Obama backs death for child rapists

Is Obama just another political panderer, unable to take a courageous if unpopular stand. Should we authorize state sanctioned homicide for other non-homicide crimes? Should we move to an eye for a tooth?

Wow he really got us there 6 or 8 is the limit to be heinous? Wouldn't raping any child be heinous? Wouldn't a harsher punishment be life in prison away from anyone?

This is the first thing I've ever seen that I liked from Obama.

States should be allowed to make their own laws in all areas. Read the constitution Robert T. Hall

Bottom-Line: I was on the fence about Obama but this gets my vote. And no, I don't think he is pandering for votes. Some things should be punishable by death and raping a child is one of them.

smart answer from a smart guy.

Jeez Robert, I don't think Obama took the popular position. Everybody I know thinks execution is way too easy on a child rapist.

Yes, in the case of a grown man who raped an eight year old sir.

Yes, Robert. We should. In the case of someone raping a child, yes. Other crimes, that could probably depend, but raping a child? That's death.

Rotting in prison is way too good for a baby-raper. I don't care if other inmates supposedly beat the shit out of him (this is based entirely on rumors I've heard about prison); he should die. Death to someone who defiles a child.

Just proves is another true coward for political purposes.
Some "change", indeed

Not and eye for a tooth, but maybe imprisonment without any special protection and wearing a t-shirt that says "I raped a child" would probably be sufficient punishment?

I'm am all for death to rapists. Wish it was legal to just bash their heads in myself. Humanity should evolve without the death penalty but rapists aren't human and courts are too light on them to begin with because they always think the girl is at fault for some deranged reason.

liberals should get the death penalty. They destroy our nation. They turn it into a socialist society...

Some crimes of torture are seen as being worse than murder because torture can be more a subversion of the will of the victim. Child rape is a type of torture. Anytime you treat someone so brutally that they wish they were dead, you have crossed the same line that you cross when you kill someone.

As a practical consideration, however, allowing the death penalty for crimes other than murder means that once you've committed that crime, there's no marginal additional penalty to killing your victim.

Robert T.
We do authorize the death penalty for non homicide crimes; such as Treason and Espionage which the Supreme Court cited in this decision. Vero Possumus.

No, of course not. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Much more effective.

Seriously -- Dukakis' point was correct -- but it ignored the specific value of elimination from socieity of one so vile as to be willing to commit heinous actis. Certainly, this qualifies.

well...politics is the art of the possible, and "an eye for an eye" in this case would involve time machines and state-sponsored rape, so we're working with what's available here.

I'm not so sure it's most appropriate to liken the rape of a small child to a "tooth." It is, indeed, a heinous crime, and I'm not sure that a pro-death penalty stance is, in this case, objectively wrong. Personally, I don't feel that the death penalty works, particularly when, in places like Texas, death row inmates' convictions are reversed frighteningly often, but another's decision to apply such a punishment in a case of the rape of a child is something I cannot criticize.

He actually went further than an answer to the Dukakis question. It's one thing to say you'd want someone who raped and murdered your wife or child to die; it's quite another to make as cool and as broad of a policy statement as Obama made here. He stated, as a matter of general policy, of states expanding the death penalty beyond homicide altogether. There was nothing personal or emotional to this, which was the nature of the Dukakis question (and what made it so patently unfair and inappropriate).

Yes we should. Rape a child and die. I don't want to pay for a child rapists stay in our prison system. Rather the money go toward education, energy, infrastructure and social services.

He talks about the death penalty for such circumstances in his last book, which was written well before the presidential run. So perhaps he actually does have this view and is not pandering.

Ughh, I'm favoring Obama right now, but I really wish he hadn't said that. The last thing we need is the expansion of the death penalty.

Backing the death penalty for rapists is the same thing as backing the murder of rape victims. Its an incetive.

In a civilized community, there is no place for capital punishment, however heinous the crime is even if it is a homicide crime.

We should abolish death penalty.

I am thinking of voting for Obama but I will not vote for him if he supports death penalty. I do not want to question his motives.

