Memo to Huckabee: Jesus would not be Pro Death Penalty

At the recent CNN/You tube Republican debate, a question came from Tyler Overman: "Hi. This is Tyler Overman from Memphis, Tennessee. And I have a quick question for those of you who would call yourselves Christian conservatives. The death penalty, what would Jesus do?"

Governor Huckabee's answer was the perfect representation of the contradictory rhetoric that is usually offered by right wing Christian conservatives on the topic of the death penalty.

Huckabee: You know, one of the toughest challenges that I ever faced as a governor was carrying out the death penalty. I did it more than any other governor ever had to do it in my state. As I look on this stage, I'm pretty sure that I'm the only person on this stage that's ever had to actually do it.

Let me tell you, it was the toughest decision I ever made as a human-being. I read every page of every document of every case that ever came before me, because it was the one decision that came to my desk that, once I made it, was irrevocable.

Every other decision, somebody else could go back and overturn, could fix if it was a mistake. That was one that was irrevocable.

I would imagine that it would be quite difficult to kill somebody, and it is perfectly understandable that your "tough decision" to play God was one that you would mull over for quite sometime. I wonder if you have ever heard the expression that if you play God too long, the real one might get upset.

You're right, it is an irrevocable decision. Once you make that choice to take somebody's life, there is no turning back. This philosophy is incredibly disturbing in a nation that prides itself on a justice system where the accused are innocent until proven guilty. Taking someone's life and deciding that they no longer have the right to live is not only a far deviation from the principles of Jesus Christ, but there have been numerous mistakes made that have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that this practice should not be utilized. So far, DNA evidence has directly exonerated 208 wrongly convicted people in the United States, according to the Innocence Project. It's unknown how many prisoners now locked up in American jails that could be freed by new testing of DNA evidence.

The then Governor of the state of Illinois, George Ryan, declared a moratorium on executions in January 2000. His decision followed the exoneration of the 13th death row prisoner found to have been wrongfully convicted in the state since the USA reinstated the death penalty in 1977. During the same period, 12 other Illinois prisoners had been executed. In January 2003 Governor Ryan pardoned four death row prisoners and commuted all 167 other death sentences in Illinois. So my question to you would be, how do you feel after you have signed off on the execution of a man and later find that he was in fact innocent? As you described, you had to carry out the death penalty more than any other governor in your state, (not sure if you said that as if it were something to be proud of) so I ask you Mr. Governor, how heavy would putting an innocent man to death weigh on your conscious?

More from your answer...

I believe there is a place for a death penalty. Some crimes are so heinous, so horrible that the only response that we, as a civilized nation, have for a most uncivil action is not only to try to deter that person from ever committing that crime again, but also as a warning to others that some crimes truly are beyond any other capacity for us to fix.

(Applause)

So basically, your philosophy is to murder people who murder people to show that murdering people is wrong? The fact that the audience erupted in applause after this statement was not only sick and disturbing, but the result of misinformation often given by right-wing conservatives to garner support for their policies of murder. These are the facts: scientific studies have consistently failed to find convincing evidence that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments:

The most recent survey of research findings on the relation between the death penalty and homicide rates, conducted for the United Nations in 1988 and updated in 2002, concluded: ". . .it is not prudent to accept the hypothesis that capital punishment deters murder to a marginally greater extent than does the threat and application of the supposedly lesser punishment of life imprisonment." (Roger Hood, The Death Penalty: A World-wide Perspective, Oxford, Clarendon Press, third edition, 2002, p. 230)

In addition, in reviewing the evidence on the relation between changes in the use of the death penalty and homicide rates, a study conducted for the United Nations in 1988 and updated in 2002 stated: "The fact that the statistics continue to point in the same direction is persuasive evidence that countries need not fear sudden and serious changes in the curve of crime if they reduce their reliance upon the death penalty".

Recent crime figures from abolitionist countries fail to show that abolition has harmful effects. In Canada, for example, the homicide rate per 100,000 population fell from a peak of 3.09 in 1975, the year before the abolition of the death penalty for murder, to 2.41 in 1980, and since then it has declined further. In 2006, 30 years after abolition, the homicide rate was 1.85 per 100,000 population, 40 per cent lower than in 1975 and the second lowest rate in three decades. (Roger Hood, The Death Penalty: A World-wide Perspective, Oxford, Clarendon Press, third edition, 2002, p. 214)

These facts disprove Huchabee's claim of the death penalty serving as a deterrent. That theory is simply not true. In addition, the notion that we are a civilized nation is not a quality that one can attribute to anyone who endorses executions. Notice the company that we are in as far as nations who have carried out the death penalty since 2000.

