David Shapiros smear of Jeff Sessions in a Chicago Tribune op-ed, suggesting that the attorney generalis a racist, is consistent with other failed partisan efforts to distort and delegitimize the former senators record on race and law enforcement. Apparently, Shapiro missed Sessionss confirmation hearing in which the same smears were attempted only to be refuted one by one by witnesses mostly black who actually know the facts and the man.
Shapiro asserts Sessionss directive to staff on criminal sentencing related to drug crimes is the latest in a series of attempts by the Attorney General to tear down protections for people of color. Mr. Shapiro seems to have forgotten that during the height of the crack epidemic ravaging the black community in the 80s, it was Congressman Charlie Rangel and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who voted for the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (ADAA), which established the 100-1 sentencing ratio for crack and powder cocaine. Were Rangel and other members of Congress racist?
Attorney General Sessions wasnt in the Senate at the time the ADAA passed, but he was in the Senate in 2010 and co-sponsored the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the crack-to-powder ratio. If Sessions were a racist why reduce the crack-to-powder ratio, let alone co-sponsor the Fair Sentencing Act?
The rest of Shapiros piece is character assassination of the worst kind. As U.S. attorney for Alabama, Sessions successfully sought the death penalty for Klan members. He defended black voting rights. He hired blacks for prominent positions. As a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Ive known and worked with Jeff Sessions for years and consider him the most principled and decent person in Washington, a man of the highest integrity.
Shapiros complaint seems to be that Attorney General Sessions is actually doing his job enforcing the law as Congress passed it. In contrast, former attorneys general Holder and Lynch, under the veil of prosecutorial discretion, failed to enforce the law. Select immigration and sentencing laws were simply ignored, virtually wholesale. Thats not the role of the attorney general, whether his name is Holder or Sessions. Such a sweeping use of prosecutorial discretion effectively nullifies or rewrites federal law. If drug laws need to be changed, Congress needs to change them. Holders and Lynchs actions were a plain derogation, if not usurpation, of legislative authority. That Attorney General Sessions is being criticized for restoring both the rule of law and the Justice Department to their proper roles is an indication of how debased respect for the rule of law has become.
Shapiro suggests blacks are disproportionately harmed by enforcement of drug-sentencing laws, but its other blacks who are disproportionately harmed by drug crimes. I live in inner-city Cleveland where the possession, sale, and trafficking of drugs arent victimless crimes. Nothing esoteric here. Neighborhoods decay, people sink into addiction, families are ripped apart, children are neglected, turf wars break out, and innocent people are destroyed. Clearly, there are good reasons why our current drug laws should be revised, but it takes a certain...mentality...to assert that those who enforce drug laws as written possess nefarious motives. And with the country in the grip of an opioid crisis that dwarfs the crack epidemic, a crisis that doesnt discriminate on the basis of race, uniform enforcement of the law is anything but racist.
Shapiro admits that there is no hard evidence of Sessionss racism, yet nonetheless accuses him of having a single-minded focus to attack people of color. Somewhere a Red Queen is smiling.
Jeff Sessions prioritizes the rule of law and the well-being of the victims of crime, not the well being of criminals. On the evidence, Jeff Sessions has a single-minded focus to act the way the attorney general of the United States is supposed to act. And Americans regardless of color are better off for that.
Read the original here:
Jeff Sessions & David Shapiro & the Rule of Law | National Review - National Review
- Not Victimless: Understanding the harmful effects of ... - December 10th, 2016 [December 10th, 2016]
- State crime - Wikipedia - December 10th, 2016 [December 10th, 2016]
- Types of Crimes - Overview and Discussion - December 31st, 2016 [December 31st, 2016]
- Victimless Crime Constitutes 86% of The Federal Prison ... - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Arizona and California Auto Insurance Fraud Busts - Claims Journal - Claims Journal - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Police aim to prevent prostitution, human trafficking - Woburn Daily Times - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Campaigners say Rabobank should face trial for 'crimes against ... - DutchNews.nl - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Meth arrests, seizures surge in Bowling Green | News | bgdailynews ... - Bowling Green Daily News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- 7 arrested for auto insurance fraud scheme - KESQ - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Bitcoin, Stop Apologizing for Victimless Crime - Nigeria Today - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Perfectionism Is Insanity And Impossible To Accomplish - Being Libertarian - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Family of Collision Repair Shop Owners Allegedly Scammed Insurers Out of $560000 - BodyShop Business - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- High rates of parental incarceration among African-Americans means that criminal justice reform is now education reform - USAPP American Politics and... - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Owners of Seven California Collision Repair Shops Allegedly Scammed Insurers Out of $560000 - BodyShop Business - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Cop Block Founder Ademo Freeman Arrested in Ohio for Drug Trafficking/Possession VIDEO - Free Keene - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Hinds County and Morton police team up on 11 drug arrests - Jackson Clarion Ledger - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Teddy bears, food packaging and family photos: The huge illegal ... - shropshirestar.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- 3 juveniles sentenced for starting fire at MCDI in Springfield - wwlp.