Riots in Baltimore...

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Different takes on riots in Baltimore and potential root causes. What say you?
TPM - Presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) weighed in on the turmoil in Baltimore on Tuesday, standing with police and blaming the violence on a lack of morals in America.

"I came through the train on Baltimore (sic) last night, I'm glad the train didn't stop," he said, laughing, during an interview with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham.

Railing against what he repeatedly called "thuggery and thievery" in the streets of Baltimore, Paul told Ingraham that talking about "root causes" was not appropriate in the middle of a riot.

"The police have to do what they have to do, and I am very sympathetic to the plight of the police in this," he said.

As for root causes, Paul listed some ideas of his own.

"There are so many things we can talk about," the senator said, "the breakdown of the family structure, the lack of fathers, the lack of a moral code in our society."

He added that "this isn't just a racial thing." {Read More}



Via: Memeorandum



POLITICO - President Barack Obama on Tuesday said America needs to do some “soul searching” to break the cycle of clashes between police and the communities they serve.

Obama spoke hours after Baltimore was gripped overnight by looting and riots in reaction to the death of a 25-year-old black man injured while in police custody last week.

During a press conference in the Rose Garden, Obama struck a stern tone in saying America needs to get serious about lifting up impoverished communities, to help alleviate the tension that simmers under the surface and breaks through during confrontations with law enforcement.

“I think there are police departments that have to do some soul searching. I think there are some communities that have to do some soul searching,” Obama said. “But I think we as a country have to do some soul searching. This is not new.”

Obama also said there is “no excuse” for the riots and violence.

“It is not a protest. It is not a statement,” Obama said. “It’s a handful of people taking advantage of the situation for their own purposes, and they need to be treated as criminals.”

But he said the deeper problem is a lack of education opportunities for many kids and a criminal justice system that is a “pipeline from schools to prisons.” {Read More}

Via: Memeorandum

Comments

  1. Dervish Z SandersWed Apr 29, 03:42:00 PM EDT

    Cops murdering another young black man is the immediate cause. Randal, being a Libertarian should be agreeing with Obama on this issue. He has said things in the past that makes me think he would be in general agreement with Obama, anyway. Instead he panders to racially biased Conservatives who don't care about root causes and generally side with the police no matter what. Is he using "thug" as a dog whistle? Yes, I think he is. He could have called out criminality without using it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Les CarpenterWed Apr 29, 11:54:00 PM EDT

    Thug, like so many other words used to describe undesirable or criminal behavior has run into the PC phenomenon. Over use and or inappropriate use is I suspect why it has become offensuve to
    many.

    As I understand it Grey did have a criminal record and at the very least could be classified
    as undesirable based on his activities, behavior, and record.

    But yes, I believe Rand is playing to the conservative base and points made by Obama are valid. Confronting the underlying issues that fuel the unrest is important if we are to restore and maintain calm.

    That aside, destruction of private property, looting, rioting, and injuring police doing their job is reprehensible, immoral, and not acceptable either. Individuals engaged in such activity are criminals and should be viewed as such.

    ReplyDelete
  3. dmarksThu Apr 30, 12:19:00 PM EDT

    I grew up with "thug" as a race - neutral word, and it takes some getting used to that it has been evolving into a code word for "dog whistles" . Whether or not Rand is using the word in its traditional sense or as a racist code word.... I'd want to see if Rand has shown other evidence of such racism.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Les CarpenterThu Apr 30, 01:22:00 PM EDT

    I'm leaving for work so I haven't time to post links to prior Rand statements (perhaps some else?). But I do recall he has made questionable comments in the past. I really do not think Rand is a racist but he is not above pandering to them for votes.

    ReplyDelete

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