A second suspect has been arrested in the shooting of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes in Houston Texas. Larry Woodruffe was arrested in the drive-by shooting after the earlier arrest of Eric Black, Jr., 20. Barnes was shot and killed on Dec. 30, while riding in a car with her mother and three siblings. She died at the scene and her mother, LaPorsha Washington, and her 6-year-old sister were both injured. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Tx) previously called the shooting a hate crime when the suspect was alleged to be white. Now, however, Lee still insists that this should be prosecuted as a hate crime despite the fact that the two suspects are both African American.
Lee insisted that it was “absolutely not” irresponsible for her to label the crime as a hate crime so early in the investigation. The day following the shooting, Lee declared “do not be afraid to call this what it seems to be — a hate crime.” She was not alone. Barnes’ family lawyer, Lee Merritt, insisted that “we do believe that it [the murder] was racially motivated in part because our nation at this moment is highly racially charged.”
When confronted with the race of the alleged culprits, Lee insisted that she still believes that this should be treated as a hate crime. She seems to view a hate crime as any crime involving hate. Lee said at a press conference “I believe – and having written hate crime legislation, knowing the criteria, I believe that this should be looked at as a hate crime. We don’t want to have on the street someone who is willing to kill children and possibly kill them in the name of hate.”
The law itself states:
18 U.S. Code § 249 – Hate crime acts
- (a)In General.—(1)Offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin.—Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person—(A)shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and(B)shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if—(i)death results from the offense; or(ii)the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.
- (2)Offenses involving actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.—(A)In general.—Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B) or paragraph (3), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person—(i)shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and(ii)shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if—(I)death results from the offense; or(II)the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.
A hate crime is not a crime simply because it involves hate. Such an interpretation would convert most crimes into hate crimes. The statement of Jackson reinforces the concerns over the uniform application and basis for hate crime designations. As one of the authors of the law, Jackson’s suggestion that such a charge can be based without a motivation based on race or gender or other immutable characteristics is baffling.
When asked “Do you feel it was irresponsible at all to suggest that this was a hate crime when we didn’t have all the facts?” Lee responded “Absolutely not, nothing is irresponsible when it comes to the loss of a precious 7 or 8-year old.” That is clearly not true. A tragedy places the onus on all leaders to speak carefully and accurately about the underlying facts so not to fuel tensions or mislead the public.
Hate crimes are an invalid penal concept. They are creeping totalitarianism. Why does the government have the right to punish my emotions? They should only be punishing antisocial harmful conduct not reprogramming our feelings
Speaking of hate speech, get a load of the comments by internet users on Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi’s rebuttal last night. “Pitchfork-holding farm couple” is spot on
===
“Yikes. I like Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi but they gotta work on the whole ‘not looking like villains from the next bond movie’ thing next time,” said Twitter user Dan Luke.
“Why are Chuck and Nancy every pair of white suburban parents who just witnessed you shotgun a coors light while home for break?” Twitter user Zachary Miller wrote with a screenshot of the pair.
“We trusted you with Dad’s car because we thought you could be responsible with it, but we see now you’re not ready,” Vulture writer Kathryn VanArendonk joked.
“Heavy Twin Peaks vibes,” added Twitter user Michael Dolan.
Others said the Senate minority leader and House speaker resembled the pitchfork-holding farm couple from a famous painting.
“American Gothic anyone…” wrote Twitter user Seth Johnson, who included a screenshot of Grant Wood’s masterpiece next to an image of the pair.
“Not sure I’d have picked this American Gothic staging for Chuck and Nancy,” added Tom Nichols, a US Naval War College professor.
https://nypost.com/2019/01/08/the-internet-wasted-no-time-roasting-schumer-and-pelosi/
Turley says: “A tragedy places the onus on all leaders to speak carefully and accurately about the underlying facts so not to fuel tensions or mislead the public.” Wow! How timely, in view of the ursurpation of prime television time for an address from the Oval Office last night by Trump on the grounds of a non-existent “crisis” to lie to the American people, to stoke fear and racial hatred, all because his mouth wrote a check his ass can’t cash (one of my father’s favorite phrases). As it turns out, this event was used to solicit funds for his 2020 campaign, which was asking donors for a $5 donation for a “border wall” before the speech, which turned out, after the speech, to be a campaign contribution. No previous POTUS has ever misused an address from the Oval Office for campaign fundraising before. And, for that Trumpster who commented a few days ago about how a “real man” doesn’t used a TelePrompter (don’t recall which it was), how’d you like last night’s performance?
