Media Matters exposes Bennett
Posted on September 30th, 2005 in General, Politics, Culture by tavaresforby ||
Ex-Sectary of Education Bill Bennett made a very strong statement the other day saying:
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.
Yes, this is a pretty harsh thing to say, especially over the air. Although, this may offend many African Americans, as it does offend me, we cannot ignore the truth. And the truth is, blacks are responsible for more crimes than any other race. The Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that Blacks are responsible of more than 50 percent of violent crime and over 36 percent of property crime which is the highest of all other races for these two categories. Violent crimes consist of rape/sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault and property crime consist of household burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.
Although what he said is harsh, if you erase offense of race, his theory is reasonable. You would probably have to think out side the box to understand this. If you have something that produces the majority of an action, and if you remove that something, then that action will be reduced.
Was what he said harsh? Yes. Was what he said wrong? Not in theory.
September 30th, 2005 at 8:05 pm
For starters, we cannot conclude how many African Americans or black males are actually guilty of committing crimes. We can only obtain data on the number of black males who are arrested for and convicted of a crime. While arrest rates are highly subjective, one
could argue that a conviction is a guilty sentence in the eyes of the law.
Though that is true, given the racial undertones and biases still present in
the American judicial system, it seems highly unjust to assume that black
crime statistics are a valid indication of the state of the entire community
of African American males.
September 30th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
The data shows, however, that African Americans
more likely than others to be arrested and convicted. It is for that reason
that I propose we use our intelligence and humanity to look beyond the
numbers. Even though it has been shown time and time again that racial
discrimination still exists in almost every segment of our society, (Driving
While Black, Police
October 1st, 2005 at 5:23 am
Yes, you could say that, but isn’t that blaming the victim here. The Insurgents in Iraq are causing all the deaths via IED devisices, so if we abort all of the Iraq births, we would reduce the violence in Iraq. Corporate crime is produced soley by whites! So if we abort white babies, we can reduce corporate crime. RIGHT
October 1st, 2005 at 12:42 pm
Ross, That is all true. It is just being look at as science and not morals. Bennett even said that it was morally reprehensible.
October 6th, 2005 at 8:41 am
I think the reference to “aborting black babies” is outrageous. It’s not a racial issue at all. Because a higher percentage of people involved in these crimes have skin pigmentation doesn’t mean they are “black”. If an African male marries a Swedish woman, the children will be called “black” - when in actual fact they could legitmately also be called “white”, since it is a 50/50 issue.
Any talk like this that reduces crime concerns to racial considerations, is far too simplistic.
October 7th, 2005 at 11:55 am
A better example would be to abort all males.
October 8th, 2005 at 1:57 pm
Of course this is fallacious. The chart itself is deceptive. There are FAR MORE CRIMES on books than violent crime and property crime. But that doesn’t stop the proliferation of racist stereotypes.
–Cobra
October 11th, 2005 at 8:46 am
Theoretically speaking, it is likely that the crime rate would go down if you abort all black babies however, - one could substitute for any group and the theory would still hold correct….., in theory - that is not the same as saying that CRIME would go down. Crime is an act… the rate is only reflective of numbers of convictions. Much of the crime committed by whites, particularly white males and more specifically the well connected and wealthy, goes without prosecution, or in many cases, completely ignored. Personally, i think the reaction is overblown however, i will admit to be bothered by the “I do know that it’s true” part of his statements. That part of it gives the enemies of conservatism exactly what the needed to justify the “Conservative = racism” line that they have gotten away with for far too long. That part of the statement is the only part that i think Mr. Bennett owes some further explanation for, particularly to Black conservatives! The certainty with which he spoke about it is a bit troubling to me. Makes me wonder how many white cons feel that way about black folk.
October 14th, 2005 at 12:08 am
bpspeaks,
I have a theory on that one:
http://www.thecobraslair.com/images/BENNETT-BLACK-BABIES.gif
–Cobra
November 25th, 2005 at 3:18 am
The way I read what he said, he used the words “morally reprehensible thing to do”. Seems to me that gets him off the hook for any race offense. He was not suggesting black babies be aborted; he was suggesting that statistical arguments like the one he was refuting (not in your quote), carried to their logical conclusion, become “ridiculous.. and morally reprehensible..” and therefore should not be used seriously in a debate on policy.
wasn’t anyone actually listening to what he said?
December 3rd, 2005 at 5:44 pm
Dave writes:
>>>”wasn’t anyone actually listening to what he said?”
I had rapt attention to every word. There was no cause to bring up race at all in the discussion. He volutarily did, so using “reprehensible” doesn’t cover him for anything.
–Cobra
January 3rd, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Has anyone actually read the title of the Bureau of Justice Charts? The charts measures the victims not the perpetrators! The chart show that Blacks are vitims of more than 50 percent of violent crime.
June 8th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
I agree Mary, I’ve grown up with too many races to believe media stereotypes. I have formed my own assessments through 45 plus years of life. However, even with all the arguments of imbalance of arrests made on blacks (vs. other groups), my own personal, unbiased observations have been that blacks (in America)are more prone to violence, public cursing, yelling, and yes crminal offenses also. This is coming from a person who grew up with blacks, hispanics, whites, etc. and have friends across racial lines because I see individuals not groups.