over, which would require substantial negotiations. He said it did not necessarily have to happen before he left office at the end of 2007.
"The experiment has been successful," he said of the the arrangement under which a governance board made up of state and city appointees has run Philadelphia schools. "It's now time to initiate those discussions" to return control to the school district.
Philadelphia School Reform Commission Chairman James Nevels - appointed by Gov. Mark Schweiker, Gov. Rendell's Republican predecessor - declined to say whether it was time for the district to be returned to local control. That's an issue for the governor, the mayor, and the General Assembly to decide, he said.
But he said that despite much progress, the conditions that landed the district under state control remain: financial and academic distress.
"There is much work to be done. I think we have made some good, earnest progress. There's more to be made," he said.
Paul Vallas, district chief executive, said he did not comment on governance issues.
Barnett, 38, serves as senior education policy adviser to Fattah, whose district includes much of West and Northwest Philadelphia.
She inherits a job whose duties entail attending cabinet meetings, conferring with Street's appointees to the School Reform Commission, and serving as liaison between the city and the school district.
The previous education secretary, Debra Kahn, stepped down last month. Kahn was paid $140,000 per year. Calls to the mayor's office seeking to confirm Barnett's salary last night were not returned.
Barnett is married to former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Fred Barnett. They live in the Pennsylvania suburbs, but Barnett said they would move into town within six months, as required of city employees.
Contact staff writer Michael Currie Schaffer at 215-854-4565 or
mcschaffer@phillynews.com. Inquirer staff writer Susan Snyder contributed to this article.
Please visit my favorite website
I love this website. It is a one stop shop for political news. Please visit
www.politicalwire.com
Hurricane Katrina
If you need more information regarding the devestation please see
www.truthaboutkatrina.com
Hurrican Katrina pt. 2
The Young Democrats of America is helping with the relief effort. We are directing monies to bona fide support agencies. But in addition to that, YDA is planning a massive relief effort that will effect the lives of survivors greatly. Please know more information is forthcoming. If you want to have a hint about our plan visit
www.kaboom.org.
Also, this should come as no surprise to my readership but neither the Young Republicans nor the College Republicans has anything regarding the Hurricane or relief efforts on their websites. Maybe (the disoriented) Kanye West had (a poorly delviered) but somewhat true message.
Hurricane Katrina Pt. 1
Unfortunately, the YDA meeting scheduled for Dec. 2 in Gulfport, MS is postponed. Now the meeting will be held the same weekend in Phoenix, AZ. The best thing about this change is that will be held simultaneously with the DNC meeting. So if you want to see how national political policy is decided you need to be in Phoenix! Please see the letter from our national president which goes into more detail. Last, please e-mail the Executive Vice President of YDA Alexis Tameron, a Phoenix resident regarding logistics of her city (
evpresident@yda.org).
TO: YDA Leadership
FR: Chris Gallaway, YDA President
RE: Fall National Conference – December 2-3, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona
As you know, the Fall National Conference has been scheduled for December 2-3, 2005, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Since the hurricane, we have been in communication with state leaders to help roll out information on our relief efforts, and to begin sorting out the details of our national conference.
It has become clear that the efforts of the Mississippi Young Democrats between now and December should not be focused on hosting our national conference, and rather on dealing with the immediate aftermath of this disaster. I am proud that so many of our members from all across the country have contributed time, money and energy to the relief efforts for Biloxi and the entire gulf region.
The Young Democrats of America will continue to support the relief efforts in the gulf region, and when the time is appropriate, will return a national conference to this region so that hundreds of young Democrats from across the country can visit this region, and support the long-term work to re-vitalize the gulf coast.
As you know, Governor Dean postponed the DNC meeting scheduled for September because of the hurricane, and has re-scheduled it for December 2-3, in Phoenix, AZ. Because so many of our YDA leaders are affected by this meeting, it would be impractical to have our meeting on the same weekend, and not do it in conjunction with the DNC. The DNC’s schedule of meetings actually allows us to host our conference in conjunction, and not significantly overlap.
Therefore, I am officially announcing that our Fall National Conference will be held December 2-3, 2005, in Phoenix, Arizona. I also want to thank the leadership of the Young Democrats of Arizona for taking on this responsibility under less than ideal circumstances.
YDA members who attend the conference will be able to attend the official DNC business meetings as well. DNC meetings begin Friday morning at 9 AM, YDA trainings will begin Friday at 1 PM, and official YDA business meetings will begin Friday at 5 PM.