I would agree with Obama on this issue. Being a father of a little girl, I could not imagine my reaction if something like that happened to her. I would wish the person dead. People have become too political, thinking about the law of everything rather than what is right and just. Do I think that the death penalty is punishment enough for the rape of a small child? I'm not sure it is enough of a punishment.

Oh no you don't Hall. Most probably wouldn't support the death penalty unless under some specific circumstances so I don't view Obama's views as political pandering. Let's face it: Anyone can say that The Death Penalty doesn't make sense because it's not YOUR friend, YOUR family, YOUR loved one.

Rape isn't like other non-homicide crimes.
In some ways, it's almost worse than murder.
I agree with Obama.

Obama's mythology unraveling. Just another politico. I am deeply disappointed in his support for the death penalty. Add to that his campaign's rejection of Muslims, his support for the egregious FISA bill breaking his previous vow to the contray and he has transformed into just another slimy Washington insider who will say and do anything.

As a previous enthusiastic Obama supporter I am utterly disenchanted. Sure, I'll vote for him if the other option is Bush's third term but I have lost respect for the guy.

Considering how the media and the Republican smear machine wait to pounce on every word Obama utters, his comments are astute and pragmatic. I don't think he really means it, but I'm not bothered. The Supreme Court has spoken. Why should he say anything that will make him vulnerable to attack the way Dukakis and Kerry were.
The day the media stops stirring the pot and looking for sensational distractions and focuses on the real issues facing this country: energy, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and the impact of global warming, will be the day it will be "safe" for politicians to speak their mind. Until, then we have to wait until they're elected to see what they do, not what they've said.

Great....so this election year, we have a choice between McCain, whose presidency will guarantee a ulta-conservative panel of judges on the Supreme Court (and the continued erosion of fundamental rights and liberties safeguarded by our Constitution) or Obama, another whacko who supports capital punishment for non-homicide crimes. This country is doomed...

Obama's view may not be my view either---I don't believe in the death penalty on moral grounds. That said, when someone differs---but from another point also on a moral ground, though it may differ from mine, I can certainly respect that.

I feel his statement represents his view on the issue. Surprise, he's not as far left as made out to be. In no way does opening up to the possibility of capital punishment for certain crimes against individuals suggest the extreme "eye for a tooth" outlook on sentencing.

We're trying to win a Presidential election here, friend. Time and again, the left must learn that Middle America needs to hear what it wants to get votes. We must bear with the reality of this lowest common denominator game.

This isn't even something that the President has power over anyway, so the question itself was trying to derail Obama with a non-issue. I'm glad that he's taking an aggressive stance on those kind of "gotcha" questions.

And though I'm against the death penalty, I don't have any problem with killing child rapists. I just don't want the state to have that power.

Yes!

History has shown and continues to show that a lack of severe response encourages such crimes. Liberal parents and turn the other cheek as well as folks who feel death by execution for serious crimes is wrong have made our society what it is today...more crime , total disregard for human life and child assassins emboldened by our lack of response.
Let the rule of the land be, if you commit a crime that causes bodily harm, death or mutilation to another human being...you are executed upon being found guilty within 24 hours. No appeals allowed and Crime will plummet!!!

I was very pleased to see that the man I voted for and will vote for again supports the death penalty in cases such as this. As someone who has experienced molestation first hand and know that my siblings and niece suffered the same fate from the very same animal, I'm all for it. I'd like to know if the previous comment was from someone who has had to deal with the ramifications of a female close to him being assaulted. If not, he knows nothing of what he speaks. The effects of this kind of abuse can last a lifetime, provided the girl/woman doesn't kill herself first. Thank goodness there are some men out there with backbones!

I support Obama, but I agree with the Supreme Court here. I am not opposed to the death penalty in general, but I do believe it should be reserved for crimes involving the loss of life. Or possibly crimes with effects comparable to loss of life, such as complete and permament paralysis and brain damage.
Child rape is indeed a heinous crime, but execution is out of proportion to the crime. And it has already been decided that disproportionate punishment constitutes "cruel and unusual."
Also, Obama's quote doesn't directly support execution for child rapists, but rather does not oppose it. He seems to say it should be available, should a state support that punishment.