- Beheading (in Saudi Arabia)
- Electrocution (in USA)
- Hanging (in Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore and other countries)
- Lethal injection (in China, Guatemala, Thailand, USA)
- Shooting (in Belarus, China, Somalia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and other countries)
- Stoning (in Afghanistan, Iran)

Now, I'm not calling any of these other countries uncivilized, but I think you and other right-wing republican conservatives definitely would. The implication of your party is that we are somehow "above" these other countries, but my question is, how can we profess to be morally superior to anyone if we utilize a barbaric practice that is in direct disobedience to the word of God? That's especially troublesome for a nation who claims to be founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

More from your answer...

Now, having said that, there are those who say, "How can you be pro-life and believe in the death penalty?"

Because there's a real difference between the process of adjudication, where a person is deemed guilty after a thorough judicial process and is put to death by all of us, as citizens, under a law, as opposed to an individual making a decision to terminate a life that has never been deemed guilty because the life never was given a chance to even exist.

Sorry governor, again that is not true. Murder is murder. "Thou shall not Kill" applies to everyone, not just who you feel is worthy. God didn't say Thou shall not kill as long as you don't have a good reason, or thou shall not kill as long as the person hasn't done anything wrong, He simply said Thy Shall Not Kill. I don't think that is left to interpretation. Adopting a practice that is in direct disobedience with the word of God is not acceptable if you claim to be a Christian. The process of adjudication you refer to where a person is put to death is not in accordance with the word of God.

Now when you were asked point blank by Anderson Cooper to basically cut through all of the rhetoric and answer the question from the viewer which was simply, would Jesus support the death penalty, you gave a very witty response in saying, "Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office, Anderson. That's what Jesus would do", and it brought applause and laughter, but didn't answer the question. So let me answer it for you.

The example for everything we do as Christians is Jesus Christ. Our goal in life is to become more Christ-like. Although it is a well accepted reality that we could never be without sin as Christ was, our everlasting mission is to strive to be more like Him.

John 8 4-7

4. they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

5. "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?

7. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them "He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone."

One by one, the accusers dropped their stones, and walked away. Jesus had made his point. If you are not yourself without sin, then you have no right to condemn anyone for the sin they commit. The only way that we can play executioner is to ourselves be without sin. Furthermore, since Jesus is the only man who walked the earth who can make that claim, he therefore is the only one who can condemn anyone of anything.

Jesus further emphasized this point in the articles of Matthew 7 saying:

Judge not, that you be not judged.

2. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

3. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

5.Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

So the question becomes, how can anyone who claims to be a Christian disregard a clear cut message from Jesus Christ and accept a doctrine of the flesh? The feeling of anger toward someone who has committed a violent crime is definitely understandable. The feeling of that person "getting what they deserve" is often the stated argument for the death penalty. Those in favor often ask the question:

What would you do, or how would you feel if someone close to you was viciously and brutally murdered? Don't you think that that person should deserve to die as well? Put yourself in the victim's shoes. Try to understand the feeling of having someone taken from you at the hands of a merciless killing. Imagine that person not being here for the rest of your life while the person responsible for your loved one is spared their life? Imagine how you would feel?

The answer to that is quite simple. There is no one on this earth who couldn't understand the desire for revenge if ever put in that situation. It takes me back to the movie A Time to Kill. In the movie, two men brutally raped, beat, defalcated and urinated on Samuel Jackson's daughter, and left her in a ditch to die. Now, there wasn't one person who didn't understand Jackson taking the life of the two men who committed that heinous crime with his shotgun, and may have even cheered along with the people in the court when he shouted on the stand, "Yes they deserved to die, and I hope they burn in hell!" However, as a Christian, I know that both acts by the two men as well as Samuel L. Jackson were in direct disobedience with the word of God. His feeling of anger and rage and vengeance, although quite understandable, would have to be not only abandoned but traded in for trust in the word of God when God said "Vengeance is mine". That was not a request, but rather a direct order from God. The flesh would definitely have an unquenchable thirst for blood. But that's the flesh and not the word of God. So when asked what would Jesus do in regards to the death penalty, the bible has made it more than abundantly clear, and there is no room for interpretation.