What “border crisis” is there? Illegal crossings have been trending down over the past 10 years. How much drug trafficking is a “big, beautiful wall” going to stop? Not much, because most drugs come through legal ports of entry, such as the U.S. Mail, and a lot of it, such as fentanyl, responsible for so many overdoses and deaths, comes from China. How about all of those brown criminals itching to come here to rape your wife and daughter, murder you and steal your money? Migrants, both legal and illegal, commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans, so dredging up crimes committed by illegals as an excuse to shut down the government and furlough 800,000 federal workers is just pandering. Why not mention the 2 migrant children who died here due to Trump’s policies? How about illegal immigrants? Most of them came here legally, with a visa, and overstayed. A wall wouldn’t stop that.
The real “crisis” here is that Republicans are starting to defect from Trump as the American public turns against him and his Administration. The real “crisis” is that even his base is beginning to see that Trump is no artful dealmaker at all– just a narcissistic, blowhard who bullies people. One reason that we are in this shutdown is because he allowed himself to be bullied by Coulter, Hannity and Ingraham, which his really ironic. Well, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer aren’t going to be bullied.
Every time a liberal decries “lies” by Trump et al, they meet diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder.
enter Hillary, Alexandra Cortez, 1/2020th Warren, Pelosi, and so on and so on and so on. To wit…..
“The internet wasted no time roasting Schumer and Pelosi”
https://nypost.com/2019/01/08/the-internet-wasted-no-time-roasting-schumer-and-pelosi/
It sure is fun watching Pelosi go through the steps of self-immoliation. Burn baby burn
Estovir: ‘yes’, Schumer and Pelosi were posed like the American Gothic couple. Funny description.
But a time traveler from the 1950’s might have been shocked by Trump’s appearance. How many executives, from aristocratic families, wear elaborate comb-overs dyed golden yellow with puffs and puffs of orange make-up?
Let’s be honest here, that’s a very odd look for a U S president. Indeed it would be an odd look for the CEO of any blue chip corporation. No investment bank would let a top officer present that look to clients. Trump resembles Gorgeous George the 1950’s wrestler!
I mean ‘seriously’, 20 years from now students examining photos of Trump will say he looked crazy. It’s just bizarre that Trump supporters aren’t aware of that.
Übermensch Peter Shill opines: ” I mean ‘seriously’, 20 years from now students examining photos of Trump will say he looked crazy. It’s just bizarre that Trump supporters aren’t aware of that.”
Thus Spoke Zarathustra: ….Trump supporters aren’t aware of what people might think 20 years from now
Übermensch…..totally 🤡
https://goo.gl/images/J2BQmk
Well, I don’t normally dwell on the appearance of politicians, but since the topic has already cone up…..and since Natacha swung that door wide open a long time ago….last night, in the rebuttal to Trump, I noticed that Speaker Pelosi has not seemed to age a bit in the 12 years since the artist’s portrait ( in the link provided) was done.
Estovir, that German is so effective! I feel goose bumps just seeing words like Ubermensch in print. Or goose-stepping bumps!
Is it really that easy? You just throw in a few German terms and that devastates the other commenter? Sounds too easy.
Peter writes: “But a time traveler from the 1950’s might have been shocked by Trump’s appearance. How many executives, from aristocratic families, wear elaborate comb-overs dyed golden yellow with puffs and puffs of orange make-up?”
So many superficialities from superficial guy who is best suited to collect entitlements.
Maryanne Trump Berry and Robert Trump have the same complexion and sandy hair to boot. Peter Shill must fancy they’re all getting a group rate at the same salon.
The personality disorder quite obviously attaches to the non-stop prevaricator.
The real “crisis” here is that Republicans are starting to defect from Trump as the American public turns against him and his Administration.
