After we wrote our post this morning about the article in the Times-Argus asserting that Howard Dean had expanded his support for the death penalty and was aligned with Bush on the issue, his campaign clarified his position on his weblog, Blog for America. You can read his response here. Highlights include:

Governor Dean opposes the death penalty except in very limited circumstances involving extreme and heinous crimes.

...When he became governor in 1991, Howard Dean opposed the death penalty in all cases.

...In 1997, after a number of brutal crimes involving the murder of children, including the abduction, rape and murder of 12-year old Polly Klass in California, Dean spoke publicly about his reconsideration of his position on the death penalty.... After careful deliberation, Dean concluded that the death penalty may be an appropriate punishment in limited circumstances such as the murder of a child or a police officer.

...Finally, as a result of the mass murder that took place on September 11, 2001, he concluded that the death penalty should also be available in cases of terrorists who take human life.

...A Dean administration would administer the death penalty carefully and sparingly, unlike the Bush/Ashcroft Justice Department. Dean would instruct his Attorney General on day one to evaluate the federal death penalty system to ensure that it is applied fairly and reliably. He would also sign into law pending legislation, authored by Senator Leahy, that will strengthen protections against unjust imposition of the death penalty. (emphasis supplied)

Ok, that's a baby step, but a good start. We want to to see the Innocence Protection Act passed badly enough that we'll take it and put Gov. Dean back in our plus column. We do hope Governor Dean remains open to considering a moratorium, pending the outcome of the fairness evaluation he promises to have his Attorney General commence immediately upon taking office. As a society, we should not tolerate even one innocent person being put to death, when a moratorium an option.

[comments now closed]