Obama's non-Dukakis answer, on the death-penalty for child rapists [View All]

Obama's non-Dukakis answer
Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 7:07 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, Obama

Michael Dukakis, Obama is not.

On the death penalty today, Obama sidestepped a potential political land mine. Opponents could have had something recent and tangible to tag him anew as a hard-left liberal had he answered any differently than he did on the issue.

When asked about Supreme Court ruling against the use of the death penalty in instances of child rape today at a news conference in Chicago, Obama answered, “I disagree with the decision. I have said repeatedly that I think that the death penalty should be applied in very narrow circumstances for most egregious of crimes. I think that the rape of a small child, six or eight years old is a heinous crime, and if a state makes a decision that under narrow, limited, well-defined circumstances, the death penalty is at least potentially applicable. That does not violate our constitution.”

He continued, “Had the Supreme Court said, ‘We want to constrain ability of states to do this to make sure that it's done in a careful and appropriate way,’ that would've been one thing, but it basically had a blanket prohibition and I disagree with that decision.”

Previously, The Washington Post reported that Obama is a reluctant death penalty supporter.

His answer was a sharp contrast from 1988 Democratic nominee Dukakis’ answer to a debate question about his stance on the death penalty if the crime perpetrated had been the rape and murder of his own wife.

Dukakis answered, “No, I don't, and I think you know that I've, I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent, and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime.”

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http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/25/1168683.aspx