Bernie Sanders Wants to END DEATH PENALTY, Hillary Clinton Wants to Keep It

[Segami]

–Another difference surfaces as Bernie Sanders says he wants to end the death penalty, while Hillary Clinton expresses opposition to ending capital punishment

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[HassleCat]

1. I don't get this one

This is a no-brainer for a progressive. You can absolutely, unquestionably not call yourself a progressive and support capital punishment in any form. Death penalty supporters should even choke on the word "liberal," although I will concede that has become a rather meaningless term.

[jfern]

2. The death penalty is more racist than killer cops

42% on death row are black. 30% killed by the police are black. If black lives matter, the death penalty must be abolished.

[Koinos]

3. Martin O'Malley ended the death penalty in Maryland.

"Why I Oppose the Death Penalty," by Martin O'Malley (posted Wednesday, February 21, 2007 in the Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/20/AR2007022001292.html

In addition to financial and utilitarian arguments, O'Malley states the moral ground for his position:

Human dignity is the concept that leads brave individuals to sacrifice their lives for the lives of strangers. Human dignity is the universal truth that is the basis of ethics. Human dignity is the fundamental belief on which the laws of this state and this republic are founded. And absent a deterrent value, the damage done to the concept of human dignity by our conscious communal use of the death penalty is greater than the benefit of even a justly drawn retribution.

An excellent read.