Juan Williams Won't Get to the Point

He's asking a very long question. Ok, now it turns out, about six or seven sentences in, that he's talking about crime. Asks what the candidates will do to assure blacks and Latinos get treated fairly in the criminal justice system.

Brownback: "I may be the only person on this stage that's spent a couple of nights in jail, of my own volition." If only they had kept him there! I can't stand this sanctimonious pinko, or his twin, Huckabee. "If you go to prison, the chances of you going back are two thirds." That's bad news for Brownie, I guess. Talks about "mentorship and work programs." Federal alms.

Tancredo: "Far too many criminal statutes at the federal level ... especially drug laws, mandating certain penalties." Hey, that actually is a great answer! Mild applause. Talks about the black family, "the welfare state has helped create this." The welfare state can be the breadwinner, but it cannot give you morals, he says.

Hunter: Says he doesn't know much about the facts in this particular case, referring to the Jena episode, which Williams referred to in his meandering introduction. Hunter has no sympathy for the Jena 6 -- good for him. "There must be accountability if in fact a young man was kicked in the head while he was unconscious." He gets applause for that -- African-Americans in the audience evidently don't support thugs. Smiley is now jumping in, wants Hunter to mention a particular policy he would support to create a "fairer" equal justice system. Hunter says you can't be more fair than for people who are tried for criminal acts to be tried by a jury of their peers. Too bad he's for suspending habeas corpus in the spurious "War on Terror." What a fraud!

Keyes: Talks about community policing, justices of the peace, etc. Says if young people are treated the right way, they might get put on the right path -- this is a good point; throwing young people in jail when not absolutely necessary is obviously destructive.

Huckabee says we don't have a crime problem, we have a drug and alcohol problem. Well, he's a holy roller and he wants prohibition, or at least that's how I read it. He says we should have drug rehab instead of long-term incarceration. No, we need to get rid of these victimless drug crimes. You don't do that by trying to expand Prohibition, which I suspect -- though he doesn't say so explicitly -- is what Holy Huckabee wants.

Paul: Minorities are punished unfairly in the war on drugs. Blacks are 14 percent of drug users, but over 30 percent of those charged with drug crimes are black. Says "we need to repeal the whole war on drugs, it isn't working! Prohibition didn't work. Prohibition on drugs won't work. ... That is one way you can have equal justice under the law." Huge applause at several points.

Cynthia Tucker is now asking about voting rights for D.C. and rigid voting ID laws, including photo ID laws (which I am against, by the way).

Tancredo says D.C. is not a state and not entitled to representation. Says the district must be split up if it wants representation, split between D.C. and Maryland. Tancredo supports the photo ID requirement, "it's not that difficult to obtain." Lot's of applause, but of course it's a precursor to a national ID. Awful!

Hunter: Says if citizens in D.C. could keep and bear arms, he might support D.C. representation. Lots of applause for that. Says first 21 black congressmen were Reconstruction-era Republicans. Says he doesn't agree with poll taxes, but fears illegals voting. So he's a ID-maniac too.

Keyes: D.C. is supposed to belong to the nation, he says. Wants to "maintain that symbol" of our unity. Sheesh. Says if you don't like it, move to Maryland or Virginia. What grandiose b.s.!

Huckabee: Says D.C. should have representation, even if it requires amending the constitution. Lots of applause for that. Says they ought to be able to vote, regardless of color or political representation. Of course, Huckabee is for photo ID. Take note: these clowns are all for a national ID, an internal passport, a breathing license...

Paul: Need to amend constitution to give D.C. representation. Says states can set their own ID policies. But a national ID is another thing -- "I am positively opposed to any move to a national ID card." Lots of applause.

Brownback: Says he supports D.C. representation, if it's by amendment.