Dean Calls on Republican Leadership to Repudiate ...Bennett's Racist Remar [View All]

For Immediate Release
September 29, 2005
Contact: Amaya Smith 202-863-8148


Dean Calls on Republican Leadership to Repudiate Bill Bennett's Racist
Remarks

Washington, DC - Former Republican Secretary of Education William
Bennett remarked yesterday on his radio show that, "I do know that
it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were
your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and
your crime rate would go down."


Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following
statement:

"Bill Bennett's hateful, inflammatory remarks regarding African
Americans are simply inexcusable. They are particularly unacceptable
from a leader in the conservative movement and former Secretary of
Education, once charged with the well being of every American school
child. He should apologize immediately. This kind of statement is hardly
compassionate conservatism; rather, Bennett's comments demonstrate a
reprehensible racial insensitivity and ignorance. Are these the values
of the Republican Party and its conservative allies? If not, President
Bush, Ken Mehlman and the Republican Leadership should denounce them
immediately as hateful, divisive and worthy only of scorn.

"As Americans, we should focus on the virtues that bring us together,
not hatred that tears us apart and injustly scapegoats fellow
Americans."

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