Former Drug Czar and long-time Republican presidential appointee Bill Bennett is a lot of things. Here's Brad DeLong's laundry list:
Bill Bennett is a hypocrite, a loathsome fungus on the tree of American politics, a man who has worked unceasingly to make America a worse place—when he's not publishing the work of others under his own name, or rolling the dice at Las Vegas while claiming that America's poor would be rich if only they had the righteousness and moral fiber than he does.
But, as DeLong points out, one of the things he's not is a despicable racist hellbent on destroying the African-American youth of America.
This simple fact has been left out in much of the coverage following his jaw-dropping comments on his national radio program, Bill Bennett's Morning in America. What has been widely reported is Bennett's assertion 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."
As a stand-alone comment, this is disgusting, racist and inexcusable. But, in the interest of the truth (that pesky thing), it is important to introduce the context in which these words were uttered—a context that is rarely fleshed out in news reports. Bennett was fielding a call from some nut who was postulating the if the abortion rate in this country hadn't been so high for so many years, we would have a fiscally sound Social Security system now.
Bennett's response was to introduce his abort-black-babies theory as a reductio ad absurdum argument. Immediately following the offensive remarks—and much less frequently quoted in the media—was this: "That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."
Clearly, Bennett's point was that abortion is not the appropriate lens through which to view such things as economics or crime. That doesn't let him off the hook for the racist assumption of his postulation about the crime rate, but it's only fair to view his comments in their original, unedited context.
There are undoubtedly statistics to back up Bennett's equation of African-Americans to crime. It would be disingenuous to argue otherwise. Perhaps Bennett should take his own advice, however. If it is inappropriate to look at economic matters solely through the lens of abortion, it is certainly inadequate to look at crime only in terms of race. Bennett should know better. The fact that he seems not to leaves some questions about Bennett disturbingly open.
Originally published as Bill Bennett, Genocidaire?.
Ed:LisaM
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - rj
bill bennett, who is a rather pompous ass, and more than a little holier-than-thou, did absolutely nothing wrong in his comments on his radio program.
He merely engaged in a politcally-incorrect (but true) hypothetical.
2 - Bob A. Booey
Scary. Is this RJ Elliott? Um no, there's no truth to it.
That is all.
3 - Inaru
"leaves some questions disturbingly open" ?! Bennett's equation of race to crime is nothing short of racist. If he'd said "Irish", "Jews",
"Germans", "Japanese" it would be exquisitely clear, but the entertainment industry and the media have promoted the idea that Blacks are more criminal by rarely revealing the fact that there is racial profiling targeting Black people in the first place. Thus conservatives (especially Bennett defenders) focus on the abortion part, and do their damnedest to minimize the racism. Get it, Republican folks, that your party was founded to reverse racial integration after the Civil War. Bennett's comment's only surprising for his honesty, and he remains unapologetic as he truly believes that only Black people who act white are not criminals.
4 - 1Potato
There is scientific, statistical evidence linking race and crime. Blacks are certainly profiled to some degree, and may be convicted more easily by many juries, but the statics show that blacks commit more crimes overall, even with those factors taken into account.
As for blacks who act "white" not committing as much crime, I can only guess that it is true. That is, if by "acting white" you mean staying in school, not joining gangs, being studious, having two parent household, and not having a steady diet of gangsta rap, then yes, probaly those folks will commit less crime. That's my speculation.
5 - Dave Nalle
1Porato, the connection is not directly race to crime, except on a statistical level. You really are going into the dark area that Bennett did not if you suggest that race causes criminality. It's merely that poor blacks tend to live in conditions which encourage crime - it's a social problem and a cultural problem, not a racial one.
Dave
6 - Bob A. Booey
Cite it, 1Potato. Cite mainstream social scientific research which indicates that black crime is a result of something about black people (whether genetic or cultural) that goes beyond economics and discrimination.
I call BS. Show us your sources.
That is all.
7 - DrPat
Criminals commit crimes, folks -- all the rest of this is statistics, and if you don't know by now that statistics are used to support all kinds of ridiculous, untrue or politically-obscene assertions, you haven't been paying attention.
In fact, Bennett was trying, by his own statements before and after the one this flap is about, to illustrate the absurdity of relying on extrapolation from statistics to recommend social action.