Obama is a savvy politician. Clearly his opinion is different from a small minority of Americans. A charge of pandering would only apply were this opinion differ from his past views on this subject. It does not. I am less than certain Obama regrets upsetting the More Right for Child Rapists Lobby.

If you, Mr. Hall, or any other bleeding heart leftist quisling, should commit any such heinous crime, yes...your eyes, your teeth, and your life.

Child rapists DESERVE to die. But, is it the best thing to do ? Certainly it's the cheapest. But we might kill somebody that's actually innocent. And Dukakis was probably right. Capital punishment is not much of a deterant to psychotic monsters.
But, If you think capital punishment is OK - then certainly raping CHILDREN rates it.
Interestingly, the Pygmys of old considered child abuse the ULTIMATE crime and their members that committed these crimes were pushed out of the tribe and forced to live ALONE. This was, in essence, a death sentence. It was the ONLY crime that got this level of punishment. Murder could be 'worked out'.
I think EVERYONE AGREES that a real child molestor can NEVER be allowed around children. They MUST be locked up. Period.

Robert, I'll assume you do not have children. The loss of innocence and impact to that child for the rest of his/her life can't possibly be measured. I would consider this a crime on-par or worse than homicide.

I think the punishment should fit the crime, not match it as I interpret your statement about "state sanctioned homicide for other non-homicide crimes" to mean.

A courageous stand, Robert? With all due respect, I don't call sparing child rapists a courageous stand. Remember...Obama is the father of two little girls. Those of us who are fathers, and mothers for that matter, can relate to his sentiment. Is he pandering? Probably. But few can doubt his sincerity in advocating for tough penalties for crimes against children. Maybe you have kids and still take your position. Or maybe you don't and just can't relate to how this issue can color value judgment. Either way, I respect your principles and can understand your point while disagreeing with it.

As far as I'm concerned, if a sex predator won't be deterred by the death penalty then nothing will stop him. And if it's my daughter who gets victimized, he'll either be executed by the state or by other more efficient means that I won't elaborate on here.

Robert T. Hall, quick question for you:

When a child rapist is 'rehabilitated' would you be comfortable having him living next door to you? Even though the system has a near-zero success rate reforming sexual predators?

Or would you prefer that child rapists be locked away forever? In which case, how loudly would you complain when they build a prison across the street from you?

Fortunately his fellow inmates are much more pragmatic than you, as they tend to solve the problem for us. Be glad for that.

I don't know if rape is an eye for a tooth. Raping a child is as heinous as killing that child as far as I am concerned. However, I don't believe the death penalty should be legal for any crime. Don't make this about the crime but the punishment because I agree that a rapist especially a child rapist should get the same penalty as a murderor.

Robert,

So Obama is a panderer and a coward because he has an opinion that differs from yours? That kind of narrow thinking is what got us George Bush for eight years. Now, if you think Mr. Bush is a great leader, then logically speaking, any opinion you render is, at best, suspect.

Robert,

Rape of a child is a murder of their innocents. FRY THEM UP.... I am not a big believer in the death penalty... but in cases such as this I am all up for it.

Ask him if he thinks it is alright to kill babies. I was on the fence before this. I wondered if he was a socialist or a lieing socialist. Now I am sure he is a lieing socialist. He would not even get the consideration of my vote.

I believe instead of the death penalty we should move to create more isolated prisoner experiences. Prisoners should NEVER be allowed to interact with other prisoners. It just makes them worse. DUH!!

This is so hypocritical and political at the same time. So we can kill someone for raping a child but we cannot commit resources to fight a war where muderous dictators kill hundreds of thousands of innocent lives. Just like Kennedy, he will say or do whatever it takes to get elected. Dems are so salivating that anything goes. Time to read the constituion and eliminate the largest employer in the free World, the US Government. The Manchurian Candidate, I mean Obama has spoken, lol

Poor little Obama-bots...If they had only done their own thinking instead of allowing wishful thinking and a slick shuck-and-jive to needlessly propel a man who is, yes, Virginia, just another pandering politician.

