Hillary Clinton Supports Death Penalty For Dylann Roof

[NWCorona]

Hillary Clinton supports the death penalty for Dylann Roof, the accused shooter of nine parishioners at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, her campaign confirmed.

In the week since the Justice Department announced its decision to seek the death penalty in the Roof case, the former secretary of state had held off on weighing in. But in an email to The Huffington Post on Thursday, Clinton's top spokesman, Brian Fallon, said "she respects the Justice Department decision."

In coming out in support of the DOJ's move, Clinton has drawn a contrast between herself and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), whose campaign said he disagreed with the decision.

But the two candidates have never quite seen eye-to-eye on the issue of capital punishment. Sanders has steadfastly rejected its use on moral grounds and in the belief that it does little to actually deter crime. Clinton has said capital punishment should exist but be used only for the most heinous crimes. The shooting at Emanuel AME Church met her definition of heinous.


http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/hillary-clinton-supports-death-penalty-for-dylann-roof_us_57507737e4b0c3752dccde7c/amp

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. Good.

So do I. Racist, murderous fuck doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of the planet.

[NWCorona]

6. While I would tend to agree. My opposition to the death penalty

Puts me in a position of not being able to pick and choose who gets the needle.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

8. There are few times when I support it.

This is one. Taking out OBL was another. Tim McVeigh as well.
Heinous murders with extenuating circumstances. Acts of terrorism.

[passiveporcupine]

2. I'm with Bernie on this one

I believe capital punishment belittles us as a country. Putting him away for life is also much less expensive. And we already spend way too much on prisons, litigation over convictions and sentences.

While we know for a fact that Dylan is guilty, it doesn't mean we have the right to take a human life because he did. That sets us apart from countries that don't value human life. Except, apparently we don't either. We even execute people who are mentally retarded.

[imari362]

9. "We even execute people who are mentally retarded"

Sad commentary for a "Great Nation"

[demigoddess]

18. I agree about the cost associated with death penalty cases

but I really think these people who go into some place, school, church etc and kill numerous people should be the ONLY ones up for the death penalty. Not the ones who are really mentally ill , but the ones who do it for fame.

[peace13]

33. Isn't anyone who would go into some place like that and kill innocents, mentally ill?

I vote yes.

[demigoddess]

37. or they are very self involved. People who think that they are allowed

to do anything they want. People with a strong belief in a stupid idea.

[forjusticethunders]

41. There's a difference between "mentally ill" and "fucking evil".

Dylann Roof is absolutely the latter. Ice the motherfucker.

WITH THAT SAID, I oppose the DP in most cases, largely because of the issue of wrongful convictions and disproportional racial impact. But when it comes to people like Roof, then yes.

[Joob]

44. Death would be too merciful. Those same people doing it for "fame" also want an easy out

Why give it to them? They should be punished for life. Stuck in solitude,with only the thoughts of the injustices they may have committed.

[zappaman]

3. So do I. n/t

[vintx]

4. Sad to see members of this party are fine with this

The rest of the modern world moves forward while we keep falling behind

[Wilms]

12. They're not members of this party.

It's an occupation force.

[HerbChestnut]

5. Civilized countries should not support the death penalty.

It's a barbaric practice that needs to end. Lock these people up for the rest of their lives, but don't sink to killing them. The death penalty is essentially legalized murder.

[demigoddess]

38. civilized countries that have gun laws and therefore have fewer

murders. Fewer people running amok.

[imari362]

7. The death penalty for anyone

I would never support.
Roof is one of the most despicable disgusting humans I've seen in a long while still sucking air but I won't support even that in his case....let him suck prison air with his very last breath on earth.

[leftynyc]

10. I don't support the DP

but I wont shed one tear over that piece of shit.

[Aerows]

25. I'm a horrible person, I guess

but if he fries, I won't she a tear, either.

[leftynyc]

48. It doesn't make us horrible

I makes us very human. He contributes nothing positive to the world.

[Aerows]

49. I can't scare up

a positive feeling for evil. It's just not in me.

[UMTerp01]

11. Normally against death penalty but even I have no problem with this one.

Call me wishy washy or whatever. I don't give a damn. This one I'm turning the other cheek on. That son of a bitch deserves to die!!!! Was welcomed into that church and sat during a time of peace and Bible prayer only to open up the worst kind of assault on those people. Yeah no. He deserves to die and I don't give a damn if anyone disagrees.

