Thanks to our Hinterlands correspondent, Kathleen, for this Youtube video of Republican Senator Dale Volker of the 59th Senate District (better known as Cheektowaga County, the world-renown center for critical thought): 

“I believe they don’t want to find innocent people innocent, they want to find guilty people innocent.”

“We have a problem that’s developing with DNA, and we know it.”

We know, for instance, that some of the people found innocent in Illinois because of DNA, were guilty. They actually committed the crimes. We know that.

In fact, I argue that the Innocence Project did a good job finding some guilty people innocent, because that’s clear.  We know that.  They confessed.

But because of the way evidence works, some of those people were found innocent.

I am happy to work on finding people innocent who are certainly not guilty.  But I have to tell you, there have been very, very, very few in this state.

That’s there job, is to find people innocent; That’s fine, if they’re truly innocent, because most of the crimes in this state, unfortunately, are not solved.  We know that for a fact.

I’m glad the New York City Bar, or New York State Bar, whichever it is, it doesn’t matter because they’re both the same, that they’re doing this, but they better watch themselves, because there’s a lot more coming out about DNA cases in the future, I’ll tell you right now, that’s gonna make a lot of people wonder about the total accuray of it, and that’s why we want more study…and I’m fine with using DNA to find people innocent it they’re truly innocent, I just want you to know that.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Now Senator Volker is a very influential, long-term senator in New York.  When he speaks, others listen.  He carries significant weight.  I suspect it’s because he “knows” stuff.  He knows who’s guilty and innocent.  He knows about the future of DNA, that’s inaccurate unless used to convict.  And he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of Barry Scheck and Russ Neufeld. 

If you wonder how thoughtful, intelligent and caring lawmakers end up doing such a poor job of things, don’t blame Dale Volker.  He knows better.



Update:  Mike at Crime & Federalism shows another video proving that Henry Waxman (D-CA) shows the stupidity owns no side of the aisle.