Andy McCarthy at the National Review’s The Corner writes–
Not to be a broken record, but it’s worth recalling that Obama gave a rave review to former terrorist Bill Ayers’s polemic against the criminal justice system, A Kind and Just Parent. More radical than even the Warren Court, Ayers’s book called for an end to prisons and harsh sentences for violent offenders. Obama praised it as a “searing and timely account.”
Ayers polemic is against the JUVENILE justice system. A google search for the book, brings up this amazon entry. The title of the book should also be a tip off.
Alex Knapp at OTB writes–
McCarthy’s leaving the word “juvenile” out of the above sentence makes a world of difference in evaluating Obama’s policy towards the justice system. Frankly, it makes McCarthy look desperate. Why not just argue honestly about Obama’s policies, based on his campaign platform and voting record? Is it really so hard to engage reality as opposed to indulging in bizarre shadow conspiracy theories?
I agree with Alex, if McCarthy’s remark was trying to say that because of his association with Ayers this was Obama’s view of the adult justice system, he is way off base. Andy McCarthy may just be another sloppy The Corner contributor, he wouldn’t be the only one. Either that or McCarthy was throwing some red meat to the Anti-Obama crowd. Knowing The National Review as I do(I’ve subbed to the magazine for most of the last 28 years) and its blog The Corner, readers are most likely to share the viewpoints of the writers there. Sloppiness or intellectual dishonesty, what is it? As Alex says, words matter. How often have conservatives used that phrase? Is National Review founder, the late William F Buckley, rolling over at how low The Corner has gone?