[Wilms]

13. What's different about the cases where you don't support the Death Penalty?

[UMTerp01]

16. The heinousness of the crime and the proof positive evidence that he did it

I feel the same in other death penalty cases that are particularly egregious. Thats the difference. Not that difficult to understand actually.

[Wilms]

19. I find all murder heinous. So that's not a deal maker for me.

The fact that the guy is mentally ill, and some of the victims families are trying to forgive him, also gives me great pause.

[UMTerp01]

26. Great for you!!! We have differing opinions. How fab!

[1StrongBlackMan]

32. And you know of his being mentally ill, how?

[Wilms]

35. He isn't?

[1StrongBlackMan]

40. He hasn't been adjudicated so ...

and since his trial is coming up and it hasn't been raised as an issue, nor am I aware that the insanity defense is to be raised ... I think his attorneys, the state and the courts, don't think he is.

[Joe the Revelator]

14. It's so funny, no matter how traditionally right wing her policy is...

....the people who worship her still eat it up with a spoon. It use amaze me, now it's just laughable.

[auntpurl]

15. In cases where there is no question of guilt

and the crime is especially heinous, like this one, I am fine with the death penalty.

If there is any question of a defendant's guilt, the death penalty should not be used. This is, of course, my own personal opinion.

[KingFlorez]

17. He deserves it

Roof is a monster who murdered innocent people, so it's understandable why some people would agree with the Department of Justice's decision. And let's be real, there is a possibility that he would be killed in prison anyway, since prisoners frown upon crimes like this. He's probably too isolated for that to happen anyway.

[frylock]

20. Not at all shocked to see who does and who doesn't support the DP here.

I am adamantly against capital punishment under any and all circumstances.

[Wilms]

36. Was just thinking that when I scrolled upon your post.

Upthread, I commented and asked a question. Should have worn an asbestos suit.

[panader0]

43. Yep--Pretty much divided between HRC (pro death penalty) and Bernie folks (against death penalty)

Quite telling.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. I don't but that is a principle thing

[Garrett78]

22. Maybe she does support it, but that's not what the article says.

It simply says "she respects the Justice Department decision." Typically, that's a way of saying, "It's their decision to make and not my place to criticize."

There's no telling how Clinton truly feels about the death penalty. Obama was probably for gay marriage long before he was willing to acknowledge as much. If a mass movement leads to abolishing the death penalty, Clinton won't stand in the way. Let's face it, politicians (particularly those who are or might become POTUS) say and do what is politically expedient. Sanders is and always has been more free to speak his mind, because his campaign is a message campaign.

The bottom line is that systemic changes require mass movements. In a very individualistic culture, we tend to overestimate the power and influence of individual actors. Getting rid of the death penalty requires mass organization.

[TheBlackAdder]

23. The DP should be abolished. #TwoDegreesOfSaudiArabia

[Aerows]

24. Can't criticize her on that one.

I'm not going to contort myself trying to justify why his behind shouldn't fry like an egg, either.

I'll wait for the condemnation that is sure to come, but that dude was a terrorist shooting people in church, and *nothing* makes that okay to offer "leniency".

[Lil Missy]

27. Good decision. He does deserve the death penalty. n/t

[shanti]

28. i agree with bernie on the dp

too many innocent people have died who WEREN'T guilty. however heinous the crime, 60+ years in prison would be hell on earth to most. it's NOT lenient. being put to death is easier. ask some of the people on california's death row...

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. Good ... So do I.

This isn't a case of sketchy forensic evidence; or, a 8 month, after the fact, near-sighted witness from across the street at midnight ID by a jailhouse informant.

There is no question that Roof committed these murders.

[Tarc]

30. I am all for it in this case

Even moreso for for that nutjob who shot up Planned Parenthood last year.

[beachbum bob]

31. All terrorist deserve the death penalty if found guilty I don't want a penny of tax money I pay

to support their sorry asses

[panader0]

45. You understand that the DP is more costly that life in prison right?

Besides being immoral.

[taught_me_patience]

34. He deserves it. Nt

[Starry Messenger]

39. I'm having a hard time feeling bad about that.

[Philly-Union-Man]

42. It's a no brainier. He's the poster boy for execution.

There's no chance the wrong guy will be killed, no chance he's innocent. Multiple cold blooded murders based on racism.

He should have been hanged the day after.

[Recursion]

47. Breivik in Norway killed 80 kids and they never discussed executing him

His "motive" was as transparently racist as Roof's. There's a better way.

[Recursion]

46. That's unfortunate. O'Malley's abolition of the DP in Maryland sealed him as my candidate

We don't prove killing people is wrong by killing people who kill people.