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Hadi's Bill opens doors for disproportionate punishments, constitutional expert says - Malay Mail Online - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Call to tackle rural crime as farmers 'soft targets' | UTV - ITV News - ITV News - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Open letter to MPs on Hadi's Bill - Malay Mail Online - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Law enforcement, advocacy groups work to stop sex trafficking in the Fox Valley - WGBA-TV - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Malaysia: Hundreds of thousands expected to join mass rally calling for greater Syariah laws - Asian Correspondent - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Rural crime figures are a concern - Farming Life - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- 'Simply unacceptable': Northern Irish farmers remain soft targets for ... - FarmingUK - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- What People Are Saying About Homeland Security's Plan to Crack Down on Immigrants - Phoenix New Times - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Stubbing out illegal cigarettes will help plug SA's budget deficit - Business Day (registration) - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Your tip sheet: No sanctuary - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- A Map of Corruption in France - Big Think - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Inside The Quiet, Prophetic Politics Of Theologian C.S. Lewis - The Federalist - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- JAILED: Drug and gambling addict brought misery to train passengers - Eastwood Advertiser - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Drug addict Lucas Niewiem had cannabis farm above child's bedroom AND stole railway cable - Derby Telegraph - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Jewish community rallies against anti- Semitic attacks - San Diego Jewish World - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Efficiency And Effectiveness: Our Approach To Primary Markets - Speech By Christopher Woolard, Executive Director ... - Exchange News Direct - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- With few safeguards, Jewish cemeteries make easy targets for vandals - Jweekly.com - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Number of suspected child sex offenders in Bedfordshire almost ... - Bedfordshire News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Philadelphia unions offer to repair vandalized Jewish cemetery - Arutz Sheva - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Breastfeeding bills aim to help children of incarcerated mothers - NMPolitics.net - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- John Klar: Scott plays both sides in marijuana debate - vtdigger.org - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Families of victims of Colombia's paramilitaries get their day in US court - The Guardian - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Preserving stories from Mt. Carmel - South Philly Review - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Legislature should ensure juries know their options - St. George Daily Spectrum - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- How to End the War on Cops and Restore our Liberties at the Same Time - Being Libertarian - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Museum collects stories to show vandalized gravestones are more than just toppled rock - Newsworks.org - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- The Sessions Scandal Exposes the Racist Double Standard of Trump's 'Law and Order' - AlterNet - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Feelings of vulnerability fomenting among local Jewish community ... - fox2now.com - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- For Democrats, How Many American Victims Are Enough? - Townhall - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- How to Reverse Incarceration in Louisiana: Thirteen Steps to Stop Being First in Being Last - Common Dreams - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Welch State Police Detachment welcomes new commanders - Bluefield Daily Telegraph - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Legislature boosts penalties for prostitution-related crimes - Deseret News - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- This VOICE tells racist lies - Socialist Worker Online - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Wisconsin Veterinarian sentenced 4 years for labor, sex trafficking - Woodbury Bulletin - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Stop looking at child abuse online - get help now - Falkirk Herald - Falkirk Herald - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Convenience stores count the cost of retail crime - Talking Retail - Talking Retail - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Groton man who robbed Old Lyme bank on a bike sentenced to five years - theday.com - March 12th, 2017 [March 12th, 2017]
- Robert King sobs as he's spared jail for possessing thousands of images of child abuse - Somerset Live - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- LA councilman targets 'knock-knock' burglars with $50,000 reward - LA Daily News - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Vehicle covered with anti-Muslim slurs in Rundle; police say hateful ... - Calgary Herald - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- At Issue: Should Cobb County consider uniform public comment rules? - Atlanta Journal Constitution - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Spend tax dollars on addiction wisely - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Schenectady man sentenced to 7 years in prison for child porn - Albany Times Union - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Making Whitefish best it can be - The Missoulian - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Letter: Judges should get say in drug sentencing - Times Herald-Record - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Allison Hanes: Disgrace is the deterrent for Applebaum - Montreal Gazette - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Independent business owners thank police and the ECHO for ending burglary "epidemic" - Liverpool Echo - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Hertfordshire Copp family jailed for 27 years for 45 million payroll tax fraud - Hertfordshire Mercury - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Police hunting rail cable thieves who caused travel disruptions in Sheffield - The Star - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Alleged Yahoo hacker Karim Baratov will stay in jail as he awaits extradition hearing - CBC.ca - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Rockland's chief detective retiring after 45 years investigating murders, corruption - The Journal News / Lohud.com - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Accused hacker will remain in custody after appeal of bail decision ... - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- The extent to which a state should exist - Being Libertarian - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- Man gets 8 years for pandering - Martins Ferry Times Leader - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Child porn, prostitution sting nets 4 | News, Sports, Jobs - Leader ... - Gloversville Leader-Herald - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Rebel With a Cause: The One Conservative Who Voted For Legal Pot - Marijuana.com - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Students For Liberty's Ethan Pritchard wants students to have carry-conceal on campus - Rare.us - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Crash That Killed Chehalis Motorcyclist - Centralia Chronicle - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Sporting clubs devastated by senseless vandalism - Coffs Coast Advocate - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Man had indecent images of children on his mobile phone - South Wales Argus - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Cwmbran man had 132 indecent images of children on his mobile ... - South Wales Argus - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Stolen vehicles in Pueblo contribute to higher insurance rates - Pueblo Chieftain - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]