MBITRW, the President’s approval ratings have shown incremental improvement over the last 12 months. You may resume your wishcasting.
With a Trump disapproval rating of 53% and an approval of 41%, wishcasting is your job.
We’ll see. Trump is unusual in that he polls better as a flesh and blood candidate than he does as an entry on a pollsters list. (Gary Hart, to take one example, was the opposite).
Acromion, were you vaccinated against developing intelligence? I can’t tell you if Trump will win in 2020 or even run but at least I remember how everyone including alot of the polls said he had no chance of winning in 2016, but he won. Are you able to learn anything from that victory? You should try and if you do you might become a better advocate for your position.
Tabby, tell us how the “Walkaway Movement” saved the House for Republicans.
That’s an internet curio. You’re far more interested in that sort of thing than anyone here. Can’t recall anyone ever raising the matter but you. Same deal in re Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.
You didn’t hear the President ask for “state-of-the-art equipment that detects smuggled drugs”? Of course it’s to be deployed at the Ports of Entry. I find it dissembling to oppo-brand the DHS’s budget request by insisting that they don’t know the difference between where the wall goes, and where the drug-sniffing equipment goes. Nice try.
PS. We’re left not hearing from Schumer/Pelosi of they support the Port of Entry security enhancements? In fact, the Dem spokespersons said NOTHING about what they would support to enhance border security. Make you wonder if there’s any sincerity in “We support border security”. All I heard were evasive talking points.
the true horror of Pelosi from now until 2020 is not batting an eye about wasting taxpayer funds to run a 2 year presidential and congressional election campaign while flagrantly blowing off the issues that plague America today in the here and now.
Then again, Nancy “$150 Million net worth” Pelosi was never concerned about Americans other than being the co-equal of the President, according to the US Constitution she says
just staggering
Sidney,…
– I’m not trying to be mean, but as I watch her, I’m not sure she still has the ability to “bat an eye”, or even blink.
Pelosi’s appearance and status seems to matter more to her than the people of the country she supposedly represents.
All one ever hears is what is already inside one’s mind.
“The real “crisis” here is that Republicans are starting to defect from Trump as the American public turns against him and his Administration.”
The real crisis here is that when I look around to see who is around to replace Trump I find no one that could have done so much in so little time with so many adversaries. I see a failed Democratic Party that has given up its roots and now wishes America to disappear as a political and economic power. It is then that I double down and buy a hat saying Vote Trump 2020.
Awesome. More hannity talking points. Thanks for checking in; you just keep on doin’ you, playa.
this is to “what is that ticking sound?” allan / allen
I am so glad that I gave Marky a chance to mention Hannity’s name. Maybe we should all get together and see if we can’t get Hannity to donate one of his shoes to Marky.
Creating the term “hate crime” was ill conceived.
It’s confusing folks. Rep. Lee is from Queens, NY & Rep. Cortez’s chief of staff is from Texas. Who’s running the show with all these carpet baggers running around?
US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Has a Desi Connection
Meet Indian-Origin Saikat Chakrabarti,Cortez’s chief of staff from Texas
https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-saikat-chakrabarti-chief-of-staff
Jesse, should there be state laws requiring all congressional staffers be born and raised in their respective districts? Such a law could encourage provincial thinking in a very literal sense.
Sheila Jackson Lee has most always been baffling.
all of them are baffling. Best to shut down the US Congress for 6 months and reboot, only to approve the successor to RBG, and then send them home again without pay
THE GUNMEN ARE ‘SUPER PREDATORS’
Incidents like this shooting were all too common during the crack epidemic of the late 80’s, early 90’s. Here in Los Angeles they occurred with such frequency The L.A. Times limited coverage to its ‘Metro’ section.
Amid all that violence First Lady Hillary Clinton was addressing a group of Black mothers demanding action to stop the violence. It was in that context Mrs Clinton referred to mindless gunmen as “super predators”. No journalist at the time thought that description was inappropriate in any way.
But 23 years later, during the 2016 presidential campaign, supporters of Bernie Sanders discovered that Hillary had used the term “super predators” in reference to youthful gangsters. Most Bernie Bros were too young to remember the crack era. But they felt they had ‘busted’ Hillary for ‘racist comments’. So Bernie Bros went to work posting memes to report how ‘racist’ Hillary had been.
