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 Arianna
Huffington and Jubilee Justice 2000
Editors note: On October 1st, 2000 Arianna
Huffington appeared on CNN's "Both Sides" hosted by
Jesse Jackson. Below are some of the excerpts from the show
JACKSON: The
debates will come on Tuesday. What will be the decisive issues
or posturing that will determine the winner in your judgment?
HUFFINGTON:
Well, I kind of like to dream that something unexpected is going
to happen. For example, as you know, I care very deeply about
one issue that remains un-addressed in this election, and this
is the failure of the drug war.
Wouldn't it be great if there was a question about that, and
if one or the other candidate dared to say something bold instead
of simply staying silent; staying silent on the fact that we
are sending $1.3 billion to Colombia, getting involved in a civil
war; staying silent on the fact that we have 400,000 non-violent
drug offenders; staying silent on the fact that, as you know,
1.4 million African- American men are now disenfranchised for
life because of our felony laws?
Now all these issues are very, very crucial, and yet they have
not been addressed.
JACKSON: Do
you think the media is a factor by never raising those issues?
HUFFINGTON:
Absolutely. I think it's outrageous that no political reporter
following either candidate asked them where they stood on our
drug-war aid to Colombia or asked them what they thought about
the drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, coming out with these phony numbers
to prove that we are winning the drug war when every statistic
shows that drug use is up, that the drugs you can get in the
city street are more potent and more available than ever before.
And yet, all these issues that are so critical to our future
are being ignored, and the media are ignoring them. And is Jim
Lehrer going to ask the candidates any of these really disturbing
questions? I doubt it.
JACKSON: We'll
come right back and see if the interrogation in the debate will
deal with issues other than the convenience zone the candidates
have staked out for themselves. We'll be right back with Arianna
Huffington in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUFFINGTON:
And, you know, you asked me earlier about my pressure tactics.
I mean, there are some specific things that right now I believe
you and those who are campaigning for Gore and on whose votes
he desperately depends can ask, like, for example, whom are you
going to appoint as a drug czar if you win? Is he going to appoint
another clueless general like Barry McCaffrey, or is he really
going to give the job to somebody who understands that addiction
is a medical public-health issue and should be treated as such.
 HUFFINGTON:
But, you know, these are theoretical risks. And we have a lot
of actual crises right now that we're not addressing. For example,
Jubilee 2000 has come together and asked the President that he
appoint a bipartisan commission to review every non-violent drug
offender who has already served five years in jail. Now is that
too much to ask? Why can't politicians on the Democratic side,
at least, show that they really care about these people, that
these lives are not to be wasted.
JACKSON: Do
you think that quite apart from looking at Bush and Cheney and
Gore and Lieberman, which I think is looking through a door and
a train looking through a keyhole, look into the door. If Charlie
Rangel becomes head of House Ways and Means and Maxine Waters
moves up and Nydia Velasquez and Loretta Sanchez moves up, do
you think that they will apply the pressure to bring about a
more civilized effort to deal with drugs and drug rehabilitation?
HUFFINGTON:
Actually, I really do believe - and I said that. I testified
in front of John Conyers last week, and I did say that the fact
that he is committed, if the Democrats win the majority and he
becomes chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he has committed
to make drug policy reform his highest priority is very important,
the fact that he is already holding hearings, the fact that he
has a bill that's been stuck in committee that would allow former
felons when they've paid their duty to society to vote again,
all these are very significant pieces of legislation.
JACKSON: So
you're looking at the team, not just at the ticket?
HUFFINGTON:
I'm looking at the team, but when you ask me at the White House
choice, frankly, I'm voting for none of the above.
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