Washington Times: "Obama: Decriminalize Pot" + video

[bidenista]

Obama: Decriminalize pot
By Jen Haberkorn
January 31, 2008

Last fall during a nationally televised presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama hesitantly raised his hand and joined with most of his Democratic rivals to declare that he opposed decriminalizing marijuana. But as a candidate for the U.S. Senate four years ago, Mr. Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use or possession, according to a videotape of a little noticed debate that was obtained by The Washington Times.

"I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama told an audience during a debate at Northwestern University in 2004. "But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana."


Asked about the two different answers, Mr. Obama's presidential campaign said he in fact has "always" supported decriminalizing marijuana as he answered in 2004, meaning the candidate mistakenly raised his hand during the presidential debate last fall. That position leaves Mr. Obama as the lone presidential candidate among the four leading challengers in either party who supports eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana. Mr. Obama's chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, opposes decriminalization, Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said.

More: http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/NATION/896961936/1001

[bidenista]

1. k.

:kick:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. Decriminalization does NOT equal legalization

It simply means instead of a misdemenor or felony, it would be a civil infraction. When you are pulled over for speeding, you are not being charged with a crime, but rather you are being cited for a civil infraction. And you still have to pay a penalty. But the only way you would be facing any sort of incarceration would be if you were to be in contempt and refuse to pay the penalty.

It actually makes a lot of sense, and it would be a smart middle ground to take. If one were to make marijuana related crimes infractions, the government would not have to sanction or condone the use of the drug by making it legal on the books. But on the other hand, the court process would be a lot less complicated and costly to taxpayers.

[Barack_America]

3. Thank you for pointing that out. Very important point...n/t

[calmblueocean]

13. Thanks for the info. I've never heard it explained like that before.

Makes a lot of sense.

[JackRiddler]

4. Anyone who emphasizes this position would...

gain stronger support from a group representing about 20 percent of the electorate, many of them non-voters, while solidifying the opposition of a lesser number who probably wouldn't vote for Obama anyway. It's a winner, for the brave. Let the Republicans advertise it like maniacs - Obama would decriminalize pot! People are not this stupid - more than half the country are stoners or hang out with stoners.

[peoli]

5. Obama is also a supporter of Industrial Hemp use...

I saw a video on youtube where he and Ron Paul were the only two supporting it. I cant find it right now and have to go to work if someone cares they can do a search.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. You are aware, aren't you,

that the Washington Times is owned by Sun Myung Moon? Why would anyone be using this as a source? It would be like using Rush Limbaugh as a source.

[bidenista]

8. yes, i am aware

But a) the story wasn't written by Sun Myung Moon; and, b) the story could still break out into other parts of the MSM, esp. if Obama gets the nomination.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Sweetheart, it'a a propaganda paper

and the MSM rarely uses it as a source. (So much subterfuge in this forum.)

[leftynyc]

10. Bullshit

the pukes use it all the time. This is the kinda stuff that's going to be front page news in the GE. Get used to it.

[Le Taz Hot]

11. You changed your argument from

"the MSM uses it" to "the pukes use it." Tsk tsk.

[leftynyc]

17. I've changed nothing

I consider fox part of the MSM and they use the Wash times all the time - right after some puke refers to it. And the other stations use it as well - starts with the pukes and then the MSM - got it now? You seem to think Obama is going to continue to get this worshipful press - you're dreaming. The press wants a fight, an ugly fight, they don't even care who the candidates are. Conflict sells. Obama best be prepared.

[MyNameGoesHere]

7. Uh not another mistake?

meaning the candidate mistakenly raised his hand during the presidential debate last fall.

His campaign needs to work on spin. Truly amateurs.

[george_maniakes]

12. how wonder how much better off the american justice system would be...

without most potheads clogging it up. I say most because i believe some pot related offenses should be treated seriously (dealing, driving while high, etc).

[Renew Deal]

15. That's his view

That there's too many minor drug offenders clogging prisons. They should be helped, not incarcerated.

[Renew Deal]

14. He actually has pretty liberal crime/drug policies

Eliminate Crack/Cocaine Disparity: The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 imposes a five-year mandatory
minimum penalty for a first-time trafficking offense involving 5 or more grams of crack cocaine, the weight of
less than two sugar packets and yielding between 10 and 50 doses. To get the same 5 year mandatory minimum
for powder cocaine, an offender would need to traffic 500 grams of powder, yielding between 2,500 and 5,000
doses. Against the recommendation of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, these mandatory minimums were
signed into law again in 1995. Barack Obama believes the disparity between crack and powder-based cocaine
is wrong, cannot be justified and should be eliminated. The sentencing disparity has disproportionately filled
our prison with young black and Latino drug users – men and women who he will work to rehabilitate so they
can become productive and responsible community members. More than 80 percent of crack cocaine defendants
in 2006 were African American, and African Americans now serve as much time in prison for drug offenses
(58.7 months) as whites do for violent offenses (61.7 months). Republican Senators, like Jeff Sessions from
Alabama, have argued that as a matter of law and public policy, the heavy mandatory sentences for crack as
compared to cocaine make no sense. As president, Obama will work in a bipartisan way to eliminate these
disparities. He will also repeal the mandatory minimum sentence for first-time offenders convicted of simple
possession of crack, as crack is the only drug that a non-violent first-time offender can receive a mandatory
minimum sentence for possessing.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/HowardConvocationFactSheet.pdf

[Renew Deal]

16. I forgot drug courts

Drug Courts: There are now drug courts in operation or being planned in all fifty states, the District of

Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, two Federal Districts, and 121 tribal programs.
Existing drug courts have proven successful in dealing with non-violent offenders. These courts offer a mix of
treatment and sanctions, in lieu of traditional incarceration. Offenders who participate in these courts and complete their treatment can have charges against them dropped or can plead guilty without receiving prison
time. The success of these programs has been dramatic: One New York study found that drug court graduates
had a rearrest rate that was on average 29 percent lower than comparable offenders who had not participated in
the drug court program. These programs are also far cheaper than incarceration. Currently, the Department of
Justice makes grants available to state and local governments to establish drug courts. Barack Obama will
replicate these efforts within the federal criminal justice system by signing a law that would authorize federal
magistrates to preside over drug courts and federal probation officers to oversee the offenders’ compliance with
drug treatment programs. Obama will ensure that our federal courts and probation offices have adequate
resources to deal with this new program.

[debatepro]

18. Reason 4 million 6 hundred 12 thousand and 9 to vote for obama!!!!!!!!! !!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

Obama is the sort of figure that can get it done... Lets "waste" our money helping people out of poverty... not putting the poor in jail... for no good reason.

[UALRBSofL]

19. Interesting Piece of information

I wonder if it will gain some teeth in the MSM.?