Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Hypocrisy, Chapter 37

NCADP is a single-issue organization and this is a single-issue blog. Period. We take no position on issues such as stem cell research or abortion. Our members include those who feel strongly on either sides of these debates. In fact, our staff in Washington, D.C. is split over these issues. What unites us is our firm and principled opposition to capital punishment.

That said, from time to time, opportunities arise to present hypocritical fissures. Here's one:

"Dr. Zerhouni shares my view that human life is precious, and should not be exploited or destroyed for the benefits of others."

—President Bush, March 22, 2002

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer: "The president believes that we need to welcome and create a culture that respects life in this country."

Q: "How can he be in favor of showing how much we disapprove of killing, by killing?"

Fleischer: "You're referring to the death penalty?"

Q: "I'm referring to the death penalty."

Fleischer: "Because the president's opinion is the death penalty ultimately saves lives."

—May 7, 2001


To view the hypocrisy table published by Slate.com, go here and scroll down.

1 comment:

T J Geiger II said...

Indeed, this is a huge hypocrisy. When President Bush was Governor Bush in my home state of Texas, he led the state to new heights in terms of record numbers fo executions.

This stands in stark contrast to the practical and life-affirming stances taken by two other Republican governors. So often, in the heat of our struggle, we forget historical context. Winthrop Rockefeller was elected governor of Arkansas in 1966 and made prison reform a top priority. As a shocking last act in office, Governor Rockefeller commuted the sentences of every prisoner on Arkansas' Row and urged the Governors of other states to do likewise in 1970. It was the largest single day of communtations in American history at that point. Rockefeller said: "I yearn to see other chief executives throughout the nation follow suit, so that as a people we may hasten the elimination of barbarism as a tool of American justice."

Of course, this was followed some years later by Republican Gov. Ryan of Illinios and his moratorium on and then communtation of death sentences.

Let the record and remarks of President Bush stand in contrast to those past leaders in his own Party.