Bill Bennett

[Gemini Cricket]

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down..."

Bill Bennett's Remarks Criticized by White House
This nut used to be the Secretary of Education for crying out loud!
'Education'... does he know the meaning of the word? wtf?

[Tito's Kitten]

I am not sure how a remark like that could be taken out of context. It seems pretty straight forward to me....
Such a jerk....

[Nephythys]

Margaret Sanger would be SO proud!

[scaeagles]

When Jesse Jackson or Al sharpton gets out and talks about all the black men in jail, are they being racist? No - they are simply pointing out that a larger percentage of the black populaiton is in prison than the white population.

Now, one could argue that it is because the judicial system is racist. However, because of the racial makup of the prison population, it is logical to conclude that a larger percentage of black people commit crimes than white people. Does this make me a racist to say that? No.

There was a caller to Bennett's show who was saying that abortion should be opposed for economic reasons. Bennett said regardless of whether that was true or not, abortion should not be opposed or supported because of anything other than the morality of abortion itself. He said he could make an argument that aborting all black babies would reduce the crime rate. He then said it was a reprehensible idea.

So the problem is what?

The critics are most certainly taking his statement out of context.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I heard the full quote on the radio today and YES, context matters.

Originally Posted by scaeagles

There was a caller to Bennett's show who was saying that abortion should be opposed for economic reasons. Bennett said regardless of whether that was true or not, abortion should not be opposed or supported because of anything other than the morality of abortion itself. He said he could make an argument that aborting all black babies would reduce the crime rate. He then said it was a reprehensible idea.

So the problem is what?

Exactly. I agree completely.

I just read that in the late 80's there were all these dire reports about how juvenile crime levels were rising and were about to skyrocket in the mid 90's, but suddenly, juv crime practically vanished. Why? Well, back in the 70's, abortion was made legal. And those that were in the highest risk group of their kids turning to crime were able to get abortions.

It's true. It's horrible, reprehensible, but it's true.

If you hear the full quote, you understand what he was trying to get across.

[Scrooge McSam]

*weighing in with scaeagles and CP*

[Nephythys]

wow-
Nice to see some reasonable reactions to this- thanks CP and Scrooge!!!

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Nephythys

wow-
Nice to see some reasonable reactions to this- thanks CP and Scrooge!!!

Thanks for leaving me out of that, Nephy. Or are you suggesting that since my reactions are always reasonable that it isn't necessary to point it out?

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Thanks for leaving me out of that, Nephy. Or are you suggesting that since my reactions are always reasonable that it isn't necessary to point it out?

ummmm.....

Yeah!

[lizziebith]

Quote taken out of context: reprehensible.

Quote taken within context: disturbing. What made him choose this particular rhetorical argument?

Abortion should be a woman's private choice, made for her own abundant reasons...it should never be dragged into some horrid economics argument. Sanger would be spinning in her grave, actually.