Comments

[CryAloud]

Verily it is true that the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He is not willing that any perish, but that all come to repentence.

Nevertheless, Jesus asked, "How shall ye escape the condemnation of hell?"

According to God"s word:

"The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

The Bible refers to the fate of the damned with such fearful words as the following:

¢ "Shame and everlasting contempt" Daniel 12:2
¢ "Everlasting punishment" Matthew 25:46
¢ "Weeping and gnashing of teeth" Matthew 24:51
¢ "Fire unquenchable" Luke 3:17
¢ "Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish" Romans 2:8,9
¢ "Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" 2 Thessalonians 1:9
¢ "Eternal fire...the blackness of darkness for ever" Jude 7,13

Revelation 14:10,11 tells us the final, eternal destiny of the sinner: "He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone...the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night."

"¦the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

In light of these words, it is apparent that God is able to not only kill the body, but cast the soul into hell forever. For this reason he says to fear him, and not to fear the one who can only kill the body and after that there is nothing more he can do.

[tbone99]

Thank you for the facts regarding the non - deterrence of the death penalty. I think Huckabee has exposed himself for the politician he is , not the Christian he brags on being. People are not collateral - but the conservatives are always ready to waste hundreds , thousands and millions of lives to get one guilty party.

[jones]

I am on your side regarding execution. Its primitive and you would think that we have come further than we have in our attitudes about our fellow humans. I know some people are beyond the pale s/a the Oklahoma bomber but its not up to us to take his life.

Could you do a blog entry on NY state's prison systems? Our economy in upstate and western NY are largely a prison economy where the townspeople are all buzz-cut guards and the entire town works directly or indirectly for the prisons. The prisons look forbidding and terrifying. I wish more people would be aware of how terrible one of New York's main industries is the incarceration of our own citizens. Its a disturbing fact.

[thedirtman]

I agree and thanks. Funny how my Bible reads so completely different than Republican Bibles.

[truth101]

Hey wake up

In the ancient world LIFE in PRISON
was not exactly easy or smooth
as life was not esy or smooth
someone had to get the inmate food
someone had to prepare it
someone had to get the inmate clothes
someone had to clean these, etc.
IF YOU had a serial murderder in chains, that
person might escape and kill you
solution: it would be wise to knock them off

you can't intellectualize the obvious

[WIDESTANCE]

i didn't really think the radical bible-thumpers could top their life-is-sacred (before birth) / couldn't-care-less (after) dichotomy,

then, right on cue, we have pastor huckabee championing the christian correctness of the death penalty (after all, if it was good enough for our lord and saviour...) -

meanwhile, we are now learning that the good reverend (and governor of arkansas) thought nothing of bowing to pressure from a radical, rightwing religious tabloid and championing the release from prison of a convicted rapist and murderer -

after being begged NOT TO RELEASE THIS MONSTER by everybody in the world who knew the facts, from the parole board to the victims (including the mother of a 3 year old child who was brutally raped with a butcher knife to her neck while the little girl slept next to her), rev.huckabee did everything he could to exert pressure where needed to get this rapist/murderer pardoned and freed -

you see, the afore-mentioned rightwing rag was crusading for this CONVICTED CRIMINAL's release because one of his victims was a member of bill clinton's extended family, so therefore, it had to be a frame-up and he really was innocent -

their christo-political martyr was finally released and the good minister's nutjob flock was sufficiently coddled and mollified -

the rapist/murderer moved to missouri where he murdered 2 more women before being re-incarcerated and dying in prison -

THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF BAD JUDGEMENT AND COMPLETE LACK OF MORALITY THAT AMERICA NEEDS

AND I DON'T CARE IF THIS MOFU IS ORDAINED BY GOD AND GETTING HIS INSTRUCTIONS DIRECTLY FROM JESUS CHRIST ON HIGH

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[angel66]

Excellent thoughtful essay.

[jwr18]

One of my favorite Bible verses is Luke 19:27 when **JESUS** says: "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay(slay means kill) them before me."

I guess so much for **JESUS** not supporting the death penalty.

[edresearcher]

People like Huckabee use the parts of the Bible that justify whatever positions they choose to support. It is amazing that these religious fundamentalists are ready to do anything to stop abortion and are usually some of the first to want to put people to death and go to war.
Even if I were a staunch conservative, I would be very skeptical of Huckabee as a political figure simply because I spent so many years in schools with professional clergy. I've learned never to trust them, particularly the ones who shout the loudest -- they are always (almost without exception) living lives of radical hypocrisy.

