O'Malley on dignity for all:

[FSogol]

Secured Marriage Equality
Governor O’Malley led the successful effort to pass marriage equality in the Maryland General Assembly. Then when the issue went to a statewide referendum, he led the campaign, helping Maryland become the first state in the nation ever to defend marriage equality at the ballot box.

Protecting the Rights of Individuals–Regardless of Gender Identity
Citing the need to create “an open, respectful, inclusive world we want for all of our children,” Governor O’Malley signed into law a bill banning discrimination against transgender Marylanders. Maryland was just the 17th state to add gender identity and expression to its anti-discrimination laws.

Fought for New Americans
Governor O’Malley welcomed New Americans to Maryland. He passed the DREAM Act. He signed legislation granting undocumented workers drivers licenses to make Maryland roads safer, and stood up for the rights of unaccompanied children at the border – Maryland housed more unaccompanied minors per capita than any other state. He ordered the state to stop automatically honoring federal detention requests, and for the federal government to house children with their families.

“It’s contrary to who we are as a people to hold children in camps… . Setting aside for a fact any concerns you have or any feeling you have towards these refugee kids, think about the sort of country we want to leave to our children. We are not a country that should send children away and send them back to certain death.” — Martin O’Malley at NGA

Expanded Voting Rights
While other states around the nation push stricter voter ID laws designed to limit people’s ability to exercise the right to vote, Governor O’Malley made it easier to vote in Maryland by expanding early voting and same-day voter registration.

Ended the Death Penalty
Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland repealed the death penalty and replaced it with life in prison without the possibility of parole.

[Peacetrain]

1. This alone garners my support

"Ended the Death Penalty
Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland repealed the death penalty and replaced it with life in prison without the possibility of parole."

And while 5 inmates were still on death row when the repeal went through.. it was for the future.. before he left office he commuted the sentences of those 5 inmates to life.



He has done things..

[Raine1967]

2. I really was happy that he did that.

I would love to see the Death penalty ridded from this Nation forever.

[Peacetrain]

3. We do not have the death penalty in Iowa

So many innocent people have been released by DNA.. makes you wonder how many innocents were put to death by the state..

[FSogol]

8. Same here. n/t

[askew]

4. This has been one of O'Malley's issues he has been passionate about for years.

He really had to fight with legislature to get it passed. Kudos to him for getting this done.

[Raine1967]

5. I'll be honest, his fighting to get this one done is something that makes me believe he will

fight.

He knows how to maneuver and get things passed. A lot of people like to say that politicians are all the same, I believe O'Malley knows how to politic. A good politician knows the art of diplomacy.

...and that should not be a bad thing.

[askew]

6. Exactly my thoughts.

Plus, every Dem up until O'Malley has become pro-death penalty once they've run for president. Hillary, Obama, Gore, Bill Clinton all were pro-death penalty. They were afraid of looking weak on crime. I like that O'Malley is still proudly against the death penalty even in the case of the Boston bomber. Shows that he has convictions and principles that he puts above electability.

[Raine1967]

7. Yes. What you said is really quite clarifying.

O'Malley really did stand proudly against and FOR many issues that matter for the people like me in the party LONG before they were running for President.

A lot of these examples were long before he decided to run. He led in the state of Maryland.