April 2, 2008
Kaine's Execution Moratorium Criticized
Today the Post is reporting some big, if symbolic news -- Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (D) decided yesterday to impose a moratorium on executions until the U.S. Supreme Court can issue a ruling on a case challenging the constitutionality of lethal injections. Kaine's announcement directly stayed two upcoming executions.
Predictably, Republicans in Virginia have criticized Kaine's move as a step towards a permanent moratorium, something that would be unthinkable in the a state that has killed more people than everyone but Texas. Others have accused him of breaking a campaign promise in which he expressed his moral opposition to the death penalty but pledged to uphold its application.
Attorney General Robert McDonnell (R), who is readying a campaign for governor, came out against Kaine, arguing that since the Supreme Court case deals only with lethal injections, no moratorium in Virginia would be necessary because inmates on death row have the choice of a more, errrr, humane alternative -- the electric chair. Alabama, Florida and South Carolina similarly offer the soon-to-be-executed a choice in method of death. Said McDonnell:
"Death-row inmates affected by the governor's actions have yet to select a method of execution as Virginia law provides, and only lethal injection cases are at issue in the Baze case. A moratorium may unnecessarily delay justice in other Virginia cases."Looking at Virginia from our no-death-penalty high horse, we think Kaine made the right call. Of course, he's also given McDonnell a surefire campaign talking point. And as awkward as we see giving a death row inmate an option in his method of death, it's good to see McDonnell stating for the record that he's pro-choice.
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Kaine jumped the gun. If he hadn't done this action, the upcoming executees would no doubt have chosen lethal injection and then made appeals based on that.
I wonder if Kaine would have made this move if he could stand for reelection.
politics aside, bravo to mr. kaine for standing up for what's right.
and bravo to mr. mcdonnell for letting us see his true colors. i always figured virginia had a ban on electing vampires to office, but i stand corrected.
Kudos to Gov Kaine for doing the right thing.
Kaine could make the argument that he just saved Virginia money it would have spent on legal fees had he not stopped the execution.
And McDonnell is a royal douche.
Virginia seriously needs to get rid of the incredibly dumb one-term-and-you're-out term limit on governors.
@Cranky
I don't know. The fact that Kaine does not have the option to run for reelection could have enabled him to actually make this choice.
Martin,
Virginia "executes" they do not kill. The people on death row kill, thats why they are there. I think this is the wrong decision. I think Capitol Punishment should only be used in certain cases, like murdering cops:
http://www.nbc4.com/news/15783061/detail.html
Why show this scum mercy when he so obviously showed none? What is your answer to these victims families? The death row inmates are not the victims.