And after the disasterous last eight years of epic incompetence, we may well not survive another years-long disaster that, this time, will be borne of naivite and inexperience - albeit borne of packed-house-sized good intentions and 'let's go change the world' idealism that would be almost noble were it not such a massive deception in what is incrementally possible in the complex world of politics.

So thanks to everyone who voted for a democratic show-horse president instead of a work-horse one. You were duped and now we will ALL pay the price.

When you've seen a two-year old girl with her internal organs hanging out of her genitals after being raped by some animal who believes child rape cures AIDS, as happens daily in Africa, you know that the perpetrators of such deeds must die.
It has nothing to do with homicide and everything to do with justice - ask yourself, does the dirtbag care if the child lives or dies? Hell no. And if the child lives, is their life usually ruined anyway? Hell yes.
It's time to stop applying the letter of the law only, and start making our little children safer by doing what all civilized communities do - take out the garbage.

I think our criminal justice system is in shambles. We cannot affortd to allow child molesters to go unpunished for such heinous crimes. A slap on the wrist just doesn't get it. Just doing time alone is not enough punishment for these offenders, especially when the recidivism rate has shown that they are prone to repeat such crimes upon their release from prison. The only way to insure that such crimes are not repeated against the yough of our country is to sentence them to die. While they may tell us that they are not afraid of capital punishment, I think we know better. Also, I wonder just where in the Constitution it reads that such death penalties are out of line for such crimes against our children...

Our criminal system is so weak today that the criminals are not afraid to committ such crimes. They also know that our prisons are over crowded

children are the future of our nation and should be protected as such. If someone rapes a child,he should be given the death penalty.yes,i do agree with senator Obama.

It's a crime worse than murder in my opinion. I think castration and life imprisonment might be an appropriate punishment for child rapists. The child who was raped has to live with that pain and horror for the rest of their lives, it seems fitting that the rapist should have to leave with pain and horror for the rest of theirs... if we aren't allowed to just rid the planet of such filthy creatures.

Now we have a start. Now we just need to execute drug addicts, drug dealers, alcoholics and all forms of rapists. Then we can all sleep better at night.

In our current political climate nothing Obama could say would please everyone. If he doesn't support it he would be labeled as another so-called "soft-on-crime" liberal; if he does support it he is labeled a panderer.

I think we have to be very careful in how we apply the death penalty given that we continue to impose it in this country although there is scant evidence that it is a deterrent to criminal behavior. Although the desire to exact vengeance against wrongs committed on us or those we care about runs very deep in human nature, we should not forget that a balanced judicial system should aspire to fairness in the distribution of justice. To do otherwise leads us down a slippery slope to becoming another Singapore.

From what I can tell God administered the death penalty in certain circumstances and required the Israelites to do so. But, it was GOD who decided who should live or die. I have no problem with the death penalty as consequences for actions. What I have a problem with is human imperfection and with that imperfection deciding whether another person should live or die. Who among humans can add one second to his own life so as to assume the power to take one? The death penalty is way beyond our ability. But blameless people will continue to be killed until the new system is installed when there will be no more need for such consequences.

I think that Senator Obama is right on this. When a man rapes a child and the jury finds the evidence makes the man worthy of the death penalty then the death penalty it is. I have no sympathy for these type criminals.

I still can't accept the fact that we live in the greatest country in the world and we still feel that execution is an acceptable form of punishment. Execution has not decreased the crime rate in any state, and costs more to implement than life incarceration. The only justification we have is that it makes us feel like we are doing something, which it is not. So, unless we want pure and simple revenge (I'm pretty sure I didn't see that in the bible.), execution cannot be justified in any logical context much less an ethical one. So unless Obama is playing to the crowd, he is not as well thought out or moral as I had hoped and has lost my vote.

Personally I think the rationale for the death penalty is flawed.
What is the point of putting someone to death?
Is it to protect society?
Is it to punish the criminal?
Is it to deter others?

I think the death penalty should be to protect society from people who can be proven will never be safe to release under any circumstances. Why should the tax payer provide food and shelter for such people?

Whatever happened to the American soldiers convicted of raping a child in the Middle East? Did they end up getting the death penalty? More importantly, would you violence-obsessed hardcore torture guys support the death penalty in that case, or are you just hypocritical fakes who enjoy talking about hideous crimes and the hideous punishments you'd mete out if you were king?

