Death Penalty: Hillary and Bernie

[Bonobo]

FIRST BERNIE'S POSITION:

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/bernie-sanders-death-penalty-state-shouldnt-be-business-killing-people
Bernie Sanders on Death Penalty: The State Shouldn't Be in the Business of Killing People

"...as with so much violence in this world today, I just don't think the state itself, whether it's the state government or federal government, should be in the business of killing people."


NOW HILLARY:

She is intentionally vague on the subject. Interestingly, she seems to have been opposed to it when she way young. I say seems because that too is unclear. However, as wife of the governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton, she was married to a man who gave the go ahead to state executions. Later, in 2000, she claimed to give the Death Penalty her "unenthusiastic support" (whatever that means, sounds weasel-like to me). Now, who knows? She seems to be for the DP, with "restrictions" (as if there could be "unrestricted OP?)

Hillary has spoken recently about over-incarceration of black people. Is she going to put her money where her mouth is? Does she know that the DP is unarguably killing more innocent black people than white people and is itself a tool of oppression? A symbol of white rule?

Is this the next issue Hillary will "evolve" on?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Bernie and Martin are against the death penalty

[Bonobo]

2. Sooner or later, Hillary will have to speak on it.

It is a barbaric practice and Germany has cut off the export of the murder drugs to us (that were never meant for that purpose)

She can't pretend to be a champion of Progressive values and against the racial oppression of the criminal justice system that she helped lobby for.

She will have to pick a side and I suspect she has plenty of focus groups and media consultants working on just the right optics and language to deal with it.

[FSogol]

3. Martin O'Malley ended the death penalty in Maryland.

He commuted the sentences of those remaining on death row. He also gave felons back the right to vote (following their sentences), and made it illegal to ask if you were convicted of a crime in state employment. He has the best record and actual accomplishments on these issues.

[azmom]

5. Good for him.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. Yes he did!

Excellent!

[guillaumeb]

4. "Is this the next issue Hillary will "evolve" on? "

When you wrote those words I wondered when evolution becomes more the action of a weather vane responding to the wind?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. in 2012

For some reason I don't remember Hillary being taken to task on the issues as we are seeing this time round. I think she really needs to 'clear the cupboards' and define policies. It is a good time to do it well before the election. The party also needs to be specific on the issues instead of being 'wishy washy'

[guillaumeb]

25. Agreed. If politicians had actual positions rather than focus group tested

talking points perhaps the voters would not be so cynical.

Agree also with your comment on being specific on issues. Be specific and present a clear alternative to the GOP.

[bunnies]

6. Hillary... vague? What else is new.

But her supporters are totally ok with that, I guess.

[Bonobo]

7. Bizarrely, hilariously some have even defined that as "leadership"!!

Because she is doing what a leader does... representing her constituents! LOLOLOLOL!

[bunnies]

8. I find it quite amazing really.

I mean... Cory Bookers endorsement is the perfect example of the phenomena. Touting her "leadership" since shes announced. Really? Platitudes are leadership now? Meanwhile, the Hillary supporters want specifics on how we get to single payer yet she doesnt have a SINGLE position on her website yet. Its all just bullshit 60 second clips. But "Hillary!!!"

Its fucked.

On edit: if we had a parliamentary system like England... The Hillary wing and the Sanders wing would be different parties. If only.

[Bonobo]

9. People have lost the ability to tell reality from appearance.

And what's worse, they REVEL in it.

The slicker one wins and we all know it.

A lifetime of dedication and consistency means NOTHING to the vast majority.

[bunnies]

12. Right. Which is why a dolt like Donald Trump can even enter the race.

Its officially a DeMOCKracy. Sanders supporters reject that and we're ridiculed for it. Im tired of the bullshit. Dont piss on my head and tell me its raining (as my Nana would say).

[arcane1]

26. "Leadership" is a focus group-approved buzz-word

Nothing more.

[azmom]

10. There is racism in the penal system. But she doesn't care?

But Corey Booker is endorsing her? He is black.
(sarcasm)



Go Bernie!

[Bonobo]

11. LOL...

If you hadn't put in the bounces and sarcasm, you would have had me.

It is exactly the kind of response I have come to expect!

[Bonobo]

13. So this is the reception a real discussion of the issue gets. nt

[Raine1967]

14. As Governor, O'MAlley banned the death penalty.

This is important to me. He has known and made it clear that the death penally is not a deterrent. He is on the same page as I am when it comes to the death penalty:

The former Maryland governor said that he hopes that Tsarnaev “never is able to enjoy a moment of freedom” and that his thoughts are with victims and their families.

“I nonetheless remain opposed to the death penalty as a matter of principle and as a matter of policy,” he said in a statement.
“The death penalty is ineffective tas a deterrent, and the appeals process is expensive and cruel to the surviving family members.”

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/242275-omalley-death-penalty-ineffective-as-a-deterrent

It's easy to say that the state should not be in the business of killing people. O'MAlley worked towards making the business of killing people by his state against the law. He repealed the death penalty and commuted the lives of those on death row.

[sadoldgirl]

18. Congratulations to O'Malley

If he keeps this position though, he may have trouble
with it in the West and South. I am sure that he knows that.
So I applaud him for his courage.

[sadoldgirl]

17. By now I am sick and tired

of the term "evolve". Evolution takes thousands of years.

Why don't we call it what it is: A change in or of mind. especially

when it occurs during a primary, this becomes very important.

I don't think that a change of looking at a problem is necessarily
bad. One can reflect and think again in different ways.

However, when that kind of change happens during a
primary it looks very much like opportunism.

[Doctor_J]

19. she'll probably duck this one too

Maybe the other candidates will force her to state some opinions at the debates.

[Bonobo]

20. She has no real moral compass, does she?

If she did, she wouldn't have to duck so much.

Or, as her operatives said of Obama in one of her more racist moments in 2008, "shuck and jive".

[JustAnotherGen]

21. Martin O'Malley Ended the Death Penalty

He does.

Enough of the jibber jabber from Washington D.C. Insider Politicians - we need a lot more I DID in this country.

[Bonobo]

22. That's fantastic. He deserves tremendous credit for that.

But only a Governor could do that.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. Yep

Only former Governor (Executive Experience) running for the Democratic Nomination.

On the flip side - he set the goal for reducing Infant Mortality at 10% - and the Government (of the people by the people) of MD got it down 21%. Pssst - that's a real impact on minority women. That's something you guys should be talking about in the Bernie group - Minority women, pre-natal care, pre natal nutrition, etc. etc. It matters.

[Bonobo]

24. Yeah, I totally agree with you.

That is absolutely fantastic.

Thanks.