Troy Davis:'We looked at every possible ave legally'the source reported Obama said.'There was not 1"

[Pirate Smile]

Sources: President Obama tried to save Troy Davis from execution

ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2011, 4 p.m. - President Obama candidly Friday took a little time to explain how he tried to save Troy Davis and why he did not say anything about his controversial execution, two sources told Redding News Review.
Obama's White House spent "three days" looking at how it could legally get involved in the case on a federal level, one source said. The Obama administration even called the state of Georgia about getting involved and were told "No".

"'We looked at every possible avenue legally,'" the source reported Obama said. "'There was not one there.'"
"'It was a state case and I could not intervene because it wasn't federal,'" another source reported Obama said.
The two sources told Redding News Review that Obama talked about Davis, during a private lunch meeting of about 10 select black broadcasters.
Obama said the only reason why he spoke about Harvard's Henry Louis Gates' case, was because he was asked by a reporter, Obama told one source.

What's more, Obama also said that the only reason why his administration spoke out about an illegal immigrant's case, Humberto Leal Garcia Jr., in July was because it was an international issue, where his rights were violated.

Sure, the president could have simply spoken out about Davis, the source said, but it would not have done anything.
"'I don't want to make this man's death political for me,'" Obama told the source.

http://reddingnewsreview.com/newspages/2011newspages/obama_tried_to_save_troy_davis_11_10000095.html

[zipplewrath]

1. It could have elevated the debate

They weren't prepared for this, because they don't see the death penalty on their radar ANYWHERE. It's right down there with DOMA and NAFTA. They have no intention of doing anything on the death penalty anymore than decriminalizing marijuana. If they had been, it would have been an opportunity to bring the issue to the forefront in a very personal way. The execution probably still goes through, but it could have given a boost to efforts around the country. For a guy that talks about persistence and taking the long view, he took a VERY short view here.

[Pirate Smile]

2. The debate was all over the place. It would have politicized the debate.

[Empowerer]

3. I sincerely doubt the White House's involvement would have "elevated" the debate

To the contrary - it would have politicized it and shifted away from Troy Davis to a crazy back and forth about President Obama, presidential politics, etc.

The debate has already been elevated quite well, without entangling the President in it.

I'm involved in and aware of a number of anti-death penalty efforts around the country. Trust me - no one committed to this effort needs to hear from the President of the United States to "boost their efforts."

And, fyi - not jumping into a hot-button issue just because it's a hot-button issue is exactly what "taking the long view" is all about . . .

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

24. Right! Just like Obama inserting himself in the Wisconsin collective bargaining fight

would have not helped, but would have hurt the cause.

Drives me crazy to hear the PL complain about where Obama was when they know damn well what would have happened.

[jberryhill]

4. GA Gov. Nathan Deal Is A Birther - He would have speeded it up, if possible

[Sheepshank]

5. I doubt that would have been the result.

....Instead it would have turned into "liberal thuggery attempting to subvert States rights" RW talking meme.

[roguevalley]

17. How about a simple civil rights issue: It would be unjust to execute

an innocent man? Fuck this country and everyone out there parsing words and ignoring humanity.

[coalition_unwilling]

34. Yeah, in the alternate universe I like to imagine, the Obama I thought

I was voting for in 2008 would have sent the U.S. Dept of Justice and the FBI down to Georgia, backed by the 102nd Airborne. That would have stopped the execution and shoved it in those fucking crackers' faces. I wish Sherman had razed the entire state and salted its earth, I really do.

[Ikonoklast]

36. Then conversely, you would have no problem with a President Rick Perry saying

"Troy Davis was found guilty in a court of law by a jury of his peers, was sentenced according to the laws of the State of Georgia, and has run out of all legal remedies and appeals available to him. He needs to be executed, now."

You want the president, any president to score political points using a man's life to do so.

No.

[paulk]

6. "'I don't want to make this man's death political for me,'"

I don't know - seems like the office he holds is "political" by nature.

He has the bully pulpit - something our Milquetoast leader still hasn't grasped. It's understood that he had no "legal" recourse - still, a word about an execution where so many other distinguished politicians/public servants - both liberal and conservative, had expressed doubt - would have gone a long way.

Perhaps the death penalty is something the nation should be talking about. It's not unlikely that this country just executed an innocent man. We should all be concerned about that - starting with the President of the United States.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. So you wanted "a speech"? The president's detractors are going to have to decide....

which topics this president can and cannot weigh in on. Stupid opinions pop up all the time here, speculating whether the POTUS should speak about topic A or B, and when he does, the very people who berated him for not addressing topic A or B, complain that it's "just pretty words", or it's "too little too late".

He took grief from many in his own party for speaking his mind on a local matter (Gates' case). He was accused by many, right here on this board, of "playing the race card". He's damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't. Perhaps you were in a cave somewhere, but there was no higher profile death penalty case in the world than the final weeks of the Troy Davis case. How much more "awareness" could "our Milquetoast leader" bring to it?

The problem with second guessing this president's every move is that formerly reasonable people have had to suspend all logic, just to bitch about EVERY move he makes. I've come to the conclusion that there are those among us who live to bitch & moan, they're just miserable people who love to spread it around. :hi:

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[These Eyes]

18. It's interesting you would call Tarheel's response ad hominem BS...

When you called the president a punk, or to quote you, "Milquetoast leader". :crazy:

[paulk]

20. it's interesting that you would care about my conversations

with other posters.


ps - do you know what a "non sequitur" is?

