Pelosi's talking about Bennett's "black baby" crack on the floor

[charlie]

on C-Span right now. She's asked for her full 5 minutes for this.

[charlie]

1. Wants to register her "disgust" with his remarks

Calling on Bush to renounce the former Secretary.

[bos1]

71. www.FIREBENNETT.cjb.net ... nt

[LisaM]

What exactly did that big fool say now?

Hasn't he already embarrassed them enough? Shouldn't he be out gambling away the milk money?

[Don Claybrook]

9. Here's what he said

and I'm paraphrasing, but it was something like:

If all black babies were aborted, the crime rate would go down. This would be terrible, I don't condone it, etc, but the crime rate would go down.

-------

The first sentence is somewhere near verbatim. The second is just my best recollection.

[Imagevision]

18. And if more Republicans were aborted the world would be a better place?

[tlsmith1963]

76. Well, if More Neocons Were Aborted...

...I think the world would be in much better shape.:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

Tammy

[swimmernsecretsea]

32. OMFG. eom.

[AuntiBush]

58. Heard him say this on AirAmerica Earlier Tonight.

It. Was. Sickening.

[beyurslf]

42. He is aiming for #1 on the Top Ten List. He misses the spot. :)

[salin]

70. in the Media Matters transcript - he prefaces his comment with

"I know this to be true..."

Sort of belies his pathetic back pedalling at this point.

[Big Kahuna]

13. He said something to the effect:

"We could reduce the crime rate, by aborting black babies"

[rodeodance]

2. Bennet needs to be shamed for his comments.

[whistle]

3. Bennett made a "black baby" crack ??

[sonicx]

4. here

http://mediamatters.org/items/leftsidefront/n4/200509280006

[rodeodance]

6. here

hu Sep-29-05 12:28 AM
Original message
Moral Outrage Czar Bennet: Aborting Black Babies Would Lower Crime Rate

Edited on Thu Sep-29-05 12:29 AM by BurtWorm

According to Media Matters:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200509280006

From the September 28 broadcast of Salem Radio Network's Bill Bennett's Morning in America:

CALLER: I noticed the national media, you know, they talk a lot about the loss of revenue, or the inability of the government to fund Social Security, and I was curious, and I've read articles in recent months here, that the abortions that have happened since Roe v. Wade, the lost revenue from the people who have been aborted in the last 30-something years, could fund Social Security as we know it today. And the media just doesn't -- never touches this at all.

BENNETT: Assuming they're all productive citizens?

CALLER: Assuming that they are. Even if only a portion of them were, it would be an enormous amount of revenue.

BENNETT: Maybe, maybe, but we don't know what the costs would be, too. I think as -- abortion disproportionately occur among single women? No.

CALLER: I don't know the exact statistics, but quite a bit are, yeah.

BENNETT: All right, well, I mean, I just don't know. I would not argue for the pro-life position based on this, because you don't know. I mean, it cuts both -- you know, one of the arguments in this book Freakonomics that they make is that the declining crime rate, you know, they deal with this hypothesis, that one of the reasons crime is down is that abortion is up. Well --

CALLER: Well, I don't think that statistic is accurate.

BENNETT: Well, I don't think it is either, I don't think it is either, because first of all, there is just too much that you don't know. But 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. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.

Audio clip:

http://mediamatters.org/static/audio/bennett-2005092800...

[beyurslf]

41. What did the caller or other guests say in response to this? I think I

would be so dumbfounded that anyone would even say that, I doubt I could even respond.

[zbdent]

47. Notice that the caller didn't toss in the bait of race, Bennett supplied

it cheerfully, believing (naively nowadays, with MMFA) that nobody who mattered was listening . . .

[Autonomy]

7. paraphrased, he said: "If every black baby were aborted

crime would drop."

[speedoo]

10. One thread here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2122060&mesg_id=2122060

[katinmn]

14. He said crime would go down if all black babies were aborted.

:nuke:

Back in Clinton's day, that might have qualified as a hate crime.

This administration encourages devisiveness and hatred.

[whistle]

24. Bill Bennett needs to be censured...

<snip>

Addressing a caller's suggestion that the "lost revenue from the people who have been aborted in the last 30 years" would be enough to preserve Social Security's solvency, radio host and former Reagan administration Secretary of Education Bill Bennett dismissed such "far-reaching, extensive extrapolations" by declaring that if "you wanted to reduce crime ... if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." Bennett conceded that aborting all African-American babies "would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do," then added again, "but the crime rate would go down."

<end snip>


...and what Bennett actually said in response the the caller was as follows:

BENNETT: Well, I don't think it is either, I don't think it is either, because first of all, there is just too much that you don't know. But 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. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.