Roosevelt, I'm not really sure what you are talking about, but is your god's "new system" going to do something about those priests who have raped countless innocent children?

Austin, it's a bit stupid of you to tell Robert to read the Constitution. The Supreme Court decides the constitution, and they know a hell of a lot more about it than you can by "reading." The Supreme Court is the authority on the Constitution, the Constitution says so, and they say you're wrong.

I agree with the Supreme Courts decision and I'm tired of the pedophile witchhunt and all of the other crap related to this that has been going on over the last decade. Your all going way, way overboard and a rape that doesn't result in murder is not worthy of the death penalty. The victim could be 2 for all I care.

Also Obama is either political pandering or hes not a real liberal.

In California, under present law, a child is anyone under 18. A child cannot give consent. Thus, if a girl born on May 26, 1990 talks her boyfriend, lets say he was born on May 25, 1990, into having sex with her, the guy should be executed. Bad example? How about an 18 year old and a 13 year old? Death? How about an 18 year old and a ten year old? Just curious, where do you folks draw the line?

Since it's an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, it should be a rape for a rape. If someone rapes a kid, let the parents or someone else rape that person back. That would be the only logical way to extract justice, or revenge. Or whatever.

While I understand the desire for revenge, I think the best punishment is to lock that person up and throw away the key. Let that person contemplate the evil of his deeds in solitary confinement. Given that so many people on death row have been proven to be innocent, it's clear that the system doesn't work perfectly. Given the human fallibility and error, I doubt that the system can be made 100% error free. So, no death sentence.

Hey, all you non-sensical, "I made it to 7th grade" Obama haters. Get an education and grow-up. Don't believe everything the Three Stooges (O'Riley, Limbaugh, Hannity) tell you. Remember they, and you, are the idiots who put our dumby president in office. How are your gas prices? Food any cheaper? Bet ya don't have health insurance and you really should be on medication! Do you really think Dubya and the GOP are looking out for you? That's a riot! So-called conservatism has screwed this country over and you still don't see it; you're pathetic. Oh, and have a nice day.

Damn right we should. There are certain crimes for which one forfeits the right to live. I applaud Senator Obama's stance here, and it is one which should be noted. I also have to point out that he IS taking a courageous and unpopular stand, given that he is a Democrat and we Democrats traditionally (hence, Dukakis' statement) oppose the Death Penalty.

This is just ridiculous. A death sentence for rape?

Has Obama lost his mind?

You conservatives should calm down. America puts more people to death than any other country. It has a greater percentage of the population in prison than any other country. If it was up to you I suppose the numbers would be even higher.

But most of the world just thinks we're barbaric. I think Obama has put himself on a slippery slope here. What gets the death penalty next? Any crime you do to my wife or daughter is terrible. I'll kill you with my bare hands.

But maybe that's why you don't let the victim do the judging. And you build a legal system on principle, not horror stories.

There is one compelling reason that allows me to agree with this decision from the US Supreme Court: if you permit a child rapist to be executed, then you give the rapist no reason to let his victim live. If a rapist is only facing jail time, then he is likely to let his victim live; however, if she knows that she will be executed for raping the child, then she will attempt to kill the child and hide the evidence.

Why canīt we simple be honest by admitting our wishes for revenge if we hear about horrible crimes or be even victims or relatives. Why canīt we admit our natural feelings, the "killer inside" but then, maybe after breathing again, separate it from civil and humane, from christian and moral control, from reason and responsibility for our society and their values, which contain also the ability of being wiser than the percentage of criminalsubjects in every society.

I am a "liberal" who supports the death penalty. I think states should be able to impose the death penalty on perpetrators of murder or in the case of the rape of a child that is proven to cause sustaining physical and emotional damage. One change I would make to the death penalty is that in the case of "slam dunk" cases where the murder was witnessed by a victim that managed to get away or otherwise survive (Ramon Salsido case for example) that that murderer be killed instantly, as soon as the case closed and conviction handed down. NO appeals, no second chances. We would probably not have to feed maybe 10% of the current death row inmates right now if we adopted this policy retroactively.

how sad,

He supports abortion, and the death penalty,
now I definitely won't be able to vote for Obama.

