Obama supports rape executions
Posted: 05:20 PM ET

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he disagrees with a Supreme Court decision striking down the death penalty for child rapists, telling reporters Wednesday that states should be able to execute people for “heinous” crimes.

“I think that the rape of small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime,” the Illinois senator said. “And if a state makes a decision that under narrow, limited, well-defined circumstances the death penalty is at least potentially applicable, that does not violate our Constitution.”

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that capital punishment can be applied only to murderers, striking down a death sentence for a Louisiana man convicted of sexually assaulting his 8-year-old stepdaughter.

good

In a state with the Capital Punishment fiasco Illinois went through? Obama ought to know better.

“And if a state makes a decision that under narrow, limited, well-defined circumstances the death penalty is at least potentially applicable, that does not violate our Constitution.”

I think his answer was actually very non-committal - leave the door open, but make sure the entrance is blocked. Politically wise.

It's a tough question, for me anyway. I've gone back and forth on the death penalty issue more times than I can count. But if a case involves the personal desecration or death of a child, it invokes a visceral reaction in me blocking all reasonable thought or willingness to hear reasonable arguments. My first thought is to let a loved one of that child have at it, no questions asked.

It may not be the way of a "civilized" society, but....

ROCK ON........Trish

It's kind of a moot point anyway, since Obama can't overrule the Supreme Court.

Very true.

I'm disapointed in Obama for making this stance. It seems like since he has entered the general election he is giving up on some of the ideals he spoke so loudly about only a few weeks ago.

But he is still the best hope i think our country has for a leader to put us back on track.

Christopher,

I hear you. I guess that's why they're called politicians. sigh....

The way I read it the whole thing is being misrepresented by the press for the sake of creating a sensation (which sells newspapers). The issue isn't whether rapists should be executed, but whether a state has the right to decide on its own which crimes are "heinous" enough to warrant the death penalty.

But it's still politics of course. Obama's strategic argument is that yes, he can indeed point to issues where he opposes the interference of the Federal government into matters that are rightly those of the individual states.

Larry thanks for setting me straight. Normally i am really good at looking at a story. but i have been distracted with work.