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Forum Post: The true face of Barack Obama is NOT that of a man of compassion

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 24, 2011, 10:32 p.m. EST by TIOUAISE (2526)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

"OBAMA HAS GRANTED FEWER REQUESTS FOR CLEMENCY THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN THE LAST CENTURY, even considering that most issue a batch of pardons just before they leave office. As of Nov. 21, he has given 22 pardons and commuted one sentence. Those represent about 0.3 percent of the petitions for clemency he has received.

In contrast, George W. Bush gave 189 pardons and 11 commutations, approving 1.8 percent of the petitions for clemency he received. Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush granted clemency at an even higher rate, in 5 to 6 percent of cases. Clinton issued 396 pardons and 61 commutations, while Bush I gave 74 pardons and three commutations. What's more, Obama has pardoned 10 drug offenders; Bush II pardoned 36 and commuted the sentences of eight. (Bush’s most notorious commutation was that of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, which he issued just before the former White House aide had to start serving a 30-month sentence for lying to a federal judge.)"

http://www.alternet.org/story/153204/obama_makes_a_few_pardons_on_unfair_drug_convictions_but_has_granted_fewer_requests_for_clemency_than_any_president_in_the_last_century

23 Comments

23 Comments


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[-] 1 points by powertothepeople (1264) 12 years ago

He never vetoes anything either.

2 vetoes since he's been in office.

Look at this chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_vetoes

I mean maybe it is because Congress hardly does anything anymore?

But 2 vetoes?

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 12 years ago

I don't think judging a president by how many pardons they give out is fair since the other party will criticize the pardons as cronyism if the president gives out "too many" pardons, and you criticize if they don't give out enough.

When I look at Barack Obama I see a banker, who loves his kids, and likes his waygu Japanese steaks.

[-] 1 points by powertothepeople (1264) 12 years ago

Yes, we could couch it as part of his extreme aversion to controversy. Same reason he lets the R's beat him up all the time.

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 12 years ago

I think Obama gets beat up because his solutions seem to revolve around giving out money, either through loans or from tax revenue.

Loans and tax revenue can only supplement an economy, they can't actually revive an economy. Economies can revive when people see their own debt decrease from their own productivity.

We probably won't be seeing any consumer debt reduction happening because our president is so beholden to wall street that he won't demand any justifiable debt restructuring for the 99% that doesn't also involve a credit default, because it would mean that the bankers and the billionaires would have to take less profit.

[-] 0 points by classicliberal (312) 12 years ago

I see a power hungry wannabe dictator just like every past president for 50 years.

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

You're looking for excuses for Obama.

Even George W. Bush, who was said to have a "sadistic" streak in him, gave many, many more pardons than Obama!!!

[-] 3 points by Mooks (1985) 12 years ago

Wait, why should we want our president to free a lot of convicted criminals?

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

Ask Clinton and the two Bushes : "George W. Bush gave 189 pardons and 11 commutations, approving 1.8 percent of the petitions for clemency he received. Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush granted clemency at an even higher rate, in 5 to 6 percent of cases. Clinton issued 396 pardons and 61 commutations, while Bush I gave 74 pardons and three commutations."

[-] 1 points by Mooks (1985) 12 years ago

Right, so Obama is doing a good job keeping criminals in jail.

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

Duuuuuuuh!

[-] 1 points by Edgewaters (912) 12 years ago

Yeah, to his equally-sadistic criminal buddies.

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

C'mon, man! Not JUST to his criminal buddies... READ : "In contrast, George W. Bush gave 189 pardons and 11 commutations, approving 1.8 percent of the petitions for clemency he received. Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush granted clemency at an even higher rate, in 5 to 6 percent of cases. "

[-] 1 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

This is likely the result of the pressure he is under from the right. He had two turkeys he pardoned - one an alternate. I don't believe that's ever been done by any President before. I suspect there was concern the event might be . . . interdicted.

The First Lady stood on a podium at a NASCAR event with several kids. People in the crowd booed. She was standing with kids - and the crowd booed. You should have seen the kids expression.

You can probably find a clip on You-Tube.

He is feeling some heat. It's personal, and vindictive heat.

Just my guess.

[-] 1 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

I've stopped making excuses for Obama, since realizing - much to my chagrin - that he is an opportunist, a crafty manipulator and a consummate hypocrite.

[-] 2 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

I support your right to your opinion, and your right to speak it.

I would point out that as President, he did attempt to provide a more reasonable health care option - and upon resistance waffled on the issue of whether that option would be public or not.

Repelicans were incensed. This despite the fact that what was proposed was similar to what Nixon had proposed years ago - demonstrating how far right the right has gone in the last 40 years and the pressure they will exert to get their way.

GM ceo in March of 08 I think, claimed there was no need to build green autos, there was no Global Warming and no market interest.

Obama bailed out GM and replaced him. Repelicans were incensed.

I believe the pressure he is facing is tremendous.

Just my opinion.

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

I do not doubt for a second that the pressure Obama is facing is tremendous. But I have also come to the sad conclusion that this Prez is a PHONY.

[-] 1 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

I don't believe that is true - I certainly hope it is not.

I plan to vote for the President. I do not see any RATIONAL alternative.

[-] 1 points by classicliberal (312) 12 years ago

The pressure on Obama is tremendous. The pressure of the lips of the .001% elites on his face, that is.

[-] 1 points by classicliberal (312) 12 years ago

Why would you ever make excuses for someone?

[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

Because I used to think very highly of Obama. Like tens of millions of Americans, I fell for his ACT - his very convincing impersonation of Martin Luther King... BUT NOT ANY MORE!!!!

[-] 1 points by classicliberal (312) 12 years ago

No but I'm saying, don't cut anyone slack. No matter who they are, criticize them equally and fairly. You will realize faster who they really are.

[-] 0 points by AuditElmerFudd (259) 12 years ago

Someone just let the sunshine in.

[-] 0 points by BofL (434) 12 years ago

He's just waiting for the end -keeping the powder dry-will pardon every criminal he owes a solid to...long list.