Trumps Brand Divides Democrats on Criminal Justice Reform
The survey went on to press respondents on specifics of the measure, and found most Democrats liked what they saw.
Six in 10 Democrats supported making crack and powder cocaine offenses more similar in an attempt to address a disparity that has often resulted in tougher punishment for black offenders than white offenders. And 57 percent of Democratic respondents also backed lowering mandatory minimum sentences for drug felonies, including reducing the current three strikes penalty from life in prison to 25 years in prison.
Daniel Hopkins, an associate professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, likened those sentiments expressed by Democrats in the survey to Republicans’ views about the Affordable Care Act, which has been viewed negatively by Americans despite their approval of many of its provisions.
“One explanation is the opposite of the Midas touch,” he said in an email Tuesday. “As soon as a polarizing politician is associated with a piece of legislation, whether it was Obama with the Affordable Care Act or Trump with criminal justice reform, that partisan cue can often override citizens' evaluations of the specific elements of the legislation.”
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