Obama commutes 8 crack cocaine sentences

[enhanced_deficit]

No matter what you think of SWC DDK Obama, this is progressively better move. If he could give clemency to Miriam Carey's lawyer (http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/miriam-carey-family-s-lawyer-arrested-over-debts-1.6261491)too, he could redeem himself somewhat.

Obama commutes 8 crack cocaine sentences

(AFP) – 13 minutes ago
Washington — President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentences of eight people convicted of crack cocaine offenses, saying they were punished under an unfair legal disparity that overwhelmingly hurt impoverished black communities.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gK8uZ20gSDHlxkinBpyvzlAjd-IQ?docId=9fae3497-c9d5-46e4-9327-fce81695c96e&hl=en

http://www.gacareproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/young-obama-smoking-marijuana.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=T0wsOTv0UqELIM&tbnid=x3FLeP4PJWVWYM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gacareproject.com%2Fobama-says-no-to-legalizing-marijuana%2F&ei=79WzUpmGBs3SkQfmxICICQ&bvm=bv.58187178,d.eW0&psig=AFQjCNHKEtxpwzx_uptxDtCo3Dxkj2L1SQ&ust=1387603816841463)

[phill4paul]

unfair legal disparity that overwhelmingly hurt impoverished black communities.

So they were all "black?"

[James Madison]

So they were all "black?"

Even when Barry does something right, he still manages to fuck it up.

[enhanced_deficit]

So they were all "black?"

Seems so based on report.

Although DDK stopped short of calling them his sons unlike Zimmerman case, this could be another color politics game if same pardon was not offered to "white" prisoners with similar offenses even if blacks are more likely to be prejudiced against in the freeedomer justice system. However, need to confirm if this was color based pardon.

[satchelmcqueen]

and yet marjane still gets people in trouble.....

[enhanced_deficit]

and yet marjane still gets people in trouble.....

Who is marjane?

[phill4paul]

Even when Barry does something right, he still manages to fuck it up.

No shit.


Seems so based on report.

Although DDK stopped short of calling them his sons unlike Zimmerman case, this could be another color politics game if same pardon was not offered to "white" prisoners with similar offenses even if blacks are more likely to be prejudiced against in the freeedomer justice system. However, need to confirm if this was color based pardon.

I see federal lawsuits.

[tangent4ronpaul]

Seems so based on report.

Although DDK stopped short of calling them his sons unlike Zimmerman case, this could be another color politics game if same pardon was not offered to "white" prisoners with similar offenses even if blacks are more likely to be prejudiced against in the freeedomer justice system. However, need to confirm if this was color based pardon.

Looks like it...

http://s2.djyimg.com/n3/eet-content/uploads/2013/12/stephgreynolds-676x450.jpg

6 men and 2 women

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/407675-obama-pardons-4-stephanie-george-clarence-aaron-ezell-gilbert-and-reynolds-wintersmith/

Stephanie George,
Clarence Aaron,
Ezell Gilbert,
Reynolds Wintersmith

Not finding other names, but it's looking like they are all black.

-t

[enhanced_deficit]

No shit.



I see federal lawsuits.



Looks like it...

http://s2.djyimg.com/n3/eet-content/uploads/2013/12/stephgreynolds-676x450.jpg

6 men and 2 women

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/407675-obama-pardons-4-stephanie-george-clarence-aaron-ezell-gilbert-and-reynolds-wintersmith/

Stephanie George,
Clarence Aaron,
Ezell Gilbert,
Reynolds Wintersmith

Not finding other names, but it's looking like they are all black.

-t

While I have little doubt that these people were unfairly sentenced, if DDK picked only black prisoners for pardon despite their high ratio in prison system, this is racial discrimination in the name of fixing discrimination and lawsuits would have merit.

If anyone from DDK team/his pupms reading this, can you clarify what criterion was used and if skin color was a factor in choosing candidates for clemency? We can't trust MSM to provide full details.



Just a quarter of crack cocaine users are black, but 81 percent of people condemned for crack possession or dealing were African Americans in 2007, according to the US Sentencing Commission.

Not sure how judiciously users vs dealers determinations are made besides skn color biases but that all would be part of discovery stage in such lawsuits if DDK is playing politics as he did in case of Treyvon Martin case.

[enhanced_deficit]

This could cause issues for disgraced dronebag/ Suspected War Criminal (SWC) nTool if it is political favoritism:

http://bokertov.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451bc4a69e2017eea799136970d-800wi (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=E9vzeH1GQifewM&tbnid=-LP1fut6iUxu-M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbokertov.typepad.com%2Fbtb%2F2013 %2F04%2Fremembering-deval-patrick-at-the-roxbury-mega-mosque.html&ei=nPKzUqQMzLmRB_jhgYAF&bvm=bv.58187178,d.eW0&psig=AFQjCNGVYSmo7z4MoX3E-ltxK5_0JcvfYw&ust=1387610761879494)

President Obama commutes drug sentence of Deval Patrick’s first cousin


By Matt Viser and Tracy Jan, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -- President Obama on Thursday granted a rare commutation to the first cousin of Governor Deval Patrick, allowing the release of a man who in 1994 was given a life sentence on charges of dealing crack cocaine.