This is a typical American approach. A tough one-eyed view towards everything without bothering to understand the root causes anything. Child rape is not an act of first choice; it is an act of desperation. Jesus, Cho, unib*mber, Columbine kids, etc. wouldn't have gotten into trouble had they been getting laid regularly.

In the US, 4 to 5 times more males commit suicide than females. While female suicide rates have continued to decline, male suicide rates have continued to climb. In last 40 years of the 20th century, more males in the US committed suicide than those killed during all US conflicts in the entire 20th century.

At 49.5% or half of the marriages ending up in divorce, US has the world's highest divorce rate (twice that of Australia and Canada). Since the introduction of no fault divorce laws in the 1960's, there's been a 5 fold increase in divorces, with women filing twice as often as men.

US has the world's highest rape rate, which is 13 times higher than that of England and 20 times higher than that of Japan. 1 in 3 victims are under the age of 12 and 2 in 3 victims are under the age of 18.

In China, sex selection is leading to a generation of restless young men who will not find mates. History, biology, and sociology all suggest that these “surplus males” will generate high levels of crime and social disorder.

US has the world's largest prison population. US has one-twentieth of world's population but one-third of the world's prisoners. Since 1971, prison population has gone up 7 folds. The prison-industrial complex now employs more people than Ford, GM and Wal-Mart combined.

If you don't like Obama, then you should've supported John Edwards when you had the chance. It's your fault for buying into Barack's crap about "hope and "change.
Suckers! ....

In answer to a question about where we draw the line at 17 16, 12 we draw the line at anyone under age thats why its called statutory rape history has proven over and over again that child molester and rapists cannot be rehabilitated. If the child is not killed to cover their crime the child suffers for life and in many cases can't function normally afterward without professional help. I'm sick and tired of people making excuses for these horrific crimes. All children are our children. we as a people need to do everything and anything to protect them from these predators
who care nothing for the lives of the innocent. Children are not even safe in our schools anymore,they can't even trust the teachers. Teenagers are physically developed, not mentally. They are still in need of guidance. wake up please save our children.

As the parent of a child who was repeatedly sexually abused and raped from age three to about five, not only could I throw the switch on the SOB, I'd castrate him first and shove his dick in his mouth before the current got him.
If he only knew what he has done to my family over the last six years, he'd know I'm on the hunt and I'll gut him, smiling the whole time.
She was in the best and most expensive child care in the city and this was done to her by someone she trusted.
Revenge will be mine and I'm not waiting for the court to decide his fate.

To those that say treatment and rehabilitation of pedophiles does not "work": you are quite wrong - this is a popular misconception. Studies have proven unequivocally that therapy programs for pedophiles *do* work and very successfully *do* prevent re-offending. In fact, sexual felons of all types have a lower recidivism rate than the general felon population. This has been known for quite some time. People and the media like to ignore this fact because it suits them to believe what they want to believe, and to prefer a lust for vengeance over logic. And vengeance is never a good motive for action of any kind, or don't you read the New Testament? He said turn the other cheek, not an eye for a tooth. Jesus' challenge to you right-wing nutters is to forgive everyone, including pedophiles. But you'd rather bash Bibles than read them.

quoting phil "To those that say treatment and rehabilitation of pedophiles does not "work": you are quite wrong - this is a popular misconception. Studies have proven unequivocally that therapy programs for pedophiles *do* work"

I don't believe that. On what do you base this statement? Do you have a reference to a study that proves / supports this statement? There have been various examples of child rapist how repeat the same crime after being treated by psychologists.

I was very happy when I heard that both precidential candidates agree on this point.

The death penalty should not be given to a child rapist where the child is not killed. If this becomes the case, then what additional punishment will deter the rapist from choosing to kill the child in addition. Therefore such a penalty for rape will only increase the number of rape victims who are murdered aswell.

pedophiles cannot be rehabilitated, anyone that experienced being raped would definately support the death penalty because it ruins a child's life....maybe if this law went through and couple of slimeballs get death, maybe they would think twice about molesting a child.

