Bernie Sanders Calls for Ending the Death Penalty

[Eric J in MN]

A day after Hillary Rodham Clinton said she opposed abolishing the death penalty, Senator Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor on Thursday and declared that “the time is now for the United States to end capital punishment.”

...“I would rather have our country stand side-by-side with European democracies rather than with countries like China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and others who maintain the death penalty,” Mr. Sanders said.

...“I think that those of us who want to set an example — who want to say that we have got to end the murders and the violence that we’re seeing in our country and all over the world – should, in fact, be on the side of those of us who believe that we must end capital punishment in this country,” Mr. Sanders said.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/10/29/on-senate-floor-bernie-sanders-calls-for-ending-the-death-penalty/

[Tipperary]

1. I agree with him.

[Sheepshank]

2. Bad form....using the Senate floor for campaigning

While I'm personally ambivalent regarding the absolute non use of the death penalty, I would not think to campaign to keep or abolish it.

But, I guess that double standard for using an inappropriate venue is fine for many Bernie supporters, but I have absolutely no doubt that Hillary would have been crucified here on DU for using the Senate floor for her campaigning. I think there's a rule. The timing is too convenient for it not to be campaigning

[LWolf]

9. I disagree.

A candidate who is currently in Congress still has a job to do, and walking the talk is one big factor I look for in a candidate.

[George II]

40. Has he spoken out before on the Senate floor or when he was in the House? A day or two...

....after Clinton stated her position?

Campaigning.

[LWolf]

41. He's been speaking out

on the floor of both the Senate and the House for many, many years. On the same issues he's been campaigning on, long before he ever decided to run for president. His work on the issues that have driven his political career really have nothing to do with Hillary Clinton.

I suspect you know that.

[Eric J in MN]

16. I've never criticized Hillary Clinton for

...saying things I agree with, supposedly in the wrong place. I haven't seen other DUers do that.

The Senate is a place for giving speeches. Sanders gave a speech on criminal justice reform. It wasn't just about the death penalty. He also said that marijuana should be removed from the federal list of outlawed drugs, and marijuana stores in Colorado, etc., should be able to use banks.

He announced that he's introducing legislation next week to federally legalize marijuana.

Video of Bernie Sanders speaking in the Senate on criminal justice reform (legalize marijuana, end the death penalty):
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-end-to-death-penalty-during-senate-speech-on-criminal-justice-reform-

[icuc]

18. It *is* a current issue, and it is very appropriate for Senate business

as people are getting tired of the death penalty. Abolishing the death penalty is needed at this time, as it serves no deterrent.

If Bernie leads the way, then he's leading the discussion. It seems like Hillary is a follower and going on "I'm with Bernie too on this, so vote for me anyway, then I can shift back to the right in the general election".

Bernie has stood out to be a leader, because he presents issues that needs to be discussed only to have Clinton bring it up 10 days later. Enough is enough.

[ColesCountyDem]

22. It is only appropriate for Senate business as it applies to federal crimes.

The punishment of crime, on the state level, rests with the state. The only limitations that can be placed on the states are those imposed by the USSC, interpreting and applying the Constitution and its amendments.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. ...keeping in mind there are Red States that are just this side of burning Muslims at the stake.

[ColesCountyDem]

37. ... and who would do so, if they thought they could get away with it. n/t

[Ed Suspicious]

29. Worried your candidate will be calling for its end now too?

[Sheepshank]

32. Apparently you didn't read my actual post...too busy trying jump in an insult

Good gravy....stop and read for a sec...it really wasn't that long of a post.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Some states are actually considering bringing back firing squads.

And getting ole sparky out of storage.

It is unconscionable that we are debating the best way to murder a human being in the 21st century.

[Sheepshank]

4. I hear many think of Hillary as Marie Antoinette...so in keeping

With the theme, why not the guillotine?

[beam me up scottie]

5. So now we're joking about state sanctioned murder.

What's next, prison rape?

Stay classy.

[Sheepshank]

7. I'm serious...

You're gonna get hurt falling off that high horse

[beam me up scottie]

11. Believing it's immoral to murder inmates doesn't require a high horse.

And considering the fact that the death penalty is inherently racist I have to question the sincerity of anyone who supports it and claims to believe that black lives matter.

[Sheepshank]

19. You are pretend arguing with stuff I'd not even said

And stuff I actually agree with.

How ludicrous is this sub thread?

