E.J. Dionne: The Death Penalty and the Costs of an Obsession

[marmar]

from truthdig:



The Death Penalty and the Costs of an Obsession

Posted on Jul 11, 2011
By E.J. Dionne, Jr.


WASHINGTON—The unseemly love affair of some American politicians with the death penalty is bad for justice and bad for our country’s standing in the world. It inflicts a wholly unnecessary moral stain on a nation that rightly preaches the rule of law to everyone else.

Even more remarkable is the indifference that five justices of the Supreme Court have shown to such considerations.

And then there is Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who insisted upon pushing ahead with the execution of Humberto Leal, a Mexican national convicted of the rape and killing of a teenager. Even former President George W. Bush—who presided over 152 executions as Perry’s predecessor—had qualms about the case. Bush hasn’t gone soft. He’s legitimately worried about the costs of the United States’ thumbing its nose at the government of Mexico and the world.

President Obama, the International Court of Justice and the Mexican government all wanted a stay of execution. But Perry’s press secretary was unapologetic. “Texas,” said Katherine Cesinger, “is not bound by a foreign court’s ruling.” ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_death_penalty_and_the_costs_of_an_obsession_20110711/

[Orrex]

1. Great article, K/R

The death penalty is barbaric and should be abolished. It distresses me that even here, even today you can find a great many Democrats who argue in favor of this outmoded and primitive outlet for public bloodlust.

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2. I know. I'm surprised by how much support for the DP there is here.....

..... and by many elected Dems.

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3. Dallas Morning News had similar editorial on Sunday

Death penalty hasn't improved with age in 35 years: "The use of capital punishment has been haphazard at best - biased and fallible at worst. Rather than becoming a predictable and justifiable outcome for society's most dangerous criminals, it too often has emerged as a bolt out of the blue, arbitrarily striking down a few defendants among the thousands of eligible cases."