Obama commutes 8 crack cocaine sentences

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Obama commutes 8 crack cocaine sentences

If there was any doubt left about Obama's loyalties, now it is confirmed. Crackheads. He's worried about crackheads. Despicable.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Obviously more cases of affluenza...

Edited December 19, 2013 by Gegel

[decocker 7,198]

there is not a single crackhead on the planet that deserves to rot in jail cell for fifteen years or more simply for crack.

[Teripid 5]

The issue here is the disparity between crack and cocaine sentencing guidelines.

Think of it this way..

If you punch someone you get at least 30 days in jail.
If you punch someone while you're wearing a funny hat you get at least 15 years in jail.

That's an oversimplification but still the basic issue. Disproportionate sentences for similar crimes. Similarly harmful drugs were penalized entirely differently. Users in inner cities found themselves in jail for potentially decades (and very unlikely to have/afford a decent lawyer). People found with cocaine of similar impact and dosage were given much less time because of sentencing guidelines or minimums.

You run into the same thing when someone gets sent away for life due to a 3 strikes rule for relatively minor non-violent felonies. Crack is awful. Obama has screwed up quite a bit but you're just being silly if you object to this or think that someone should spend 20 years in jail for being a non-violent addict. More funding for the prison industry...

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

Obama commutes 8 crack cocaine sentences

If there was any doubt left about Obama's loyalties, now it is confirmed. Crackheads. He's worried about crackheads. Despicable.

his dealers

[Karee 4,190]

This should've happened a long time ago. Glad it happened though.

[lostinblue 1,989]

If you like your crack dealer, you can keep your crack dealer. Period.

[Peikko 1,575]

If you like your crack dealer, you can keep your crack dealer. Period.

???

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The issue here is the disparity between crack and cocaine sentencing guidelines.

Think of it this way..

If you punch someone you get at least 30 days in jail.

If you punch someone while you're wearing a funny hat you get at least 15 years in jail.

That's an oversimplification but still the basic issue. Disproportionate sentences for similar crimes. Similarly harmful drugs were penalized entirely differently. Users in inner cities found themselves in jail for potentially decades (and very unlikely to have/afford a decent lawyer). People found with cocaine of similar impact and dosage were given much less time because of sentencing guidelines or minimums.

You run into the same thing when someone gets sent away for life due to a 3 strikes rule for relatively minor non-violent felonies. Crack is awful. Obama has screwed up quite a bit but you're just being silly if you object to this or think that someone should spend 20 years in jail for being a non-violent addict. More funding for the prison industry...

Kinda like if you punch a guy in the face it's battery. However if someone thinks you may have been thinking hate thoughts when you did it, it carries a much stiffer sentence?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

LOL

Yeah Right.. Let me pardon this guy, and I will pardon 7 more to make sure it is not so obvious.

One of those commuted -- Reynolds Allen WintersmithJr. -- is a cousin of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a long-time political supporter of Obama.

Officials said there was no contact between the Patrick and Obama administrations on the Wintersmith case.

Jesse Mermell, a spokesperson for Patrick, said the governor "doesn't recall having met Mr. Wintersmith, and was not involved in any application for a commutation of his sentence. The governor only learned that Mr. Wintersmith's sentence had been commuted through today's media reports."

[Pooky 3,807]

Crack dealers?

Are we talking about Phil Robertson, or the President, here?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Obama commutes 8 crack cocaine sentences

If there was any doubt left about Obama's loyalties, now it is confirmed. Crackheads. He's worried about crackheads. Despicable.

You knew that was going to happen. Next thing, people like Huey Newton and Charlie Mason will get full pardons for being political prisoners.

[Danno 1,228]

ONe marvels... the more they say they want to help Blacks the more they hurt them.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Kinda like if you punch a guy in the face it's battery. However if someone thinks you may have been thinking hate thoughts when you did it, it carries a much stiffer sentence?

Actually and factually, no, you stretch the boundaries of the imagination with your silly analogy.

[Pooky 3,807]

Actually and factually, no, you stretch the boundaries of the imagination with your silly #######ogy.

There's that word again. The Duck boys are getting everywhere!