Those stupid memes, created by Bernie Bros, gained traction among Trump supporters delighted to paint Hillary as ‘racist’. It seemed to bolster the cynical talking point that Bill Clinton had been ‘racist’ in agreeing to Mandatory Minimums for crack offenders. Trump supporters didn’t even notice that Mandatory Minimums had been embraced by Republicans.
Bill Clinton agreed to Mandatory Minimums in exchange for a 10 year ban on Assault Rifles. That bipartisan legislation became the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. It passed the U.S. Senate on a vote of 95 to 4. At the time everyone was sick of incidents like the above. The idea was to lock-up mindless gunmen and throw away the key. In 1994 that seemed like a ‘progressive’ idea.
This is not in your program notes, but…… Ms. Lee is not a cradle Texan. And she was not raised here, nor did Texas educate her. She is a product of Queens, NY.
Jusr felt compelled to say that..🤠
Damn Comehere!
On its face, the statute applies equally to African-Americans who commit violence against whites, Jews or Asians. Any other reading is contrary to the statute’s plain language and would be discriminatory on its face. It would be really interesting to see the statistics on the racial application of the statute.
You would expect the application to be very lopsided.
Unlike Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rev. Al Sharpton has matured over the years
Al won’t touch this with a 10 foot pole, unless a white cop shoots one of the suspects dead.
https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-thanks-al-sharpton-for-saving-america/
Jesse—-We are extremely fortunate that he did mature; otherwise, an immature Al Sharpie could never “saved America”.
Hope this link opens up…but if it does not, the title pretty well sums up the content.
Should be “could never HAVE saved America”.
Tom…lol…..Hormonal therapy has not worked out well for Nancypants, it seems. And Al Sharpton has matured?
I think Jesse has confused maturing with over-ripened, rotten.
Cindy, some fruits are rotten while still on the tree. Al Sharfton is one of those fruits.
Bingo, Allan.
Cindy,..
My dentist would tell his patients that “as we mature” ( instead of “getting older”) you can experience some additional dental issues.
I asked him if I was safe from those issues, since I never matured but just got older.
He explained that was no safeguard against the potential problems “mature” people can face.
😊
antonio:
“I’m Hispanic, not a white Anglo. Member of a recognized “victim group”, so you still have to like me.”
*************************
Lol. And I do! I even like YNOT just for the aggravation it causes him.
As for your IQ: get re-tested. You sound smarter than that to me!
@mespo727272
I love triggering s##tlibs by telling them just that. Have had some literally start having convulsions.
antonio
Whether destructive behaviors are re-channeled in to more constructive behaviors, or the person is incarcerated, vast sums of money will be paid by taxpayers. Let’s focus on re-channeling behavior starting in pre-kindergarten, rather than spending the money on more prisons. Destructive behaviors can also be prevented by easy access to birth control, removal of adverse fetal cells, and severe punishment of rape.
Sam:
“Let’s focus on re-channeling behavior starting in pre-kindergarten, rather than spending the money on more prisons.”
***************
I’ve got no problem with a return to strictly disciplined schools, school uniforms and alternative education for trouble-making students.
Sheila Jackson Lee continues to work hard to retain the “stupidest member of Congress” moniker, although there are several contenders pushing strong to the top like Maxine “Rodney King Rebellion” Waters and Alexandria “the Presidency, the House, and the Senate” Ocasio-Cortez. On second thought, she doesn’t work hard at it – it comes to her quite naturally.
She will never hold a candle to Barbara Waters.
Sheila Jackson Lee continues to work hard to retain the “stupidest member of Congress” moniker, although there are several contenders pushing strong to the top like Maxine “Rodney King Rebellion” Waters and Alexandria “the Presidency, the House, and the Senate” Ocasio-Cortez. On second thought, she doesn’t work hard at it – it comes to her quite naturally.
This happened in Texas. What are they going to do, execute them twice?
A hate crime is not a crime simply because it involves hate.