[AuntiBush]

59. Really, Katrinmn!

Say that one again, and again! Another "un-believable" * moment!

[charlie]

5. Bennett is a writer

he knows the power of words. Owes an apology and deserves a rejection by Bush.

Crap, she just ended her time.

[rodeodance]

11. his moral values book is used in lots of schools.

[Iris]

39. I wonder if they tell the kids about his gambling problem.

[ClassWarrior]

8. "Lucky" Bennett said you could cut the crime rate by...

...aborting all black babies. Where the hell's THAT in the Book of Values, Bill??!

:mad:

NGU.

[rodeodance]

16. his comments are on media matters

[gademocrat7]

12. what a disgusting person Bennett is.

Just one more evil link in the shrub chain of incompetency.

[ClassWarrior]

19. Not incompetency. If only. It's crime and hatred. Soullessness.

Never Give Up.

[KoKo]

15. I'm NOT a Pelosi fan...but getting rid of Jane Harmon and now this is

good news for this "Lefty Dem."

[LisaM]

17. I see. Trying to cut loose the 1% of the black vote the GOP might

still have after Katrina?

[rodeodance]

20. Bennets comments along with that comment about nature/god wiping

out public housing in NO--you gotta wonder why there is class/race devide in this country.

[katinmn]

21. Rebuke Bill Bennett!

Racist puke.

[AspenRose]

22. GOOD ON YA NANCY!

Hope the urban media takes off and runs with it.

OR: if Helen Thomas makes Scotty squirm during press conference time....

"Ms. Pelosi called upon the president to come against the comments made by Mr. Bennett. In light of a divisive climate where comments are made by people like Kayne West that Mr. Bush doesn't care about black people, do you think it is prudent for the president to repair the breach?"

[yankeedem]

54. "Repair the breach"

Interesting play on words following the Bush failure about Katrina.

Well done!

[charlie]

23. W00t. Bobby Rush is talking from the floor about it now

He's pretty pissed.

[rodeodance]

25. D. Rush ILL. is condemning Bennet now.

[rodeodance]

26. He is asking-Where is the GOP outrage--one of their own members

saying stuff such as Bennet did.

[rodeodance]

27. Have any Repugs rebuked Bennet comments?

[rodeodance]

30. Rep. Rush is introducing a resolution to the House floor condemning

Bennets comments.

[chelsea0011]

36. Where is the outrage? Indeed.

[cal04]

28. assinine remarks is too nice for this racist pig

[charlie]

29. HR 473

House Resolution to condemn Bennett's remarks.

[rodeodance]

31. I am so glad to see the Dems put forth this resolution.

[charlie]

33. Huh. Just looked it up

Wrong resolution. Either he misread or I misheard the number.

[rodeodance]

35. didn't he say he was just introducing it? might not be filed yet.

[charlie]

True

But I expect the number is still wrong. They're numbered sequentially, so it'll be something higher.

[AspenRose]

44. Do you go to CSPAN to find it

or do you get your info from somewhere else?

[charlie]

45. I use Thomas

the Library of Congress service for tracking bills and resolutions.

http://thomas.loc.gov

For a quick search, go here

http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d109query.html

and select Bobby Rush from the House of Representatives dropdown.

As rodeodance says, it seems it's too new to be listed.

[AspenRose]

46. Thank you

I'll keep watch for it....

[rodeodance]

34. The 'morals czar" has fallen once again.

[paineinthearse]

61. Are you sure about that number?

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c109:./temp/~c109tanGoQ

HR 473 IH


109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 473
To amend title 23, United States Code, to provide grant eligibility for a State that adopts a program for the impoundment of vehicles operated by persons while under the influence of alcohol.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 1, 2005
Mr. LOBIONDO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to provide grant eligibility for a State that adopts a program for the impoundment of vehicles operated by persons while under the influence of alcohol.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVING COUNTERMEASURES.

Section 410(b)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(H) PROGRAM FOR IMPOUNDMENT OF VEHICLES- A program to impound a vehicle operated by a person who is arrested for operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.'.
END

[rodeodance]

37. kick and recommend

[rodeodance]

38. Duncan Hunter now on. --the chicken guy from gitmo.

[libnnc]

40. don't forget the rice pilaf n/t

[La Coliniere]

43. The man who edited "The Book of Virtues"

really has none. Someone will some day write a short parable about this gasbag and have it published in a collection of stories entitled "The Book of Morans"

[Swamp Rat]

48. Here ya go charlie:

[Berserker]

49. Swamp Rat your the best

[charlie]

50. He looks.... hungry

Old boy had something other than reducing the crime rate on his mind.

