Thread by @JoshuaBHoe

Okay, lots of people debating me today on Trump vs. Biden on #cjreform

This is LITERALLY from Trumps website and was posted August 23d

Notice where he says "end cashless bail" meaning EVERYONE who does not have money for bail will be detained

donaldjtrump.com/media/trump-ca…

Now, look at Biden's site:

joebiden.com/justice/

Before a few months ago, the Federal Death Penalty had not been used in YEARS....Since Barr and Trump reinstated the Federal Death Penalty, four people have been executed and the fifth is coming soon

usnews.com/news/us/articl…

Now look at Biden's site:

joebiden.com/justice/

Those are two easy examples because in neither case would a president require congressional action on those issues....But let's go farther...yesterday, this is what @Oslerguy had to say washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…

And here is what Biden says on clemency in the joint Biden/Sanders Unity recommendations

joebiden.com/wp-content/upl…

Which caused Mark to conclude in WAPO yesterday

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…

And let's not forget that there are lots of reasons to believe, especially given that Biden has tied his political future to the black and brown community, that he will listen to political calls for change

static1.squarespace.com/static/5d128ac…

But let's just start with "end cashless bail"

It is pretty hard to believe someone is committed to criminal justice reform when they are making a campaign pledge to END BAIL for people who don't have MONEY.

That is beyond Kafkaesque, that is grotesque

Look, I worked with the WH along with a large coalition to pass the First Step Act...I wish he had stayed the course.

Last night he had Giuliani rip criminal justice reform, followed by Tom Cotton who was literally the biggest opponent of the First Step Act

His speech was full of more "American Carnage" and it seems pretty clear fear of crime is at the core of his 2020 campaign.

Not a good sign at all.

Okay, I will answer the Biden can't be trusted argument all at once here now:

1. Biden will NOT endorse or use the Federal Death Penalty...I bet you $$$'s on this right now....Trump has used it 4 times in a few months

2. Biden will NOT enforce NO CASHLESS BAIL w. Trump promised

So that is two easy comparisons but let's go farther

3. Biden has tied his entire political future to the black and brown communities, while he will never be a radical, he will be moveable on these issues for obvious political reasons (II even attached polling)

4. The whole argument that Biden is just being an opportunist proves he would stay the course...it is in his political interest (that is literally your argument).

5. Biden was no different than Trump (or anyone else) in the tough on crime 90's (see #ExoneratedFive)

In fact, read the Pulitzer-Prize winning book "Locking Up Our Own" by @jformanjr if you want a more nuanced look at the politics of enforcement in the 90's

6. Trump has based his entire campaign around tough on crime....regardless of what you think of Biden, that is a problem

The only argument that really matters is that Biden's political capital is entirely tied to the black and brown communities, he can push back against radical reform, but he cannot be hostile to reform in general

Be real, Trump has based his entire election on saving the suburbs

Last but not least, if nothing else, you KNOW Biden is not going to use the Federal Death Penalty....that is a pretty stark difference...even Texas has only executed two people in 2020, in just a few months the Trump administration has executed 4 people with a 5th on brink.

At the end of the day, you can't have it both ways...You can't both say Biden is a Trojan Horse who will "let all the prisoners out" and Biden will not do anything on criminal justice reform...Both literally cannot be true.