Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jun 2000
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2000 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265
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Author: Rose M. Kelleher

WHERE ARE BUSH'S FAMILY VALUES?

On Saturday, June 3, George W. Bush addressed the National Summit on
Fatherhood, urging men to remember that they will "never have a more
important title than dad."

How sad that under Mr. Bush's governorship, Charles Edward Garrett,
whose daughter Earnestine turned 4 last month, can't fulfill his
duties as a father because of a youthful indiscretion committed three
decades ago.

In 1970 Mr. Garrett was sentenced to life in prison for simple
possession (not distribution) of two grams of heroin. It was his first
offense. The fact that Mr. Garrett is black and his jury was all white
may explain how Mr. Garrett was able to anticipate this absurdly harsh
sentence and, quite sensibly, he fled. He moved to another city,
changed his name, and turned his life around, kicking his drug habit,
working steadily, and starting a family. In October 1998, Texas
authorities apprehended Mr. Garrett and he was thrown in jail, where
he is, incredibly, expected to serve the rest of his life sentence.

Mr. Garrett has served almost two years for this minor offense and
should be released. Surely Gov. Bush, who places such great importance
on fatherhood, can see that allowing Mr. Garrett to return home to
support his family makes more sense than imprisoning him at taxpayers'
expense.
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