 Where the Democratic
Candidates stand on drug policy
North Carolina Sen.
John Edwards (www.johnedwards2004.com) includes "fighting crime"
as part of his agenda and record, but makes no direct mention
of drugs or drug policy.
Rep. Richard Gephardt (www.dickgephardt2004.com) does not list crime or drugs
among his key issues, but has pledged to keep up a strong defense
against "manifold new dangers from global terror, [from]
the recklessness of rogue dictators . . . to international crime
and drug-running that rips at the very fabric of freedom."
Massachusetts Sen. John
Kerry (www.johnkerry.com) a former prosecutor who favors
"tough laws" and "an early advocate of laws that
cracked down on international drug dealers and money laundering,"
and "We are not losing the war on drugs - we have yet to
fight a war!"
Former Cleveland mayor
and US Rep. Dennis Kucinich (www.kucinich.us) is the boldest critique of the
drug war orthodoxy ever heard in presidential campaign circles.
According to Kucinich:
"A safe, free and
just America is undermined, not bolstered, by the costly and
ineffective War on Drugs. While well-intentioned, this misguided
policy - which emphasizes criminalization over treatment - has
led to increased violent crime, misdirected resources of law
enforcement and restricted Constitutional liberties."
Connecticut Sen. Joe
Lieberman (www.joe2004.com) does not list drug policy or
crime among his issues of concern, has been a strong, consistent
supporter of the US military intervention in Colombia.
Former Illinois Sen.
Carol Moseley-Braun's web site (www.carolforpresident.com) contains nothing about her positions
on drug policy or crime issues. Moseley-Braun did write to a
constituent in 1994 that she supported decriminalizing marijuana
and wrote in Parade magazine in 1996 she suggested "decriminalizing
all but wholesale distribution" of all drugs. But she never
acted on those words.
Rev. Al Sharpton (www.sharptonexplore2004.com) comes out of a background of
controversial black issues in New York state. As an activist
he has been an increasingly fervent critic of the New York Rockefeller
laws, police abuses related to the war on drugs, and mandatory
minimum sentences. Sharpton also lent support to the 2000 Millennium
Marijuana March.
Late-comer General Wesley
Clark (www.clark04.com) is noticeably silent on drug policy and criminal
justice issues, but has this to say about civil liberties on
his web site:
"Last month, a Justice
Department report admitted that the John Ashcroft has actually
expanded the substantial reach of the [PATRIOT] Act, using it
to snoop in secrecy for evidence of crimes that have nothing
to do with terrorism."
"Now Ashcroft is proposing
the PROTECT Act. Among other curtailments, the proposed bill
. . . instructs prosecutors to report judges that order departures
-- creating the very real possibility that judges will be put
on a DOJ blacklist."
In the September 2003 issue
of The Nation Magazine, journalist Matt Taibbi questioned
Vermont Governor Howard Dean (www.deanforamerica.com) about drug policy.
In the feature article,
titled Dean-a-Palooza, Dean was asked, "Do you believe nonviolent
drug offenders should go to jail?"
"No," he said
bluntly.
"That's it - no?"
Taibbi said.
"Well," he said,
"if you're talking about someone who is selling heroin in
a school zone, sure, that's probably something you should go
to jail for. But a guy who just has a problem, or gets busted
a few times, no, he shouldn't go to jail. It's a medical issue."
"So how would you
address the issue as President?" Taibbi continued. "Most
of the drug laws aren't federal laws."
"Well, that's true,"
Dean answered. "We'd probably try block grants to give states
incentives to finding alternatives to prison."
Question: How do we get the presidential
candidates to condemn the injustice of the war on drugs and secure
a commitment in their campaign 'platforms' that supports enforcement
review, sentencing reform and release of drug war prisoners?
Without substantial public
support and outcry leading the way, few political candidates
will take on an issue involving relief for prisoners as a moral
imperative. Therefore, it's heartening early in the campaign
to begin hearing open discussion of our concerns by two Democratic
candidates, Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Gov. Howard Dean. Greens
and Libertarians commonly support reform.
Republicans and Independents
will address these issues if a popular candidate commits to
genuine concern about our issues during campaigning. Then comes
Party Conventions, and that is where platforms are honed and
positions finalized. Let's plan now to see our issue of drug
war injustice become prominent at upcoming Conventions.
To become involved in this
important democratic process, visit the campaign offices of candidates
today. Attend public meetings and share your concerns. You'll
be proud to learn and participate in these important steps toward
choosing our next President and other public officials.
Don't forget to take some
copies of the Petition for Relief from Drug War Injustice to meetings you attend. Share
copies, and collect signatures. A Petition has been inserted
in this newpaper; you can also find copies at www.november.org.
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