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| Obama backs death for child rapists |
| 2008-06-26 |
| Democrats still remember the moment that dogged Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential race. Asked whether he would support the death penalty for someone who raped and killed his wife, the former Massachusetts governor gave a dispassionate, almost clinical, recitation of his opposition to capital punishment, arguing there was no evidence of a deterrent effect. If there were any doubt, Barack Obama made clear at a news conference today that he won't fall into that trap. Asked about today's US Supreme Court ruling that sentencing someone to death for raping a child is unconstitutional, Obama said he disagreed with such a broad ban. 'I have said repeatedly that I think that the death penalty should be applied in very narrow circumstances for the most egregious of crimes. I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime,' he said, adding that if a state determines the death penalty should apply in such cases, they should be allowed to impose it. The high court's ruling invalidates laws in six states that allow the death penalty if child rape cases when the child is not killed. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 Yeah, but he sounds good either way, right or wrong. I mean he's just so articulate and his oratory skills are a true breath of fresh air after 8 years of having to endure Bush butchering the English language. After all, isn't that what's really important? You know, sounding good no matter what you say? (According to many of my liberal acquaintances, it apparently is.) |
| Posted by: eltoroverde 2008-06-26 22:19 |
| #7 If Obama's track record is any predictor, i expect him to issue a 'clarifying' remark tomorrow that really and truly explains what he meant really, really, and truly when he said what he did earlier. This POS can't say anything right or just once. what a piece of work. |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2008-06-26 14:04 |
| #6 Mass. State Rep. Fagan couldn't be reached for comment. |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2008-06-26 12:08 |
| #5 Careful or they will put a fatwa on you for telling the truth about their perfect man. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2008-06-26 11:35 |
| #4 But a 9 year-old is fair game? Yep, and we all know why don't we? |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2008-06-26 08:39 |
| #3 "...I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime..." But a 9 year-old is fair game? |
| Posted by: OyVey1 2008-06-26 08:15 |
| #2 But he won't appoint justices who vote that way. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-06-26 07:10 |
| #1 Before, or after, he was against it? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-06-26 02:21 |