So beat up on the guy for the example he chose, decry the underlying negative perception of blacks spun up by both sides of the argument -- but don't even try to show a connection between crime rates and abortion.
That's as likely as the statisically-demonstrated relationship between smoking and mental illness.
8 - Truth speaker
Aborting male babies would drop the crime level down 90%.
9 - Edward G
You know, Bennett's comments are correct...
According to Reuters, blacks have a higher VICTIMIZATION rate of 26 per thousand households ....so, in theory, if there were less blacks to be VICTIMIZED, then crime would go down....go figure.
The comments were racist, uncalled for, even if it were to prove how ridiculous the idea is.
He should resign, or at the least obligate himself to some community service, maybe one that helps deter crimes in inner cities.
10 - 1Potato
This is from an associated press writer extrapolating from the US Census:
"Non-Hispanic blacks were 42.3 percent of all local jail inmates in June
2000, down slightly from 42.5 percent in 1990. By comparison, non-Hispanic
whites were 41.9 percent of jail inmates in 2000, up slightly from 41.87
percent a decade ago.
791,600 black males were incarcerated in June 2000, a new high. Nearly one
in eight black males age 20 to 34 were in prison on any given day."
Again, I never said why this is, just that it is. And Bennet never said why, that wasn't the topic he was discussing.
It is possible to have a discussion about the race and representation in prison, law schools, the army, etc. without talking about why the numbers are the way they are, without being racist.
I will agree that on TV or in a press conference, these remarks would be somewhat distasteful, just because people don't talk so bluntly in those forums. But on talk radio, things are much less scripted and free flowing. Air America says outrageous things all the time, but after they say it we just just hear crickets from the main stream media.
If you want to know WHY certain minority groups are poor and possibly prone to crime, ask Anthony Grande. He has a theory on that I am sure you have seen posted (i.e. the DemocRATs only stay in power if their constituancy stays down and out, so therefore they do what it takes to make sure they stay that way).
Bennet may acknowelge that blacks have certain social problems; but the far left WANTS it that way so they have something to complain about and "fight" for.
11 - Pete Blackwell
1pot says: That is, if by "acting white" you mean staying in school, not joining gangs, being studious, having two parent household, and not having a steady diet of gangsta rap...
True, I've never met any white people who listen to gangsta rap. Certainly not EVERY SINGLE SUBURBAN WHITE KID out there. And all whites get straight A's because of their happy, married, heterosexual parents.
Also, I believe Bob A Booey asked you a question...
12 - Pete Blackwell
This was BAB's question: Cite mainstream social scientific research which indicates that black crime is a result of something about black people (whether genetic or cultural) that goes beyond economics and discrimination.
It remains unanswered.
13 - 1Potato
Truth Speaker writes:
"Aborting male babies would drop the crime level down 90%."
Why is that statement not an utterly sexist and vile comment?
Please tell us.
14 - 1Potato
That what do you mean by acting white? You tell me.
As for citing the study, look at my posts. I never claimed that blacks committed more crime because of something other than economics or discrimination. So I don't need stats to back up a claim I never made. I did say discrimination was not enough. But it could be a combination of economics and discrimination, I don't know. However I think the stats are so skewed there is something else at work. But I mean social factors, not genetic.
For example, I happen to think that the very ideas that people like you foist upon the black community and which are supposed to help them, that is, blaming the racist system, is part of what holds them back. Successful people, in business, sports, whatever, do not waste time with the blame game. I think conservatism is a strong philosphy for black Americans to embrace if they want to succeed.
15 - Pete Blackwell
I think it was a joke, 1pot.
Then again, there probably are clear genetic reasons why men commit more crim than women. What is true of gender is not true of race.
16 - Pete Blackwell
I don't use phrases like "acting white" because they're utterly idiotic things to say.
Please, do tell, what ideas do I "foist upon the black community"? Be specific and use examples from things I've written.
17 - 1Potato
Then again, there probably are clear genetic reasons why men commit more crim than women. What is true of gender is not true of race."
"I think it was a joke, 1pot."
So that makes it OK?
So, racist jokes are bad. And jokes that demean women are bad.
But jokes that demean men are OK? Let's abort men, that's f***ing funny to you? That's acceptable?