Thank you, Swampie. Your fever dream stuff takes me back to when I was a pup and sneaked Famous Monsters of Filmland (my folks disapproved and forbade such "junk") to read under the covers at night :thumbsup: :D

[Swamp Rat]

53. "Famous Monsters of Filmland???"

Wait! I think I had that book too! Was it a big book with stills of Bela Lugosi, Lon Cheney Jr and Sr, Boris Karloff, some brain-sucking monster (that scared the crap outta me) stuck on some woman's ear, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, etc.?

I loved that book! :D

[charlie]

55. That's it!

Except, before the book, it was (and still is) a magazine. One of my childhood faves!

http://www.goofspot.com/bamboo/features/ftri9910.htm

[Swamp Rat]

56. GREAT LINK!!!

:D Thanks!!!

[Berserker]

51. some good info

on this dipshit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bennett

[YouthInAsia]

52. Where's the NAACP on this??? They should be all over his ass

[electron_blue]

57. Yes, indeed. Where is everybody?

[katinmn]

73. They are on it!! Check out bos1's website for all the statements

Corp media hasn't caught up yet. Waiting to see which way the wind blows.

http://www.firebennett.cjb.net/

[mrdmk]

60. I took the time to write a letter to Salem Radio Networks and the FCC

this morning before breakfast. This remark really burned my butt!

<this is the letter>
On September 28 2005 Bill Bennett made the following statement on the Salem Radio Network, “But 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. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.”

This type of communication only purpose is to incite racist hate and fear. A copy of this letter is being sent to the FCC. For the good of this country an immediate end of this type of slander needs your attention.

Thank you.
<end of letter>

Who needs this guy?

[paineinthearse]

62. John Conyers takes on Salem Radio Network

see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4932192&mesg_id=4932192

[bustarbusto]

63. Contact Salem Networks, host of Bennett's show

The MediaMatters link posted earlier in this thread includes a direct link to the Salem Networks contact form. I'd recommend we DU it in the hope of getting the racist bastard booted. I just did, anyway.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200509280006

Direct to Salem:

http://www.srnonline.com/index-contactus.shtml

[ladylibertee]

64. She's confronted it? YEAH ! YEAH !

GO NANCY ! WESSOYD Baby.We Californians don't play that crap.:yourock:

[Skittles]

65. crime would go down in all babies grew up with equality, and respect

Mr. Bennett is a racist asshole

[LosinIt]

66. That's right, Skittles.

A Mama's love at home can only go so far. A child grows in a loving home knowing that he is loved.

Then the child goes out into the rest of the world to find out that not everyone thinks that he is worthy of such love or even of any shred of respect.....

Then he finds out that the rest of the world finds him beneath them and not worthy of a decent education, an education equal to that of the children in the suburban schools that surround his city....

Then he find himself in the midst of a meteorological disaster. He goes where the 'Officials' tell he will be safe, and no one thought enough of him to plan to provide him with the basics, like food or water or sanitation....

Then they are treated worse than animals, just herded together like cattle and left to die.....

Why would this child feel rage, anger, violent? Would you?

[Skittles]

77. I would indeed

I am seething with rage and I am as white as this background - I cannot for the life of me imagine how it feels to actually BE black and see this garbage.

And Mr. Bennett's comments neglect to take into account that black crime is disproportionate in the news - for example, white collar crime is vastly underreported and and justice system is hardly just.

[skooooo]

67. Did anyone see Bennett try to explain this away?

He was talking "theoretically," and in fact said that to abort black babies to lower the crime rate would be "reprehensible."

Oh, yeah, that' makes it better, doesn't it? Now we understand - NOT!!!

Lamest weasle attempt I've seen in a long time. Sorry, Bill, there's no 'splaining this one away.

[bos1]

72. Kick + Please help get Bennett Fired!

www.firebennett.cjb.net

[jayfish]

78. What's Interesting (And Disgusting) About All Of...

this is that he (and most of the media pundits I have listened to on this) doesn't even realize what he said that was wrong or even why it was wrong. They seem to be focusing on the abortion part of the statement (which Bennett explained away while making the statement)when the real racism is in his correlation of African-Americans with crime. Ergo, if there were no blacks, there would be no crime. That's the real crux and it points to systemic racism in the Republican Party and, more worrisome, the media because they don't "get it".

Jay

[mandyky]

68. It's on CNN Daybreak this morning

Not about Pelosi - just Bennet's comments.

[B Calm]

69. Roberts is nominated, now this. Is this a ploy to get people

on the side of anti choice?

[skooooo]

74. huh?

I don't see how you came up with that one....

[AztecGringo]

75. Neocons on the Radio

Booting off the right-wing talk show hosts from the radio would undoubtedly increase the IQ of the country by about 10 points, I would imagine.

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:7wYiseK055gJ: