# Obama plans clemency for hundreds of non-violent drug offenders **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 21, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616 "2014-04-21T16:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616/21 "2014-04-23T05:14:36Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > So, because a _few_ out of _thousands_ of these people just MIGHT commit a crime we should keep them all locked up for the rest of their lives? > > What are YOU smokin’? That’s not what I meant. I’m completely in favor of this idea, but my worry is that it will only take one bad apple to become a poster child for the opposing party, just like [Willie Horton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Horton) in '88. Make no mistake, the Republicans have NEVER been soft on crime, ever. Fridge candidates like Rand Paul are outliers. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616/22 "2014-04-23T05:44:55Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Apparently, Eric Holder did a poor job of explaining [what is actually happening](http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/04/22/eric-holders-one-who-needs-pardon-after-clemency-message-disaster/?intcmp=obnetwork). Yes, that’s a FOX News article. Read it anyway. Makes a lot of sense. I’m afraid I don’t read that article as explaining anything about what is actually happening. The author makes the point that most Americans convicted of drug crimes are sentenced to probation and do not go to prison; I have no knowledge of the issue, and I assume she’s right. Nowhere in her article, however, does she set forth any evidence that the clemency program will in fact focus on those people, as opposed to prison inmates. In other words, she criticizes the AG for focusing attention on clemency for people in prison, but perhaps his messaging was accurate and that is indeed who the program is meant to focus on. That makes a certain sense, after all, since those are the people suffering the most stringent consequences of a regime of drug enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616/23 "2014-04-23T07:18:37Z")
I read the article to suggest that the entire clemency program is being revamped/expanded, and that Holder chose to focus on people that are currently incarcerated rather than pointing out that the program also applies to those who were convicted but are not currently (or ever) incarcerated. Maybe I read too much into it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616/24 "2014-04-23T14:41:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Apparently, Eric Holder did a poor job of explaining [what is actually happening](http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/04/22/eric-holders-one-who-needs-pardon-after-clemency-message-disaster/?intcmp=obnetwork). Yes, that’s a FOX News article. Read it anyway. Makes a lot of sense. This is interesting, but every report I’ve read indicates that this is about pardons and commutations, not just clemency for people who are already out of prison or were never incarcerated. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616/25 "2014-04-23T15:00:29Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Wow. Is Obama finally going to do something I can approve? Not sure if you’re being serious; but this is my sentiment. While I disagree with Obama on a lot of things; I definitely think a lot of people have been screwed by mandatory minimum sentences. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616/26 "2014-04-23T15:10:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > **Kayaker** raises bong heavenward, “Let my people go!!!” You flyboys crack me up! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-non-violent-drug-offenders/686616.md?page=1)