What if I joke that killing all women would be OK because all the greatest scientists are men so who cares about the bitches anyway? HA HA HA.
Can't you people see the double standard?
18 - 1Potato
Pete:
I said people like you. I am assuming you are liberal. Part of being liberal, at least currently, is focusing on how the governent should take care of us. I believe this disempowers people and makes them less effective and less successful in the long run.
1P
19 - Pete Blackwell
1Pot: When you assume, you make an ass ... well, you know what you make.
20 - diana hartman
bill could have easily and cleverly pointed out what was wrong with the caller's social security/abortion comment without making an equally stupid and jaded comment himself...
that he still maintains he said nothing wrong and that naysayers would be more understanding if they only took what he said in total context is reflective of his overall character...
in total context, one can safely assume that he thinks the bulk of crime in this country is perpetrated by blacks...
bennett's mother didn't have an abortion and i don't see that this improved the quality of radio...
21 - diana hartman
For example, I happen to think that the very ideas that people like you foist upon the black community and which are supposed to help them, that is, blaming the racist system, is part of what holds them back. Successful people, in business, sports, whatever, do not waste time with the blame game. I think conservatism is a strong philosphy for black Americans to embrace if they want to succeed.
do you have any idea how self-righteous it is to say these things?
who but someone with a superiority complex and lacking in awareness would say things like "foist upon", "supposed to help them", "holds them back", and "a strong philosophy for black americans to embrace"...
this statements are made as if there couldn't possibly be any black people reading or posting, as if there are people in the assumed position of needing (much less wanting your) help, as if there are people being helplessly held back with no credit to what any one person or group has ever accomplished, as if there are those without the power to avoid having anything foisted upon them, and as if there's something wrong with the philosophy any non-conservative now embraces...
we're not talking about a population of children getting their lunch money stolen from them everyday, we're talking about grown people, many of whom don't want nor need help regardless of their income or what's being offered or by whom, and aren't necessarily in need of a philosophy upgrade...
reword the entire italicized paragraph with "male" and see if that sets right at all...reword it with "white male", "chinese female", "handicapped", "wounded servicemembers", etc -- it all sounds the same: as if you're patting an entire class of people on their wee little heads and assuring them daddy is going to make it all okay...
no one is so much better off than anyone else, as an individual or a class, to be looking down at any other individual or class and think they know what's best for them above what that individual or class thinks is best for themselves...
22 - Bob A. Booey
1Potato's got nothing, as I suspected. He cites some weak news wire crime report and backs off any explanation for crime.
Black crime isn't a "cultural" problem. It's about poverty, period.
And Bennett's decision to single out "all black babies" for his ridiculous hypothetical reveals a racist assumption that black people are criminals because they're black, above and beyond crime among poor whites, Hispanics, or anyone else.
That is all.
23 - Maxwell
hartman
It is not SAFE to assume that Mr. Bennett thinks the bulk of crime in this country is perpetrated by blacks. The only safe thing to conclude is with fewer blacks, there would be fewer blacks. He didn’t say end the black race and you will end crime. Statically speaking each grouping of people will represent a sum number. Removing any group will lower this sum number. You would be reading into his comment if you got anything else.
“Bennett’s mother didn’t have an abortion and I don’t see that this improved the quality of radio…”
See quality and quantity and are completely different. A health conscience person might be inclined to split his sundae with you. If he only gave you the chocolate ice cream would this make you angry? Did you think he was giving you all the fat, calories and crime?
24 - diana hartman
Statically speaking each grouping of people will represent a sum number. Removing any group will lower this sum number. You would be reading into his comment if you got anything else.
bennett didn't say "every baby", he said "every black baby"...
that's what bennett said, not my interpretation of what bennett said...
A health conscience person might be inclined to split his sundae with you. If he only gave you the chocolate ice cream would this make you angry? Did you think he was giving you all the fat, calories and crime?
did you feel better after that stretch?
25 - Pete Blackwell
Max, your last comment was full of it. Do you honestly think he just randomly said "black" babies when what he meant was "any subset of babies that I will just, with no connotations whatsoever, break down racially because it is my random whim to do so"? Do you really?
Without reading into things, we'd just be stuck here gazing at our own navels. This is why they call an educated guess, "educated." Maybe you need more schoolin'.