Channeling Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton calls for end to private, for-profit prisons

At a meeting with Deray McKesson and BlackLivesMatter movement leaders today, Hillary Clinton has apparently come out against the private, for-profit prison industry. (Although she is apparently uncertain as to whether she will continue to accept campaign contributions from private prison operators, like Corrections Corporation of America.)

Breaking: After Clinton met with some #BLM activists today, @deray says she wants to end private prisons.

On @ThomasARoberts@msnbc

— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) October 9, 2015

And she noted that she specifically wants to focus on ending funding to private prisons as the way to end them. https://t.co/...

— deray mckesson (@deray) October 9, 2015

.@HillaryClinton was adamant about her commitment to end private prisons. It was unclear whether she would stop taking $$ from CCA/GC.

— deray mckesson (@deray) October 9, 2015

This is fantastic news -- as for-profit prisons are a vile industry with no place in a civilized society. And I am absolutely certain that Hillary will be asking campaign fundraiser Richard Sullivan to abandon her campaign this afternoon. (Why Hillary is uncertain if her campaign will stop accepting money from the private prison industry -- but at the same time claims to want to destroy it as a policy position -- truly confounds me, but I suppose she will change her mind in the right direction pretty soon.)

Richard Sullivan, of the lobbying firm Capitol Counsel, is a bundler for the Clinton campaign, bringing in $44,859 in contributions in a few short months. Sullivan is also a registered lobbyist for the Geo Group, a company that operates a number of jails, including immigrant detention centers, for profit.

As we reported yesterday, fully five Clinton bundlers work for the lobbying and law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. Corrections Corporation of America, the largest private prison company in America, paid Akin Gump $240,000 in lobbying fees last year. The firm also serves as a law firm for the prison giant, representing the company in court.

Akin Gump lobbyist and Clinton bundler Brian Popper disclosed that he previously helped CCA defeat efforts to compel private prisons to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Coincidentally, just yesterday an immigrant-rights protestor pointed out the hypocrisy of her relationships with those whose pockets are lined by money from the for-profit prison industry.

Of course, Bernie Sanders has long called for an end to for-profit prisons and immigrant detention centers.

It’s WRONG to profit from the imprisonment of human beings and the suffering of their friends and families. Plain and simple.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 8, 2015

Note, too, that Bernie's language is crystal clear. For-profit prisons must disappear. His racial justice platform is unequivocal.

It is morally repugnant and a national tragedy that we have privatized prisons all over America. In my view, corporations should not be allowed to make a profit by building more jails and keeping more Americans behind bars. We have got to end the private-for-profit prison racket in America. I intend to introduce legislation that will end the private prison industry.

In contrast, Hillary seems to be arguing that we will eliminate for-profit prisons by ending funding to them? How will that work? So, we have to wait until this disgusting industry is no longer profitable for it to disappear?

I won't hold my breath.

Nevertheless, this is good news: Hillary has, once again, "evolved" in the direction of social justice.

Just like she did on gay marriage.

And Keystone.

And TPP.

Whether or not Hillary's evolution is a cynical response to Bernie's incredible success is irrelevant, I suppose -- Hillary is making smart choices. Good on her!