Huffintonpost.com – Off the Bus
“Obama’s Approach to Fighting Crime Actually Based on Research”
In this article, authors Heather Tirado Gilligan and Nikki Jones examine the war on drugs that began in the 1980s. They conclude, through the use of scholarly research, that it has resulted in racial disparity in the prison system and has ineffectively rehabilitated prisoners. Ultimately, they argue, current drug policy has only made crime worse.
The article then praises Barack Obama’s platform because he plans to eliminate mandatory sentencing minimums, and establish re-entry programs and drug courts. The authors argue that Obama’s platform is based on research, while John McCain’s crime policy will continue the faith-based funding initiatives endorsed by President Bush.
The article also makes an interesting point about how the two campaigns have packaged their crime policies. “The Democrats wrap their suggestions for reform into a larger narrative about civil rights protections in the United States, which they suggest have been woefully neglected during the Bush administration. McCain, in contrast, wraps his crime platform into a larger narrative about strengthening law enforcement, including statements about funneling federal money to local law enforcements agencies to send illegal immigrants back home and assurances that law enforcement will not be thwarted by ‘judicial activism.’” Although the article doesn’t say it specifically, this analysis seems to point to the fact that the two parties are going after different audiences – the Democrats to a minority-rich audience that feels disenfranchised by the current administration, and the Republicans to predominately Caucasian audience concerned with crime and punishment.
Huffingtonpost.com -- Off the Bus
“On Education Policy. . ."
In the article, “On Education Policy . . . “ writer Susan Kelley-Stamerra takes a look at, you guessed it, John McCain and Barack Obama’s education policies side-by-side. Kelly-Stamerra points out that McCain prefers closing down struggling schools entirely and firing “underperforming” teachers, while Obama plans to reform struggling schools and encourage professional development programs.
McCain will push for the creation of more charter schools and give vouchers to parents so they have a choice about where to send their kids. Kelly-Stamerra points out that children in charter schools often do worse than children in regular public schools, citing a New York Times article. Obama will support a $4,000 tax credit for college students. In Illinois, he supported state-funded tuition for all students who maintained a B average or better.
The article closes by examining how each Senator voted on a number of key education bills. It seems the author may have a Democratic bias, but it is interesting that in every instance she mentioned, McCain voted against additional funding for education programs, while Obama voted for it.
Huffingtonpost.com -- Off the Bus
“McCain Camp Lawyer Illegally Advising in Alaska”
And who doesn’t love a little legal loophole? Blogger Donald Craig Mitchell points out that McCain presidential campaign attorney Edward O’Callaghan is breaking Alaskan State law. The McCain camp sent O’Callaghan to Alaska to advise Sarah Palin’s lawyer, Tom Van Flein, on how the “Troopergate” investigation affects the national campaign. In an interview with Newsweek, O’Callghan said, “I’m helping out with legal strategy.” But according to Alaska Statute 8.08.230, a person who is not in the Alaskan Bar and practices law in person in the state – and giving legal advice explicitly falls into this category – is subject to a Class A Misdemeanor. Mitchell wants to know: will Attorney General Talis Colberg prosecute?
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