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Wesley Clark on Crime

NATO General; Democratic Candidate for President


Death penalty for heinous crimes, but apply with safeguards

Q: Do you support the death penalty?

A: I believe the death penalty should be available for the most heinous crimes. At the same time, I am concerned about reports of mistakes on death row, and errors and unfairness in our criminal justice system. ... If we are to carry out the ultimate penalty, it must be with the ultimate safeguards.

Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Death Penalty” Jan 25, 2004

Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes

Source: 2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test Jan 8, 2004

Death penalty ok, but needs DNA and equal justice

Q: Your opinion of the death penalty?

A: I believe that the state has a right to impose the ultimate sanction. But the way the death penalty has been imposed in America is discriminatory. Every existing case on death row should be reevaluated if modern technologies like DNA testing are available to confirm or deny guilt. More broadly, I am concerned that justice today is less than equal, given the vast disparities in sentencing and confinement rates between various groups.

Source: Concord Monitor / WashingtonPost.com on-line Q&A Nov 5, 2003

Concerned about Three Strikes & emphasis on lockup

I’m concerned about the lock-up policy, the 3-strikes policy, putting people in jails and the way we’ve treated people in prison. We’ve got to look seriously at the American penal system and what it does when it returns people.to the streets.“
Source: WBUR Public Radio interview Jun 19, 2003

Other candidates on Crime: Wesley Clark on other issues:
Nominees:
GOP: Sen.John McCain
GOP V.P.: Gov.Sarah Palin
Democrat: Sen.Barack Obama
Dem.V.P.: Sen.Joe Biden

Third Parties:
Constitution: Chuck Baldwin
Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr
Constitution: Amb.Alan Keyes
Liberation: Gloria La Riva
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Ralph Nader
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Page last updated: Dec 07, 2008