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For Immediate Release September 29, 2005 Contact: Amaya Smith 202-863-8148
Dean Calls on Republican Leadership to Repudiate Bill Bennett's Racist Remarks
Washington, DC - Former Republican Secretary of Education William Bennett remarked yesterday on his radio show that, "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."
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:
"Bill Bennett's hateful, inflammatory remarks regarding African Americans are simply inexcusable. They are particularly unacceptable from a leader in the conservative movement and former Secretary of Education, once charged with the well being of every American school child. He should apologize immediately. This kind of statement is hardly compassionate conservatism; rather, Bennett's comments demonstrate a reprehensible racial insensitivity and ignorance. Are these the values of the Republican Party and its conservative allies? If not, President Bush, Ken Mehlman and the Republican Leadership should denounce them immediately as hateful, divisive and worthy only of scorn.
"As Americans, we should focus on the virtues that bring us together, not hatred that tears us apart and injustly scapegoats fellow Americans."
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