This morning (2-12-10) on "Rush Radio", a new right-wing station in Raleigh, North Carolina (106.1), conservative commentator Carmen Conners had this to say about prisoners in need of medical care: "They should be shot and their families should have to pay for the bullet." Although I laughed when she said it, the truth is that Carmen's comment only proves that any idiot with a microphone can claim to be a "conservative," go on rant, and not have a clue.
All too often I hear conservative talk-show hosts go on these tirades about prisoner's and prisoner rights. These same people praise our Founding Fathers and claim to support our Constitution, yet like Carmen, make pro-communist, anti-constitutional, and un-American statements that would make our Founding Fathers rollover in their graves. While I don't doubt that some of these people truly believe that they are "Conservatives" it seems they don't quite understand the true meaning of CONSERVATISM. Therefore, I will use Carmen's ignorant comment as a teachable moment.
Conservatism is a social movement that believes in small government, fiscal responsibility, low taxes, self-reliance, personal accountability, a strict set of morals and principles, traditional family values, free market economics, secure borders, strong national security, honor and pride in our country, and the American Constitution. Within the conservative movement, conservatives understand that the freedoms and right's of U.S. citizens come with a certain amount of duties and responsibilities. Conservatism is not utopian; it understands that the world nor our country will ever be perfect, that inequalities do and always will exist, and acknowledges the fact that humans are imperfect.
Certainly when congress drafted the Amendments to our Constitution they had perfect as well as IMPERFECT humans on their minds; the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments make that clear. However, in reference of Carmen Conners comment about prisoner medical care, let me first talk about the Eighth Amendment.
The Supreme Court has held that denial of proper medical care for prisoners constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment," a) violation of our Eight Amendment Constitutional Right. Because prisoners are prohibited from choosing or paying for our own doctors and medical care, prisoner's in America are, in fact, ENTITLED to adequate medical treatment. If you are a real conservative who adheres to our Constitution, then you have a moral as well as a constitutional obligation to support proper medical care for prisoners. Anything less would make you no better than a communist-leaning, human right's violator.
When it comes to "Criminal Law," as opposed to "Constitutional Law," the court's and many conservatives tend to totally disregard the Constitution. For example, "Three Strikes" laws, which are actual criminal statutes based on prior convictions, have been upheld by the courts and are often praised by right-wing radio hosts. Yet the Fifth Amendment "Double Jeopardy Clause" clearly states that no person shall be "subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." It seems to me, then, that any staunch conservative with a microphone would be denouncing Three Strike Laws as Unconstitutional.
Rush Limbaugh, a man that I listen to at least twice a week, once said that all drug dealers should be given Life Sentences. Although I now know that he made that statement when he was strung out on prescription opiates, I still respect his opinion. However, Rush's comment was not well thought out. While I do believe that all drug offenses - including taking prescription drugs illegally, such as Rush did - warrant incarceration, putting "all drug dealers" in prison for life would only create the need for more prisons, which would create the need for more correctional officers, which would create the need for more law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, and yes, even more welfare programs; drug dealers often lose all of their asset's when the go to jail and leave needy spouses and children behind. So essentially, Rush's plan for dealing with the illegal drug problem is to grow government - a very, very UNCONSERVATIVE solution.
I understand that it's easy for people to be critical of criminals and prisoners. It's frustrating to hear about murderer's on Death Row complaining of "Constitutional Right's" violations, rapist's walking away free because they weren't properly read their "Miranda Right's", illegal aliens and terrorist's being afforded the same right's and privileges as American citizens, and prisoners complaining about poor food, housing, and medical care. Even I, a Lifer, get sick and tired of hearing about some of these frivolous complaints. But as difficult as it may be, if you truly are a conservative, then you must think within the moral and constitutional boundaries of conservatism before you say something stupid.
I hope Carmen Conners paid close attention.
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