What some Pa. voters said after presidential debate
In an election that has upended almost every bit of conventional wisdom, it might be time to add this chestnut to the political scrap heap: being perceived as soft on crime hurts Democrats.
While Republican Donald Trump pushed “law and order” during Monday night’s presidential debate, Democrat Hillary Clinton offered a softer take on criminal justice, one that may help her with the Pennsylvania voters she needs most.
“We have to restore trust between communities and police,” Ms. Clinton said in a discussion of racial concerns in policing, and the “implicit bias” she said everyone carries. “Everyone should be respected by the law, and everyone should respect the law.”
Such remarks went over well with a focus group of 27 undecided voters in Philadelphia. As Republican pollster Frank Luntz recorded via Twitter, Ms. Clinton racked up some of her best scores when discussing the need for police training and better community relations. Mr. Luntz's focus group showed Ms. Clinton's remarks on private prisons also scored well.
The comments went over well among some Pittsburgh debate watchers as well.
That “was the most candid talk we’ve heard on race,” said Beth Ussery, a onetime supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is now supporting Ms. Clinton. “I have never seen a candidate lay it on the table the way that she did.”
Jordan Malloy, a Wilkinsburg activist for criminaljustice reform, was less impressed. “All it says to me is that she’s pandering,” she said. Ms. Clinton and her husband took a tough-oncrime stance during the 1990s, she noted, and Ms. Clinton used the term “superpredators” to describe some black crime perpetrators. “And she just recently stopped taking money from private prisons.”
Last year, Ms. Clinton received over $130,000 in contributions from lobbyists for the nation’s two largest prison operators, GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America. But the campaign decided not to accept such contributions under pressure from racialjustice advocacy group Color of Change and other activists.
The issue has special relevance in Pennsylvania. In what became known as the “Kids for Cash” scandal, two Luzerne County judges were convicted of incarcerating minors in exchange for bribes from the operator of privately owned juvenile detention centers.
Last night, Ms. Clinton hailed a move to cease housing federal prisoners in such facilities, adding that she hoped states would follow suit. “You shouldn’t have a profit motivation to fill prison cells with young Americans,” she said.
“There was no comparison between the candidates,” said Rashad Robinson, a spokesman for Color of Change’s political committee.
“It's not about trusting her,” he added. “It's about recognizing who we have leverage with. Donald Trump will win or lose without black people and young people.”
“Every analysis says Clinton has a problem with enthusiasm among younger voters and African Americans,” whose votes she needs to overcome Mr. Trump’s support among older whites, said Terry Madonna, a veteran pollster at Franklin & Marshall College. “Racial justice is a big issue for them.”
Conversely, crime fears barely register. Mr. Madonna’s polls show it as a key concern for fewer than 1 Pennsylvania voter in 20.
As Mr. Trump noted Monday night, violent crime rates have spiked in some areas, particularly in some cities. Still, crime rates are hovering near half-century lows, and Pittsburgh, for one, last year saw a doubledigit decline in violent crimes.
“For most Americans, it’s not something they see,” said Mr. Madonna. “That’s the problem with [Mr. Trump’s] law-and-order them — and that term has some racial overtones.”
“A lot of people of color would like to hear [Ms. Clinton] explain or apologize for” using the superpredator label, said Damon Young, who writes about race, culture and politics for national publications and his Pittsburgh-based blog, Very Smart Brothas. For some skeptics, “I don’t know if there’s a lot she can say that will sway them. But what they can do is recognize that every vote that isn’t going to Clinton is a vote for Trump — particularly in a state like Pennsylvania.”