[These Eyes]

26. If you want a private conversation, PM him.

Otherwise, I'll exercise my right to post where I choose.

[paulk]

27. and I'll exercise my right to put you on ignore

you seem to be interested in what I have to say

the converse isn't true

[These Eyes]

31. I'm wounded...

:D

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[paulk]

21. how so?

I mean, if you're refering to the milquetoast comment, I'm not debating Obama. I'm expressing an opinion of his political leadership.

If you're saying that I used it against you in an argument, perhaps you need to look up the meaning.

If you find me doing it to other posters, by all means hit alert - it is against the rules.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[paulk]

28. I expect replies like that from children

not adults.

Are you a child?

How old are you?

[paulk]

30. since apparently my previous post violated one of DU's

ever amorphous "rules", I'll repost.

I said nothing about a speech. I quoted Obama's statement and made a suggestion as to what he could have said instead.

I don't see how the rest of your post is relevant to mine.

Actually I don't see how any of it is relevant to mine, since your basic premise is mistaken.

There - does that pass the test, mods?

I mean, I'm sure that the poster "tarheel dem" wasn't refering to me with this -

"The problem with second guessing this president's every move is that formerly reasonable people have had to suspend all logic, just to bitch about EVERY move he makes. I've come to the conclusion that there are those among us who live to bitch & moan, they're just miserable people who love to spread it around."

That would be something of an ad hominem if it was, god forbid, directed at me. Or at DUers in general. And those sort of posts are against the rules.

I think.

[mkultra]

37. actually, that doesnt quite rise to the level of ad hominem

If its discussing a pattern of opinions on that relevant matter that you exhibit. Saying that you say these things because your a racist would be an ad hominem attack for example. Subtle differences.

[Ignis]

38. Quite wrong. Re-read this phrase, referring to DUers:

"there are those among us who live to bitch & moan, they're just miserable people who love to spread it around"

[Honeycombe8]

7. He was right. Do we really want the likes of George Bush intervening in state criminal

cases?

The state criminal cases and the executive branch of the federal government are separate for a reason.

Sometimes state cases can appeal to a federal court, if certain federal issues are involved. But that wasn't the case in Troy Davis' case.

It can't be a policy of intervening when you like the intervenor and you want the case intervened, but not intervening when you don't like the intervenor or you think the state courts got it right. It's a double edged sword. You either can, or you can't. He couldn't, in the Troy Davis case.

[former9thward]

11. The Davis case was in the federal courts many times.

[Honeycombe8]

32. I guess it didn't end there, or possibly a federal executive could've intervened...

depending on the federal issues that were raised.

It's all very technical, designed to keep one branch from interfering with the business of the other branch of government, and to keep the federal from the state, unless a federal law is involved.

[uponit7771]

8. wisdom

[Thrill]

9. See no upside for Obama to get involved

None.

[Number23]

13. I agree. And I am touched that he was willing to put himself on the line for Troy Davis

And was even contemplating inserting himself into this issue. If there was any way he could have stopped it, I wish he could have. But we all know that there was nothing the president could have done.

Just imagine it.

The black president reaching out to Georgia, a state he lost in 2008 and will undoubtedly lose again in 2012, to protest the (what should be) unlawful execution of a black man who allegedly killed a white man. Not just a white man. A white POLICE OFFICER. Oh my God. Those people would lose their minds.

[coalition_unwilling]

35. Obama is the friggin Commander in Chief, FFS. He could have

ordered the 102nd Airborne in and dared Georgia state officials to defy him.

[Number23]

40. Dumbest thing I've seen today.

And that is TRULY saying something.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Number23]

42. I consider it an honor.

[dionysus]

43. uh huh. send in the army. jesus h christ.

:rofl:

[Doctor_J]

15. Except to save the life of a possibly innocent man

Is that what you meant to say?

or did that fact get lost in the politics?

[Pirate Smile]

16. They couldn't save his life. They didn't have a legal avenue to intervene.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. So now the president is the head of the Judicial Branch? I mean, who knew?

Thought we hated a dictatorship. Yet, we demand an all-powerful, God-like Obama the Almighty President.

Tired of this irrational bullshit from the ODSers!

[Thrill]

39. Funny some of you called Bush a Dictator for some of the

shit he was doing. Now you basically want Obama to be one. Forget that whole Judicial Brach

[Divine Discontent]

14. it's nice to have word that they seriously tried for several days... sad result, nonetheless

http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128002960205017719 http://www.cafepress.com/barackobama12

[Maraya1969]

23. He could have pardoned him. I was 1/2 waiting for Obama to do it.

[Pirate Smile]

29. No, he couldn't. He can only pardon for federal crimes. This was a state crime.

[Tx4obama]

33. White House: No Troy Davis Call By President Obama, Despite Blogger's Claim (UPDATE)

White House: No Troy Davis Call By President Obama, Despite Blogger's Claim (UPDATE)

A radio host and blogger who claimed that President Barack Obama made a last-ditch effort to save Death Row inmate Troy Davis on the eve of his execution last week in Georgia has since retracted parts of his story, as White House officials came out today to refute the claims.

SNIP

Rest of article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/white-house-denies-radio-_n_983949.html