[beam me up scottie]

21. Maybe you should have stuck with the topic at hand instead of trying to derail the thread.

Obvious poster is obvious.

[Sheepshank]

25. No, The manner and tone of your statement, trying to belittle others and believing you

Are of some sort of noble breed is laughable.

My mother always told me there was more than one way to state an opinion. You tend to chose poorly.

[beam me up scottie]

27. You got caught making a joke about the guillotine in response to a serious post.

A sincere person would have just stated whether or not they agreed with my opinion.

See post 23 for an example of how it's done.

[ColesCountyDem]

23. It's appalling.

Capital punishment is a relic that should be consigned to mankind's rubbish heap.

[beam me up scottie]

26. Indeed.

[Tipperary]

28. I know Utah had the firing squad.

What other states are wanting to bring this back? I did not know of this.

[beam me up scottie]

30. Link to one article:

Firing Squad and Gas Chamber Closer to Reality in Three States

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. As well we should. K&R

[LWolf]

8. I agree with him.

I'm glad to see this.

[L0oniX]

10. It's discusting that any Democrats would be pro death penalty.

I wouldn't call em Democrats.

[ibegurpard]

12. I have no moral objection to execution

But with all of the people exonerated because of DNA and other evidence there is no way I'm ever going to be willing to take a chance on executing an innocent person. Better to let someone guilty go free.

[rhett o rick]

13. This is another issue where HRC agrees with the Republicons. nm

[ibegurpard]

14. Not all of them

Who was the Republican governor of Illinois who declared a moratorium on executions? She's more conservative than a "moderate" Republican on this one!

[rhett o rick]

15. True moderate Republicons are hard to find, but I agree with you. nm

[jhart3333]

33. That would be the courageous Governor Ryan(R)

Subsequently sent to prison on corruption charges which seems to happen when people in power run afoul of the powers that be. Just sayin...

[elleng]

17. MARTIN O'MALLEY ENDED THE DEATH PENALTY IN Maryland in 2013.

'As governor, O’Malley signed legislation in 2013 making Maryland the sixth state to abolish capital punishment. A year later, he commuted the sentences of the four remaining inmates on Maryland’s death row. He remains a opposed to the death penalty, saying in a statement after a federal jury convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death that “the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent.”'

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/05/30/3663971/omalley-announcement/

He also Raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
Legalized gay marriage.
Implemented stricter gun control laws.
Gave in-state tuition to the children of immigrants.

O’Malley has also called for reforming Wall Street by reinstating the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act that kept commercial banks separate from investment banks. In an op-ed in the Des Moines Register, he listed fundamental reforms he supports including replacing the leadership at banks that are repeat offenders, appointing people to government who will prosecute the banking offenders and making banks “bear the full weight of financial penalties,” among others.

And in the same NPR interview, O’Malley called on Congress to lower the interest rate on student loans and said he opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership because it would hurt the middle class. He also more explicitly pointed out some of the differences between himself and Clinton, saying that Clinton “said until very recently that marriage equality was a state right” and that she is just now coming around to supporting drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/05/30/3663971/omalley-announcement/

[Doctor_J]

20. Another issue on which he's more of a Democrat than Mrs. Clinton

TPP
Minumum Wage
Offshore Drilling
Same Sex Marriage
Universal Healthcare
Patriot Act
Wall Street bailout
Bombing Syria
Expanding Social Security
Reinstating Glass-Steagal
Decriminalizing marijuana

But hey, they're 93% the same!

[beam me up scottie]

24. Bernie Sanders speaking about the death penalty in 1991:

[Eric J in MN]

42. Bernie Sanders was denouncing the incarceration rate

..back in 1991.

Ahead of the curve on that issue.

[SoapBox]

31. How long before she "evolves"?

3, 2, 1...

[Eric J in MN]

34. Hillary Clinton will keep saying that she has concerns

...about the death penalty during primary season, and then she'll boast about her support for the death penalty in the general election if she's the nominee and she's asked about it then.

[rhett o rick]

38. Like marijuana she thinks it needs a few more years of study. nm

[erronis]

35. Evolving, revolving - what's the deal. We want someone who represents

Somebody's interests. Whatever they are at the particular time. Whatever is expedient for the money, PACS, super-delegates. But that somebody can reserve the right to completely change its mind if it becomes obvious that the views aren't perfectly aligned with the corporate interests.

Sorry to dodge around naming names. One name that isn't part of this charade is Bernie.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

39. KnR! n/t