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Democratic Primaries

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George II

(67,782 posts)
Sun Jan 26, 2020, 02:56 PM Jan 2020

Bernie Sanders said country needed more jails and 'tougher' penalties [View all]

Full Headline: Bernie Sanders said country needed more jails and 'tougher' penalties in certain cases in 1994 remarks backing crime bill

By Em Steck and Andrew Kaczynski, CNN
Updated 11:31 AM ET, Sun January 26, 2020

(CNN)Bernie Sanders said in 1994 that he agreed the country needed "some more jails" and that it must be "tougher in certain instances" on crime.

The then-congressman from Vermont made the comments during a news conference in which he explained his support for the now-controversial 1994 crime bill. His remarks, video of which was obtained by CNN's KFile from CCTV-Center for Media & Democracy, a Vermont public access station, sheds light on Sanders' support of the now more controversial elements of the bill, and his reservations about other aspects.


"On the other hand, do I think we need some more jails? Yup. Do I think we have to get tougher in certain instances? Yes, I do," Sanders said. "So what you have is a balance here. You have more money going to law enforcement, more money going into jails. You have, on the other hand, significant sums of money going into prevention, beginning to allow us to deal with violence against women, child abuse and other very serious problems," Sanders said.


"This legislation is not perfect. Let's be clear about it," he added. "But at a time when the citizens of this country are crying out for the government to begin addressing the crisis of crime, there is no question in my mind that this bill, in a dozen different ways, is a major step forward in controlling and preventing crime. It is a bill that should be supported."


"Number one, simply and straightforwardly, we need more cops on the beat," Sanders said, adding that the bill would provide Vermont $43 million to hire new police officers. "The state of Vermont needs more police officers. We need more community policing. We need more police protection in our most rural areas, and this legislation will play a significant role in allowing that to happen."


"Number two, equally importantly," Sanders said. "While this legislation is very strong on increasing police protection -- on stiffening penalties against criminals so that violent offenders remain behind bars where they should be -- it also provides a significant sum of money to prevent crime."
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
47 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Sounds like a very early endorsement for Joe. RandySF Jan 2020 #1
Again attacking Bernie for having the exact same position as Biden 25 years ago???? DanTex Jan 2020 #2
I believe... pfeiffer Jan 2020 #5
The point is it's not attacking Sanders for having the same position, it's the fact that now.... George II Jan 2020 #6
So this is "whataboutism"? Huh. OK, I get it. DanTex Jan 2020 #18
Not "whataboutism", more like "sameaboutism". Remember, we're talking about a single bill.... George II Jan 2020 #24
All I see here is Bernie getting bashed for it. And everyone is all excited about it, too. DanTex Jan 2020 #26
+1000 UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #22
The reverse would seem to be true. TwilightZone Jan 2020 #7
Well I agree there too. Attacking for the same stance makes no sense. In either direction. DanTex Jan 2020 #8
Turner, Gray, and Sirota have been doing it for at least a week, no one from Biden's campaign has... George II Jan 2020 #25
NO, dantex.. you have it Wrong.. It's Showing the Cha Jan 2020 #13
Umm, right now, you and the Biden people are attacking Bernie for it. DanTex Jan 2020 #14
No, dantex.. you're Wrong.. this is about Hypocrisy. Cha Jan 2020 #17
Actually, it really seems like whataboutism. Don't you think? DanTex Jan 2020 #19
No Thekaspervote Jan 2020 #20
of course you would say that.. Wrong Again. Cha Jan 2020 #23
Actually you're mistaken Cha Jan 2020 #45
Shine the Light! Get it out there..VIRAL IT.. it's on the "INTERNET"! Cha Jan 2020 #3
It's not the vote. It's the rank hypocrisy. SaschaHM Jan 2020 #4
Sounds like he agreed with Biden on a couple of things. nt Autumn Jan 2020 #9
ICYMI: This is to point out the hypocritical attacks on Biden... NurseJackie Jan 2020 #11
I was told yesterday by a very good Biden supporter that when it comes to pointing there are fingers Autumn Jan 2020 #12
That's it? Seriously? NurseJackie Jan 2020 #28
There's a lot of "I am rubber, you are glue..." going around too, the pukes are good at that . Autumn Jan 2020 #31
Isn't this just "whataboutism"? DanTex Jan 2020 #16
Nope. It's pointing out hypocrisy. NurseJackie Jan 2020 #27
But when I point out hypocrisy, everyone says it's "whataboutism". DanTex Jan 2020 #30
Yes. You're smart. Figure it out yourself. NurseJackie Jan 2020 #40
Whatabouism has to do with bringing up an unrelated issue to excuse certain behavior dansolo Jan 2020 #44
Kinda weird. Like, on Bernie's worst day, he's the same as Biden. And then on the other days, DanTex Jan 2020 #15
No. It's an argument against Bernie. Autumn Jan 2020 #21
It's an "argument" (not really) on the hypocrisy of one candidate condemning another.... George II Jan 2020 #34
Biden GOOD .. BS BAD.. fixed it. Cha Jan 2020 #46
Actually not, he disagrees on the impact of the two votes which were identical: George II Jan 2020 #33
Bernie didn't write the bill and to be clear he supported the Violence Against Women Act Autumn Jan 2020 #35
He voted for it. Period. And in 1995 he tried to get Democrats to increase the penalties in the bill George II Jan 2020 #36
Yes he voted for it, he supported the VAW act that was inserted into it. He was not happy he did. Autumn Jan 2020 #38
It's the same old, same old. A bad bill "I voted for it because it had something good", and then... George II Jan 2020 #39
BS voted for the 1994 CRIME Bill BAD!!!!! Cha Jan 2020 #43
Yeah we do need much tougher penalities 47of74 Jan 2020 #10
Did he lie when he said he just voted for it for VAWA? mcar Jan 2020 #29
I am so glad that there is an internet Gothmog Jan 2020 #32
K&R betsuni Jan 2020 #37
And he had the audacity to blame Biden for it NCProgressive Jan 2020 #41
Yeah.. it's called "hypocrisy".. Cha Jan 2020 #47
K&R nt NYMinute Jan 2020 #42
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