Senator Santorum Re-examines Death Penalty Stance

classicman2 · 03-24-05, 08:10 AM

CNN:

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Sen. Rick Santorum, a longtime death penalty supporter, said he is re-examining his stance but not to the point of saying it is wrong in all cases.

"I still support the death penalty, but what I'm suggesting is, number one, we have to be more cautious," he said Tuesday, saying capital punishment should be limited to the "most horrific and heinous of crimes."

Santorum, who is running for a third term, said he is "not saying that I fundamentally believe the death penalty is wrong."

In an interview published in Tuesday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Santorum, a Roman Catholic, said he agrees with the pope that the use of the death penalty should be limited.

Asked to elaborate by The Associated Press, the conservative Republican said: "I could see a legitimate rationale for not executing juveniles" as long as the offender was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 1 that execution of those who kill as juveniles is unconstitutional.

"There are reasons that we execute people: for the sake of protecting society and exacting justice" and as a deterrent, he said. "This is not the taking of innocent human life. ... In many respects, you could look at the death penalty as self-defense."

State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., who said he plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Santorum, supports the death penalty.

Santorum has been re-examining his views at a time when recent polls find Catholic support for the death penalty diminishing. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has announced a new campaign against the death penalty, released surveys from last November and this month showing that adult church members, once supportive of the death penalty, are now evenly divided on the issue.
__________________

If I were a ungracious lout, I might say......, but I won't.

Red Dog · 03-24-05, 09:04 AM

Interesting timing.

wendersfan · 03-24-05, 09:44 AM

Hmm...

If Senator Santorum is trying to head towards the middle, at this rate he might make it by, oh, 2044...

VinVega · 03-24-05, 10:44 AM

Well, he seems to be trying to "err on the side of life" in his beliefs. That's something I guess.

Geofferson · 03-24-05, 11:08 AM

Quote:

"I still support the death penalty, but what I'm suggesting is, number one, we have to be more cautious," he said Tuesday, saying capital punishment should be limited to the "most horrific and heinous of crimes."

Sans a definition of what he considers to be the most horrific and heinous of crimes, what were his death penalty beliefs prior to this self re-examination?

Tracer Bullet · 03-24-05, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geofferson

Sans a definition of what he considers to be the most horrific and heinous of crimes, what were his death penalty beliefs prior to this self re-examination?

Kill 'em if ya got 'em?

sfsdfd · 03-24-05, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinVega

Well, he seems to be trying to "err on the side of life" in his beliefs. That's something I guess.

[southern accent] cultchure of lahf... :jedi-hand-motion: cultchure of lahf... :jedi-hand-motion: [/southern accent]

But I vehemently support the right of people to change their minds, so I have no problem with this. In fact, those who hold permanent and unswerving beliefs in things tend to scare me.

- David Stein

JasonF · 03-24-05, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendersfan

Hmm...

If Senator Santorum is trying to head towards the middle, at this rate he might make it by, oh, 2044...

I don't think Sen. Santorum is heading toward the middle. Rather, I think he's retrenching his positions so that he can use "culture of life" rhetoric to support his strong anti-abortion, anti-embryonic-stem-cell, etc. positions without having to worry about an attack on his flank based on a perceived inconsistency with his death penalty views.

Goldblum · 03-24-05, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonF

I don't think Sen. Santorum is heading toward the middle. Rather, I think he's retrenching his positions so that he can use "culture of life" rhetoric to support his strong anti-abortion, anti-embryonic-stem-cell, etc. positions without having to worry about an attack on his flank based on a perceived inconsistency with his death penalty views.

Agreed. This is a political tactic to ultimately gain more support for his other positions. I doubt he truly feels different about the death penalty.

Red Dog · 03-24-05, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonF

I don't think Sen. Santorum is heading toward the middle. Rather, I think he's retrenching his positions so that he can use "culture of life" rhetoric to support his strong anti-abortion, anti-embryonic-stem-cell, etc. positions without having to worry about an attack on his flank based on a perceived inconsistency with his death penalty views.