: http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/12/19/president-obama-commutes-drug-sentence-deval-patrick-first-cousin/jeF0HSB99B0tkHd7QISRIN/story.html

Barack Obama & Larry Sinclair: Cocaine, Sex, Lies (http://www.amazon.com/Barack-Obama-Larry-Sinclair-Cocaine/dp/0578013878)
www.amazon.com › ... › Leaders & Notable People (http://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Notable-People-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=2396) › Political (http://www.amazon.com/Political-Leaders-Notable-People-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=2397)‎
Barack Obama & Larry Sinclair: Cocaine, Sex, Lies & Murder? [Lawrence W Sinclair, Jeff Rense]

[Occam's Banana]

If their "offenses" were non-violent, then this is a good thing. Full stop. NO further qualifiers.
The worst problem I have with this is that I wish more victims were being commuted out of their rape-cages.
And frankly, I don't give a shit if all of them were green with purple polka-dots.
I'm glad they're out, and I'm not gonna bitch about it.

[Ender]

So they were all "black?"

They are all "black" because crack cocaine carries the highest punishment; it is a form of cocaine that poor druggies can afford and became popular in the black drug community. There has been absolutely NO REASON for crack cocaine to carry a higher penalty than reg cocaine, except for racist policies.

[tod evans]

Convicted 5,748,912, pardoned 8.

Odds ain't lookin' so good, but hooray for the 8....

[HOLLYWOOD]

Why only 8? Why?

His personal 8 dealers? War on Drugs has distorted or wrecked everything.

Convicted 5,748,912, pardoned 8.

Odds ain't lookin' so good, but hooray for the 8....

[jkr]

http://iquestionauthority.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/tyrone-crackhead-dave-chappelle.jpg

[Nastynate]

This is a completely political move. Before this you could ask "What has Obama done for the black community?", and most people couldn't tell you. Now Obama is freeing the black people all over again.

Wheres the affirmative action with these pardons?

[kcchiefs6465]

This is a completely political move. Before this you could ask "What has Obama done for the black community?", and most people couldn't tell you. Now Obama is freeing the black people all over again.

Wheres the affirmative action with these pardons?
It's eight people. Does it really offend you that much that four of them weren't white?

FFS. Instead of bitching about why only eight people were freed out of the million that should be freed, you are complaining that there wasn't a proportionate distribution of skin tone. Should he have pardoned two white guys, two Hispanics, two blacks, an Asian and an American Indian? Would that have satisfied you?

Never mind the fact that blacks are disproportionately given football numbers for cocaine.

[FrankRep]

Why only those 8? What's special about them?

[ClydeCoulter]

Why only those 8? What's special about them?

Right now, it's that they are free from the cage :) May there be many, many, many more.

[Ender]

Right now, it's that they are free from the cage :) May there be many, many, many more.

Let us pray.

Here's an article talking about crack and the stupid laws:



Crack cocaine sentences have long been much more harsh than those for powder cocaine. The disparity started in the 1980s, when crack cocaine started to ravish urban black communities in America. The federal government sought to crack down on the problem by implementing severe prison sentences for those people caught dealing crack cocaine. For example, someone caught with powder cocaine would have to have 100 grams of the drug to get the same sentence as someone caught with just one gram of crack cocaine.

The thought behind the thinking was that the harsh sentences would deter people from dealing the drug. However, not only did it fail at that, it also had the unintended consequence of focusing disproportionately on blacks. Because black people were the main users of the drugs, they were also the main dealers of it. That means that most of the people receiving the longer sentences have been black people. People across the country have long disputed this issue. Those who saw it as racism have fought to make the two drugs, which are both cocaine just in different forms, equal in terms of sentencing. They believe that people with the same amount of the drugs should be sentenced similarly.

However, other people have been afraid to look soft on crime, so they have continued to push for the disparity in powder cocaine and crack cocaine sentences. Change finally started a few years ago. The U.S. Congress finally approved legislation that decreased the disparity between the two crimes. Although they were still not equal, you didn't have to have so much powder cocaine to get the same sentence as a person with just one gram of crack cocaine. The new law was made retroactive, and hundreds of federal prisoners across the country were able to apply for lower sentences.

Congress took another step in 2011, reducing the difference even more. It has dropped to a ratio of 18:1, meaning someone with one gram of cocaine would get a similar sentence as someone with 18 grams of powder cocaine. The change was also made retroactive, and, in November 2011, hundreds more inmates had their sentences reduced. In some cases, the prisoner was found to have actually served more time than he should have under the new sentence and was released immediately. In other cases, inmates saw their original sentences of 30 years cut to 20 years, a significant decrease.