For those of you who think it is not fair for a pedophile to be sentenced to death for violating a child unless they kill the child. Do you think it would be fair to let one of the parents do to that man what he did to that child? Give him one good one up the ass maybe? Let his insides fall out of his rear end? Would that be fair enough? I know I don't want my tax dollars going year after year to support his life sentence! And I don't want to take the chance that it might be my child next time or yours.
I know my child would never have to be scared of that man again. Never would have to worry about him coming back to hurt her! He will never get a chance to chose his next victim.
I support the death penalty for rape and child molestation.

Logically speaking, it is irrational to introduce the death penalty for crimes which do not result in murder. If this were the case, then of course, there is an incentive to kill the victim in order to "cover your tracks", as there will be no incentive to spare your victim anymore, as if you spare your victim, there is a greater chance that you will be caught and sentenced to death as there would be a living witness. However if you kill your victim, you will be not subjected to a harsher punishment than had you spared your victim, as you'd be sentenced to death in either case. So therefore, the best move for a child rapist for example, would be to murder their victim after their attack. Personally, i think most rape victims would if given the choice, have their attacker not kill them in addition to rape, and consequently society should introduce laws that do not encourage rapists to kill their victims.

Obama is a fool. He doesn't even know what he's talking about. What about innocent people who gave a child a suppository and were indicted on child rape charges for it?? He can't throw everyone into the same pickle jar and kill them all. What a dope.

I am an Obama supporter but I am disappointed in his comments here. Calling for the abolition of the death penalty is political suicide so I understand why he took this line. I only hope that when he is elected tomorrow that his vision for peace will infiltrate across the country and we will learn that one does not cure violence with violence.

If any person has the audacity to rape a child deserves to be fried. Obama really don care about us, he just out for the publicity. A person that rapes a child takes everything away from that child, what do you think about the family? The rapist in jail will have 3 meals a day a bed and a chance to get out and do it again. To repeat himself/herself wonder if the next time it is your child or sister or wife

Don't worry about pedophile priests. Jesus will judge hypocrites worst of all. He said that death by drowning will be preferable to what child abusers have coming to them. How much more will he punish those placed in a position of authority and betrayed the trust vested in them? Hell will be exceedingly intolerable for them.

I feel that the individuals that feel the twisted need to destroy the innocence of a child (in effect murdering their childhood) should have to pay the highest cost with their lives. These people who can look into the faces of the child and the faces of their families and tell them that their childhood is not worth the twisted lives of the sick dogs who hurt them are so full of ignorance. They can say that if in the same situation they would not want them to be put to death are full of crap. Being an adult survivor of molestation and rape and the mother of a child who has been molested, I feel they should be put to death no exceptions.

I completely agree luvjaxx. As I myself are not a vitcim of this, I know people who are, and I fully support death to child rapists. I am currently writing a paper for my english class, on whether or not child rapists should be sentenced to execution. It is great to see so many people who are on my side. It gives me much hope in the success of my paper. And I am deeply sorry about what you had to go through and what you still have to deal with today. I hope the person who did this to you gets what they deserve if they have not already.

LIberals suck! Go death penalty for child and adult rapists, murderers, violent gang members and criminals who repeatedly commit crimes!! Woohoo Obama has 1/2 a decent idea!

Dr. Logic, do you know someone who has been indicted on rape for a suppository? If so, what happened? I have a family member on trial for this, and having a hard time finding the MA law regarding whether or not this is actually illegal to do-just lots of advice on the internet on how to give your child a suppository-no warnings to people that they could be charged with a heinous crime and have their lives ruined...it's outlined in CA that suppositories are not considered rape, but not MA-any advice?

There is no outlined Massachusetts penal code that defines the separation between medical treatment and rape. So in essence, if you are a caretaker of a child and you feed them, give them medication, or anything of that sort as far as Mass law goes you are raping them. Delaware, and Ca both have penal code definitions to separate this distinction.

I agree with President Obama. Anyone repulsive enough to rape children does deserve the death penalty! I love and respect all children and it is every adults resposibility to protect evey child at all times no matter the situation I hope our President actually makes this law happen. GOD bless.