Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Dick Morris advises Sen. John McCain that to win the presidential race he needs to attack Democratic proposals that address outrageous crack cocaine sentencing laws ["Obama Has the Upper Hand. But McCain Can Still Take Him," Outlook, May 18]. Mr. Morris is wrong on two counts.

First, remedying the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine convictions is not a partisan issue. The U.S. Supreme Court and the nonpartisan U.S. Sentencing Commission called the crack cocaine sentencing policy unfair and unjustified. In Congress, members of both parties support bills designed to reduce the disparity. They are driven by a desire to make the federal sentencing system fairer.

Second, rather than resurrecting old "law and order" themes, Mr. Morris should encourage Mr. McCain to support equitable but still tough policies that decrease racial disparities in sentencing without increasing the burden on taxpayers and our overpopulated, understaffed federal prisons.

Mr. Morris's suggestion is an example of making policy based on petty political calculations rather than on the public good. I have too much respect for Mr. McCain's integrity and judgment to think that he would follow such advice.

JENNIFER SELTZER STITT

Director, Federal Legislative Affairs

Families Against Mandatory Minimums

Washington