No, what a ‘hate crime law’ says is that antagonism to one of the preferred client groups of the Anointed is itself a crime. If the antagonism is directed at a set of people with ascribed traits but not on the client list, the crime will be classified by law enforcement or by the public prosecutor as ‘workplace violence’ or some such.
I read the mother knows one of the assailants. Interesting she so willingly fingered the other race.
Sheila’s IQ must be her shoe size.
JT’s posts are getting so predictable. As the president considers an unprecedented “national emergency” declaration worthy of a banana republic to avoid basic constitutional requirements, this “constitutional lawyer” posts about black crime stories sure to get the comment section riled up.
Hope Squeaky warms up before starting to type her usual screed. Would hate for her to pull a muscle.
Was thinking of the same thing, JT has a habit of detracting when it gets hot on Trump. As for Squeaky its only a matter of time before her or others on this site spew their crap. Counting down 3…2…1….
If you don’t like the topics, set up your own blog. Putz
Exactly. Criticizing the hand that feeds you is rude and unacceptable.
Sorry I interrupted your little bubble that you all live in. Just be proud of wearing your little red hats in written word.
Fishy:
You say crap; we say facts.
Your facts are the little voices that you hear in your pee-brain.
Eric D:
“unprecedented “national emergency” declaration”
************************
Every President since Carter has declared national emergencies pursuant to the statute. Obama declared 12. Trump declared 3 already.
Is your nose growing?
P.S.: Squeeky won’t need to pull a muscle to deal with your ill-informed statements.
+1
Hate crimes are whatever the left says they are. And the goal posts are always moving.
While most crime is intraracial when it is not, blacks attack whites in 85% of those cases. But the assumption of the MSM and cultural left is the other way around. Sorry, lefties, scum like Dylan Roof are an aberration, not the norm.
In the US, there are approximately 40000 black on white rapes every year, on the other hand, there are less than 100 white on black rapes yearly.
Wouldn’t you think in a nation of inherently bigoted whites, the statistics would be the other way around? And if they were the MSM would never let us forget.
Even the most deluded white liberals try to live in exclusive neighborhoods, send their kids to mostly white or private schools and stay away from the minority undertow. Fortunately for them, being politically correct does not require practicing what they preach.
antonio
Accord.
“there are approximately 40000 black on white rapes every year, on the other hand, there are less than 100 white on black rapes” you are stupid enough to join the KKKlan, see squeeKKKS about membership dues.
Those are the FBI statistics — which likely under-report the issue — whether you like it or not.
They’re definitely not FBI statistics.
@YNOT
Facts are facts. Actually, I would classify these as “hate facts”. A hate fact is something that is objectively true but doesn’t fit some politically correct template.
And why do you assume I am stupid? Actually I have an IQ of 124 and possess a professional license in several jurisdictions.
And make sure, you are sitting down…
I’m Hispanic, not a white Anglo. Member of a recognized “victim group”, so you still have to like me.
antonio
@YNOT
I bet you live in an upper middle class area and send your kids to a predominantly white or private school.
antonio
There you go again YNOT. No facts, just your uneducated opinion telling others where to go. No one wants your uneducated opinnion and no one really wants to be with you.
Citation to authority on your “statistics?” I regret to inform you, sir, that the breathless pronouncements of hannity, rush, alex, or your likely favorite, Stormfront, are not considered reliable or valid sources. Pro tip: reddit is down the hall; I’m sure there’s a whole “subreddit” or whatever you people call it when you gather in your little circle-jerks to spout made-up nonsense to each other.
this is to “and I heard MLK was the guy on the grassy knoll, too” antonia
Mark, honey. You really need new material.
I assure you that the only audience which concerns me is unanimously tickled pink at every single one of my nuggets of wisdom–which I so freely dispense to those whom I have determined are deserving of such constructive efforts.
this is to “I act like I don’t like it but I just hafta comment on it” trotty
“the only audience which concerns me is unanimously tickled pink at every single one of my nuggets of wisdom”
Gosh, how demeaning can one be to one’s own political allies! Marky just told us what he thinks of his comrads. He thinks they are ignorant and require him to repeat the same things over and over again. It’s hard to pick out the greatest fool on his side.