death penalty

[Guest guest]

I believe, in spite of Gore's controversial views (yeah, it's so

controversial for a presidential candidate to agree with the majority

opinion), that the Democratic party platform is anti-death penalty.

Bush, on the other hand, positively beamed as he spoke of

administering the death penalty in Texas. Correct me if I'm wrong, but

weren't something like 11 African American men pardoned from death row

in Texas in the past year or so, because their cases were so flimsy?

Let's keep our perspective here. I'm anti-death penalty myself and

Minnesota hasn't had a death penalty for a long time. I don't think it

will ever become a federal mandate, at least not in my lifetime, no

matter who wins this election.

judith

>

> Here is an excerpt from the 3rd debate. (btw, the transcripts are

very easy

> to find on the net. A prime source is www.debates.org. Also if you

do a

> google search on 'Al Gore death penalty' you'll get lots and lots of

links):

>

> MODERATOR:

>

> Vice President Gore?

>

> GORE:

>

> I support the death penalty. I think that it has to be administered

not

> only fairly with attention to things like DNA evidence, which I

think

> should be used in all capital cases, but also with very careful

> attention. If, for example, somebody confesses to the crime and

somebody

> is waiting on death row, there has to be alertness to say wait a

minute,

> have we got the wrong guy? If the wrong guy is put to death, then

that's

> a double tragedy. Not only has an innocent person been executed,

but the

> real perpetrator of the crime has not been held accountable for it.

And

> in some cases may be still at large. But I support the death

penalty in

> the most heinous cases.

>

> MODERATOR:

>

> Do both of you believe the death penalty actually deters crime?

> Governor?

>

> BUSH:

>

> I do. It's the only reason to be for it. Let me finish, sir. I

don't

> think you should support the death penalty to seek revenge. I don't

> think that's right. I think the reason to support the death penalty

is

> because it saves other people's lives.

>

> GORE:

>

> I think it is a deterrent. I know that's a controversial view, but

I do

> believe it's a deterrent.