[LegalCat]

Personally, I think it's a GOOD thing when a politician can put his religious beliefs aside and concentrate on the law. I think MORE politicians should do that. So much as I hate mealy-mouthed right-wingers like Huckabee, I think we should find something else to dump on them about, because if we're going to say "what a hypocrite, his holy avatar is against the death penalty but he's for it," we're going to look pretty dumb when we say "what an excellent politician; the Pope is against abortion but he thinks it's a matter of personal choice."

In any event, I'm really uncomfortable with the idea that principles of government should EVER be based on religious teachings -- and that includes "thou shalt not kill." If you want to discuss problems with the death penalty, fine, and I agree there are some, but I don't agree that one of them is that the Bible or Jesus or Mohammed or Zarathustra or any other religious source says that God is against it.

The other thing is, that line about "why do we kill people to show that killing people is wrong" is a spiffy sound bite, but it's ultimately just silly. If I were to go out and stick a gun in someone's back and force him to accompany me, and then I locked him up in a 10x10 room for eight years, what would they do to me? Why, they'd arrest me and put me in prison, to show me that what I did was wrong. And that's ok. Everyone recognizes that there are things that governments can do to people which people can't do to each other; this isn't a big news flash. If I threaten you with dire consequences if you don't give me 20% of your income, that's extortion; if the government does it, that's taxation. And so forth; the death penalty is one of a million examples of this sort of thing. The fact that people aren't supposed to kill people is not a compelling reason to suppose that governments can't.

[chendri887]

This post really bothers me. It shows how we as human beings cannot avoid using religion to support our own ethnically/tribally driven ego needs while covering up/keeping unconscious those needs at the same time. As an African-American with a connection to "Civil Rights Jesus," and a feeling of marginalization in American society, it is completely understandable that Ethan Thomas would interpret Jesus as "anti-death penalty." And it is completely understandable that Thomas would be opposed to a candidate like Mike Huckabee, who represents a connection to Old South-style racism, and whom I also oppose but for different reasons than Thomas. However, the Jesus Mike Huckabee sees in the Bible is not "Civil Rights Jesus" but "Southern White Male Patriarchal Jesus." This Jesus is no less valid than the one Ethan Thomas sees. It fits with the ethnic/tribal world/ideology in which Mike Huckabee grew up, just like Civil Rights Jesus fits in the world/ideology in which Ethan Thomas grew up. I suspect if this were a country in which an African-American majority was in power, and Protestant Christianity was still the dominant religion, the views of Jesus which Thomas and Huckabee have would be switched, with Huckabee focusing on Bible verses that support a worship of Civil Rights Jesus and Thomas focusing on those which support a view of Patriarchal Jesus.

In the real world, there is no way to "judge not lest you be judged." We are all judging, all the time. If we didn"t "judge," we would be taken advantage of by others constantly. The key to any type of harmonious interaction among individuals of different races/histories/cultures is learning to be empathic to how our different histories and environments impacted us. When we do that, we can attempt to break down barriers and learn to communicate without hurting one another"s feelings all the time. The question of whether or not this is truly possible remains to be seen. And whether or not religion helps this process is dubious to me.

[tholin]

Not so sure about makin' my reservation at the Heavenly Holiday Inn, man, on account of that Jesus dude bein' kinda moody as the front desk manager.

I mean, one minute he's all mellow and cool, a dude you could really party with, and then you turn around and he's cursin' fig trees, wastin' a shitload of pigs and fuckin' with the dead people. You know, there you are, layin' down for the long dirt nap, all peaceful like, then here comes the Bearded Buzzkill yellin' "Lazarus, come forth!"

So uncool.

After they told him to take his crazy ass down the road, those folks in Gadarene were probably wondering: What Will Jesus Drown (Next)?

[SeanGardner]

You rock Etan! You are my favorite blogger on this site. Every post is as equally luminous and thoughtful as the previous one.

Keep up the good work!

[Pdubya]

thank you sir.

blue dog democrat for ron paul

[peterg76]

Republicans are about as much Christian as they are fiscally responsible, or against government intervention to bail out corporations, or for eliminating gratuitous surveillance of ordinary citizens, or for preserving commonly-held ecological capital....