Not everyone received the decrease, though. The federal government banned certain prisoners from getting a reduction, including those convicted of selling mass quantities of crack cocaine. A disparity still exits, too. It is unknown whether Congress will ever make the two crimes equal in sentences. Concerns still exist that the people who get the cuts in prison time might go back to a life of a crime or that the drop in prison time will make criminals not worry about the consequences of their actions. The opponents of disparity, however, have continued to fight the battle.

Besides taking the battle to Congress, some activist groups have also appealed the convictions of some defendants on the grounds that they are overly harsh. One legal battle has recently been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.

http://crime-punishment.yoexpert.com/crime-punishment-general/why-are-crack-cocaine-sentences-longer-than-those-31970.html

[jkr]

i
blame
uncle
joe
"MY FEET TASTE GREAT!"
bidden

[aGameOfThrones]

Now where are my 8 unjustly sentenced gun owners? Like the guy in NJ( I know the gov did something)

[enhanced_deficit]

Why only those 8? What's special about them?

At least some of them were lucky winners of "politically connected club raffle".. but let's not rush to conclusion and wait till all the facts have been leaked.


In totally unrelated news:


Found heroin labeled 'Obamacare'

http://images.politico.com/global/2013/12/20/obamacare_heroin1_massstatepolice-328.jpg An official says the label fits branding patterns. | Courtesy Massachusetts State Police By LUCY MCCALMONT (http://www.politico.com/reporters/LucyMcCalmont.html) | 12/20/13 12:10 PM EST Updated: 12/20/13 12:21 PM EST

This probably isn’t the Obamacare PR push the White House had in mind.
Earlier Friday, Massachusetts State troopers found 1,250 bags of heroin labeled with “Obamacare” during a traffic stop in Hatfield, Mass., according to a post (https://www.facebook.com/MassStatePolice/posts/555772124506775)published on the Facebook page of the Massachusetts State Police.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/obamacare-heroin-massachusetts-101383.html (http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/obamacare-heroin-massachusetts-101383.html#ixzz2o7SyKUer)

[kcchiefs6465]

"Obamacare" is a great name for heroin bundles.

Their next shipment should be labelled "Enduring Freedom."

[enhanced_deficit]

"Obamacare" is a great name for heroin bundles.

Their next shipment should be labelled "Enduring Freedom."

Very telling.

10/08/2013
Obama in Afghanistan: Mission Accomplished...If you are a Heroin Dealer

http://shepherdspiehole.typepad.com/.a/6a0167621b7ded970b019affdb7c33970c-250wi (http://shepherdspiehole.typepad.com/.a/6a0167621b7ded970b019affdb7c33970c-pi)


In case Americans have forgotten, the United States is still at war in Afghanistan today. Obama promised that 34,000 troops (about half of the number currently there ) will no longer remain in country in 2014. This draw down is based on his belief that the United States has “achieved its mission of dismantling the core of al Qaeda that attacked us on 9/11.” Obama’s surge has cost about $30 billion per year and has resulted in many unintended consequences: the expansion of Al-Qaeda franchises and a remarkable success for the opium trade.
Since the start of the U.S. counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, the volume of drug production in the country has grown 2.5 times. For the time being, Afghanistan supplies 93 percent of opium poppy, which is used worldwide for the production of heroin.

http://shepherdspiehole.typepad.com/shepherds-piehole/2013/10/obama-in-afghanistan-mission-accomplishedif-you-are-a-heroin-dealer.html (http://shepherdspiehole.typepad.com/shepherds-piehole/2013/10/obama-in-afghanistan-mission-accomplishedif-you-are-a-heroin-dealer.html#sthash.mDUTlNi6.dpuf)



Is Obama Investing US Blood and Treasure in Afghan Heroin Trafficking?
(http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/11/obama-investing-us-blood-treasure-afghan-heroin-trafficking/)
John DeMayo on Nov 26, 2013

http://cdn.freedomoutpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/troops-in-poppy-field..jpg




Drug War? American Troops Are Protecting Afghan Opium. U.S. Occupation Leads to All-Time High Heroin Production (http://www.globalresearch.ca/drug-war-american-troops-are-protecting-afghan-opium-u-s-occupation-leads-to-all-time-high-heroin-production/5358053)

ABC: Obama Opium Production Booming in Afghanistan (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=21&cad=rja&ved=0CCgQtwIwADgU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcuG m5fxg4dY&ei=Y7a1UunYIcOgkAePm4HgBw&usg=AFQjCNE6o8EiGdYurIMi3OX_Q4nQq1HCWQ&bvm=bv.58187178,d.eW0)


Cheap heroin to 'flood UK' due to record opium crop in Afghanistan (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CFUQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld-news%2Fcheap-heroin-flood-uk-due-2788966&ei=jLW1UsfDONDOkQfnjIGgCQ&usg=AFQjCNEq9g7WdT8FTTHehdDT3VYeLJYf4w&bvm=bv.58187178,d.eW0)
www.mirror.co.uk/news/world.../cheap-heroin-flood-uk-due-2788966‎ (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world.../cheap-heroin-flood-uk-due-2788966‎)
Nov 13, 2013