Melissa Harris-Perry Critical Of President Obama’s Turkey Pardon
Melissa Harris-Perry has a problem with President Obama pardoning the annual Thanksigiving turkey, but it has little to do with the fowl itself.
As The Huffington Post repoted, the outspoken MSNBC host discussed Pres. Obama’s pardoning of Cobbler the turkey, noting how when it comes to pardoning actual humans the president has a much worse track record.
In the “Open Letter” segment of her show, Melissa Harris-Perry addressed Cobbler directly, saying that Obama “has been reluctant to use his pardoning power for humans,” which is something that the bird might not understand.
Harris-Perry said: “Cobbler, maybe you can scratch out a letter to the White House asking the president to show as much mercy to humans in his second term as he has shown to poultry in his first.”
Perry had the stats to back up her assertion — Obama has pardoned only 22 individuals since taking office while denying 1,019 requests. The 2 percent rate of pardons was criticized by Harris-Perry, who said his record compares unfavorably to past presidents.
A political science professor who blogs about clemency exercised by presidents and governors agrees with Melissa Harris-Perry’s view of Pres. Obama’s record on pardons, NBC News notes.
“It is fair to say two things,” said P.S. Ruckman Jr., a professor at Rock Valley College in Rockville, Ill. “One is (Obama) is definitely being exceptionally stingy. There’s no doubt about that. There’s also no doubt that this is in a way unexpected.”
Melissa Harris-Perry has gained a reputation as an outspoken host in her few months on the air, speaking out against gun violence and the statements made by Senate candidate Richard Mourdock.
