“Give folks a chance to get through the door. Give them a chance so they can make their case,” Those words were uttered by President Obama two weeks ago at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J. He was announcing new programs that will help people like me — people who have criminal records — re-assimilate into society. The president also issued a mandate to the Office of Personnel Management to ban the box on applications for federal employment.

President Obama wants felons to be allowed to work in federal jobs and live in public housing. But we are not allowed in his home.