Exactly. It is why I wrote 'interesting timing' - alluding to the comments he has made about Schiavo.

Ranger · 03-24-05, 01:15 PM

The death penalty and abortion should be strictly a states' right issue. The SCT.'s interference with the juvenule death peanlty was absolutely inexcusable (you can talk to me til you're blue in the face about that one), but so was Congress' recent abortion restrictions.

classicman2 · 03-24-05, 01:20 PM

We need an amendment to repeal the The Tenth Amendment.

Oh, I forgot - we already have it - The Fourteenth Amendment.

03-24-05, 08:10 AM	#1
classicman2 DVD Talk God Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 66,868	Senator Santorum Re-examines Death Penalty Stance CNN: PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Sen. Rick Santorum, a longtime death penalty supporter, said he is re-examining his stance but not to the point of saying it is wrong in all cases. "I still support the death penalty, but what I'm suggesting is, number one, we have to be more cautious," he said Tuesday, saying capital punishment should be limited to the "most horrific and heinous of crimes." Santorum, who is running for a third term, said he is "not saying that I fundamentally believe the death penalty is wrong." In an interview published in Tuesday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Santorum, a Roman Catholic, said he agrees with the pope that the use of the death penalty should be limited. Asked to elaborate by The Associated Press, the conservative Republican said: "I could see a legitimate rationale for not executing juveniles" as long as the offender was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 1 that execution of those who kill as juveniles is unconstitutional. "There are reasons that we execute people: for the sake of protecting society and exacting justice" and as a deterrent, he said. "This is not the taking of innocent human life. ... In many respects, you could look at the death penalty as self-defense." State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., who said he plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Santorum, supports the death penalty. Santorum has been re-examining his views at a time when recent polls find Catholic support for the death penalty diminishing. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has announced a new campaign against the death penalty, released surveys from last November and this month showing that adult church members, once supportive of the death penalty, are now evenly divided on the issue. __________________ If I were a ungracious lout, I might say......, but I won't.

03-24-05, 09:04 AM	#2
Red Dog DVD Talk God Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV) Posts: 104,475	Interesting timing. __________________ "A question for you. Would you rather Bucknell make the NCAA's once every 20 years or so and get ass raped by teams like Kansas in the first round or have them drop down a rung to a confernce where they can compete for a title?" - Josh Hinkle 1st Round Final Scores: Bucknell 64 Kansas 63 \| Bucknell 59 Arkansas 55

03-24-05, 09:44 AM	#3
wendersfan Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Where homophobes don't get slut sauce Posts: 28,260	Hmm... If Senator Santorum is trying to head towards the middle, at this rate he might make it by, oh, 2044... __________________ "Fifth Element may be as dumb and artless as Johnny Mnemonic, but since a frenchman made it it must be ART!" -Pants "...I think it's a low blow to draw attention to wendersfan's drunken state. " - dork "Just because their victims are still alive doesn't mean they didn't commit murder." - grundle "You concentrate on the sad wanna be hooliganism and let us worry about the actual soccer." - rocketsauce (final score: Columbus 2-Chicago 1)

03-24-05, 10:44 AM	#4
VinVega Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Stuck in the middle with you Posts: 24,056	Well, he seems to be trying to "err on the side of life" in his beliefs. That's something I guess. __________________ History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity. - Cicero

03-24-05, 01:15 PM	#11
Ranger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 18,147	The death penalty and abortion should be strictly a states' right issue. The SCT.'s interference with the juvenule death peanlty was absolutely inexcusable (you can talk to me til you're blue in the face about that one), but so was Congress' recent abortion restrictions.

03-24-05, 01:20 PM	#12
classicman2 DVD Talk God Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 66,868	We need an amendment to repeal the The Tenth Amendment. Oh, I forgot - we already have it - The Fourteenth Amendment.